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Masapo； he was killed as a wizard。 Yet it may be that it was not he who
used the poison。〃
〃Then surely the King should have thought of that before he died；〃
murmured Mameena。 〃But I forget： It is known that Masapo was always
hostile to the House of Senzangakona。〃
To this remark Panda made no answer； perhaps because it was
unanswerable； even in a land where it was customary to kill the supposed
wizard first and inquire as to his actual guilt afterwards； or not at
all。 Or perhaps he thought it politic to ignore the suggestion that he
had been inspired by personal enmity。 Only； he looked at his daughter；
Nandie； who rose and said：
〃Have I leave to call a witness on this matter of the poison； my
Father？〃
Panda nodded； whereon Nandie said to one of the councillors：
〃Be pleased to summon my woman； Nahana； who waits without。〃
The man went； and presently returned with an elderly female who； it
appeared； had been Nandie's nurse； and； never having married； owing to
some physical defect； had always remained in her service； a person well
known and much respected in her humble walk of life。
〃Nahana；〃 said Nandie； 〃you are brought here that you may repeat to the
King and his council a tale which you told to me as to the coming of a
certain woman into my hut before the death of my first…born son； and
what she did there。 Say first； is this woman present here？〃
〃Aye； Inkosazana；〃 answered Nahana； 〃yonder she sits。 Who could mistake
her？〃 and she pointed to Mameena； who was listening to every word
intently； as a dog listens at the mouth of an ant…bear hole when the
beast is stirring beneath。
〃Then what of the woman and her deeds？〃 asked Panda。
〃Only this； O King。 Two nights before the child that is dead was taken
ill； I saw Mameena creep into the hut of the lady Nandie； I who was
asleep alone in a corner of the big hut out of reach of the light of the
fire。 At the time the lady Nandie was away from the hut with her son。
Knowing the woman for Mameena； the wife of Masapo； who was on friendly
terms with the Inkosazana； whom I supposed she had come to visit； I did
not declare myself； nor did I take any particular note when I saw her
sprinkle a little mat upon which the babe； Saduko's son； was wont to be
laid； with some medicine； because I had heard her promise to the
Inkosazana a powder which she said would drive away insects。 Only； when
I saw her throw some of this powder into the vessel of warm water that
stood by the fire； to be used for the washing of the child； and place
something； muttering certain words that I could not catch； in the straw
of the doorway； I thought it strange； and was about to question her when
she left the hut。 As it happened； O King； but a little while
afterwards； before one could count ten tens indeed； a messenger came to
the hut to tell me that my old mother lay dying at her kraal four days'
journey from Nodwengu； and prayed to see me before she died。 Then I
forgot all about Mameena and the powder； and； running out to seek the
Princess Nandie； I craved her leave to go with the messenger to my
mother's kraal； which she granted to me； saying that I need not return
until my mother was buried。
〃So I went。 But； oh！ my mother took long to die。 Whole moons passed
before I shut her eyes； and all this while she would not let me go； nor；
indeed； did I wish to leave her whom I loved。 At length it was over；
and then came the days of mourning； and after those some more days of
rest； and after them again the days of the division of the cattle； so
that in the end six moons or more had gone by before I returned to the
service of the Princess Nandie； and found that Mameena was now the
second wife of the lord Saduko。 Also I found that the child of the lady
Nandie was dead； and that Masapo； the first husband of Mameena； had been
smelt out and killed as the murderer of the child。 But as all these
things were over and done with； and as Mameena was very kind to me；
giving me gifts and sparing me tasks； and as I saw that Saduko my lord
loved her much； it never came into my head to say anything of the matter
of the powder that I saw her sprinkle on the mat。
〃After she had run away with the Prince who is dead； however； I did tell
the lady Nandie。 Moreover； the lady Nandie； in my presence； searched in
the straw of the doorway of the hut and found there； wrapped in soft
hide； certain medicines such as the Nyangas sell； wherewith those who
consult them can bewitch their enemies； or cause those whom they desire
to love them or to hate their wives or husbands。 That is all I know of
the story； O King。〃
〃Do my ears hear a true tale； Nandie？〃 asked Panda。 〃Or is this woman a
liar like others？〃
〃I think not； my Father； see； here is the muti ＇medicine＇ which Nahana
and I found hid in the doorway of the hut that I have kept unopened till
this day。〃
And she laid on the ground a little leather bag； very neatly sewn with
sinews； and fastened round its neck with a fibre string。
Panda directed one of the councillors to open the bag； which the man did
unwillingly enough； since evidently he feared its evil influence；
pouring out its contents on to the back of a hide shield； which was then
carried round so that we might all look at them。 These； so far as I
could see； consisted of some withered roots； a small piece of human
thigh bone； such as might have come from the skeleton of an infant； that
had a little stopper of wood in its orifice； and what I took to be the
fang of a snake。
Panda looked at them and shrank away； saying：
〃Come hither； Zikali the Old； you who are skilled in magic； and tell us
what is this medicine。〃
Then Zikali rose from the corner where he had been sitting so silently；
and waddled heavily across the open space to where the shield lay in
front of the King。 As he passed Mameena； she bent down over the dwarf
and began to whisper to him swiftly； but he placed his hands upon his
big head； covering up his ears； as I suppose； that he might not hear her
words。
〃What have I to do with this matter； O King？〃 he asked。
〃Much； it seems； O Opener…of…Roads；〃 said Panda sternly； 〃seeing that
you were the doctor who smelt out Masapo； and that it was in your kraal
that yonder woman hid herself while her lover； the Prince； my son； who
is dead； went down to the battle； and that she was brought thence with
you。 Tell us； now； the nature of this muti； and； being wise； as you
are； be careful to tell us truly； lest it should be said； O Zikali； that
you are not a Nyanga only； but an umtakati as well。 For then；〃 he added
with meaning； and choosing his words carefully； 〃perchance； O Zikali； I
might be tempted to make trial of whether or no it is true that you
cannot be killed like other men； especially as I have heard of late that
your heart is evil towards me and my House。〃
For a moment Zikali hesitatedI think to give his quick brain time to
work； for he saw his great danger。 Then he laughed in his dreadful
fashion and said：
〃Oho！ the King thinks that the otter is in the trap；〃 and he glanced at
the fence of the isi…gohlo and at the fierce executioners； who stood
watching him sternly。 〃Well； many times before has this otter seemed to
be in a trap； yes； ere your father saw light； O Son of Senzangakona； and
after it also。 Yet here he stands living。 Make no trial； O King； of
whether or no I be mortal； lest if Death should come to such a one as I；
he should take many others with him also。 Have you not heard the saying
that when the Opener…of…Roads comes to the end of his road there will be
no more a King of the Zulus； as when he began his road there was no King
of the Zulus； since the days of his manhood are the days of _all_ the
Zulu kings？〃
Thus he spoke； glaring at Panda and at Cetewayo； who shrank before his
gaze。
〃Remember；〃 he went on； 〃that the Black One who is 'gone down' long ago；
the Wild Beast who fathered the Zulu herd； threatened him whom he named
the 'Thing…that…should…not…have…been…born；' aye； and slew those whom he
loved； and afterwards was slain by others； who also are 'gone down；' and
that you alone； O Panda； did not threaten him； and that you alone； O
Panda； have not been slain。 Now； if you would make trial of whether I
die as other men die； bid your dogs fall on； for Zikali is ready；〃 and
he folded his arms and waited。
Indeed； all of us waited breathlessly； for we understood that the
terrible dwarf was matching himself against Panda and Cetewayo and
defying them both。 Presently it became obvious that he had won the
game； since Panda only said：
〃Why should I slay one whom I have befriended in the past； and why do
you speak such heavy words of death in my ears； O； Zikali the Wise；
which of late have heard so much of death？〃 He sighed； adding： 〃Be
pleased now； to tell us of this medicine； or； if you will not； go； and I
will send for other Nyangas。〃
〃Why should I not tell you； when you ask me softly and without threats；
O King？ See〃and Zikali took up some of the twisted roots〃these are
the roots of a certain poisonous herb that blooms at night on the tops
of mountains； and woe be to the ox that eats thereof。 They have been
boiled in gall a