"All the people, except Lomwazi and a few of those close to the queen, want Sebuza to be king," he said. "They are tired of being ruled by a queen, and Lomwazi asks too much. He always wants more cattle and corn from each kraal, and the people are dissatisfied. Even now they are waiting for Sebuza to come down out of the mountains and it is said they will demand that he be made king then!" Part of this was very interesting. I was glad to know that the people wanted Sebuza, but I doubted that they would dare to ask for him to be appointed king. The Swazis are subservient to their rulers and it was unthinkable that they would assume to ask Labotsibeni to abdicate. They were very afraid of the old queen; she seemed to exert some sort of extraordinary influence over them. It was cheering, however, to know that I had public opinion on my side. CHAPTER XVI Labotsibeni refuses to see me--Sugden and my men escape assassination--A fruitless conference--We flee to Lebombo--Oom Tuys turns up--We confer with Queen Tzaneen and Lochien--Five-and-ten-cent- store jewelry has persuasive powers--Sugden falls ill--We build his coffin--Sebuza returns from his sanctification. Next morning I got up, pocketed my pride, and decided to call on Queen Labotsibeni. When I reached the entrance of the royal kraal I was met by Lomwazi. He was furtive in manner and did not look me in the eyes. His voice, as usual, was quite low, and for once his dramatic gestures were lacking. I demanded to be allowed to see Labotsibeni. Lomwazi shook his head and spread out his hands deprecatingly. "The queen will not see you, Nkoos," he said, "and she sends word that you are not to camp on the royal ground." "But why won't she see me? I bring her presents and much gin," I protested. "She promised that I should attend the coronation of Prince Sebuza!" "She is very, very old, but still she doesn't want to die," added the wily Lomwazi, glancing at me out of the corner of his eye. At last I understood. Lomwazi had let the cat out of the bag and the delay in the coronation of Sebuza explained itself. Tempted by the great price I had offered for the picture rights--five hundred cattle, five hundred gallons of gin, and five hundred pounds in gold--the old queen had overlooked the fact that Sebuza's accession to the throne meant her death. At the time I made the bargain with her, or with Lomwazi as her agent, she had consoled herself with the thought that the British Government would be able to save her life. Now she was afraid that the government might not be able to do so and wanted the coronation delayed indefinitely, or put off for good.