This done, Dingaan ordered one of his _isibongos_, or praisers, to run to and fro in front of the regiments and others there assembled, and proclaim that he had granted Natal to the Boers to be their property for ever, information which the Zulus received with shouts. Then Dingaan asked Retief if he would not eat, and large trenchers of boiled beef were brought out and handed round. This, however, the Boers refused, saying they had already breakfasted. Thereon the king said that at least they must drink, and pots of _twala_, or Kaffir beer, were handed round, of which all the Boers partook. While they were drinking, Dingaan gave Retief a message to the Dutch farmers, to the effect that he hoped they would soon come and occupy Natal, which henceforth was their country. Also, black-hearted villain that he was, that they would have a pleasant journey home. Next he ordered the two regiments to dance and sing war songs, in order to amuse his guests. This they began to do, drawing nearer as they danced. It was at this moment that a Zulu appeared, pushing his way through the captains who were gathered at the gate of the labyrinth, and delivered some message to one of the _indunas_, who in turn passed it on to the king. “_Ow!_ is it so?” said the king with a troubled look. Then his glance fell on me as though by accident, and he added: “Macumazahn, one of my wives is taken very ill suddenly, and says she must have some of the medicine of the white men before they go away. Now, you tell me that you are a new-married man, so I can trust you with my wives. I pray you to go and find out what medicine it is that she needs, for you can speak our tongue.” I hesitated, then translated what he had said to Retief. “You had best go, nephew,” said the commandant; “but come back quickly, for we ride at once.” Still I hesitated, not liking this business; whereon the king began to grow angry. “What!” he said, “do you white men refuse me this little favour, when I have just given you so much—you who have wonderful medicines that can cure the sick?” “Go, Allan, go,” said Retief, when he understood his words, “or he will grow cross and everything may be undone.” So, having no choice, I went through the gateway into the labyrinth. Next moment men pounced on me, and before I could utter a word a cloth was thrown over my mouth and tied tight behind my head. I was a prisoner and gagged. CHAPTER XIX. DEPART IN PEACE A tall Kaffir, one of the king’s household guards, who carried an assegai, came up to me and whispered: “Hearken, little Son of George. The king would save you, if he can, because you are not Dutch, but English. Yet, know that if you try to cry out, if you even struggle, you die,” and he lifted the assegai so as to be ready to plunge it through my heart.