Two hours later he had prepared a sufficient quantity of the antidote to fill an eight-ounce medicine bottle; and as the stuff was exceedingly strong, he believed that this ought to be nearly, or quite, sufficient to effect a complete cure. Armed with this, he made his way to 'Nkuni's hut, and was gratified to find that the emetic had been productive of very satisfactory results, the pain being greatly eased, while the temperature of the body had become almost normal. He now administered a good stiff dose of the antidote, and left the bottle containing it in charge of the patient's wife, giving her the most minute instructions respecting its administration. This done, he proceeded to the enclosed part of the village containing the king's house and its dependencies, and informed the sentries at the gate of the palisade that he desired to report personally to the king the state of the chief 'Nkuni, from whose hut he had just come. The sentries had already received orders to admit the white men whenever they should present themselves, and in a few minutes Dick found himself standing in the presence of Lobelalatutu. CHAPTER TEN. DICK'S "MAGIC". The king was reclining upon a sort of sofa, with two or three of his wives fanning him to drive away the flies, when The Healer was announced; but a word caused the women to scuttle off to their own quarters like frightened rabbits, while Lobelalatutu rose to a sitting position as Dick entered, followed by Mafuta. "I see you, O Healer!" exclaimed the king with cordiality, before Dick could say a word. "Draw near and sit beside me. It is said that you have news of 'Nkuni for me. Have you seen him?" "Twice this day have I seen him," answered Dick; "once when I went forth from your presence this morning, and again but a short time since. I came hither directly from his hut." "And has your skill enabled you to find out what is wrong with him?" demanded the king. "It has," answered Dick. "Your friend 'Nkuni was slowly dying from the effects of the same poison that slew the others. But I can save him, and he shall live, it may be to serve you better than some of those chiefs who, professing to be loyal to you, are secretly planning your overthrow and death." "_Au_!" ejaculated Lobelalatutu; "is it so? Then my suspicions were not ill-founded. But, tell me, how came you to learn this?"