d when I ceased to speak he further betrayed himself by answering me.

"Au, Chia'gnosi!" he exclaimed, "so thou, too, art a magician? And thou
dost threaten to kill me! Fool! no man living, magician or otherwise,
can kill me, else I should have died ages before thou wert born. But I
can and will kill thee, in despite of thy magic, and thus I do it!"

And, as he spoke, up went his right hand, with the great bangwan in it,
his intent being evidently to transfix me by hurling the spear at me.
But I guessed at his purpose, read it in his eyes; and, quick though he
was, I was the quicker, and before he had time to gather his strength to
cast the spear I had levelled my pistol and pulled the trigger. The
good little weapon barked out as the hammer fell, and through the thin
veil of powder smoke I saw Machenga spin round on his heels, flinging up
his arms at the same time, and the next instant down he crashed upon his
back, with a small blue hole in the very centre of his forehead, from
which a thin stream of blood began to trickle slowly.

With a lightning-like movement I thrust the empty pistol into my jacket
pocket, and transferred my rifle from my left hand to my right, at the
same time wheeling sharply round upon the king to see what action, if
any, he intended to take. I caught him in the act of springing to his
feet, and at once flung up my left hand warningly.

"Nay, O Great, Great One," I said very firmly, "rise not, I pray thee,
lest evil befall. My magic is just now very strong, as thou hast seen--
so strong that I can scarcely control it--and if anyone here cherishes
evil designs against me he had better forget them now, this instant,
lest they rise up and destroy him. So: that is well!"--as the king sank
limply back into his seat. "Now," I continued, raising my voice so that
it could be heard by at least the greater part of the warriors gathered
there in the great square, "the king and I are about to confer together;
therefore let no man move hand or foot, or utter a single word, for the
air is full of terrible magic that only I can control; and if we are
disturbed it may break loose, when--!" I concluded with an expressive
gesture which was meant to convey all sorts of dreadful things; and I
had the satisfaction of seeing Lomalindela's black skin turn a kind of
slate colour, while his lips became a dirty blue-white.

For a few seconds the king stared stupidly at Machenga's dead body, as
though he coul