hearing through that ill-advised
leader's heart.

"Is the King bewitched?" he roared, flinging the great carcase from him,
and rolling his eyes around. But the whole multitude cowered, shouting
aloud the _sibonga_. Then he turned to the two white men, his
equanimity quite restored.

"There you are, Haviland. Where would I be if I didn't kill? Dumaliso
has been getting too big for his boots, as we used to say, for some time
past, so now I've killed him. It's quite simple."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Well, Haviland, we've fallen into luck's way, it seems," was Oakley's
comment, as they found themselves alone again, now in one of the largest
and roomiest huts the town could show, and with plenty of attendance and
abundance of everything. "And now, I suppose, we can be trotting home
again when we feel like it."

"Well, I feel like it now, Oakley. It is, as you say, a piece of luck;
and, apart from that, I'm awfully glad to see Cetchy again. But all
this sanguinary business has got upon my nerves rather--and I think a
change of climate will be good for us."

So, a few days later, having made known their wishes to the King, he
sent for them.

"You want to leave me, do you, Haviland?" he said. "Well, you can. But
I trust to you both to say and do nothing that might bring a crowd of
white people to my country. I don't want them, I tell you, and if any
do come I shall kill them--and so I warn you. You can leave whenever
you feel inclined--you and the Arab, Somala. I am going to send an impi
to look after you till you are safe beyond the reach of Rumaliza's
bands. I am also sending with you, as a parting present, fifty tusks of
ivory. And, Haviland, if ever you feel like coming to see me again, you
will be welcome, only don't come with a number of people. You,
Kumbelwa" relapsing into Zulu, "come hither."

"See. Thou art a great fighting man," he went on, when the Zulu had
crept to his feet, "and I have need for such as thee. Wilt thou stay
and wield a spear in my army?"

"_Nkose_! _Baba_! Great is the Lion of the Inswani! But what of my
wives in my kraal beneath Babanango--father of the mighty?"

The King burst into a loud laugh.

"Thy wives! _Au_! I will give thee three new ones--six if thou wilt,
and thou shalt have abundant choice. Say?"

The big Zulu thought a moment. His own country had been conquered by
the English, and there was no mo