ad already_ fallen to the
King's possession.

"The blood of the most beautiful of all is that of the Amazulu. There
flows in her veins the pure blood of kings," he continued.

"_They are beautiful as those of the Amazulu, almost worthy to mingle
with the pure blood of kings_," I translated.

"She is the Queen of the hidden mysteries of the Bakoni; beautiful as
the mate of the Great King should be, and she has yet to be brought to
the Elephant of the Amandebeli."

"_Some even are skilled in the hidden mysteries of the Bakoni; and all
have been delivered to the Elephant of the Amandebeli_," I put it.

"The secret of her hiding-place is known to me alone," he said. "She is
there, safe and unharmed, awaiting the arrival of those who shall lead
her before the King. She is of the Amazulu, and is called Lalusini."

I started inwardly. Ha! The name! I might play tricks with the
remainder, but the name! It sounded so plain--stood forth so
unmistakably Zulu among the wretched monkey-like speech of these people,
that I saw, or fancied I saw, a spasm of astonishment come into the
King's face. Then I saw light.

"_None have been hidden away in secret hiding-places_," I translated;
"_all have been delivered safe and unharmed to those who should lead
them before the King. They are worthy mates for the Amazulu or the
Baqulusini_."

[Note: Baqulusini, same as Abaqulusi. A mountain clan inhabiting
Northern Zululand.]

Thus, _Nkose_, did I make use of the similarity between these two words,
deeming that the King, if he detected any difference, would attribute it
to the difficulty these people had in pronouncing Zulu words; and, in
fact, he must have done so.

"And is this all thou hast to urge in favour of thy miserable life,
rebellious dog, who barks at my messengers?" said the Great Great One,
haughtily.

"_And is this secret, indeed, known but to thee alone, and to no other?
Not even to a dog_?" I put it.

"To me alone; not even to a dog, Black Elephant," said the chief. But
his answer I turned into:

"_This is all I have to urge, O Black Elephant. If it is not enough, I
must even die_."

And now I felt safe. Nor could I help smiling to myself, for the words
I had put into the mouth of Tauane were the words of a brave man,
whereas the chief of the Blue Cattle was the greatest of cowards when
face to face with death. And, indeed, I deserved gratitude from him,
for in any case he was as good as dead; and