ain, I suppose because someone had put fuel on
them, and Zikali was speaking.

"Come here, O Macumazana and O Son of Matiwane," he said, "and I will
repeat to you what your spirits have been telling me."

We drew near into the light of the fires, which for some reason or other
was extremely vivid. Then he spat the white stone from his mouth into
his big hand, and I saw that now it was covered with lines and patches
like a bird's egg.

"You cannot read the signs?" he said, holding it towards me; and when I
shook my head went on: "Well, I can, as you white men read a book. All
your history is written here, Macumazahn; but there is no need to tell
you that, since you know it, as I do well enough, having learned it in
other days, the days of Dingaan, Macumazahn. All your future, also, a
very strange future," and he scanned the stone with interest. "Yes, yes;
a wonderful life, and a noble death far away. But of these matters you
have not asked me, and therefore I may not tell them even if I wished,
nor would you believe if I did. It is of your hunting trip that you have
asked me, and my answer is that if you seek your own comfort you will do
well not to go. A pool in a dry river-bed; a buffalo bull with the
tip of one horn shattered. Yourself and the bull in the pool. Saduko,
yonder, also in the pool, and a little half-bred man with a gun jumping
about upon the bank. Then a litter made of boughs and you in it, and the
father of Mameena walking lamely at your side. Then a hut and you in it,
and the maiden called Mameena sitting at your side.

"Macumazahn, your spirit has written on this stone that you should
beware of Mameena, since she is more dangerous than any buffalo. If you
are wise you will not go out hunting with Umbezi, although it is true
that hunt will not cost you your life. There, away, Stone, and take
your writings with you!" and as he spoke he jerked his arm and I heard
something whiz past my face.

Next he spat out the black stone and examined it in similar fashion.

"Your expedition will be successful, Son of Matiwane," he said.
"Together with Macumazahn you will win many cattle at the cost of sundry
lives. But for the rest--well, you did not ask me of it, did you? Also,
I have told you something of that story before to-day. Away, Stone!" and
the black pebble followed the white out into the surrounding gloom.

We sat quite still until the dwarf broke the deep silence with one of
his great laughs.

"My