The King's Assegai: A Matabili Story

"Many moons had now waxed and waned, and at length we began to feel secure from all pursuit and danger at the hands of Tshaka, and of a truth the _impis_ of the Great King would...

"As we drew near Ekupumuleni we passed by the mound where the slayers were wont to do their work, and which robe at no long distance from the great kraal. I could see skulls gli...

"Shortly after these things happened, it befell that I was alone in attendance upon the King, in his hut; for although, being on the march, no kraal could be built, yet if we ca...

"Shortly after this an _impi_ was sent out against some strong Basutu kraals which lay in our path, and whose inhabitants, our scouts had reported, were arming for resistance. L...

"When I told Nangeza that we had seen but the beginning of the night's doings, _Nkose_, I spoke no more than the truth. The sentinel whom we had overpowered was found towards mo...

"To that night of dreamless sleep there came an awakening at last. The sun was pouring down upon my naked shoulders, and, wounded and exhausted as I was, it seemed that I had aw...

"In that short flash of time I must have died a thousand deaths. In my terror I made no attempt to arrest my downward course. Stones and dust rattled past my ears, flashes, as o...

"Not until I was clear of the mountains did I dare to travel daring the light of day, for it seemed certain we had not entirely stamped out those _abatagati_. Now and then I cou...

"You will be wondering, _Nkose_, what had become of the old Mosutu witch-doctor whose life I had spared, and who was the sole survivor of his people. The morning after the battl...

Now I saw I was going to get at a wonderful story. The incidents and recollections which would cluster round that beautifully-made dark-handled spear could not fail to be copiou...

"Hardly had the word left Gungana's lips than I was up and away. No thought of the witch-doctor was in my mind as I sped over the ground in that long, even trot which I could ke...

"For ten days longer we wandered through the mountains, and, in truth, it seemed that we were but getting deeper and deeper into them, for we knew not the way, and often our wan...

"Just at this time there arrived chiefs and headmen, delegates from distant tribes, desiring to _konza_ [Acknowledge as suzerain] to Umzilikazi, for the terror of his name and t...

"We saw no more of Tshaka's _impi_. Perhaps it was that a great cloud came upon the mountains after our passage and rested there for days, and they attempted to follow, and fail...

"After this the King gave orders that we should break up camp and resume our march, and, _Nkose_, it was something to see this immense company of people moving onward thus, day...