h work together," repeated Sapazani, still with his head on one
side. "_Au_! That is strange. Because when the men down in Natal were
ordered to be shot for killing two of the _Nongqai_ the King's
Government prevented it."

"That was only until they had inquired further into it," answered the
magistrate. "But they were shot--were they not?"

"We have _heard_ so."

There was a note of incredulity about this reply which was exasperating.
Perhaps it was intended to be.

"So it will be with every one who defies the Government, no matter who
he may be," concluded Downes, magisterially, as though clinching the
argument.

"_Nkose_," replied Sapazani, outwardly polite, though subtly sneering,
"I would ask why the Great King has withdrawn all his soldiers from
here. Is it because he is angry with the white people here?"

Murmurs of assent ran through the attendant group. Downes thought to
detect the cloven foot. Those infernal Ethiopian preachers had been
around disseminating that very idea, he remembered.

"It is not," he answered decisively. "It is because he trusts all his
subjects--black as well as white. But should any such show themselves
unworthy of his trust their punishment will be swift and terrible."

"But, _Nkose_, it will take a long time to bring soldiers from across
the sea," persisted Sapazani, speaking softly.

"There are enough on this side of the sea to do it all," said Downes.
"More than enough. Now take warning, Sapazani. You are not loyal. I,
your magistrate, can see that, have seen it for some time past. You are
sheltering these disaffected men--Pandulu and Babatyana." Here Sapazani
smiled to himself as he thought of the "shelter" he had afforded to the
first named. "If this is done it will mean but one thing, that you are
thoroughly disloyal to the Government. Well, the fate of a disloyal
chief is banishment or death; at any rate, banishment, never to return."

Here Sapazani smiled again to himself as he thought of the head of the
royal house, who had been banished but had long since returned. That
smile exasperated Downes still further.

"You will appear here within half-a-moon's time," he went on, "with one
or both of these men. At any rate, you will appear to--"

"_Hau_! Appear here in half-a-moon's time? _Hau_! But I will not, O
little-dog of the King's little-dog Government. Have I nothing else to
do than to wear out the road to Esifeni! I will _not_ appear in
hal