I sat silent, wondering what to say or do and leant forward to pick a
piece of wood out of the fire wherewith to light my pipe. Now my shirt
was not buttoned and as it chanced this action caused the ivory image of
Zikali that hung about my neck to appear between its edges. The _Induna_
saw it and his eyes grew big with fear.

"Hide that!" he whispered, "hide that, lest it should bewitch me.
Indeed, already I feel as though I were being bewitched. It is the Great
Medicine itself."

"That will certainly happen to you," I said, yawning again, "if you
insist upon my taking a week's trek to visit the Black One, or interfere
with me in any way now or afterwards," and I lifted my hand towards the
talisman, looking him steadily in the face.

"Perhaps after all, Macumazahn, it is not necessary for you to visit the
King," he said in an uncertain voice. "I will go and make report to him
that you know nothing of this evil-doer."

And he went in such a hurry that he never waited to say good-bye. Next
morning before the dawn I went also and trekked steadily until I was
clear of Zululand.



In due course and without accident, for the weather, which had been
so wet, had now turned beautifully fine and dry, we came to the great,
flat-topped hill that I have mentioned, trekking thither over high,
sparsely-timbered veld that offered few difficulties to the waggon. This
peculiar hill, known to such natives as lived in those parts by a long