fore the
chiefs of such tribes as this.

"Why do you approach me with weapons in your hand, stranger? Is this a
custom among yourselves when approaching a chief?"

"Our weapons were placed in our hands by the Great Great One--the Black
Elephant, whose voice trumpets afar. Not until we return into his
presence again do we lay them down," I answered shortly.

All this while I was keenly watching the chief's face, and I read
therein a bragging nature, but a coward spirit underlying it. He, for
his part, was noting our large stature and fearless bearing, our great
shields and heavy-bladed spears, and I knew he was impressed thereby.

"What do you here, in my country, strangers?" he continued, frowning
still deeper. "You enter it armed and slaughter our cattle, and seize
upon our women and boys to act as your slaves," with a glance at the
group behind us who had thrown off their loads to rest. "This must be
explained."

"The explanation is short, O Chief of the Blue Cattle," I answered
haughtily, standing straight and with my head thrown back. "We entered
this, your country, as we would enter any country, at the bidding of the
Great Great One, who sits at Ekupumuleni, the Black Elephant, who is
King over the whole world and King over the Bakoni of course. This is
the explanation, O Chief of the Blue Cattle."

At these words an enraged murmur arose from those immediately before us,
and rolled along the ranks in a defiant shout. Still, with my head
thrown back, I only laughed slightly.

"That is my explanation; now hear my advice," I went on. "Send back
immediately your highest _indunas_ with a large present of girls and
cattle to the Great Great One who sits at Ekupumuleni. Then will he fix
the terms upon which he will suffer you and your people to live, O Chief
of the Blue Cattle."

To the first shout of rage now succeeded a deafening yell of
exasperation as the people caught the gist of these proud words. There
was a swift rush and the ranks tightened around us. Spears were shaken
towards us, and eyes glared with angry menace. But my little band made
scarcely a movement; a hand here and there would shift nearer to the
head of the deadly stabbing assegai, or a shield would quiver in sinewy
grip. That was all, yet upon every face there glowed the light of
battle. A moment and we should be hewing our way through those broad
ranks to the inspiration of our fiercely maddening war-cry.

But the chief's c