reat One. But I
would ask, Father, that these might be spared, at any rate, for a few
days longer. It may yet be that Kwelanga is found, and then, my Father,
what will she do, finding that those who took care of her are no more?"

"Strange care have they taken of her, Untuswa," replied Umzilikazi.
"Hold! Whom have we here?"

For over the plain a great multitude was advancing. As it drew nearer,
we could make out that at some paces in front of it walked a woman.
That she was tall and straight, and beautiful of build, we could see
even from there. Nearer--nearer, she drew; advancing direct to where
was seated the Great Great One. In silence the people parted to make
way for her, and, not hesitating a moment, she paced up to the King, her
head thrown slightly back, proud, stately of bearing, as though she were
a queen. Then, halting, she bent down, yet not very low, and cried,
"_Bayete_!" And we who looked thought we had never beheld so fair and
gracious a type of womanhood; while I, for my part--_Whau Nkose_! it
seemed as though the end of all things was at hand, for she upon whom I
now gazed--upon whom we all gazed--standing there before the King, was
none other than Lalusini, the beautiful sorceress who had bewitched me
with her love.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

IN DARK WARNING.

There she stood--she on whom my thoughts had dwelt day and night--she
for whom I had sought so carefully and yet so fruitlessly--she whom I
had never expected to behold again. There she stood, and as quick
murmurs of amazement, of admiration, went up from all who beheld, her
eyes swept around our circle and rested upon my face--yet hardly
rested--for in them there was no brightening, no recognition. She
looked at me as she looked at the others--as though she had never seen
me before.

Now I remembered Masuka's strange, dark, prophecy--how that the
"she-eagle" should return, but that then the alligators should be fed.
The King would remember the name as spoken by Tauane--and that, coupled
with Nangeza's accusation, ah--good night! Well, I cared not. I, like
others, leaned eagerly forward as I crouched, straining my eyes to gaze
upon the beauty of the sorceress. Yet even then, while her glance was
not directly meeting mine, I seemed to read in her eyes an unspoken, yet
none the less vividly-flashed, message--even as I had read the glance of
old Masuka that dreadful day upon which I stood between the King's
assegai and doom. And