e Great Great One
showed surprise. But in old Masuka's glittering eyes there was now
another look. It was the look of one who has attained his object--of
one who triumphs.

"`The King's promise, the "word" of the Great Great One, in whose light
we live!' I cried. `The King's "word" stands, for I have fulfilled its
conditions.'

"I saw Umzilikazi start ever so slightly. `How so, Untuswa?' he said.
`Explain.'

"`Thus, O Elephant. The words of the King were: "Perform some act, O
son of Ntelani; perform some act bolder than any act I have ever yet
heard tell of, and you shall be allowed to _tunga_. Not only that, but
I will give you this broad _umkonto_ which I hold in my hand." Such was
the "word" of the Great Great One.'

"`Yes, that is no lie, Untuswa,' said the King softly, while all held
their breath for his reply. `Yet I know not so far what thou hast done
to claim the fulfilment of such a promise.'

"`_Whau_!' I cried, bringing my hand to my mouth. `I would ask the
King, the father of the wise, what bolder thing a man, being young,
could do, than to steal one of the King's girls from the _Isigodhlo_ in
broad daylight, and depart with her alone in search of unknown tribes,
to reign over a new nation? What bolder act was ever performed, O Black
Elephant?'

"`He is mad!--quite mad!' burst from the _indunas_. But the King
smiled, and a new and strange look came into his face, yet from it I
augured nothing. `I think thou hast done even a bolder thing, son of
Ntelani,' he said, `and that is to claim the fulfilment of my promise on
such a ground. Surely no bolder act was ever heard tell of.'

"And now men found speech and cried aloud in praise of the wisdom of the
King--of the truth of his words. Then he went on:

"`My promise shall be kept,' he said slowly, but with a dark and
terrible meaning; `the latter part of it first. Thou shalt have this
broad _umkonto_,' twirling the great assegai in his hand till it
flashed--a band of fire. `Oh yes, Untuswa! the "word" of the King
stands. Thou shalt have what I promised thee. Prepare, then, to
receive thy reward.'

"Then, in my joy, I shouted out the praises of the King, who had changed
the doom of eternal degradation he had pronounced upon me to that of
death. But a grand and noble death would be mine, that of the spear;
yet not that only, for I was to die by the spear of the King--to die by
the King's own hand, for none other might wield the roya