"Does it help him, anyway, to do so after?" replied the prisoner, with a slight smile over this new rendering of an old proverb. "But the chief cannot be talking seriously. He is joking." "_Hau_!" burst forth the _amapakati_ in mingled surprise and resentment. "You are a bold man, _umlungu_," said Kreli, frowning. "Do you know that I hold your life in my hand?" This was coming to the point with a vengeance. Eustace realised that, like Agag, he must "walk delicately." It would not do to take up a defiant attitude. On the other hand to show any sign of trepidation might prove equally disastrous. He elected to steer as near as possible a middle course. "That is so," he replied. "I am as anxious to live as most people. But this is war-time. When a man goes to war he does not lock up his life behind him at home. What would the Great Chief gain by my death?" "His people's pleasure," replied Kreli, with sombre significance, waving a hand in the direction of the armed crowd squatted around. Then turning, he began conferring in a low tone with his councillors, with the result that presently one of the latter directed that the prisoner should be removed altogether beyond earshot. Eustace accordingly was marched a sufficient distance from the debating group, a move which brought him close to the ranks of armed warriors. Many of the latter amused themselves by going through a wordless, but highly suggestive performance illustrative of the fate they hoped awaited him. One would imitate the cutting out of a tongue, another the gouging of an eye, etc., all grinning the while in high glee. Even Eustace, strong-nerved as he was, began to feel the horrible strain of the suspense. He glanced towards the group of chiefs and _amapakati_ much as the prisoner in the dock might eye the door of the room where the jury was locked up. He began talking to his guards by way of diversion. "Who is that with Hlangani, who has just joined the _amapakati_?" he asked. "Ukiva." He looked with new interest at the warrior in question, in whose name he recognised that of a fighting chief of some note, and who was reported to have commanded the enemy in the fight with Shelton's patrol. "And the man half standing up--who is he?" "Sigcau--the great chief's first son. _Whau umlungu_!" broke off his informant. "You speak with our tongue even as one of ourselves. Yet the chiefs and principal men of the House of Gcaleka are unknown lo you by sight." "Those of the House of Gaika are not. Tell me. Which is Botmane?" "Botmane? Lo!" replied several of the Kafirs emphatically. "He next to the Great Chief."