ad ceased. `Have I not given thee thy life? Look up. Thou
wilt see the sun go down this night, thou wilt see it rise and go down
many days, many nights. While all the people cry aloud in praise that I
have given thee thy life, thou alone remainest mute.'

"`Because I would prefer death, O Black Elephant!' I answered, raising
my head. And then the tears rained from my eyes, even as from those of
a child who is hurt. Yes, _Nkose_, I, Untuswa, the warrior who feared
nothing, and who, when the King's enemies lay in front of us, suffered
no man to come between me and them, I, Untuswa, wept in the sight of the
whole nation because of the dread sentence pronounced upon me by the
King. For only think what it meant! I, a warrior, who lived but for
battle, never again to bear arms! I, in the full flush and strength of
my vigorous manhood, never to be allowed to wear the ring; I, an
_inceku_, to descend to herd with the off-scourings of all the miserable
and degraded tribes we had swept from our path! Of course, I preferred
death ten times over; the death of the hot stones, of the stake of
impalement, of the black ants; any death, however hideous, however
lingering, to life upon the terms of such awful degradation.

"`So thou askest for death, son of Ntelani?' said the King.

"`I pray for it, O Great Great One.'

"`Ha! I should have been surprised hadst thou not prayed for it. Well,
thou shalt have thy wish.'

"And now, _Nkose_, I know not how it was, but as Umzilikazi pronounced
these words my eyes once more met those of the old Mosutu witch-doctor.
They were burning with a strange glitter of intensity. His body was
bent half forward in an attitude of anxiety such as I had never beheld
in him, even when his own fate hung in the balance. But as I gazed into
those burning orbs, something in them brought back the moment when I had
dragged old Masuka from beneath the heaps of slain, and when he had
pleaded for his life half defiantly while uttering his marvellous
divination.

"The slayers advanced a few steps, then halted, and stood watching for a
word, a sign, from the King. Then I lifted my voice, and cried:

"`The Black Elephant is good. I asked a boon, and, lo! it was granted.
The Great Serpent is merciful. But now I make a claim. I claim the
fulfilment of the King's promise!'

"The start, the stare, the quick murmur of astonishment which met these
words, from all hearers, is hardly to be told. Even th