l know that they were brought into the camp, and I will
answer for it that they have no evil intentions against the prince or
any one else. If we were to kill them, we should make all the white men
in Natal our enemies," answered Mangaleesu.

His arguments appeared to be prevailing, when the savage old hag,
fearing that her influence would be lost, should her orders not be
obeyed, shouted out in a croaking voice--

"Kill them! kill them! If they are allowed to live, you cannot gain the
victory."

"If they are killed," cried Mangaleesu, "neither I nor my followers can
unite with those who allow so cruel an act. The English have always
been my friends, and I will not see them ill-treated, notwithstanding
what that old woman says. It was not long since that she was seen
paying a visit to Cetchwayo, and who can tell that she has not been sent
by him to betray us?"

The hag, who heard all that was said, began to move uneasily, and
gradually drew back from the crowd, until she joined the men who had
accompanied her into the camp. So deeply steeped in superstition were
the minds of the Zulus, that they could not divest themselves of the
idea that her predictions would be fulfilled, in spite of all Mangaleesu
had said. Denis and Percy were therefore kept strictly guarded in their
midst.

They could see the old witch at some distance gesticulating violently,
waving her arms about, occasionally leaping from side to side in the
most extraordinary fashion. Now and then she pointed to them in a way
which made them fear that she was still urging the chiefs to put them to
death. Mangaleesu was the only one who held out. Had he not arrived,
it seemed very probable that the savages would have plunged their
assegais in their bodies. Even now their lives hung in the balance.
For some time she was seen talking to several men, among whom were those
who had been their guards during the night. Presently she advanced, and
as she waved her wand, and pointed towards them, Denis heard her
exclaim--

"There were three of them! Where is the third? Without him the number
is incomplete."

The prince, who seemed to have forgotten this fact, on hearing her
speak, exclaimed--

"You are right, most sagacious prophetess. There were three. Bring him
forth, that he may suffer the doom of the others."

Instantly several of the young chiefs rushed to the hut, and were seen,
one after the other, crawling in.

"They'll be mighty puz