e to go and root out this
mystery of the Red Death, and slay for ever this evil thing that causeth
it; I alone. So shall it trouble the land no more."

A hum of applause rose from among my fellow _izinduna_, who joined with
me in praying that my undertaking be allowed.

"Ever fearless, Untuswa," said the King, half sneering; yet I could see
that the wrathful mood was fast leaving him. "Yet thou art half a
magician thyself, and this thing seems a thing of fearful and evil
witchcraft. But hear me. Thou shalt proceed to the Valley of the Red
Death, but with no armed force; and before this moon is full thou shalt
slay this horror, that its evil deeds may be wrought no more. If
success is thine, it shall be well with thee and thine; if failure, thou
and thy house shall become food for the alligators; and as for thine
_inkosikazi_, the stake which she has for the time being escaped shall
still await her. I have said it, and my word stands. Now let the
people go home."

With these words Umzilikazi rose and retired within the _isigodhlo_,
and, as the rain began to fall in cold torrents, in a very short time
the open space was clear, all men creeping within the huts to take
shelter and to talk over the marvel that had befallen. But while only
the _izanusi_ retired growling with discontent, all men rejoiced that
Lalusini had so narrowly escaped what had seemed a certain doom.

Such doom, too, _Nkose_, had the King himself narrowly escaped; but that
all men did not know, it being, indeed, only known to me.

CHAPTER THREE.

AN OMINOUS PARTING.

You will see, _Nkose_, that my times now were stormy and troublesome,
and indeed I have ever observed that as it is with nations and people so
it is with individuals. There comes a time when all is fair--all is
power and strength and richness--then comes a decline, and neither
nation nor individual is as before.

Such a time had come upon myself. After the battle of the Three Rifts,
when we had rolled back the might of Dingane--a matter, indeed, wherein
I had fully borne my part--there had followed a time of great honour and
of rest. I was, next to the King, the greatest man in the nation, for
Kalipe, the chief fighting induna, was getting on in age, and would fain
have seen me in his place, having no jealousy of me. I had taken to
wife the beautiful sorceress whose love I had longed to possess;
moreover, the King had rid me of Nangeza, whose tongue and temper had
b