death to come armed before the 'Elephant who shakes the Earth.'"

Cetywayo frowned, for the note of sarcasm did not escape his quick ear.

"Let this white man's offering be brought; I will consider the thing."

Instantly the Induna who had accompanied Hadden darted to the gateway,
running with his body bent so low that it seemed as though at every step
he must fall upon his face. Presently he returned with the weapon in
his hand and presented it to the king, holding it so that the muzzle was
pointed straight at the royal breast.

"I crave leave to say, O Elephant," remarked Hadden in a drawling voice,
"that it might be well to command your servant to lift the mouth of that
gun from your heart."

"Why?" asked the king.

"Only because it is loaded, and at full cock, O Elephant, who probably
desires to continue to shake the Earth."

At these words the "Elephant" uttered a sharp exclamation, and rolled
from his stool in a most unkingly manner, whilst the terrified Induna,
springing backwards, contrived to touch the trigger of the rifle and
discharge a bullet through the exact spot that a second before had been
occupied by his monarch's head.

"Let him be taken away," shouted the incensed king from the ground, but
long before the words had passed his lips the Induna, with a cry that
the gun was bewitched, had cast it down and fled at full speed through