"It is so; he speaks the truth," said Umgona.

"Cease," answered Cetywayo angrily. "Is this a time that my soldiers
should seek wives in marriage, wives to turn their hearts to water? Know
that but yesterday for this crime I commanded that twenty girls who
had dared without my leave to marry men of the Undi regiment, should be
strangled and their bodies laid upon the cross-roads and with them the
bodies of their fathers, that all might know their sin and be warned
thereby. Ay, Umgona, it is well for you and for your daughter that you
sought my word before she was given in marriage to this man. Now this
is my award: I refuse your prayer, Nahoon, and since you, Umgona, are
troubled with one whom you would not take as son-in-law, the old chief
Maputa, I will free you from his importunity. The girl, says Nahoon, is
fair--good, I myself will be gracious to her, and she shall be numbered
among the wives of the royal house. Within thirty days from now, in the
week of the next new moon, let her be delivered to the _Sigodhla_, the
royal house of the women, and with her those cattle, the cows and the
calves together, that Nahoon has given you, of which I fine him because
he has dared to think of marriage without the leave of the king."



CHAPTER II

THE BEE PROPHESIES

"'A Daniel come to judgment' indeed," reflected Hadden, who had been
watching this savage comedy with interest; "our love-sick friend has got
more than he bargained for. Well, that comes of appealing to Cæsar," and
he turned to look at the two suppliants.