uried. The armed guards, too, seemed bewildered
with awe and amazement. The moment had come. The Red Death had indeed
presaged the accession of a new King--but for the daughter of Tshaka the
Mighty, the swift and merciful stroke of a royal spear should end her
life, instead of the stake of agony and shame. For myself I cared not.
I was mad. The whole world was whizzing round.

Through it all I heard the voice of Lalusini.

"Pause a moment, Ruler of the Great," she was saying, and her voice was
firm and sweet and musical as ever, and utterly without fear. "Pause a
moment for a sign."

She had half turned, and with one hand was pointing towards the
ascending smoke-cloud towering above the hill of death. A sharp,
crashing peal of thunder shook the world, and the lightning-gleam seemed
to flash down right upon the smouldering pile. A silence was upon all
as, with upturned faces, King, _izinduna_, guards, slayers, the whole
multitude sat motionless, waiting for what should next befall. Not long
had we to wait.

Lalusini stood, her eyes turned skyward, her hand outstretched, her lips
moving. To many minds there came the recollection of her as she had
thus stood, long ago, singing the Song of the Shield--that glorious
war-song which had inspired each of our warriors with the daring of ten,
which had saved the day to us at the Place of the Three Rifts. Then
there came such a deafening crash that the very earth rocked and reeled;
and from the rent thunder cloud a jagged stream of fire poured itself
down upon the remainder of the burning wood, scattering logs, sparks,
cinders, and the bones of the tortured slaves, whirling them in a mighty
shower far and wide over the plain. Those of the slayers who still
lingered around the spot lay as dead men.

"Behold the sign, O son of Matyobane!" cried Lalusini, in clear, ringing
tones, turning again to the King. "Yonder are the dogs who lied against
me. The heavens above would not suffer their very bones to rest, but
have scattered them far and wide over the face of the world. No others
have met with harm."

Now all began to cry aloud that indeed it was so; and from the multitude
a great murmur of wonderment went up. For then those of our men who had
been struck down were seen to rise and walk slowly down towards the
kraal--stupified, but alive and unharmed. Then I, who could no longer
sit still, came before the King.

"A boon, Great Great One," I cried. "Suffer m