blood of Zulu could not sit down for long beneath the sway of one who
was a mere slave of the Amabuna. They would return--return to the
strength and root of the great Zulu power, their rightful King. But
those who had remained faithful would ever be held in the highest
honour.

As the Great One finished speaking, a mighty roar went up from the
assembled warriors. They hailed him as their guide, their father, their
deliverer, and by every title of _bonga_. Then much time was given up
to songs and dances, for all rejoiced that they were no longer a broken
remnant, and that the King was at their head once more.

The plan which Dingane now decided on was a waiting one. He relied on
desertions from Mpande, whom we now learned by means of our spies had
been placed by the Amabuna in his seat, who now reigned King. _Whau_!
was ever such a thing heard of? A King of the Amazulu, the conquerors
of the world, holding his seat by favour of white people--and such white
people! But it could not last--no, it could not last. The heavens
might well fell.

We moved down to a more accessible site in the Ngome wilds, and there
kraals were erected, and time was bestowed upon gathering together such
of the nation as remained faithful, and encouraging others to come in.
Meanwhile a careful look-out was kept upon a possible invasion; but
Mpande, who seemed not to care about venturing beyond the Tugela, made
no hostile movement, neither did the Amabuna, and for a time we enjoyed
rest and a breathing-space while our plans were maturing.

I, for my part, was now advanced to a position of great honour, not less
indeed than that formerly held by Tambusa himself. That induna was now
dead; so too was Umhlela, as I have told you, _Nkose_; and such of my
enemies who survived had but one fear now, and that was lest I might
turn my greatness to account in compassing their destruction. But of
this I had no thought, so completely was my mind full of how to restore
the ascendency of Dingane and the might of the nation.

All this while I saw nothing of Lalusini, nor by the most deftly veiled
questionings could I obtain tidings of her from any. Whither had she
gone? Would she not reappear as she had done before? And for all my
greatness my heart was sore--very sore, as I thought of her and longed
for her; yet never for a moment did I repent me that I had not slain the
King at her bidding.

Now Dingane had built for himself a great kraal on