ng themselves that there would be those high in the councils
of the dominant nation who would compel their countrymen to concede to
the Zulus their own land. It was rather mysterious, but he had heard it
from other sources, from one, especially, of weight and knowledge, and
more than half believed it. If that were so, and they could make a
fight for it, why, then, all this officialdom might soon become a thing
of the past, and he--Sapazani--a chief of weight, and in the full prime
of his intellectual and physical gifts, and the descendant of a royal
house, he saw himself king. As well as shrewd, Sapazani was ambitious.

"And the last word of U' Ben was `No,'" the chief was saying.

"That was it," answered Undhlawafa. "But that his child came up while
we talked I think it would have been `Yes.'"

"Ha!" ejaculated Sapazani, now vividly interested. "What said she?"

"That I know not, son of Umlali, for I understand not the tongue of the
Amangisi. But I spoke again about it yesterday, and again he refused."

"Strange!" said the chief. "U' Ben loves money."

"Who does not, son of Umlali, since the whites have brought it into the
country? But though U' Ben loves money, I think that he loves his child
more."

The chief made no reply. A very curious vein of thought--for a Zulu--
was running through his mind, of which, could Ben Halse have had the
smallest inkling, that estimable trader would have cleared out at very
short notice and have set up in business in some other part of South
Africa considerably remote from this.

"U' Ben is a fool," he rejoined after a pause. "He must be growing too
rich. We can get them brought," he went on, talking "dark," "and for
less money. But he has always been a friend, and I wanted to give it to
him. Is his mouth really shut, think you, Undhlawafa?"

"It is, I think. Besides, there is that about him which does not
incline him to move other people to talk," answered the induna
meaningly. "And now, son of Umlali, what of the messenger?"

The chief's face grew heavy, deepening into a scowl.

"Who are these that they are to order us hither and thither?" he said.
"It is only a day ago (figurative) that I was required to attend. Let
the dog come forward."

In compliance with this mandate the said "dog" presently did appear, in
the shape of a well-looking, middle-aged Zulu, wearing a long coat with
brass buttons, also the head-ring. He saluted the chief respectfully
enou