light. Who, then, is he, woman?"

"Who is he?" she answered. "Are you a fool that ask who he is? He is--

hush!--put your ear close--let me speak low lest the reeds of the hut

speak it to the king. He is--do you listen? He is--the son of Chaka

and Baleka, the sister of Mopo, the changeling whom Unandi, Mother of

the Heavens, palmed off upon this house to bring a curse on it, and

whom she would lead out before the people when the land is weary of

the wickedness of the king, her son, to take the place of the king."