Part 27 (1/2)

”Ha! I think they who coainst us would not so have received thee, my father,” replied Umzilikazi, somewhat impatiently ”Yet practice, I pray thee, thy ates we need all the aids we can get--whether of sorcery or not”

”That I will gladly do, O King,” replied the white priest And as he saluted and turned away, I noticed that he looked ill and tired--perhaps through over- But sooncertain of the slaves entering the dwelling which he kept for his sacred rites, and heard the tinkle of the little bell, and now and again the soft murmur of the white sorcerer's voice

”Now, Untuswa, I think we have enough _ ”Go, therefore, and hters ithout”

Itwas being done I had sent forth, ordering every regiment to repair immediately to headquarters, and everyarms, to assemble without a moment's waste of time Further, I had ordered the establishment of chains of scouts and runners to watch and swiftly report any movement on the part of the foe, who -- over the plain, all converging on the great kraal, and ae and dark, i ers to fear, of which I was the chief co of Uwenya, took up a position in a huge half-circle within the great central space These, occupying as they did a military kraal of their oere already fully armed, but others from without were not, and as the latter swarmed in a rush was made upon the places where the shi+elds were kept But a strong guard had been placed over this, and soon the distribution was finished, and the shi+eld-houses were nearly ereat plain outside to dance the war-dance

The while, _Nkose_, I had eneral in coreat was my pride in that position that I would rather risk disaster and defeat than be once ain But al, yet not noisily and with fuss, but as though seen by hardly any awali and his scouts had surprised and slain Mhlangana's outposts, so that none had escaped, and had dragged the bodies far down thein clouds should be visible to the ene Of our men two had been killed and several wounded, nor did this astonish me No further move had been made by the foe, who still lurked behind the forest belts of the flat country beyond Inku for him

Now, as I looked round upon the muster, I felt pride and joy in the host I was to lead forth The war spirit glea of the limbs of the warriors was a fiery ier to it Even Ngubazana the Gaza, co the white _isanusi_ to perforions, and upon his face ca

”Ho, son of a kindred race?” I said, for I was passing him at the time ”I think this is not the first day thou hast seen warriors ilance atrank

”I think, on such a day, thy place is a of peace, Ngubazana,” I said, soly

”_Whau_! You are er, suppressed voice, as though fearful of being overheard by soive reat shout of laughter, of delight, broke fron froubazana was fully arane, father,” I cried aloud to the white _isanusi_, who had just appeared ”_Whau_! This is no tihts of peace, but for deeds of war!”

”_Yeh-bo! Yeh-bo_!” chorused the regio,” said the white priest, quite tranquilly, noting his follower's hesitation ”Go, now, Ngubazana, and fight like a brave soldier for the King who has sheltered and favoured us Yet, shed no more blood than is necessary, and slay none when already defenceless

Showwith thee”

Now the first words filled all with great delight, but for the last, _au_! We, e ”see red” spare nothing that has life, how should such words commend themselves to us? But we remembered that this was a ubazana bent before the white _isanusi_, who blessed hins Then he leaped with joy into the ranks of The Scorpions, clutching his weapons, and hu

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

THE SONG OF THE shi+ELD

The regianised and arreat entrance of the kraal Kwa'zingwenya, and formed up in a vast half-circle upon the plain outside, whither the King had already proceeded, and the _Bayete_ was roared forth in tremendous volume as the Great Great One stalked majestically into the open formation thus left

His words were few:

”Warriors,” he said, ”yonder is a nation's death or a nation's life”

Then he gave the signal for the war-dance to begin

This was short, for we had no time to spare for orna were at their height, they ceased suddenly, and there was dead silence

U in thehair and leopard-skin and beadwork, his head croith nodding ostrich plumes of black and white In his left hand he held his lion-skin shi+eld, tufted with the tail of the beast, and a light casting spear

Now, as aited, breathless, he took the little assegai in his right hand, and, poising it for amotion, he hurled it from him--hurled it fast and far--in the direction of the Pass of the Inkuane's _impi_, and, as it fell to earth, he pronounced in a loud voice--

”Go, children of Matyobane!”