Just about this time Songoza’s mother, Manolie, became ill. She lay on a mat and coughed. On the fourth day of her illness her pains became very great, and she kept pressing her hand to her right side and saying that there was fire within her body. After this she wandered in her mind for several days. At intervals she partially regained her senses, and then she kept calling to the chief, her son, to find out who had bewitched her. So Songoza sent men with an ox to Hloba, a renowned witch-doctor, who lived at Xabakaza, with a message asking him to “smell out” the person who had bewitched Manolie.
Kèlè, with his three companions, started with the “lobola” cattle on the day after the messengers went to Hloba. They crossed the border, and slept at a kraal about five miles from the dwelling of the bride-elect. Here a goat was killed for them, and they feasted late into the night. Next morning they arose, lit a fire, and began cooking the remainder of the goat’s flesh in a pot.
They were sitting round the fire talking, when a man was seen approaching. This turned out to be Xosa, one of Songoza’s Indunas. His arrival occasioned some surprise, and in response to an inquiry, he stated that he was carrying a message from Songoza to the bride’s father. Just then, having caught Pandule’s eye, he made a quick movement with his lips, and dropped his gaze. After this, Rali stood up and walked a short distance away to collect some fire-wood. Xosa followed him, and said in a whisper:
“Manolie is dead, and Kèlè has been ‘smelt out;’ Songoza has sent me to tell you and the others to kill him.”
Rali, having in mind Kèlè’s great strength and courage, replied:
“Son of my father, how can we do it? He has his shield, spear, and club, and some of us will surely die. Why did not the chief send a larger party?”
“I do not know,” replied Xosa, “but the order is that he is to be killed at once before he returns over the border to within reach of the hand of the Government.”
“What plan do you think will be best?” asked Rali. “A blow from a club would not be safe, for his hair is thick and his head-ring is heavy and strong.”
“Nevertheless, the club is the best,” replied Xosa; “one can stand behind him as he leans over the fire, and strike him just over and in front of the ear below the head-ring, where the bone is thin.”
Then they walked back to the fire with the wood, meaning to tell Pandule and Sogogo as soon as an opportunity should offer.