with the object of examining both. I have not yet
done that, for the examination would take time, and 'Nkuni's case seemed
urgent; therefore I went to Sekosini's hut to talk with him about it.
And when at length I stood face to face with the witch doctor I laid my
magic upon him, so that he was perforce obliged to tell me all the truth
of the matter; and he confessed that 'Nkuni's illness was part of a
conspiracy to remove your friends from you, that you might be deposed
and slain, and the iniquitous system of government practised by
M'Bongwele restored."

"_Au_, it is well!" exclaimed the king in a low stern voice; "it is very
well. The vile, treacherous witch doctor shall be brought hither and
placed before a slow fire until he gives up the names of those who are
conspiring with him, and then--"

"Nay," interrupted Dick, "there is no need; Sekosini has already
voluntarily given me the names of those chiefs who are his partners in
the conspiracy against you. They are,"--Dick drew out his pocket book
and read--"Ingona, Lambati, Mapela, Moroosi, Amakosa, N'Ampata, and
Sekukuni--nay, do nothing rashly, I pray you, but sit still and hear
what I have to say." For at the mention of those seven names the king
had sprung to his feet in an access of fury, and seemed about to summon
his guard. But at Dick's persuasion he seated himself again, though he
was much too excited for the moment to listen to his white visitor,
muttering over to himself the names of the conspirators.

"Ingona--Ingona," he hissed through his clenched teeth, "the man whom I
believed to be the most loyal of all my chiefs, the man who evidently
feigned friendship with 'Nkuni only to betray him to his death! But I
will make a terrible example of these rebels; they shall die such deaths
that--"

"Stop!" commanded Dick. "Is this how the Four Spirits who placed you on
the throne of the Makolo taught you to administer justice?"

"Nay," answered the king. "But this is no ordinary crime; it is as
vile, in intention at least, as that of those who conspired against
Seketulo and restored M'Bongwele. Those chiefs were not only
responsible for the death of Seketulo, but also for the horrors that
followed; they were--"

"Just so," interrupted Dick; "they were all that and more. But even
that does not justify you in torturing these men to death. Destroy
them, by all means, if you will, so that they may never again have the
opportunity to do perhaps irrep