uld have been mine. Had the
King's mind been different on the matter, then Gungana was welcome to
all the responsibility of it. Now, not so. Wherefore I said--being
young, and believing as we still do when young, that right, and not
might, is right:

"`That is but a blind side of the case, O Black Black One! I it was who
spared the old Mosutu's life--who not only spared, but saved it--and
that in order that he might show the powers of his _muti_ before the
eyes of the King.'

"And then I told the whole tale of how I had saved the magician from the
spears even of my brethren-in-arms. But I was not quite prepared for
the manner in which it was received.

"`So, Untuswa, you are a bigger man than your _induna_?' said
Umzilikazi, in that quiet, half-laughing, but terrible voice he took
when he desired to make men's hearts tremble within them. `And did you
think, then, to tell me what I knew not--I, to whom all things are
known; to whom not a single thing passes unknown, Untuswa, not one
single thing?'

"_Au, Nkose_! Then, as the King spoke these words, I knew what fear was
if I had never known before. For I thought of Nangeza, and of the sure
penalty that we had incurred. No wonder that, with the King's terrible
eyes upon me, seeming to burn the very thoughts out of my breast--no
wonder, _Nkose_, I should have felt myself growing grey with fear. But
I cried aloud in praise of the wisdom of the Great Great One, and so
akin is the most desperate fear to the most intrepid valour, that I--at
that moment when the King was in the most to be dreaded of all his
moods--took upon myself to urge my claim to the promised reward. Even
while doing so I felt that I was digging my own grave. But to my
surprise the King burst out laughing.

"`_Au_!' he cried. `Ntelani has bred a lion-cub indeed, and one who
knows not fear. But here again, Untuswa, are you not showing yourself,
for all your valour, to be but a child? The firing of the kraal was a
right valorous deed; yet where was the valour of it in comparison with
that of standing before the King this day, to belittle one of the King's
_indunas_, and to importune the King at a moment when he would fain
sleep? Valour without wisdom means but the destruction of its owner,
wherefore learn judgment before aspiring to the _isicoco_. Now go,
Untuswa, the would-be _kehla_.' [Head-ringed man.]

"I shouted the King's titles and went out. But although flattery was on
my ton