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passages； and after him came no executioner； but a young white man； who；
as I knew from the look of him； was English。 He saluted the king by
taking off his hat； which I remember was stuck round with black ostrich
feathers； then stared at me。
〃O Tho…maas〃 （that is how he pronounced 〃Thomas〃）； said Dingaan； 〃tell
me if this boy is one of your brothers； or is he a Boer？〃
〃The king wants to know if you are Dutch or British；〃 said the white
lad； speaking in English。
〃As British as you are；〃 I answered。 〃I was born in England； and come
from the Cape。〃
〃That may be lucky for you；〃 he said； 〃because the old witch…doctor；
Zikali； has told him that he must not kill any English。 What is your
name？ Mine is Thomas Halstead。 I am interpreter here。〃
〃Allan Quatermain。 Tell Zikali； whoever he may be； that if he sticks to
his advice I will give him a good present。〃
〃What are you talking about？〃 asked Dingaan suspiciously。
〃He says he is English； no Boer； O king； that he was born across the
Black Water； and that he comes from the country out of which all the
Boers have trekked。〃
At this intelligence Dingaan pricked up his ears。
〃Then he can tell me about these Boers；〃 he said； 〃and what they are
after； or could if he were able to speak my tongue。 I do not trust you
to interpret； you Tho…maas； whom I know to be a liar；〃 and he glowered
at Halstead。
〃I can speak your tongue； though not very well； O king；〃 I interrupted；
〃and I can tell you all about the Boers； for I have lived among them。〃
〃Ow！〃 said Dingaan； intensely interested。 〃But perhaps you are also a
liar。 Or are you a praying man； like that fool yonder； who is named
Oweena？〃he meant the missionary Mr。 Owen〃 whom I spare because it is
not lucky to kill one who is mad； although he tries to frighten my
soldiers with tales of a fire into which they will go after they are
dead。 As though it matters what happens to them after they are dead！〃
he added reflectively； taking a pinch of snuff。
〃I am no liar；〃 I answered。 〃What have I to lie about？〃
〃You would lie to save your own life； for all white men are cowards； not
like the Zulus； who love to die for their king。 But how are you named？〃
〃Your people call me Macumazahn。〃
〃Well； Macumazahn； if you are no liar； tell me； is it true that these
Boers rebelled against their king who was named George； and fled from
him as the traitor Umsilikazi did from me？〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃that is true。〃
〃Now I am sure that you are a liar；〃 said Dingaan triumphantly。 〃You
say that you are English and therefore serve your king； or the
Inkosikaas〃 （that is the Great Lady）； 〃who they tell me now sits in his
place。 How does it come about then that you are travelling with a party
of these very Amaboona who must be your enemies； since they are the
enemies of your king； or of her who follows after him？〃
Now I knew that I was in a tight place； for on this matter of loyalty；
Zulu； and indeed all native ideas； are very primitive。 If I said that I
had sympathy with the Boers； Dingaan would set me down as a traitor。 If
I said that I hated the Boers； then still I should be a traitor because
I associated with them； and a traitor in his eyes would be one to be
killed。 I do not like to talk religion； and anyone who has read what I
have written in various works will admit that I have done so rarely； if
ever。 Yet at that moment I put up a prayer for guidance； feeling that
my young life hung upon the answer； and it came to mewhence I do not
know。 The essence of that guidance was that I should tell the simple
truth to this fat savage。 So I said to him：
〃The answer is this； O king。 Among those Boers is a maiden whom I love
and who betrothed herself to me since we were 'so high。' Her father
took her north。 But she sent a message to me saying that her people
died of fever and she starved。 So I went up in a ship to save her； and
have saved her； and those who remained alive of her people with her。〃
〃Ow！〃 said Dingaan； 〃I understand that reason。 It is a good reason。
However many wives he may have； there is no folly that a man will not
commit for the sake of some particular girl who is not yet his wife。 I
have done as much myself； especially for one who was called Nada the
Lily； of whom a certain Umslopogaas robbed me； one of my own blood of
whom I am much afraid。〃*
＇*See the Author's book named 〃Nada the Lily。〃＇
For a while he brooded heavily； then went on：
〃Your reason is good； Macumazahn； and I accept it。 More； I promise you
this。 Perhaps I shall kill these Boers； or perhaps I shall not kill
them。 But if I make up my mind to kill them； this girl of yours shall
be spared。 Point her out to Kambula herenot to Tho…maas； for he is a
liar and would tell me the wrong oneand she shall be spared。〃
〃I thank you； O king；〃 I said； 〃but what is the use of that if I am to
be killed？〃
〃I did not say that you were to be killed； Macumazahn； though perhaps I
shall kill you； or perhaps I shall not kill you。 It depends upon
whether I find you to be a liar； or not a liar。 Now the Boer whom
Tambusa let go against my wish said that you are a mighty magician as
well as a very dangerous man； one who can shoot birds flying on the wing
with a bullet； which is impossible。 Can you do so？〃
〃Sometimes；〃 I answered。
〃Very good； Macumazahn。 Now we will see if you are a wizard or a liar。
I will make a bet with you。 Yonder by your camp is a hill called 'Hloma
Amabutu；' a hill of stones where evildoers are slain。 This afternoon
some wicked ones die there； and when they are dead the vultures will
come to devour them。 Now this is my bet with you。 When those vultures
come you shall shoot at them； and if you kill three out of the first
five on the wingnot on the ground； Macumazahnthen I will spare these
Boers。 But if you miss them； then I shall know that you are a liar and
no wizard； and I will kill them every one on the hill Hloma Amabutu。 I
will spare none of them except the girl； whom perhaps I will take as a
wife。 As to you； I will not yet say what I will do with you。〃
Now my first impulse was to refuse this monstrous wager； which meant
that the lives of a number of people were to be set against my skill in
shooting。 But young Thomas Halstead； guessing the words that were about
to break from me； said in English：
〃Accept unless you are a fool。 If you don't he will cut the throats of
every one of them and stick your girl into the emposeni〃 （that is
harem）； 〃while you will become a prisoner as I am。〃
These were words that I could not resent or neglect； so although despair
was in my heart； I said coolly：
〃Be it so； O king。 I take your wager。 If I kill three vultures out of
five as they hover over the hill； then I have your promise that all
those who travel with me shall be allowed to go hence in safety。〃
〃Yes； yes； Macumazahn； but if you fail to kill them； remember that the
next vultures you shoot at shall be those that come to feed upon their
flesh； for then I shall know that you are no magician； but a common
liar。 And now begone； Tho…maas。 I will not have you spying on me； and
you； Macumazahn； come hither。 Although you talk my tongue so badly； I
would speak with you about the Boers。〃
So Halstead went； shrugging his shoulders and muttering as he passed me：
〃I hope you really _can_ shoot。〃
After he had left I sat alone for a full hour with Dingaan while he
cross…examined me about the Dutch； their movements and their aims in
travelling to the confines of his country。
I answered his questions as best I could； trying to make out a good case
for them。
At length； when he grew weary of talking； he clapped his hands； whereon
a number of fine girls appeared； two of whom carried pots of beer； from
which he offered me drink。
I replied that I would have none； since beer made the hand shake and
that on the steadiness of my hand that afternoon depended the lives of
many。 To do him justice he quite understood the point。 Indeed； he
ordered me to be conducted back to the camp at once that I might rest；
and even sent one of his own attendants with me to hold a shield over my
head as I walked so that I should be protected from the sun。
〃Hamba gachle〃 （that is 〃Go softly〃）； said the wicked old tyrant to me
as I departed under the guidance of Kambula。 〃This afternoon； one hour
before sundown； I will meet you at Hloma Amabutu； and there shall be
settled the fate of these Amaboona； your companions。〃
When I reached the camp it was to find all the Boers clustered together
waiting for me； and with them the Reverend Mr。 Owen and his people；
including a Welsh servant of his； a woman of middle age who； I remember；
was called Jane。
〃Well；〃 said the Vrouw Prinsloo； 〃and what is your news； young man？〃
〃My news； aunt；〃 I answered； 〃is