The indunas looked on each other and grew grey with fear; and for me,

my father, my knees were loosened and my marrow turned to water in my

bones. For I knew well who was that son of a stranger of whom they

spoke. It was I, my father, I who was about to be smelt out; and if I

was smelt out I should be killed with all my house, for the king's

oath would scarcely avail me against the witch-doctors. I looked at

the fierce faces of the Isanusis before me, as they crept, crept like

snakes. I glanced behind and saw the slayers grasping their kerries