was dotted with the heads of the
animals swimming for the other side; and then the pool was in a boil,
and the calves, swimming quietly before, heaved themselves up in the
water with frantic bellowing as the alligators rose to seize them. They
were dragged under wildly, to reappear again but for a moment, and soon
the surface was dyed red, and the tranquil water lashed into foam; and
the wild bellowings of anguish mingled with the snap, snap of bony jaws,
followed by a hideous crunch; and as the long, grim, ugly bodies turned
with their struggling prey, we could see that these alligators were of
enormous size. It was over at last, save here and there a livid head,
or a mangled quarter, or other fragment floating on the surface; but the
shakings of the water, and the long strings of red bubbles which came
streaming up, showed that the hideous brutes beneath were tearing and
devouring their welcome, though unexpected, prey.

"_Hau_!" cried the King. "That was a good thought of mine. Now we have
a new way of disposing of evil-doers, Untuswa. Not long have the
alligators taken to dispose of twenty large and well-grown calves; not
long would they take to dispose of a man, or of twenty men. In truth,
it was a great idea!"

To this I agreed, of course. But, looking into that horrid pool and its
bloody surface, where even now two or three of the alligators were
reappearing, turning their eyes upward as though looking for more, I
thought of the secreted captive and the hiding-place away on the
mountain, and wondered if my death would come to me down in that
horrible hole; and the thought, _Nkose_, was not a nice one.

"Go now, children," said the King, waving away the staring and terrified
boys; and go they did, for I believe they thought they were to be thrown
in after the calves. "The idea is great; yes--great!" continued
Umzilikazi, in high good humour, as we walked back. "They shall be kept
there, those alligators, and from time to time I doubt not but we shall
find them some food."

During this time, _Nkose_, I have neglected to speak of my father,
Ntelani. Him the King had still suffered to live--I think, because he
desired to spare two such brave fighters as Mgwali and myself the
disgrace of being henceforth the sons of nobody; for had our father died
the death of a convicted traitor we could never more have been known as
his sons. But, though his life was spared, Ntelani was adjudged to
spend it in a state