with knobsticks, as
the usual method was.

"`Now that the witches have gone to sleep,' said the King, `it seems
right that the bewitched should join them; for in good truth a sentinel
at his post should be proof even against the spells of witchcraft.'

"`I welcome death at the King's word,' said Sekweni, who knew he was
doomed. `But I would first ask a favour of the Great Great One.'

"`Speak on,' said the King.

"`I would ask that I, too, may die the death of the spear--the death of
a warrior, of a soldier of the King.'

"`Ha! thou askest that form of death, son of Ntelani? Yet it is the
more painful of the two.'

"`It is the death of a man, O Black Elephant.'

"`So be it,' said Umzilikazi, making a sign to those who stood by for
the purpose.

"Then my poor brother was made to sit down on the ground, and in this
posture his left arm was drawn high above his head and held there, while
a thin-bladed assegai was inserted below his armpit and pressed slowly,
slowly downward until it reached the heart. Not a word, not a groan,
escaped him in his agony, and at length, with a gasp, he fell over dead.

"In truth, _Nkose_, my heart was sore; yet had I spoken I could not have
saved Sekweni's life.

"`_Ou_! he died bravely,' said the King, who had been narrowly watching
my poor brother's face, but had failed to detect any sign of shrinking.
`I love not to order the death of such. Yet he who sleeps while en
outpost will surely sleep for ever, be he whom he may. Draw near,
Masuka.'

"`Thou art an _isanusi_ indeed!' went on Umzilikazi, taking snuff.
`Thou hast rid the people of two pestilent witches, whose spells have
robbed me of one of my bravest fighters. Five cows shalt thou have, old
man, to start thee as one of ourselves. Now go.'

"And all the people shouted aloud in praise of the justice and
generosity of the King.

"Now, it failed not to be whispered abroad that the naming of the two
royal women was a pre-concerted thing, else had even a witch-doctor not
dared to name one of the royal House, and, indeed, I at the time
believed it. But afterwards I knew it was not so, and that no word had
passed, the real truth being that Masuka, since his instalment among us,
had made himself all eyes and ears and no tongue. Thus he had divined
that Umzilikazi desired not the naming of warriors at the
witch-findings, and was displeased with his own _izanusi_ for denouncing
such; further, that the woman Shushungani