On the occasion of his first and last interview with Cetywayo, Hadden
got a hint of the reason. It happened thus. On the second morning after
his arrival at the royal kraal, a messenger came to inform him that
"the Elephant whose tread shook the earth" had signified that it was
his pleasure to see him. Accordingly he was led through the thousands of
huts and across the Great Place to the little enclosure where Cetywayo,
a royal-looking Zulu seated on a stool, and wearing a kaross of leopard
skins, was holding an _indaba_, or conference, surrounded by his
counsellors. The Induna who had conducted him to the august presence
went down upon his hands and knees, and, uttering the royal salute of
_Bayéte_, crawled forward to announce that the white man was waiting.

"Let him wait," said the king angrily; and, turning, he continued the
discussion with his counsellors.

Now, as has been said, Hadden thoroughly understood Zulu; and, when
from time to time the king raised his voice, some of the words he spoke
reached his ear.

"What!" Cetywayo said, to a wizened and aged man who seemed to be
pleading with him earnestly; "am I a dog that these white hyenas should
hunt me thus? Is not the land mine, and was it not my father's before
me? Are not the people mine to save or to slay? I tell you that I will
stamp out these little white men; my _impis_ shall eat them up. I have
said!"

Again the withered aged man interposed, evidently in the character of
a peacemaker. Hadden could not hear his talk, but he rose and pointed
towards the sea, while from his expressive gestures and sorrowful mien,