it
entirely, and place a flat stone upon it for ever, lest I opened a way
to the _izanusi_ at any time to lay a charge against me of having
brought foul _muti_ from among the _abatagati_ of the mountains. But my
reserve angered them, and my father said:

"`This calf bleats overload. Perchance he will bleat still louder
before long, but not with delight.'

"I liked not his tone as he said this, and his look was one of malice.
Immediately my heart felt heavy again, as though some evil awaited, so I
bade them farewell and sped on to the kraal gates.

"Here I was hailed by many, for all thought of me as among the dead,
several days having elapsed since the battle. But I spoke to none,
pushing past all until I reached the entrance to the _Isigodhlo_, and
there I threw down my shield and weapons, and called loud to those who
attended within that the calf had returned to the kraal after strange
wanderings. This I was bound in duty to do, for Umzilikazi made a point
of being immediately informed when anything occurred; indeed, no event
was too trifling and insignificant to be unworthy of his notice,
although nine times out of ten he would appear to know nothing about it.

"I had not long stood thus without the fence before I received a summons
to enter. Umzilikazi was seated upon a lion-skin in front of his house,
and I thought he looked pleased as I drew near and shouted:

"`_Bayete, 'Nkulu, 'nkulu_! The calf has returned to the kraal of the
Black Elephant.'

"`Welcome, Untuswa!' said the King. `I had thought to find another
chief-runner--another _inceku_.'

"And then he bade me sit down and tell all that had befallen me.

"Now, _Nkose_, while I was beginning to tell my story, I thought, and
thought hard, and, as a consequence, I determined to make no mention
whatever of Gungana. If I should narrate his loathsome end, always
suppressing how he had got into the hole, there were not wanting those
who would assert that I had brought about his death. Even the King
himself might suspect it. Indeed, I would have avoided all mention of
the slaughter-cave of the _Izimu_, but my serpent whispered to me that
one day it might come about that some of these _abatagati_ would be
taken alive and brought before the King, and the whole story would come
out. And then where would I be? Apart from the deadly crime of
concealing aught from the King, should I not by my reticence have laid
myself out to a charge of wizardry of t