arable mischief; and let their death be
so ignominious that it shall be a warning to all others; but let it be
humane. In a word, hang them, even as M'Bongwele and M'Pusa, his chief
witch doctor, were hanged. That surely ought to suffice for all
practical purposes, should it not?"

"Possibly," assented the king unwillingly. "The death by hanging and
the disgrace of it are greatly feared, and it may be that--"

"Yes," interrupted Dick soothingly, "of course it will. Then that is
settled, eh? Because I want you to understand that unless you
definitely promise me that there shall be no torture I shall be obliged
to withdraw from this business altogether; moreover, I will take my
magic off Sekosini, and then nothing that you can do will make him
confess or incriminate the others. You know that, don't you?"

"Yes, it is true," admitted the king reluctantly; "Sekosini is very
obstinate; and if he were so minded he would refuse to confess, even
were he staked out on an ant's nest."

"Of course he would," agreed Dick. "Therefore you see for yourself how
futile anything of that kind would be. It would only make of him a
martyr, and of you a cruel, revengeful, suspicious brute in the eyes of
your people. But if he and his fellow conspirators can be brought to
admit their guilt publicly, you at once become the righteous judge, and
score accordingly. And I can make them confess if they are really
guilty, as Sekosini asserts."

"Then tell me, O Healer! what do you advise?" asked the king.

"This," answered Dick. "I advise that you summon the whole of your
chiefs to present themselves before you, and when they are assembled,
Sekosini shall be called into your presence and commanded to tell his
version of the story of the conspiracy in the hearing of all the chiefs.
Then, if the chiefs implicated have any excuse to offer, let them offer
it; if they have not, let them be hanged as plotters against the
authority and person of the king."

"It is well said; the advice is good, and shall be followed," exclaimed
the king. "It shall be done forthwith. I will send forth a messenger
commanding all chiefs to present themselves before me in the Great
Place, in connection with a matter of import; and when they have
assembled, Sekosini also shall be brought hither."

"There is no need for you to trouble about Sekosini," answered Dick.
"When you require his presence I will bring him to you by the power of
my magic."

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