plotted
darkly his undoing. Yet he enjoyed the King's favour, wherefore none
dare lift hand or tongue against him.

"I found the old man seated outside his hut staring blankly into space.
In front of him was a small bowl containing a black, sticky substance.

"`Greeting, Father of the Fire-Spirit!' I said.

"`I have seen you, son of Ntelani,' he answered.

"`Are you making _muti_, father?' I went on, with a glance at the
stuff.

"He chuckled.

"`_Muti_? Do I need it, Untuswa? Yet if you would see what _muti_ is,
you shall. Enter.'

"For a moment I feared, for we Zulus have a horror and repulsion of all
that relates to charms and wizardry. To be alone with those dreadful
eyes--Ha! I went into that hut a man; I might come out of it a baboon,
a snake. Yet I it was who had said to the King, `I know not fear.'
Then I bent down and crept through the entrance hole, and when I got
inside, lo! there was very little in it at all.

"Old Masuka sat down and took snuff, blinking the while at me with his
black and snaky eyes. Then he said:

"`You Amazulu are brave as lions in the fight, Untuswa, but in all that
pertains to magic you are nowhere. These _izanusi_ of yours are more
ignorant than children.'

"`Their art is nothing beside yours, father. But tell me, you who are
now one of us, do you never long for your own dwellings again, the rocks
and the mountains? Do you not also feel a thirst for revenge upon those
who have slain your kindred and despoiled your possessions?'

"The old man's eyes flashed forth a laugh, and he said:

"`You are young, Untuswa. When you have seen the world grow grey with
age, as I have, it is little enough you will grieve over such things as
loss of kindred and possessions. Ha! you will as likely grieve over the
fall of a tree in the wind, the removal of pebbles by a flooded river.
And now your heart is sore because of the girl Nangeza, upon whose
account you have many times incurred the doom of those who break the
laws of Tshaka.'

"`_Hau_!' I exclaimed hurriedly and in alarm. `Speak low, my father,
speak low! Even the whisper of such a thing cannot but work me harm,
almost as much as though it were really so.'

"`As though it were really so! That is well said, son of Ntelani,' he
replied, with a chuckle.

"I was very much confused, for this old wizard seemed to divine the
deepest secrets of men's hearts. How knew he this thing? He had never
seen me speak with Na