"When I first visited the hut of 'Nkuni this morning, conducted thither by the chief Ingona, whom you thought to be 'Nkuni's friend," answered Dick, "I found that Sekosini, the chief witch doctor, had been administering to the sick man certain medicines with the alleged purpose of healing him of his sickness. When I entered his hut 'Nkuni seemed to be nigh unto death, having endured much pain after swallowing a draught of milk containing medicine supplied by Sekosini. The symptoms were those of poisoning; I, therefore, took possession of the unwashed vessel which had contained the milk, and also the remainder of the medicine supplied by Sekosini, with the object of examining both. I have not yet done that, for the examination would take time, and 'Nkuni's case seemed urgent; therefore I went to Sekosini's hut to talk with him about it. And when at length I stood face to face with the witch doctor I laid my magic upon him, so that he was perforce obliged to tell me all the truth of the matter; and he confessed that 'Nkuni's illness was part of a conspiracy to remove your friends from you, that you might be deposed and slain, and the iniquitous system of government practised by M'Bongwele restored." "_Au_, it is well!" exclaimed the king in a low stern voice; "it is very well. The vile, treacherous witch doctor shall be brought hither and placed before a slow fire until he gives up the names of those who are conspiring with him, and then--" "Nay," interrupted Dick, "there is no need; Sekosini has already voluntarily given me the names of those chiefs who are his partners in the conspiracy against you. They are,"--Dick drew out his pocket book and read--"Ingona, Lambati, Mapela, Moroosi, Amakosa, N'Ampata, and Sekukuni--nay, do nothing rashly, I pray you, but sit still and hear what I have to say." For at the mention of those seven names the king had sprung to his feet in an access of fury, and seemed about to summon his guard. But at Dick's persuasion he seated himself again, though he was much too excited for the moment to listen to his white visitor, muttering over to himself the names of the conspirators. "Ingona--Ingona," he hissed through his clenched teeth, "the man whom I believed to be the most loyal of all my chiefs, the man who evidently feigned friendship with 'Nkuni only to betray him to his death! But I will make a terrible example of these rebels; they shall die such deaths that--" "Stop!" commanded Dick. "Is this how the Four Spirits who placed you on the throne of the Makolo taught you to administer justice?" "Nay," answered the king. "But this is no ordinary crime; it is as vile, in intention at least, as that of those who conspired against Seketulo and restored M'Bongwele. Those chiefs were not only responsible for the death of Seketulo, but also for the horrors that followed; they were--"