“On the morning after our arrival at this place, Allan,” said Anscombe, “I woke up to find you gone from the hut.  As you did not come back I concluded that you were with Zikali, and walked about looking for you.  Then food was brought to us and Heda and I breakfasted together, after which we went to where we heard the horses neighing and found that yours was gone.  Returning, much frightened, we met Nombe, who gave me your note which explained everything, and we inquired of her why this had been done and what was to become of us.  She smiled and answered that we had better ask the first question of the king and the second of her master Zikali, and in the meanwhile be at peace since we were quite safe.

“I tried to see Zikali but could not.  Then I went to inspan the horses with the idea of following you, only to find that they were gone.  Indeed I have not seen them from that day to this.  Next we thought of starting on foot, for we were quite desperate.  But Nombe intervened and told us that if we ventured out of the Black Kloof we should be killed.  In short we were prisoners.

“This went on for some days, during which we were well treated but could not succeed in seeing Zikali.  At length one morning he sent for us and we were taken to the enclosure in front of his hut, Kaatje coming with us as interpreter.  For a while he sat still, looking very grim and terrible.  Then he said—­

“’White Chief and Lady, you think ill of me because Macumazahn has gone and you are kept prisoners here, and before all is done you will think worse.  Yet I counsel you to trust me since everything that happens is for your good.’

“At this point Heda, who, as you know, talked Zulu fairly well, though not so well as she does now, broke in, and said some very angry things to him.”

“Yes,” interrupted Heda.  “I told him that he was a liar and I believed that he had murdered you and meant to murder us.”

“He listened stonily,” continued Anscombe, “and answered, ’I perceive, Lady Heddana, that you understand enough of our tongue to enable me to talk to you; therefore I will send away this half-breed woman, since what I have to say is secret.’

“Then he called servants by clapping his hands and ordered them to remove Kaatje, which was done.

“‘Now, Lady Heddana,’ he said, speaking very slowly so that Heda might interpret to me and repeating his words whenever she did not understand, ’I have a proposal to make to you.  For my own ends it is necessary that you should play a part and appear before the king and the Council as the goddess of this land who is called the Chieftainess of Heaven, which goddess is always seen as a white woman.  Therefore you must travel with me to Ulundi and there do those things which I shall tell you.’

“‘And if I refuse to play this trick,’ said Heda, ‘what then?’

“’Then, Lady Heddana, this white lord whom you love and who is to be your husband will—­die—­and after he is dead you must still do what I desire of you, or—­die also.’