came to my huts by stealth, and there kissed and nursed a boy--one of

my children. Then Chaka remembered the prophecy of Nobela, the dead

Isanusi, and his heart grew dark with doubt. But to me he said nothing

of the matter, for then, as always, his eyes looked over my head. He

did not fear me or believe that I plotted against him, I who was his

dog. Still, he did this, though whether by chance or design I do not

know: he bade me go on a journey to a distant tribe that lived near

the borders of the Amaswazi, there to take count of certain of the