on his part. Then, in obedience to the same
mysterious signal, they approached him, even gliding over his body, but
making no attempt to strike him. The hush of the silence was tense.
The awed spectators, some of whom had seen instances of the
Snake-Doctor's marvellous skill before, watched, still as death,
wondering how soon the white man's nerve would break down, and he would
become a raving madman, such as his tormentor-in-chief they knew to be
at intervals.

There is a period beyond which a state of tense apprehension cannot be
kept up. Until this was reached Wyvern underwent the tensest of its
torments. Instinctively he turned from side to side with every movement
of the horrible reptiles, then, when he found himself staring into the
countenance of a great black mamba within a yard of his own the point of
indifference was reached. He felt capable of no further agony. The
sooner the fatal stroke was dealt the better.

Then the Snake-Doctor began to call in his horrible myrmidons. One by
one they came, and, in silent glide, each once more hung its glistening
coils about the body and limbs of its repulsive master. Again an
awestruck gasp went up from the entranced crowd. What would be the next
trial in store for the victim? Something fearful beyond words, for, had
not the Snake-Doctor claimed him?

But like the movements of the crawling serpents, a very writhe of panic
ran through the riveted spectators. The weird death-hiss broke upon the
silence and down they went in scores before the assegais of the
advancing enemy; who, in the all entrancing abandonment of the novel
spectacle had noiselessly rushed them on all sides, and now was right in
among them, stabbing in every direction. They had been surprised by an
impi of the rival faction, as strong, if not stronger than their own,
now considerably stronger, if only that many, in their fancied security,
and the absorbing interest of their cruel entertainment had thrown down
their weapons and shields, and so were massacred in an absolutely
defenceless state. The din and horror was indescribable as the surprise
became manifest. In among them were the destroyers, stabbing, hacking;
and the death-hiss vibrated upon the air, then the war-shout "Usutu,"
and the flap of shields in counter strife, as the assailed managed to
effect some sort of rally. The chief, Laliswayo, was among the earliest
slain, and the demoralised Usutus, now without a recognised head,