“Now, when I heard this, I trembled for Nangeza. Why would she stand forth thus, so prominent among the other women, in all the splendid vigour of her symmetrical frame? What if the King’s eye should fall upon her? What if a new idea should arise in his mind?
“‘Thy story seems to hang together well, Sekweni,’ said the King. ‘But this thong,’ holding up the one wherewith Sekweni had been bound, ‘savoureth rather more of mortal hands. It is such as would be used to place around the horns of cattle, or as women would tie up burdens with—or firewood.’
“At these words, Nkose, my eyes well-nigh leaped from my head with fear. He who knew all things had spoken those words.
“‘Here, too, is what was rent from a skin kaross,’ went on the Great Great One, holding up a small strip of spotted skin. ‘It is as a fragment of a woman’s garment. So far thy tale holdeth, son of Ntelani.’
“At this my eyes again sought Nangeza. But she did not meet my glance. There was the same half-amused and wholly fearless expression in her face. What a wonderful girl she was! I thought, my own fears vanishing as I saw how full of courage she was.
“‘Now, confess, umfane!’ said the King suddenly, speaking quickly and bending upon my brother a terrible frown. ‘Are not these all lies? Hast thou not been the author of thine own undoing, by having dealings with a woman while thou shouldest have been watching at thy post?’
“‘No lies have I told, O Great Great One, in whose light we live,’ answered Sekweni steadily. ‘It is as I have said—I was bewitched.’
“‘Good,’ said the King. ‘Now will we get to the root of this. Come forth, ye snakes of the darkness!’
“At these words the doors of three of the huts opened, and there burst forth from them the whole company of the izanusi. They were smeared with blood and napping with entrails, and with their charms of bird-claws and human bones, snakes’ skins and cow-tail tufts, rattling around them, came dancing and leaping before the King, whistling and howling, a most hideous company.
“‘Behold this thong—this bit of skin,’ said Umzilikazi, holding up the articles. ‘Find the owner, ye ringed snakes! Find the owners!’