The chief shrugged his shoulders, emitting a thick puff of smoke from his bearded lips. "They are strangers," he answered. "They are Ama-Gcaleka, and are returning to their own country across the Kei. They have been visiting some of their friends at Nteya's kraal." "But why are they all so heavily armed? We are not at war." "_Whau_, Ixeshane! You know there is trouble just now with the Amafengu [Fingoes]. These men might be molested on their way back to their own country. They are afraid, so they go armed." "Who are they afraid of? Not the Amafengu, their dogs? Why should they go armed and travel in such strength?" The chief fixed his glance upon his interlocutor's face, and there was a merry twinkle in his eye as he turned away again. "A man is not afraid of one dog, Ixeshane, nor yet of two," he replied. "But if a hundred set upon him, he must kill them or be killed himself." Eustace uttered a murmur of assent. Then after a pause he said: "To travel in a strong party like that in these times is not wise. What if these Gcalekas were to fall in with a Police patrol--would there not surely be a fight? That might bring on a war. I am a peaceable man. Everybody is not. What if they had met a less peaceable man than myself, and threatened him as they did me? There would have been a fight and the white man might have been killed--for what can one man do against twenty?" "He need not have been killed--only frightened," struck in the other Kafir, Sikuni. "Some men are easier killed than frightened," rejoined Eustace. "Last night some people from Nteya's kraal attacked my brother, [The term `brother' is often colloquially used among Kafirs to designate other degrees of relationship] stole his gun, and tried to kill him. But they did not frighten him." In spite of the conventional exclamation of astonishment which arose from his hearers, Eustace was perfectly well aware that this was no news to them. "That is bad news," said Ncanduku, with well-feigned concern. "But it may not have been done by any of our people, Ixeshane. There may have been some Fingo dogs wandering about the land, who have done this thing in order that the English may blame us for it." It was now Eustace's turn to smile. "Does a dog wander to the mouth of a den of lions?" he said, keenly enjoying the notion of turning the tables. "Will a few Fingoes attack a guest of Nteya's within the very light of the fires of the Gaika location?" "Your brother, Umlilwane, is too hot-headed," answered the chief, forced to shift his ground. "Yet he is not a young man. Our young men, too, are hot-headed at times and escape from under the controlling eye of the chiefs. But Nteya will surely punish those who have done this thing." "Let your friends proceed on their way, Ncanduku," said Eustace suddenly, and in a low tone. "I would speak with you alone."