lest I should forget. Oh, my child! my child! ten days ago I held thee
to my breast, and now this alone remains of thee,' and she kissed the
dead hand and shivered, but never a tear did she weep.

"'See now,' she went on, 'the white man, the prisoner at Wambe's kraal,
he was kind to me. He loved the child that is dead, yes, he wept
when its father slew it, and at the risk of his life told Wambe, my
husband--ah, yes, my husband!--that which he is! He too it was who made
a plan. He said to me, "Go, Maiwa, after the custom of thy people, go
purify thyself in the bush alone, having touched a dead one. Say to
Wambe thou goest to purify thyself alone for fifteen days, according to
the custom of thy people. Then fly to thy father, Nala, and stir him up
to war against Wambe for the sake of the child that is dead." This then
he said, and his words seemed good to me, and that same night ere I left
to purify myself came news that a white man hunted in the country, and
Wambe, being mad with drink, grew very wrath, and gave orders that an
impi should be gathered to slay the white man and his people and seize
his goods. Then did the "Smiter of Iron" (Every) write the message on
the green leaves, and bid me seek thee out, and show forth the matter,
that thou mightest save thyself by flight; and behold, this thing have I
done, Macumazahn, the hunter, the Slayer of Elephants.'

"'Ah,' I said, 'I thank you. And how many men be there in the impi of
Wambe?'

"'A hundred of men and half a hundred.'

"'And where is the impi?'

"'There to the north. It follows on thy spoor. I saw it pass yesterday,