ach year, that the chosen victims invariably
included certain men toward whom the head witch doctor was well known to
cherish a feeling of strong enmity, while other victims comprised those
chiefs who were numbered among the richest men in the community--the law
being that, while the property of the alleged traitors was forfeited to
the king, half of it was surrendered to the head witch doctor, as his
fee for the detection of the criminals. Mapela, "the Wise One", was one
of the strongest upholders of the above theory, and in support of the
soundness of it he whispered to me:

"You see that tall induna yonder, talking with two others? Yes, the man
with the necklace of lions' teeth. He is Logwane, reputed to be the
most wealthy induna. For a number of years he has paid heavy tribute to
Machenga, thus purchasing immunity from being `smelled out'; but during
this last year he has become a favourite of the Great, Great One, and
presuming upon this, I understand that now he has refused to pay further
tribute to Machenga, and has defied him. _Mark my words: he will be
among those smelled out to-morrow_!"

"You think so?" I whispered back. "And, if so, what will be his fate?"

"Chiele (slain)!" answered Mapela tersely, accompanying the word with an
expressive movement of his right hand, imitative of a man stabbing
another.

"What! notwithstanding the fact that he is a favourite of the king?" I
demanded incredulously.

"Neither that nor the fact that he is highly esteemed by us all and is
well known to be absolutely loyal to the king will save him. You will
see," replied Mapela.

"But," I exclaimed hotly, "that would be monstrous--nothing short of
deliberate, cold-blooded murder! Do you really think that the king will
permit it? And if he should, will none of you intervene?"

"The king will permit it, because he has absolute faith in Machenga,"
answered Mapela. "And, as for us, who are we that we should intervene
to prevent that which the Great, Great One permits?"

"And are the victims killed there and then, on the spot?" demanded I.
"Have they no chance given them to appeal against Machenga's judgment,
no opportunity to produce proof of their innocence?"

"None," answered Mapela. "They are dragged forth; the executioners take
them; and--they die! You will see; for the king has bidden you to be
present to-morrow."

"I shall not see," I retorted, "for I shall decline to be present.
Nothing shall induce