ave the man from the most horrible form of death known
among them.

From the fact that the scowl had vanished from the king's brow I
surmised that he, too, was well pleased at the final outcome of the
matter; and when presently the sound of the peculiar salute to which I
have referred had died away, he pointed to the rifle in my hand and
said:

"Is that the magic fire tube which kills from afar, of which thy servant
spoke when he came hither to crave my permission that thou shouldst
enter my country and visit me here?"

"Even so," I answered, offering it for examination, for I had not
reloaded it, and knew that, however carelessly he might handle it, he
could do no mischief. But he declined to touch it, saying:

"Nay, it is great and terrible magic, and I will have naught to do with
it. And thou, white man with the unpronounceable name, art also a great
and wonderful magician, for at thy will the lightning flashes from thy
fire tube and the very birds of the air fall dead at thy feet. Also,
when thou didst fight 'Mfuni, thou didst cause the sword in thy hand to
flash lightnings about thee by the swiftness with which thou didst wield
it. Therefore I give thee a new name; and henceforth thou shalt be
known as Chia'gnosi (The Smiter with Lightning). Go now, in peace,
Chia'gnosi. I thank thee for the splendid gifts which thou hast
bestowed upon me, and especially for the lightning-flashing sword, as
also for saving the life of one of my warriors. And to-morrow thou
shalt sit beside me, here in this great square, and witness the annual
festival of the Mashona nation. Sala guhli!"

Accepting this as my dismissal, I saluted, and, wheeling round, beckoned
Piet to follow me to the place where I had left my horse, at the
entrance to the square. But I had not gone six steps upon my way when--
whether spontaneously or in response to some signal I know not--up went
the spear of every warrior present, in salute, and a great shout of
"Chia'gnosi--Chia'gnosi--'Nkos'!" rent the air, to which I, as in duty
bound, responded by halting for a moment and raising my hand to my
hat-brim in a military salute.

About twenty minutes after my return to the wagon, 'Mfuni, my late
antagonist, put in an appearance, in obedience to my instructions. He
was still in full panoply of war, as he had appeared on parade, and had
provided himself with a new bangwan, or stabbing spear, which, with his
shield, war club, and a sheaf of hunting a