think it must have been stolen.

All of this, cattle, and ivory together, I sent to Natal in charge of a
white friend of mine whom I could trust, where the stuff was sold
very well indeed, and the proceeds paid to my account, the "trade"
equivalents being duly remitted to the native vendors.

In fact, my good fortune was such that if I had been superstitious like
Hans, I should have been inclined to attribute it to the influence of
Zikali's "Great Medicine." As it was I knew it to be one of the chances
of a trader's life and accepted it with a shrug as often as I had been
accustomed to do in the alternative of losses.

Only one untoward incident happened to me. Of a sudden a party of
the King's soldiers under the command of a well-known _Induna_ or
Councillor, arrived and insisted upon searching my waggon, as I thought
at first in connection with that cheap lot of ivory which had already
departed to Natal. However, never a word did they say of ivory, nor
indeed was a single thing belonging to me taken by them.

I was very indignant and expressed my feelings to the _Induna_ in no
measured terms. He on his part was most apologetic, and explained that
what he did he was obliged to do "by the King's orders." Also he let it
slip that he was seeking for a certain "evil-doer" who, it was thought,
might be with me without my knowing his real character, and as this
"evil-doer," whose name he would not mention, was a very fierce man, it
had been necessary to bring a strong guard with him.

Now I bethought me of Umslopogaas, but merely looked blank and shrugged
my shoulders, saying that I was not in the habit of consorting with