ance, and even far
beyond the limits of the same. Many of these were mountain tribes,
small in numbers, but brave and fierce, and gave our fiery youths just
as much fighting as they could manage ere wetting their victorious
spears in blood.

Now, although we had peace from our more formidable foes, yet the mind
of the King seemed not much easier on that account, for all fears as to
disturbance from without being removed, it seemed that Umzilikazi was
not wholly free from dread of conspiracy within. And, indeed, I have
observed that it is ever so, _Nkose_. When the greater troubles which
beset a man, and which he did not create, beset him no longer, does he
not at once look around to see what troubles he can create for himself?
_Whau_! I am old. I have seen.

So it was with Umzilikazi. The fear of Dingane removed, the
recollection of the conspiracy of Tyuyumane and the others returned--
that conspiracy to hand over our new nation to the invading Amabuna--
that conspiracy which so nearly succeeded, and, indeed, would have
completely, but for the watchfulness and craft of the old Mosutu witch
doctor. Wherefore, with this suspicion ever in the King's mind we,
_izinduna_, seemed to have fallen upon uneasy times. Yet the principal
object of dislike and distrust to the Great Great One was not, in the
first place, one of ourselves. No councillor or fighting man was it,
but a woman--and that woman Lalusini, my principal wife.

"Ha, Untuswa!" would the King say, talking dark, but his tone full of
gloomy meaning. "Ha, Untuswa, but thine _amahlose_ [Tutelary spirits]
watch over thee well. Tell me, now, where is there a man the might of
whose spear and the terror of whose name sweeps the world--whose
slumbers are lulled by the magic of the mighty, and who is greater even
than kings? Tell me, Untuswa, where is such a man?"

"I think such is to be found not far hence, Great Great One. Even in
this house," I answered easily, yet with a sinking fear of evil at
heart, for his words were plain in their meaning; my successes in war
surpassed by none; my beautiful wife, the great sorceress of the Bakoni,
the wandering daughter of Tshaka the Terrible. And his tone--ah, that,
too, spoke.

"Even in this house! _Yeh bo_! Untuswa--thou sayest well," went on the
King softly, his head on one side, and peering at me with an expression
that boded no good. "Even in this house! Ha! Name him, Untuswa. Name
him."

"Who am I t