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other gods than the assegai and the king。 Now this was a good man； but
no luck went with his teaching； which was hard to understand； and；
moreover； the indunas did not like it； because it seemed to set a
master over the master； and a king over the king； and to preach of
peace to those whose trade was war。 Still； Dingaan sent for the white
man that he might dispute with him； for Dingaan thought that he
himself was the cleverest of all men。
Now the white man came； but his face was pale； because of that which
he had seen befall the Boers； for he was gentle and hated such sights。
The king bade him be seated and spoke to him saying：
〃The other day； O White Man； thou toldest me of a place of fire
whither those go after death who have done wickedly in life。 Tell me
now of thy wisdom； do my fathers lie in that place？〃
〃How can I know； King；〃 answered the prayer…doctor； 〃who may not judge
of the deeds of men？ This I say only： that those who murder and rob
and oppress the innocent and bear false witness shall lie in that
place of fire。〃
〃It seems that my fathers have done all these things； and if they are
in this place I would go there also； for I am minded to be with my
fathers at the last。 Yet I think that I should find a way to escape if
ever I came there。〃
〃How； King？〃
Now Dingaan had set this trap for the prayer…doctor。 In the centre of
that open space where he had caused the Boers to be fallen upon he had
built up a great pyre of woodbrushwood beneath； and on top of the
brushwood logs； and even whole trees。 Perhaps； my father； there were
sixty full wagonloads of dry wood piled together there in the centre
of the place。
〃Thou shalt see with thine eyes； White Man；〃 he answered； and bidding
attendants set fire to the pile all round； he summoned that regiment
of young men which was left in the kraal。 Maybe there were a thousand
and half a thousand of themnot morethe same that had slain the
Boers。
Now the fire began to burn fiercely； and the regiment filed in and
took its place in ranks。 By the time that all had come； the pyre was
everywhere a sheet of raging flame； and； though we sat a hundred paces
from it； its heat was great when the wind turned our way。
〃Now； Doctor of Prayers； is thy hot place hotter than yonder fire？〃
said the king。
He answered that he did not know； but the fire was certainly hot。
〃Then I will show thee how I will come out of it if ever I go to lie
in such a fireay； though it be ten times as big and fierce。 Ho！ my
children！〃 he cried to the soldiers； and； springing up； 〃You see
yonder fire。 Run swiftly and stamp it flat with your feet。 Where there
was fire let there be blackness and ashes。〃
Now the White Man lifted his hands and prayed Dingaan not to do this
thing that should be the death of many； but the king bade him be
silent。 Then he turned his eyes upward and prayed to his gods。 For a
moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt； for the fire
raged furiously； and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven； and
above it and about it the hot air danced。 But their captain called to
them loudly： 〃Great is the king！ Hear the words of the king； who
honours you！ Yesterday we ate up the Amaboonait was nothing； they
were unarmed。 There is a foe more worthy of our valour。 Come； my
children； let us wash in the firewe who are fiercer than the fire！
Great is the king who honours us！〃
Thus he spoke and ran forward； and； with a roar； after him sprang the
soldiers； rank by rank。 They were brave men indeed； moreover； they
knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged
behind； and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed。 On they
went； as to the joy of battle； their captain leading them； and as they
went they sang the Ingomo； the war…chant of the Zulu。 Now the captain
neared the raging fire； we saw him lift his shield to keep off its
heat。 Then he was gonehe had sprung into the heart of the furnace；
and but little of him was ever found again。 After him went the first
company。 In they went； beating at the flames with their ox…hide
shields； stamping them out with their naked feet； tearing down the
burning logs and casting them aside。 Not one man of that company
lived； my father； they fell down like moths which flutter through a
candle； and where they fell they perished。 But after them came other
companies； and it was well for those in this fight who were last to
grapple with the foe。 Now a great smoke was mixed with the flame； now
the flame grew less and less； and the smoke more and more； and now
blackened men； hairless； naked； and blistered； white with the
scorching of the fire； staggered out on the farther side of the
flames； falling to earth here and there。 After them came others； now
there was no flame； only a great smoke in which men moved dimly； and
presently； my father； it was done： they had conquered the fire； and
that with but very little hurt to the last seven companies； though
every man had trodden it。 How many perished？nay； I know not； they
were never counted； but what between the dead and the injured that
regiment was at half strength till the king drafted more men into it。
〃See； Doctor of Prayers；〃 said Dingaan； with a laugh； 〃thus shall I
escape the fires of that land of which thou tellest； if such there be
indeed： I will bid my impis stamp them out。〃
Then the praying man went from the kraal saying that he would teach no
more among the Zulus； and afterwards he left the land。 When he had
gone the burnt wood and the dead were cleared away； the injured were
doctored or killed according to their hurts； and those who had little
harm came before the king and praised him。
〃New shields and headresses must be found for you； my children；〃 said
Dingaan； for the shields were black and shrivelled； and of heads of
hair and plumes there were but few left among that regiment。
〃Wow！〃 said Dingaan again； looking at the soldiers who still lived：
〃shaving will be easy and cheap in that place of fire of which the
white man speaks。〃
Then he ordered bear to be brought to the men； for the heat had made
them thirsty。
Now though you may not guess it； my father； I have told you this tale
because it has something to do with my story； for scarcely had the
matter been ended when messengers came； saying that Bulalio； chief of
the People of the Axe； and his impi were without； having returned with
much spoil from the slaying of the Halakazi in Swaziland。 Now when I
heard this my heart leapt for joy； seeing that I had feared greatly
for the fate of Umslopogaas； my fosterling。 Dingaan also was very
glad； and； springing up； danced to and fro like a child。
〃Now at last we have good tidings；〃 he said； at once forgetting the
stamping of the fire； 〃and now shall my eyes behold that Lily whom my
hand has longed to pluck。 Let Bulalio and his people enter swiftly。〃
For awhile there was silence； then from far away；