wn; there was a flash of two scimitars in the
air, and in a second two spouting, headless trunks were deluging the
earth. An awed silence rested momentarily upon the multitude; then
broke forth into hideous clamour for the torture of the white wizards.

For such these were, they declared. All the insects and herbs they were
collecting--what was all this for but for purposes of witchcraft? Only
that morning they had captured a huge scorpion, and had been found
distilling evil _muti_ from its venomous carcase. With this they had
enabled their enemy to escape them. With this they had even bewitched
the Great Great One himself. Death to the wizards! Let them take the
Arab's place!

Haviland's shirt was rent from his back, revealing a curious jagged
scar, running from the left shoulder halfway to the elbow.

"Hold!" roared the King.

All eyes were raised, so startling was the tone. The Great Great One
was indeed bewitched, was the one thought in the minds of the now silent
multitude. And, indeed, there seemed some colour for the idea.
Umnovunovu had half risen from his seat, and, both hands gripping the
arms of the throne, he was staring wildly at the unfortunate prisoner.

"Loose him!" he cried. Then, in excellent English, "Come here,
Haviland. I know you now."

In after times Haviland used to say that he had met with some wild
surprises in the course of a somewhat adventurous career, but none
wilder, madder, more utterly dumb-striking than when the King of the
Inswani broke out into good English, hailing him by name. He started,
stared, rubbed his eyes, gasped--then stared again.

"Great Scott! Am I drunk or dreaming?" broke from him at last. "Why,
it can't be--. But it is--Cetchy--Anthony--Mpukuza?"

But with the last name a mighty groan broke forth from all who heard,
then another and another. Even in the whirl of his amazement and
relief, Haviland recognised that he had blundered terribly. He had
actually named the King by his veiled name, and that in the presence of
the whole nation.

"Not Mpukuza now, but Umnovunovu. The Stump has spread into the
Fire-striking Tree," said the King in a loud voice, speaking in Zulu.
Then, dropping into English again:

"I have never forgotten you, Haviland, although you have forgotten me.
When your friend there called you Haviland, I made him repeat it, so as
to make sure. Then I remembered that bad scratch you gave yourself one
day at Saint Kirwin's, when