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whither he was sent； and he must wait there till they returned； that
he might snare them。
〃Thou shouldst have followed the cranes； yes； if they flew through the
sunset； thou disobedient dog！〃 said the king。 〃Let him be taken away；
and all those who were with him。〃
Now some of the men prayed a little for mercy； but the captain did but
salute the king； calling him 〃Father；〃 and craving a boon before he
died。
〃What wouldst thou？〃 asked Chaka。
〃My father；〃 said the man； 〃I would ask thee two things。 I have fought
many times at thy side in battle while we both were young； nor did I
ever turn my back upon the foe。 The blow that shore the hand from off
this arm was aimed at thy head； O King； I stayed it with my naked arm。
It is nothing； at thy will I live； and at thy will I die。 Who am I
that I should question the word of the king？ Yet I would ask this；
that thou wilt withdraw the kaross from about thee； O King； that for
the last time my eyes may feast themselves upon the body of him whom；
above all men； I love。〃
〃Thou art long…winded；〃 said the king； 〃what more？〃
〃This； my father； that I may bid farewell to my son； he is a little
child； so high； O King；〃 and he held his hand above his knee。
〃Thy first boon is granted；〃 said the king； slipping the kaross from
his shoulders and showing the great breast beneath。 〃For the second it
shall be granted also； for I will not willingly divide the father and
the son。 Bring the boy here； thou shalt bid him farewell； then thou
shalt slay him with thine own hand ere thou thyself art slain； it will
be good sport to see。〃
Now the man turned grey beneath the blackness of his skin； and
trembled a little as he murmured； 〃The king's will is the will of his
servant； let the child be brought。〃
But I looked at Chaka and saw that the tears were running down his
face； and that he only spoke thus to try the captain who loved him to
the last。
〃Let the man go；〃 said the king； 〃him and those with him。〃
So they went glad at heart； and praising the king。
I have told you this； my father； though it has not to do with my
story； because then； and then only； did I ever see Chaka show mercy to
one whom he had doomed to die。
As the captain and his people left the gate of the kraal； it was
spoken in the ear of the king that a man sought audience with him。 He
was admitted crawling on his knees。 I looked and saw that this was
that Masilo whom Chaka had charged with a message to him who was named
Bulalio； or the Slaughterer； and who ruled over the People of the Axe。
It was Masilo indeed； but he was no longer fat； for much travel had
made him thin； moreover； on his back were the marks of rods； as yet
scarcely healed over。
〃Who art thou？〃 said Chaka。
〃I am Masilo； of the People of the Axe； to whom command was given to
run with a message to Bulalio the Slaughterer； their chief； and to
return on the thirtieth day。 Behold； O King； I have returned； though
in a sorry plight！〃
〃It seems so！〃 said the king； laughing aloud。 〃I remember now： speak
on； Masilo the Thin； who wast Masilo the Fat； what of this
Slaughterer？ Does he come with his people to lay the axe Groan…Maker
in my hands？〃
〃Nay； O King； he comes not。 He met me with scorn； and with scorn he
drove me from his kraal。 Moreover； as I went I was seized by the
servants of Zinita； she whom I wooed； but who is now the wife of the
Slaughterer； and laid on my face upon the ground and beaten cruelly
while Zinita numbered the strokes。〃
〃Hah！〃 said the king。 〃And what were the words of this puppy？〃
〃These were his words； O King： 'Bulalio the Slaughterer； who sits
beneath the shadow of the Witch Mountain； to Bulalio the Slaughterer
who sits in the kraal DuguzaTo thee I pay no tribute； if thou
wouldst have the axe Groan…Maker； come to the Ghost Mountain and take
it。 This I promise thee： thou shalt look on a face thou knowest； for
there is one there who would be avenged for the blood of a certain
Mopo。'〃
Now； while Masilo told this tale I had seen two thingsfirst； that a
little piece of stick was thrust through the straw of the fence； and；
secondly； that the regiment of the Bees was swarming on the slope
opposite to the kraal in obedience to the summons I had sent them in
the name of Umhlangana。 The stick told me that the princes were hidden
behind the fence waiting the signal； and the coming of the regiment
that it was time to do the deed。
When Masilo had spoken Chaka sprang up in fury。 His eyes rolled； his
face worked； foam flew from his lips； for such words as these had
never offended his ears since he was king； and Masilo knew him little；
else he had not dared to utter them。
For a while he gasped； shaking his small spear； for at first he could
not speak。 At length he found words：
〃The dog；〃 he hissed； 〃the dog who dares thus to spit in my face！
Hearken all！ As with my last breath I command that this Slaughterer be
torn limb from limb； he and all his tribe！ And thou； thou darest to
bring me this talk from a skunk of the mountains。 And thou； too； Mopo；
thy name is named in it。 Well； of thee presently。 Ho！ Umxamama； my
servant； slay me this slave of a messenger； beat out his brains with
thy stick。 Swift！ swift！〃
Now； the old chief Umxamama sprang up to do the king's bidding； but he
was feeble with age； and the end of it was that Masilo； being mad with
fear； killed Umxamama； not Umxamama Masilo。 Then Inguazonca； brother
of Unandi； Mother of the Heavens； fell upon Masilo and ended him； but
was hurt himself in so doing。 Now I looked at Chaka； who stood shaking
the little red spear； and thought swiftly； for the hour had come。
〃Help！〃 I cried； 〃one is slaying the King！〃
As I spoke the reed fence burst asunder； and through it plunged the
princes Umhlangana and Dingaan； as bulls plunge through a brake。
Then I pointed to Chaka with my withered hand； saying； 〃Behold your
king！〃
Now； from beneath the shelter of his kaross； each Prince drew out a
short stabbing spear； and plunged it into the body of Chaka the king。
Umhlangana smote him on the left shoulder； Dingaan struck him in the
right side。 Chaka dropped the little spear handled with the red wood
and looked round； and so royally that the princes； his brothers； grew
afraid and shrank away from him。
Twice he looked on each； then he spoke； saying： 〃What！ do you slay me；
my brothersdogs of mine own house； whom I have fed？ Do you slay me；
thinking to possess the land and to rule it？ I tell you it shall not
be for long。 I hear a sound of running feetthe feet of a great white
people。 They shall stamp you flat； children of my father！ They shall
rule the land that I have won； and you and your people shall be their
slaves！〃
Thus Chaka spoke while the blood ran down him to the ground； and again
he looked on them royally； like a buck at gaze。
〃Make an end； O ye who would be kings！〃 I cried； but their hearts had
turned to water and they could not。 Then I； Mopo； sprang forward and
picked from the ground that little assegai handled with the royal wood
the same assegai with which Chaka had murdered Unandi； his mother；
and Moosa； my son； and lifted it on high； and while I lifted it； my
f