up to his quarry and proceeded to cut its
throat with the blade of a huge assegai.

This man, as the pair rode up to him, growled out a sullen "_Saku
bona_," and proceeded with his work of cleaning the buck, just as if
they were not there. Seen face to face he was unmistakably a Zulu, and
though of fine frame and splendid proportions, both agreed that he owned
about the most villainous countenance they had looked upon for many a
long day. His shaven pate was crowned with the usual black shiny ring,
and he wore round his loins the usual _mutya_ of cats' tails. But they
noticed that he was armed with several broad-bladed, close-quarter
assegais, as well as two or three lighter casting ones, also a huge
knobkerrie, and a full-sized war-shield of red and white ox hide.

"It was a fine shot--or rather couple of shots," said Dawes, as they
stood watching the process. "Look, Ridgeley. The first assegai half
ham-strung the buck just under the shoulders, the second must have gone
through the heart, or very near it. Yes, it's powerful throwing."

To Dawes's suggestion that he should sell them the buck which he had so
deftly slain, or at least a part of it, the Zulu returned a surly
refusal. All the while he was cleaning the carcase he was devouring
what he considered tid-bits raw--the heart, the liver, and part of the
entrails. Then making a cup of his two hands, he scooped up a quantity
of blood which had collected in the hollow of the carcase, and
deliberately drank it. Gerard could hardly conceal his disgust, but
there was something in the action that struck Dawes.

"Who are you?" he asked. "Of the people of Zulu?"

"Of the people of Zulu? _Au_!" returned the savage in a sneering tone,
as he flung the carcase of the buck across his shoulder. Then standing
drawn to the full height of his almost gigantic frame, his villainous
countenance--rendered more repulsive still with the smears of blood from
the bits of raw meat he had been eating--wreathed into a most evil grin,
he shouted--

"Where have you dwelt, _abelungu_ [white men], that you have never heard
of Vunawayo? Of the people of Zulu? _Ou_! Igazipuza. _The people who
drink blood_."

The last words were uttered almost in a roar--a roar of defiance and
hatred and wild beast ferocity. The huge barbarian turned and
disappeared among the bush.

"We had better get on and find our outspan," said Dawes, after the
momentary silence which had fallen upon th