“‘Gungana, the King’s induna.’
“‘U’gungana!’ I roared, springing to my feet and gripping my assegais. ‘Hau! I will kill him, though I die myself in doing so!’
“‘Gahle, gahle! (Gently, gently!) Untúswa!’ she cried, flinging her arms round me, and dragging me back by main force.
“‘U’Gungana! Hau! the jackal, the coward dog!’ I went on, in the fury and ungovernable excitement into which the news had thrown me. ‘He stole the praise that was due to me! he claimed credit for the deed he was too cowardly to perform himself! he it is who has poisoned the King’s ear against me! He shall die—shall die this day!’
“‘He shall not, Untúswa. Listen now—no, you cannot fling me off. I am too strong for even you to do that, and I will not let you go. Listen, now, to what I have to say.’
“She spoke truly. I could not shake her off. Calmed by her voice, I sat down gloomily to listen, and bit by bit she unfolded to me a most amazing plan.
“‘It is even as the King has just told you, son of Ntelani,’ she ended up. ‘Valour without wisdom is the destruction of its owner. Be guided by me, and one day you shall be a greater man than Gungana. I shall be your Inkosikazi yet.’
(Inkosikazi: The principal wife of a chief.)
“‘Hail, Inkosikazi! We bow down to thee! We do thee obeisance, Inkosikazi!’
“And shrill screams of mocking laughter from the bush on the other side of the donga accompanied this most startling interruption.