whence he came I know not, wagging his great white head that sits on the
top of his body like a pumpkin on an ant-heap, rolling his big eyes and
laughing loudly.

"'A merry sight,' he cried in his deep voice that sounded like water in
a hollow cave. 'A merry sight, O Bangu, Chief of the Amakoba! Blood,
blood, plenty of blood! Fire, fire, plenty of fire! Wizards dead here,
there, and everywhere! Oh, a merry sight! I have seen many such; one
at the kraal of your grandmother, for instance--your grandmother the
great Inkosikazi, when myself I escaped with my life because I was so
old; but never do I remember a merrier than that which this moon shines
on,' and he pointed to the White Lady who just then broke through the
clouds. 'But, great Chief Bangu, lord loved by the son of Senzangakona,
brother of the Black One (Chaka) who has ridden hence on the assegai,
what is the meaning of _this_ play?' and he pointed to me and to the two
soldiers who held out my little arms.

"'I kill the wizard's cub, Zikali, that is all,' answered Bangu.

"'I see, I see,' laughed Zikali. 'A gallant deed! You have butchered
the father and the mother, and now you would butcher the child who has
slain one of your grown warriors in fair fight. A very gallant deed,
well worthy of the chief of the Amakoba! Well, loose his spirit--only--'
He stopped and took a pinch of snuff from a box which he drew from a
slit in the lobe of his great ear.

"'Only what?' asked Bangu, hesitating.

"'Only I wonder, Bangu, what you will think of the world in which you
will find yourself before to-morrow's moon arises. Come back thence and