“And the King?” put in Babatyana with his head on one side. “The King of the Amangisi? What will he do with such indunas as they?”
“He will do as his indunas advise, brother, for such is the way with the Amangisi.”
“A king who is ruled by his indunas is as a dog that is wagged by its tail. U’ Tshaka!” returned Baba tyana vehemently, swearing by the name of the great Zulu. And the others murmured assent.
“Yet it is so, amadoda. I, who have seen, I, who know, tell you so.”
And the confidence with which the speaker declared this, the certainty in his whole manner and look, staggered the doubters. In such wise was the venom drop injected by these snakes in the grass fostered and educated all unknowingly by the agencies of philanthropy and civilisation.
“Great news have we heard this night, brothers. But, even though we drive the Amangisi out, have we not to reckon with the Amabuna? They are terrible fighters. Not all the tribes in the world could drive them out, impela!”
The speaker was Teliso, who had joined a group which was discussing what they had heard.
“Not all the tribes in the world!” repeated one, derisively. “Hear that!”
“Even that Lion, Dingane, had to flee before them,” urged the detective.