Part 7 (2/2)

If this place had struckthe huts, too, were strange circular stone walls, here and there, looking like old and strong buildings, for their strength was irass, rising to a point, and were neat and clean We were conducted to one, and bidden to rest, for that the chief would confer with us on the htbe spoken To-morrow may be too late for ye, O people of the Blue Cattle”

”_E--he_!” assented my brother

Our escort looked at one another, and their looks were blank However, they invited us to enter the hut, saying that food and drink should be brought us, and that meanwhile my words should be carried to the ears of Tauane

We had finished the piece of beef which had been sent us, and had drained the large bowl of _tywala_, when ers arrived to announce that the council of the nation would be convened at sundown, and that the ”word” to be returned to our King would then be wali and I, fully aruides, I noted the intense curiosity which our appearance was inspiring, and laughed to myself For I heard the bystanders, especially the wo our stature and fierce aspect with that of their own people, and saying if ere representatives of that horrible race--of which they had already begun to hear--then, indeed, they were as good as dead Moreover, while not appearing to do so, I took note of the high fortified hill, which lay a little way back froht I could find a way up it--wherein, however, I athered in an immense half-circle, like the for ”horns”

They sat at the upper end of a great open square, and in the bend of the half-circle were grouped the principal councillors and chiefs, and, a little in advance of the rest, clothed in the skin of a old, sat the chief, Tauane Behind were several huts of h those immediately in front of us were not arlitter of spears The shi+elds were square, and not lance that, were our death intended, we should stand no chance whatever Twothese

”Greeting, Chief of the Blue Cattle!” I said, as we drew near

”Remember you the name of Untuswa, son of Ntelani, and an _induna_ of the Great King? It is a naain”

Tauane frowned, and I could see his gaze rest one so far as to hold in our left hands only, extending the right, open and in greeting Further, he expected we should have bent down before hi, a Zulu of pure blood, and coreater e and wealthy tribe as this

”Is the nation gathered to hear e, the 'word' of the Great Great One?” I asked, without further cereer,” said the chief shortly

”This it is, then, Chief of the Blue Cattle, and councillors and people of the Bakoni The 'word' of U--the Black Elephant, whose tread shaketh the world--is short, even as the measure he meteth out to they who think to defy him This it is:--'Go, now, to this chief, Tauane, the lion-cub, and say that not many days off there draweth near an old lion, whose roar is louder than his own--that unless I behold the usual tribute, brought by himself in person, before we are within a day's march of his town, he and his people are already dead'

Such was the word of the founder of nations, the eater-up of disobedient peoples, O Tauane, and councillors of the Bakoni”

I was not sure, _Nkose_ that that e went up froht have been heard a great way off

”To death with him!” they roared ”To death with the ! Let him be burnt in the fire!”

But of all this I took no notice I even gave a slight laugh, as I stood, withdown upon Tauane

”Such is the word of the Great Great One,” I repeated, slowly

”Have you ever done a bolder act, stranger?” said Tauane ”Hear you these? They howl for the blood of him who has insulted their nation and chief Have you ever done a bolder act?”

”I have, indeed--an act which has won 's assegai ”If they hohat will they do when the 'word' of U, is not obeyed

Never does he send forth his 'word' twice Noilt thou _konza_ to the Elephant, O Tauane? The sooner the better!”

The howl that went up noas terrible to hear The dense lines of ar to their feet and hurled thewali and I stood back to back, covered by our shi+elds We would die like Zulu warriors, but before we did so the King's assegai should cleave in twain the heart of the chief This Tauane knew, and ns to his people to forbear But they would not listen, and it seeht of the corpses of the Bakoni ould carry with us to the Dark Unknohen there arose a new and sudden tumult out beyond the lines of those ould have slain us

Up the open square reat and unknown terror--calling out wildly and looking back as they ran Every hand was stayed, each uplifted weapon lowered Away, over the plain, dust-clouds werehorns of driven cattle Our hearts leaped Soon we expected to behold the avenging spears of our nation The King had repented hi to sweep this rebellious people from the land