ving.'

"`_Hau_!' I cried, bringing my hand to my mouth and fairly leaping, so
astounded was I. But the old man met my glance with ever so faint a
grin as I stared wildly at him. This was too marvellous. What did not
this terrible old wizard know? The grim secret of Gungana's end could
not have been more exhaustively described.

"`What is not possible to thee, O my father!' I exclaimed. `Help me to
gain my heart's desire, thou who didst promise that I should obtain it.
For again has the King refused it.'

"`What was the condition the King attached to the fulfilment of his
promise, Untuswa?' he said, fixing his snake-like eyes upon my face.

"`That I should perform some act braver than any he had ever heard tell
of.'

"`Then--perform it. Perform such an act, son of Ntelani;' and, laughing
softly, Masuka turned and went into his hut.

"Angry that he should mock me, yet dreading his knowledge and power, I
left him. Then, for solitude, I wandered out of the kraal, and
unconsciously directed my way towards where the cattle were being
herded--unconsciously, because in my then mood I had no desire to
encounter Nangeza. Of what avail was it, since my head-ring was as far
distant as ever?

"Soon I came upon one I recognised. This was Nangeza's little sister,
Sitele. But she was alone, and it seemed to me that on beholding me she
wished to avoid speech with me, for she immediately began driving calves
in a direction where it was not in the least necessary, or even
desirable, they should go. So I called out to her, and she stopped.

"`Why are you alone, Sitele?' I said. `Where is Nangeza?'

"`Can I see people at a distance?' was the answer. `She is not here.'

"I could see her manner was full of confusion, and now I began to fear I
knew not what.

"`Where is she, Sitele?' I cried again.

"`_Au_! I know not. She dwells in my father's house no more.'

"That was quick work! Who could have sent _lobola_ and taken her away
in those few days during which I had been absent?

"`Who has taken her, Sitele? Gungana is dead.'

"`There is a greater than Gungana.'

"`Kalipe?' I cried, my thoughts flying to the King's favourite
war-chief. `Is it Kalipe?'

"`There is a greater than Kalipe.'

"`Ha! the King!'

"`She is in the _Isigodhlo_,' said the child, fixing her eyes in fear
upon my face. And well she might, for I forgot all control, and my eyes
blazed furiously as I gripped my assegai and poured