Part 26 (1/2)
”_Nkose_! I have s 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 caasp, 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 noerect
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 ,” he said ”And he would have taken your life, _Nkose_”
This was undeniable Wyvern felt he could hardly quarrel with a nised that one of those irresistible ies had co 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 ”Noe are a life for a life”
The speaker had quite regained his good-huery had passed, and his pleasant, intelligent face was as usual
”_Whau 'Nkose_! What is one dog h ”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 kne 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 ht 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'”