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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 and blood； and ill will befall the hut in which they are
hidden by one who can speak the words of power。 This is the bone of a
babe that has never lived to cut its teethI think of a babe that was
left to die alone in the bush because it was hated； or because none
would father it。 Such a bone has strength to work ill against other
babes； moreover； it is filled with a charmed medicine。 Look！〃 and；
pulling out the plug of wood； he scattered some grey powder from the
bone； then stopped it up again。 〃This；〃 he added； picking up the fang；
〃is the tooth of a deadly serpent； that； after it has been doctored； is
used by women to change the heart of a man from another to herself。 I
have spoken。〃
And he turned to go。
〃Stay！〃 said the King。 〃Who set these foul charms in the doorway of
Saduko's hut？〃
〃How can I tell； O King； unless I make preparation and cast the bones
and smell out the evil…doer？ You have heard the story of the woman
Nahana。 Accept it or reject it as your heart tells you。〃
〃If that story be true； O Zikali； how comes it that you yourself smelt
out； not Mameena； the wife of Masapo； but Masapo； her husband； himself；
and caused him to be slain because of the poisoning of the child of
Nandie？〃
〃You err； O King。 I； Zikali； smelt out the House of Masapo。 Then I
smelt out the poison； searching for it first in the hair of Mameena； and
finding it in the kaross of Masapo。 I never smelt out that it was
Masapo who gave the poison。 That was the judgment of you and of your
Council； O King。 Nay； I knew well that there was more in the matter；
and had you paid me another fee and bade me to continue to use my
wisdom； without doubt I should have found this magic stuff hidden in the
hut； and mayhap have learned the name of the hider。 But I was weary；
who am very old； and what was it to me if you chose to kill Masapo or
chose to let him go？ Masapo； who； being your secret enemy； was a man
who deserved to dieif not for this matter； then for others。〃
Now； all this while I had been watching Mameena； who sat； in the Zulu
fashion； listening to this deadly evidence； a slight smile upon her
face； and without attempting any interruption or comment。 Only I saw
that while Zikali was examining the medicine； her eyes were seeking the
eyes of Saduko； who remained in his place； also silent； and； to all
appearance； the least interested of anyone present。 He tried to avoid
her glance； turning his head uneasily； but at length her eyes caught his
and held them。 Then his heart began to beat quickly； his breast heaved；
and on his face there grew a look of dreamy content； even of happiness。
From that moment forward； till the end of the scene； Saduko never took
his eyes off this strange woman； though I think that； with the exception
of the dwarf； Zikali； who saw everything； and of myself； who am trained
to observation； none noted this curious by…play of the drama。
The King began to speak。 〃Mameena；〃 he said； 〃you have heard。 Have you
aught to say？ For if not it would seem that you are a witch and