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He sniffed at the air as a dog does； and as he sniffed drew ever nearer
to Nandie； till at last he laughed and pointed to her。
〃_Your_ child； Princess； whose name I do not know。 Your firstborn
child； whom you loved more than your own heart。〃
She rose。
〃Yes； yes； Nyanga；〃 she cried。 〃I am the Princess Nandie； and he was my
child； whom I loved more than my own heart。〃
〃Haha！〃 said Zikali。 〃Dust； you did not lie to me。 My Spirit； you did
not lie to me。 But now； tell me； Dustand tell me； my Spiritwho
killed this child？〃
He began to waddle round the circle； an extraordinary sight； covered as
he was with grey grime； varied with streaks of black skin where the
perspiration had washed the dust away。
Presently he came opposite to me； and； to my dismay； paused； sniffing at
me as he had at Nandie。
〃Ah！ ah！ O Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃you have something to do with this
matter；〃 a saying at which all that audience pricked their ears。
Then I rose up in wrath and fear； knowing my position to be one of some
danger。
〃Wizard； or Smeller…out of Wizards； whichever you name yourself；〃 I
called in a loud voice； 〃if you mean that _I_ killed Nandie's child； you
lie！〃
〃No； no； Macumazahn；〃 he answered； 〃but you tried to save it； and
therefore you had something to do with the matter； had you not？
Moreover； I think that you； who are wise like me； know who did kill it。
Won't you tell me； Macumazahn？ No？ Then I must find out for myself。
Be at peace。 Does not all the land know that your hands are white as
your heart？〃
Then； to my great relief； he passed on； amidst a murmur of approbation；
for； as I have said； the Zulus liked me。 Round and round he wandered；
to my surprise passing both Mameena and Masapo without taking any
particular note of them； although he scanned them both； and I thought
that I saw a swift glance of recognition pass between him and Mameena。
It was curious to watch his progress； for as he went those in front of
him swayed in their terror like corn before a puff of wind； and when he
had passed they straightened themselves as the corn does when the wind
has gone by。
At length he had finished his journey and returned to his
starting…point； to all appearance completely puzzled。
〃You keep so many wizards at your kraal； King；〃 he said； addressing
Panda； 〃that it is hard to say which of them wrought this deed。 It
would have been easier to tell you of greater matters。 Yet I have taken
your fee； and I must earn itI must earn it。 Dust； you are dumb。 Now；
my Idhlozi； my Spirit； do you speak？〃 and； holding his head sideways； he
turned his left ear up towards the sky； then said presently； in a
curious； matter…of…fact voice：
〃Ah！ I thank you； Spirit。 Well； King； your grandchild was killed by the
House of Masapo； your enemy； chief of the Amasomi。〃
Now a roar of approbation went up from the audience； among whom Masapo's
guilt was a foregone conclusion。
When this had died down Panda spoke； saying：
〃The House of Masapo is a large house； I believe that he has several
wives and many children。 It is not enough to smell out the House； since
I am not as those who went before me were； nor will I slay the innocent
with the guilty。 Tell us； O Opener…of…Roads； who among the House of
Masapo has wrought this deed？〃
〃That's just the question；〃 grumbled Zikali in a deep voice。 〃All that
I know is that it was done by poisoning； and I smell the poison。 It is
here。〃
Then he walked to where Mameena sat and cried out：
〃Seize that woman and search her hair。〃
Executioners who were in waiting sprang forward； but Mameena waved them
away。
〃Friends；〃 she said； with a little laugh； 〃there is no need to touch
me；〃 and； rising； she stepped forward to the centre of the ring。 Here；
with a few swift motions of her hands； she flung off first the cloak she
wore； then the moocha about her middle； and lastly the fillet that bound
her long hair； and stood before that audience in all her naked beautya
wondrous and a lovely sight。
〃Now；〃 she said； 〃let women come and search me and my garments； and see
if there is any poison hid there。〃
Two old crones stepped forwardthough I do not know who sent themand
carried out a very thorough examination； finally reporting that they had
found nothing。 Thereon Mameena； with a shrug of her shoulders； resumed
such clothes as she wore； and returned lo her place。
Zikali appeared to grow angry。 He stamped upon the ground with his big
feet； he shook his braided grey locks and cried out：
〃Is my wisdom to be defeated in such a little matter？ One of you tie a
bandage over my eyes。〃
Now a manit was Maputa； the messengercame out and did so； and I
noted that he tied it well and tight。 Zikali whirled round upon his
heels； first one way and then another； and； crying aloud： 〃Guide me； my
Spirit！〃 marched forward in a zigzag fashion； as a blindfolded man does；
with his arms stretched out in front of him。 First he went to the
right； then to the left； and then straight forward； till at length； to
my astonishment； he came exactly opposite the spot where Masapo sat and；
stretching out his great； groping hands； seized the kaross with which he
was covered and； with a jerk； tore it from him。
〃Search this！〃 he cried； throwing it on the ground； and a woman
searched。
Presently she uttered an exclamation； and from among the fur of one of
the tails of the kaross produced a tiny bag that appeared to be made out
of the bladder of a fish。 This she handed to Zikali； whose eyes had now
been unbandaged。
He looked at it； then gave it to Maputa； saying：
〃There is the poisonthere is the poison； but who gave it I do not say。
I am weary。 Let me go。〃
Then； none hindering him； he walked away through the gate of the kraal。
Soldiers seized upon Masapo； while the multitude roared： 〃Kill the
wizard！〃
Masapo sprang up； and； running to where the King sat； flung himself upon
his knees； protesting his innocence and praying for mercy。 I also； who
had doubts as to all this business； ventured to rise and speak。
〃O King；〃 I said； 〃as one who has known this man in the past； I plead
with you。 How that powder came into his kaross I know not； but
perchance it is not poison； only harmless dust。〃
〃Yes； it is but wood dust which I use for the cleaning of my nails；〃
cried Masapo； for he was so terrified I think he knew not what he said。
〃So you own to knowledge of the medicine？〃 exclaimed Panda。 〃Therefore
none hid it in your kaross through malice。〃
Masapo began to explain； but what he said was lost in a mighty roar of
〃Kill the wizard！〃
Panda held up his hand and there was silence。
〃Bring milk in a dish；〃 commanded the King； and it； was brought； and； at
a further word from him； dusted with the powder。
〃Now； O Macumazana；〃 said Panda to me； 〃if you still think that yonder
man is innocent； will you drink this milk？〃
〃I do not like milk； O King；〃 I answered； shaking my head； whereon all
who heard me laughed。
〃Will Mameena； his wife； drink it； then？〃 asked Panda。
She also shook her head； saying：
〃O King； I drink no milk that is mixed with dust。〃
Just then a lean； white dog； one of those homeless； mangy beasts that
stray about kraals and live upon carrion； wandered into the ring。 Panda
made a sign； and a servant； going to where the poor beast stood staring
about it hungrily； set down the wooden dish of milk in front of it。
Instantly the dog lapped it up； for it was starving； and as it finished
the last drop the man slipped a leathern thong about its neck and held
it fast。
Now all eyes were fixed upon the dog； mine among them。 Presently the
beast uttered a long and melancholy howl which thrilled me through； for
I knew it to be Masapo's death warrant； then began to scratch the ground
and foam at the mouth。 Guessing what would follow； I rose； bowed to the
King； and walked away to my camp； which； it will be remembered； was set
up in a little kloof commanding this place； at a distance only of a few
hundred yards。 So intent was all the multitude upon watching the dog
that I doubt whether anyone saw me go。 As for that poor beast； Scowl；
who stayed behind； told me that it did not die for about ten minutes；
since before its end a red rash appeared upon it similar to that which I
had seen upon Saduko's child； and it was seized with convulsions。
Well； I reached my tent unmolested； and； having lit my pipe； engaged
myself in making business entries in my note…book； in order to divert my
mind as much as I could； when suddenly I heard a most devilish clamour。
Looking up； I saw Masapo running towards me with a speed that I should
have thought impossible in so fat a man； while after him raced the
fierce…faced executioners； and behind came the mob。
〃Kill the evil…doer！〃 they shouted。
Masapo reached me。 He flung himself on his knees before me； gasping：
〃Save me； Macumazahn！ I am innocent。 Mameena； the witch！ Mameena〃
He got no farther； for the slayers had leapt on him like hounds upon a
buck and dragged him from me。
Then I turned and covered up my eyes。
Next morning I left Nodwengu without saying good…bye to anyone； for what
had happened there mad