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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 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。