“Kill them! kill them! If they are allowed to live, you cannot gain the victory.”
“If they are killed,” cried Mangaleesu, “neither I nor my followers can unite with those who allow so cruel an act. The English have always been my friends, and I will not see them ill-treated, notwithstanding what that old woman says. It was not long since that she was seen paying a visit to Cetchwayo, and who can tell that she has not been sent by him to betray us?”
The hag, who heard all that was said, began to move uneasily, and gradually drew back from the crowd, until she joined the men who had accompanied her into the camp. So deeply steeped in superstition were the minds of the Zulus, that they could not divest themselves of the idea that her predictions would be fulfilled, in spite of all Mangaleesu had said. Denis and Percy were therefore kept strictly guarded in their midst.
They could see the old witch at some distance gesticulating violently, waving her arms about, occasionally leaping from side to side in the most extraordinary fashion. Now and then she pointed to them in a way which made them fear that she was still urging the chiefs to put them to death. Mangaleesu was the only one who held out. Had he not arrived, it seemed very probable that the savages would have plunged their assegais in their bodies. Even now their lives hung in the balance. For some time she was seen talking to several men, among whom were those who had been their guards during the night. Presently she advanced, and as she waved her wand, and pointed towards them, Denis heard her exclaim—
“There were three of them! Where is the third? Without him the number is incomplete.”
The prince, who seemed to have forgotten this fact, on hearing her speak, exclaimed—
“You are right, most sagacious prophetess. There were three. Bring him forth, that he may suffer the doom of the others.”
Instantly several of the young chiefs rushed to the hut, and were seen, one after the other, crawling in.
“They’ll be mighty puzzled when they find that he’s not there,” said Denis. “I’m doubly thankful that he got off if we are to be killed, and there seems a great chance of that.”
“Do you think they’ll have the barbarity to put us to death?” asked Percy. “What object can they have in doing so?”