so."

Now the cry of anger, of disgust, which arose to our lips was checked,
for beyond a lightening up of the eyes the King's face showed no sign
that he had grasped the full meaning of this speech. For we knew--we
_izinduna_--that in his heart of hearts Umzilikazi was uneasy on the
subject of the Amabuna and Dingane, but especially Dingane. He knew
that, sooner or later, the arm of Dingane would be long enough to reach
him; and it was for this reason that such immense pains were taken to
keep up the strength and efficiency of our army. Even then, nearly half
of it was composed of slaves reared among base peoples. How should
these withstand, in the day of trial, the pure blood and disciplined
numbers of the _impis_ of Dingane? We had overthrown Tshaka's _impi_
among the mountain passes, but that was a running fight, and but for the
cloud which descended upon the crests of Kwahlamba and rested there for
days the end might well have been different, and to-day there might have
been no new nation ruled over by the son of Matyobane. It was a
dangerous speech to utter into the ears of the Great Great One, for a
King likes not to be reminded that there may be a mightier king than
himself. It was a speech which, coming from the lips of many a man,
might well have amounted to a prayer for death.

"Nations are like lions," replied Umzilikazi; "the stronger drives out
the weaker, that it may keep its hunting-grounds for itself alone. The
weaker, in turn, drives out the weaker still; and so things go on, and
ever will go on."

"Not so, Black Elephant. The time will come--has come in some parts of
the earth--when the strong no longer drive out the weak, but both shall
sit down side by side in peace. There is One who gave His life that
this should come to pass, and that all should be turned into the way of
the truth. And He who thus suffered death to save a world was the Son
of a King--a King beside whom the might of the mightiest King the earth
ever saw is less than the weakness of a child beside the strength of an
elephant. For He was the Son of God."

"What was He like? How did He die, the son of this mighty King?" said
Umzilikazi.

"Thus, ruler of a nation which loves war. Thus."

And the white _isanusi_ drew from his robe something we had beheld
sticking in it, and had deemed some portion of his _muti_, and held it
out towards the King. And we, too, all saw it. It was a black cross,
and upon it, fashione