ends--myself among
the number, perchance--have died before yon sun sank behind the hills."

The king placed his elbows on his knees and buried his face in his hands
for several minutes, evidently overwhelmed by a sense of profound
perplexity. At length, however, he looked up again, and, still
addressing Mapela, asked:

"And think ye, Mapela, that all those,"--pointing to the long array of
slain--"suffered unjustly?"

"Nay," answered Mapela, "I am but a simple induna, knowing nothing save
the art of warfare, and the way in which warriors should be trained in
order to make good fighters of them. Who am I that I should presume to
answer such a question? Ask Chia'gnosi; he is young, but he is very
wise. Perhaps his wisdom may be able to answer thee. Ask him."

The king turned to me.

"Thou hast heard my question, Chia'gnosi, and Mapela's answer," said he.
"Canst thou tell me what I want to know?"

"Listen to my words, O King," said I. "Last night, when the moon was so
high in the heavens,"--I pointed to the approximate altitude of the
planet--"Machenga came secretly and in disguise to my wagon, asking for
gifts. I knew not then who he was, nor did he say; indeed, he pretended
to be a messenger from Machenga: but presently I knew him for Machenga
himself, although I had never before seen him, and I set forth certain
gifts, which I offered him. But he refused them, demanding as a gift
one of my magic fire tubes; and when I refused him he went away,
threatening me that to-day I should be sorry that I had refused him.
Then I knew that it was no messenger, but Machenga himself who had
visited me; and I knew the man for a liar and cheat. Thou dost ask
whether all those slain suffered unjustly. I answer thee that they did!
I know none of them save Logwane; but send thou and ascertain the names
of the other indunas who have died to-day by the hands of the Slayers,
and thou shalt find that, like Logwane, they were rich men, the half of
whose riches would pass to Machenga; or they were men who had incurred
Machenga's hatred. Let the smellers-out be brought before thee and
questioned, and thou shalt find that it was by Machenga's orders that
they smelled out the indunas. As for the others, it was necessary that
a certain number of the common people should also die, else would the
choice of the indunas have been too obvious."

"By the bones of my royal father, thy words, Chia'gnosi, are the words
of wisdom, and I wi