m slay me as I stand. If not, suffer that I slay their
utterers."

And, dropping my assegai--the King's Assegai--I turned my breast to the
Black Elephant, even as on that day when I stood expecting the
death-stroke in the sight of all the nation.

"Not yet, Untuswa, not yet," was the answer, uttered softly. "Lead on
now, that we may return before these _abatagati_ smell that the Lion has
been on their track."

Now, as we took our way beneath the blackness of the forest shades, it
seemed to me, _Nkose_, that I was standing with one foot upon the point
of an exceedingly lofty pinnacle, which point pierced more and more my
foot, and yet on each and every side was the dizzy height of death. For
now came back to me those plotting and foolish dreams of the days when
my principal wife, Nangeza, and myself were making love without
permission, and breaking daily the stern law of our nation. Then we had
talked over the possibility which lay before every man who knew not
fear, and who dared stake everything on fate, and how no man was more
fitted to aspire to the rule of a warrior race than such a born warrior
as myself; and, although now I had come to see the foolishness of such
dreams--for I loved Umzilikazi as a dog does his master--and, further,
was happy enough in my position as second fighting _induna_--yet it
might be that Nangeza, who was ill-disposed to me now by reason of her
evil and over-reaching temper, had whispered abroad such old tales--
adding insidiously to them, as the manner is with women--and these might
have reached the ears of the King--as what indeed did not?--and, taken
with what he had just heard, might mean my downfall. Yet I could do
nothing, save to trust in my steady and faithful services to the King,
and the weight and general soundness of my counsel; for, young as I was,
the Great Great One took counsel of me oft, though secretly--oftener,
indeed, than of older _izinduna_, such as my father Ntelani, or even
Mcumbete, who of all his counsellors was the most trusted.

Suddenly the King's hand fell upon my shoulder again, pressing me down
gently but firmly to the very earth. Not a moment too soon, for as we
lay crouching there, over us passed the four conspirators--right over
us, so that had they trodden but a foot's breadth to one side they had
touched us. They were now upon the edge of the brush, and we could see
their forms clearly outlined against the stars. Moreover, each held his
broa