hee."

The night had fled as we sat thus together--yes, indeed, it had fled--
and now Lalusini bade me leave her and return, so that I might have time
to travel while it was yet dark, and mix with those who were about
outside of Nkunkundhlovu in the morning. This would be the easier, as
the morning would be a misty one, for which reason, indeed, she had
chosen this night for our meeting.

Thus we parted, and it was arranged that I should not seek her out again
until she sent me word, as before. She wanted for nothing--there were
those who supplied her wants, and her dwelling-place was safe and
secure. None dared invade it.

As once more I threaded my way along the river-bank in the darkness, I
sang softly to myself, not in fear, as many of our people do, to keep
away evil ghosts, but in joy. My beautiful sorceress wife! _Au_! Was
there ever another such?--and she seemed to have returned to me from the
dark deeps of the dead. But with my joy there mingled another thought.
The desire for vengeance seemed to have passed--the longing to deliver
my former nation over to the spears of Dingane seemed wondrously to have
diminished. I remembered old comradeship--and friends, many and brave,
who had charged with me in close and serried line, shoulder to shoulder,
in the lightning rush of our might as we hurled ourselves on the foe;
who had sprung forward with redoubled courage to the rallying wave of my
white shield; and now it seemed that I desired no longer the destruction
of these. With the recovery of Lalusini, my rancour against Umzilikazi
even seemed to melt away. But only to accomplish such destruction had I
been allowed to _konza_ to Dingane, wherefore now I was as one who is
jammed against a tree between the long horns of a fierce and savage
cow--he cannot remain thus for ever, and does he but move, why one horn
or the other must pierce him. Well, at present, with the Amabuna
threatening us, we had enough to take care of for some time to come.
Umzilikazi could not be attended to until afterwards.

While comforting myself with this thought, something happened. There
was a rustling in the grass, and a quick patter of feet. It was the
darkest hour of the night, namely, that which precedes the dawn; but my
eyes, well accustomed to the gloom, could distinguish the swift glide of
fleeing shapes--indeed, a frightened, snarling yelp arose, as one of the
shapes nearly came against me as I stood to listen. But the