cattle--for which he was responsible, and the chief to whom he
did _konza_ was no indulgent master. But what if he were to avenge
their loss? The obligation he would thus lay himself under would far,
far outweigh the mere carrying out of his original orders. He stole one
quick look over his followers. Yes. The thing could be done, if only
he could convey some sort of word or signal that they should strike
immediately and in concert.

But there was with Dabulamanzi's force an old induna named Untuswa, a
scarred old battle-dog whose whole life had been spent in a laughing
acquaintance with Death, by the side of whose crowded experience such a
crisis as this was as the merest child's play; a born strategist,
moreover, whose rapidity of plan had turned the scale of more than one
hard fought and bloody struggle. He, while these amenities were going
forward, had taken but scant notice of them; instead, had let his
observation--the outcome of exhaustive experience--go as to the attitude
of the other side, and also that of his own. With regard to the latter,
a mere breathed word here and there had been sufficient. Warriors had
slipped away unostentatiously from his side--to mingle with the rest--
far and near--and as they went, they, too, carried a word.

Untuswa read Qapela's mind, and Untuswa knew, none better, the supreme
advantage of getting in the first blow. Now he lifted up his voice and
roared in deep sonorous tone, the war-shout of the King's party.

"Usutu!"

Like an answering wave in thunder on an iron-bound coast it was taken up
and rolled through the multitude. The ranks seemed to tighten a moment,
then hurled themselves upon the opposing force. For a few moments there
was deadly work--the tramp of feet, the flapping of shield against
shie|d, the death-hiss--the strident "_I-jji_! _I-jji_!" as the spear
or heavy knob-stick struck home; then Qapela's force, overwhelmed,
demoralised by the suddenness of the onslaught, broke and fled in blind,
scattered confusion, the Usutu impi in hot pursuit. A mandate from
Dabulamanzi, however, recalled this, as far as was practicable. He had
no wish to destroy his own people, any more of them, that is, than was
absolutely necessary, only to show that the King, though an exile, was
still the Great Great One, in whose light they lived, and that his wrath
could still burn far and terrible upon these rebellious ones. But that
mandate could not reach those in the fore