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and another passed through the archway。 This man； indeed； said
nothing； yet he was not without his thoughts。 For it seemed to him
that he had seen three pass through the archway； and not two。 It
seemed to him； moreover； that the kaross which the third wore had
slipped aside as she pressed past him； and that beneath it he had seen
the shape of a beautiful woman； and above it had caught the glint of a
woman's eyean eye full and dark； like a buck's。
Also； this captain noted that Bulalio called none of the captives to
swear to the body of the Lily maid； and that he shook the torch to and
fro as he held it over herhe whose hand was of the steadiest。 All of
this he kept in his mind； forgetting nothing。
Now it chanced afterwards； on the homeward march； my father； that
Umslopogaas had cause to speak angrily to this man； because he tried
to rob another of his share of the spoil of the Halakazi。 He spoke
sharply to him； degrading him from his rank； and setting another over
him。 Also he took cattle from the man； and gave them to him whom he
would have robbed。
And thereafter； though he was justly served； this man thought more and
more of the third who had passed through the arch of the cave and had
not returned； and who seemed to him to have a fair woman's shape； and
eyes which gleamed like those of a woman。
On that day； then； Umslopogaas began his march to the kraal
Umgugundhlovu； where Dingaan sat。 But before he set his face
homewards； in the presence of the soldiers； he asked Galazi the Wolf
if he would come back with him； or if he desired to stay to be chief
of the Halakazi； as he was by right of birth and war。 Then the Wolf
laughed； and answered that he had come out to seek for vengeance； and
not for the place of a chief； also that there were few of the Halakazi
people left over whom he might rule if he wished。 Moreover； he added
this： that； like twin trees； they two blood…brethren had grown up side
by side till their roots were matted together； and that； were one of
them dug up and planted in Swazi soil； he feared lest both should
wither； or； at the last； that he； Galazi； would wither； who loved but
one man and certain wolves。
So Umslopogaas said no more of the chieftainship； but began his
journey。 With him he brought a great number of cattle； to be a gift
for Dingaan； and a multitude of captives； young women and children；
for he would appease the heart of Dingaan； because he did not bring
her whom he soughtthe Lily； flower of flowers。 Yet； because he was
cautious and put little faith in the kindness of kings； Umslopogaas；
so soon as he reached the borders of Zululand； sent the best of the
cattle and the fairest of the maids and children on to the kraal of
the People of the Axe by the Ghost Mountain。 And he who had been
captain of the guard but now was a common soldier noticed this also。
Now it chanced that on a certain morning I； Mopo； sat in the kraal
Umgugundhlovu in attendance on Dingaan。 For still I waited on the
king； though he had spoken no word to me； good or bad； since the
yesterday； when I foretold to him that in the blood of the white men
whom he had betrayed grew the flower of his own death。 For； my father；
it was on the morrow of the slaying of the Amaboona that Umslopogaas
came to the kraal Umgugundhlovu。
Now the mind of Dingaan was heavy； and he sought something to lighten
it。 Presently he bethought himself of the white praying man； who had
come to the kraal seeking to teach us people of the Zulu to worship
other gods than the assegai and the king。 Now this was a good man； but
no luck went with his teaching； which was hard to understand； and；
moreover； the indunas did not like it； because it seemed to set a
master over the master； and a king over the king； and to preach of
peace to those whose trade was war。 Still； Dingaan sent for the white
man that he might dispute with him； for Dingaan thought that he
himself was the cleverest of all men。
Now the white man came； but his face was pale； because of that which
he had seen befall the Boers； for he was gentle and hated such sights。
The king bade him be seated and spoke to him saying：
〃The other day； O White Man； thou toldest me of a place of fire
whither those go after death who have done wickedly in life。 Tell me
now of thy wisdom； do my fathers lie in that place？〃
〃How can I know； King；〃 answered the prayer…doctor； 〃who may not judge
of the deeds of men？ This I say only： that those who murder and rob
and oppress the innocent and bear false witness shall lie in that
place of fire。〃
〃It seems that my fathers have done all these things； and if they are
in this place I would go there also； for I am minded to be with my
fathers at the last。 Yet I think that I should find a way to escape if
ever I came there。〃
〃How； King？〃
Now Dingaan had set this trap for the prayer…doctor。 In the centre of
that open space where he had caused the Boers to be fallen upon he had
built up a great pyre of woodbrushwood beneath； and on top of the
brushwood logs； and even whole trees。 Perhaps； my father； there were
sixty full wagonloads of dry wood piled together there in the centre
of the place。
〃Thou shalt see with thine eyes； White Man；〃 he answered； and bidding
attendants set fire to the pile all round； he summoned that regiment
of young men which was left in the kraal。 Maybe there were a thousand
and half a thousand of themnot morethe same that had slain the
Boers。
Now the fire began to burn fiercely； and the regiment filed in and
took its place in ranks。 By the time that all had come； the pyre was
everywhere a sheet of raging flame； and； though we sat a hundred paces
from it； its heat was great when the wind turned our way。
〃Now； Doctor of Prayers； is thy hot place hotter than yonder fire？〃
said the king。
He answered that he did not know； but the fire was certainly hot。
〃Then I will show thee how I will come out of it if ever I go to lie
in such a fireay； though it be ten times as big and fierce。 Ho！ my
children！〃 he cried to the soldiers； and； springing up； 〃You see
yonder fire。 Run swiftly and stamp it flat with your feet。 Where there
was fire let there be blackness and ashes。〃
Now the White Man lifted his hands and prayed Dingaan not to do this
thing that should be the death of many； but the king bade him be
silent。 Then he turned his eyes upward and prayed to his gods。 For a
moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt； for the fire
raged furiously； and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven； and
above it and about it the hot air danced。 But their captain called to
them loudly： 〃Great is the king！ Hear the words of the king； who
honours you！ Yesterday we ate up the Amaboonait was nothing； they
were unarmed。 There is a foe more worthy of our valour。 Come； my
children； let us wash in the firewe who are fiercer than the fire！
Great is the king who honours us！〃
Thus he spoke and ran forward； and； with a roar； after him sprang the
soldiers； rank by rank。 They were brave men indeed； moreover； they
knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged
behind； and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed。 On th