ad come, in this narrow gully. Neither could give way. One must
advance over the body of the other.

_Whau, Nkose_! This was no light matter; for to kill a full-grown lion,
single-handed, with spears only, is a business we never willingly
undertake. But this one gave me no choice, for, with a savage snarl, he
launched himself into the air.

I know not how I avoided that onslaught; but I was quick in those days,
_Nkose_, quick as any wild beast. What I did was to run in upon him,
flinging myself _right under_ his spring. Then, as he flew over me, I
flashed upright, and, poised on tip-toe, quick as lightning I hurled one
of my casting spears. It sang, quivering on its way, striking the
mighty beast slantwise in the ribs and sinking deep. With terrible
roars and snarls he rolled over and over, snapping at the spear-haft,
and biting his own skin in the agony of his pain, and, the more he
struggled, the deeper sank the spear. Now I saw what I would do. It
would be quicker and far safer, and I did not want to brave over much
danger just then. A great mass of loose rock stood poised upon a firmly
embedded one immediately above the body of the lion, which, with hideous
roars, was writhing and struggling beneath. Running to this, I mustered
all my strength for a push. It swayed and tottered. Another mighty
effort, the huge stone swung over and went crashing down the slope. The
aim was good. With a frightful yell the great beast yielded up his
life, and lay with ribs and spine shattered, while the rock tore down
the mountain-side in leaps and bounds, splitting into fragments as it
rolled.

"_Bayete_!" I cried, in my exultation; for I had done something really
great. "Hail, king of the plain and the mountain! A short burial shall
first be thine."

Collecting stones, I piled them upon the sinewy frame of the mighty
beast to protect it from the vultures; for I desired not to tarry then,
so eager was I once more to behold Lalusini. Then, having gained the
flat summit of the mountain, I took my way cautiously to the secret
entrance of the sorceress's retreat.

And now, as I threaded the dark passage through the earth, I began
softly to sing a song of love, which should let Lalusini know that I was
coming. But there came back no answering song. _Whau, Nkose_! Warrior
as I was, I felt weak then, and my pulses began to beat. I sprang down
into the great rock hollow. It was empty.

Then I felt like a man wh