oot me, and he meant it."

"And you, Mtezani," said Wyvern, turning to the latter. "Said I not
that you must not leave U' Joe, or the camp until my return? Why then
are you here?"

"_Nkose_! I have smelt this dog prowling about for two days following
you. That is why I am here."

Wyvern could hardly find further fault, so he only said:

"Let him up."

"_Nkose_! I will let him up--I--_Ijji_!"

The last came out in a strident ferocious gasp, as its utterer drove the
broad blade of his assegai down between the shoulders of his helpless
captive. The limbs contracted convulsively, and the slayer, maddened by
a sudden access of ferocity, drove in his spear-head again and again.

"That dog will yelp no more," he growled, rising erect.

Wyvern felt absolutely sick.

"What have you done, Mtezani?" he said, sternly. "You have killed an
utterly defenceless man. That is not the act of a warrior but of a
coward."

The young Zulu looked more than sulky.

"That was not a man but a dog," he said. "And he would have taken your
life, _Nkose_."

This was undeniable. Wyvern felt he could hardly quarrel with a man who
had just saved his life; further he recognised that one of those
irresistible impulses to shed blood common to most savages had come upon
Mtezani. Moreover the thing was done, and no amount of objection on his
part could undo it. So he rejoined:

"And you have saved it, Mtezani. Good. I will not forget."

"_Nkose_ is my father and saved mine," was the reply. "Now we are a
life for a life."

The speaker had quite regained his good-humour. The paroxysm of
savagery had passed, and his pleasant, intelligent face was as usual.

"_Whau 'Nkose_! What is one dog more or less?" he went on, with a
careless laugh. "And--that one knew too much."

"Knew too much?"

"_Eh-he_! He was sent by Inxele to find out what you were here for, and
to-day he knew. Now he knows no more."

Wyvern stopped short and fixed his eyes on the other's face.

"And you, Mtezani? Do you know?"

"_Ou_!" bringing a hand to his mouth. "Even that might be, _Nkose_.
But others will not."

Wyvern eyed him curiously, then led the way back to the camp.

"We shall have to reckon with Inxele about this, Mtezani," he said.
"You have killed his `dog.'"

"_Hau_! and I would kill the dog's master," and the savagery blazed up
again. "I am a son of Majendwa, _Nkose_, and a son of Majendwa fears
nobody, let alone a white _ishin