Yes; to me they cried the _Bayete_, these warriors--_Bayete_, the salute
of a King--to me, Untuswa! In truth, the old Mosutu _isanusi_ spoke not
falsely when he declared that the strangest thing would happen to me in
the Place of the Three Rifts, for here was I being hailed by armed
warriors as a King. For a moment the thought crossed my mind that the
Great Great One was no more, and that the people had elected me to sit
in his seat, and had sent to find me, but only for a moment. For the
light of the moon was strong, and of the faces of these not one did I
know.

"_Yeh-bo_!" I answered, in a deep, muttering tone, some instinct moving
me to hide my real voice as much as might be. And I stood straight and
erect, waiting for them to continue.

"We have explored this mountain range far on either hand, O Greater of
the Twin Stars of the Heavens," said the foremost, "yet there is no way
by which our _impis_ may cross save by yon gloomy pass. And in the
mouth thereof sits some strange wizard beast and dismally howls."

"It is even as Silwane has said, more valiant of two Kings," declared
another.

"Greater of the Twin Stars of the Heavens!"

"Way by which our _impis_ may cross!" Who was the man addressing? To
what _impis_ did he make reference? _Hau_! was this part of the
wizardry of the place? And then, _Nkose_, as the real truth flashed
upon me, I knew not whether I were living or dead. These warriors were
the advance guard of an _impi_ coming from Zululand. "_Bayete_,"--the
royal salute; "Greater of the Twin Stars," must have been intended for
one of the two Kings, brothers, then reigning over Zululand, Dingane or
Mhlangana. And for one of them these men were mistaking me.

I would ask you, _Nkose_, was ever any man in such a position? The
invading _impi_ must be of immense size if commanded in person by a
King, and it was sent to crush us. That was as clear as noonday. Now,
indeed, I had a part to play. Were the mistake discovered, I could
hardly escape with my life, and, in that case, our whole nation, taken
completely by surprise, would be assailed without warning, and, it might
be, utterly exterminated. Fortunately, my back was to the moon, whereas
they were facing it.

"What is thy will, Father?" went on the man who had been named Silwane.
"Shall we send back to hurry on the companies, and force this pass
tomorrow night? Yet, it will be better to leave it until the night
after."

"Till