ight I have ever loved best."

"That I have already done, father."

"Thou art a very prince of indunas, Untuswa," replied Dingane. "Hast
thou gathered in all?"

"All, father. I have sent swift runners to Silwane's _impi_ and to all
our outlying kraals."

"That is well."

Now the _izanusi_ craved leave to enter, but Dingane would have none of
them. There was but one in whose magic he had any faith, he said, and
that was Mahlula; and since the battle Mahlula had been seen or heard of
by none. Ha! I could have revealed a strange tale, _Nkose_, but that
was furthest of all from my mind. Then the _izanusi_, thus refused
admittance, set up a doleful howling outside the hut, until Dingane,
wrathful, bade me go forth and drive them away, which I was glad to do.

All through the night I sat beside the King, never leaving him; all
through the night bands of warriors were arriving at the kraal, and the
tramp of their feet and the renewed wailings of the King's women in
their huts was all the sound that was heard; for men cared not to talk,
so great a mourning and grief had fallen upon all.

With the dawn of day Dingane aroused himself.

"I will go forth, Untuswa. Give me the aid of thy shoulder."

But even thus it was found that he could not walk, so I caused his chair
to be brought, and thus he was borne forth, I supporting him; but
although four stalwart warriors bent to the task, it was a hard one, for
the men of the House of Senzangakona are large beyond the ordinary, as
you know, _Nkose_.

Outside the kraal the warriors were mustered, squatting behind their
great war-shields, forming a huge half circle even as on the day when
they hailed the fugitive King in his place of concealment, only now
their number had nearly doubled. There they sat, rank upon rank,
motionless. As the King's chair was lowered to the ground the whole of
this dense mass of armed men threw their war-shields to the earth and
fell prostrate upon them, and in the roar of the "_Bayete_" which
thundered forth was a subdued growl of grief and wrath. Then they
arose, and squatted crouching as before.

The eyes of the dying King kindled, as he swept his glance over this
splendid army, and his form seemed to gather renewed life as he sat
upright in his chair, his shield-bearer holding on high the great white
shield behind him. Then he spoke:

"My children, I have called you here because I desire that the last
sight my eyes shall rest on s