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captain； for to the captain I would speak。〃
I translated the question； and Marais answered：
〃I am。〃
〃No；〃 broke in Vrouw Prinsloo； 〃_I_ am。 Tell them； Allan； that these
men are all fools and have given the rule to me； a woman。〃
So I told them。 Evidently this information surprised them a little； for
they discussed together。 Then Kambula said：
〃So be it。 We have heard that the people of George are now ruled by a
woman； and as you； Macumazahn； are one of that people； doubtless it is
the same among your party。〃
Here I may add that thenceforward the Zulus always accepted the Vrouw
Prinsloo as the 〃Inkosikaas〃 or chieftainess of our little band； and
with the single exception of myself； whom they looked upon as her
〃mouth；〃 or induna； would only transact business with or give directions
to her。 The other Boers they ignored completely。
This point of etiquette settled； Kambula bade me repeat what he had
already told me； that we were prisoners whom he was instructed by
Dingaan to convey to his Great Place； and that if we made no attempt to
escape we should not be hurt upon the journey。
I did so； whereon the vrouw asked as I had done； who had informed
Dingaan that we were coming。
I repeated to her word for word what the Zulus had told me； that it was
Pereira； whose object seems to have been to bring about my death or
capture。
Then the vrouw exploded。
〃Do you hear that； Henri Marais？〃 she screamed。 〃It is your stinkcat of
a nephew again。 Oh！ I thought I smelt him！ Your nephew has betrayed us
to these Zulus that he may bring Allan to his death。 Ask them； Allan；
what this Dingaan has done with the stinkcat。〃
So I asked； and was informed they believed that the king had let Pereira
go on to his own people in payment of the information that he had given
him。
〃My God！〃 said the vrouw； 〃I hoped that he had knocked him on the head。
Well； what is to be done now？〃
〃I don't know；〃 I answered。 Then an idea occurred to me； and I said to
Kambula：
〃It seems to be me； the son of George； that your king wants。 Take me；
and let these people go on their road。〃
The three Zulus began to discuss this point； withdrawing themselves a
little way so that I could not overhear them。 But when the Boers
understood the offer that I had made； Marie； who until now had been
silent； grew more angry than ever I had seen her before。
〃It shall not be！〃 she said； stamping her foot。 〃Father； I have been
obedient to you for long； but if you consent to this I will be obedient
no more。 Allan saved my cousin Hernan's life； as he saved all our
lives。 In payment for that good deed Hernan tried to murder him in the
kloofoh！ be quiet； Allan； I know all the story。 Now he has betrayed
him to the Zulus； telling them that he is a terrible and dangerous man
who must be killed。 Well； if he is to be killed； I will be killed with
him； and if the Zulus take him and let us free； I go with him。 Now make
up your mind。〃
Marais tugged at his beard； staring first at his daughter and then at
me。 What he would have answered I do not know； for at that moment
Kambula stepped forward and gave his decision。
It was to the effect that although it was the Son of George whom Dingaan
wanted； his orders were that all with him were to be taken also。 Those
orders could not be disobeyed。 The king would settle the matter as to
whether some of us were to be killed and some let free； or if all were
to be killed or let free； when we reached his House。 Therefore he
commanded that 〃we should tie the oxen to the moving huts and cross the
river at once。〃
This was the end of that scene。 Having no choice we inspanned and
continued our journey； escorted by the company of two hundred savages。
I am bound to say that during the four or five days that it took us to
reach Dingaan's kraal they behaved very well to us。 With Kambula and
his officers； all of them good fellows in their way； I had many
conversations； and from them learned much as to the state and customs of
the Zulus。 Also the peoples of the districts through which we passed
flocked round us at every outspan； for most of them had never seen a
white man before； and in return for a few beads brought us all the food
that we required。 Indeed； the beads； or their equivalents； were nothing
but a present； since； by the king's command； they must satisfy our
wants。 This they did very thoroughly。 For instance； when on the last
day's trek； some of our oxen gave out； numbers of Zulus were inspanned
in place of them； and by their help the wagons were dragged to the great
kraal； Umgungundhlovu。
Here an outspan place was assigned to us near to the house； or rather
the huts； of a certain missionary of the name of Owen； who with great
courage had ventured into this country。 We were received with the
utmost kindness by him and his wife and household； and it is impossible
for me to say what pleasure I found； after all my journeyings； in
meeting an educated man of my own race。
Near to our camp was a stone…covered koppie； where； on the morning after
our arrival； I saw six or eight men executed in a way that I will not
describe。 Their crime； according to Mr。 Owen； was that they had
bewitched some of the king's oxen。
While I was recovering from this dreadful spectacle； which； fortunately；
Marie did not witness； the captain Kambula arrived； saying that Dingaan
wished to see me。 So taking with me the Hottentot Hans and two of the
Zulus whom I had hired at Delagoa Bayfor the royal orders were that
none of the other white people were to come； I was led through the fence
of the vast town in which stood two thousand hutsthe 〃multitude of
houses〃 as the Zulus called itand across a vast open space in the
middle。
On the farther side of this space； where； before long； I was fated to
witness a very tragic scene； I entered a kind of labyrinth。 This was
called 〃siklohlo〃； and had high fences with numerous turns； so that it
was impossible to see where one was going or to find the way in or out。
Ultimately； however； I reached a great hut named 〃intunkulu〃； a word
that means the 〃house of houses；〃 or the abode of the king； in front of
which I saw a fat man seated on a stool； naked except for the moocha
about his middle and necklaces and armlets of blue beads。 Two warriors
held their broad shields over his head to protect him from the sun。
Otherwise he was alone； although I felt sure that the numerous passages
around him were filled with guards； for I could hear them moving。
On entering this place Kambula and his companions flung themselves upon
their faces and began to sing praises of which the king took no notice。
Presently he looked up； and appearing to observe me for the first time
asked：
〃Who is that white boy？〃
Then Kambula rose and said：
〃O king； this is the Son of George； whom you commanded me to capture。 I
have taken him and the Amaboona〃 （that is； the Boers）； 〃his companions；
and brought them all to you； O king。〃
〃I remember；〃 said Dingaan。 〃The big Boer who was here； and whom
Tambusa〃he was one of Dingaan's captains〃let go against my will；
said that be was a terrible man who should be killed before he worked
great harm to my people。 Why did you not kill him； Kambula； although it
is true he does not look very terrible？〃
〃Because the king's word was that I should bring him to the king
living；〃 answered Kambula。 Then he added cheerfully： 〃Still； if the
king wishes it； I can kill him at once。〃
〃I don't know；〃 said Dingaan doubtfully； 〃perhaps he can mend guns。〃
Next； after reflecting a while； he bade a shield…holder to fetch
someone； I could not hear whom。
〃Doubtless；〃 thought I to myself； 〃it is the executioner；〃 and at that
thought a kind of mad rage seized me。 Why should my life be ended thus
in youth to satisfy the whim of a savage？ And if it must be so； why
should I go alone？
In the inside pocket of my ragged coat I had a small loaded pistol with
two barrels。 One of those barrels would kill Dingaanat five paces I
could not miss that bulkand the other would blow out my brains； for I
was not minded to have my neck twisted or to be beaten to death with
sticks。 Well； if it was to be done； I had better do it at once。
Already my hand was creeping towards the pocket when a new idea； or
rather two ideas； struck me。
The first was that if I shot Dingaan the Zulus would probably massacre
Marie and the othersMarie； whose sweet face I should never see again。
The second was that while there is life there is hope。 Perhaps； after
all； he had not sent for an executioner； but for someone else。 I would
wait。 A few minutes more of existence were worth the having。
The shield…bearer returned； emerging from one of the narrow； reed…hedged
passages； and after him came no executioner； but a young white man； who；
as I knew fr