"I see you, Klistiaan," replied the other, extending his greeting to the rest of the party. But even the presence of the induna could not restrain the turbulent aggressiveness of the warriors. They continued to clamour against the white men, whom they demanded should disarm here instead of at the inner gate. To this demand, Sybrandt, who was tacitly allowed by the others to take the lead in all matters of native etiquette or diplomacy--did not deem it advisable to accede. But something in Sikombo's face caused him to change his mind, and, having done so, the next best thing was to do it with a good grace. "What does it matter?" he said genially. "A little way here, or a little way there." And he stood his rifle against the fence, an example which was followed by the others. The warriors then fell back, still with muttered threats; and, accompanied by the induna, the four white men crossed the open space to the gate of the King's stockade. There perforce they had to wait, for the barbarian monarch of Zulu descent and tradition is, in practice, in no greater hurry to receive those who come to consult him than is the average doctor or lawyer of twentieth-century England, however eager he may be in his heart of hearts to do so, and the last of the Matabele kings was not the man to forget what was due to his exalted position. "What does it all mean, Sybrandt?" said Blachland, as, sitting down upon the dusty ground, they lighted their pipes. "Why are the swine so infernally aggressive? What does it mean anyhow?" "Mean?" returned Young, answering for Sybrandt, who was talking to the induna, Sikombo. "Why, it means that our people yonder will soon have to fight like blazes if they don't want their throats cut,"--with a jerk of the hand in the direction of the newly occupied Mashunaland. "The _majara_ are bound to force Lo Ben's hand--if they haven't already." From all sides of the great kraal the ground sloped away in gentle declivity, and the situation commanded a wide and pleasant view in the golden sunlight, and beneath the vivid blue of a cloudless subtropical sky. To the north and west the dark, rolling, bush-clad undulations beyond the Umguza River--eastward again, the plain, dotted with several small kraals, each contributing its blue smoke reek, led the eye on to the long flat-topped Intaba-'Zinduna. Down in the valley bottom--where now stands the huge straggling town, humming with life and commerce-- vast cornfields, waving with plumed maize and the beer-yielding _amabele_; and away southward the shining rocky ridge of the Matya'mhlope; while, dappling the plain, far and near, thousands of multi-coloured cattle--the King's herds--completed the scene of pleasant and pastoral prosperity. In strange contrast to which the cloud of armed warriors, squatted within the gates, chanting their menacing and barbarous strophes.