Why did you not kill him, Kambula, although it is true he does not look very terrible ?" "Because the king's word was that I should bring him to the king living," answered Kambula.

Then he added cheerfully: "Still, if the king wishes it, I can kill him at once." "I don't know," said Dingaan doubtfully; "perhaps he can mend guns." Next, after reflecting a while, he bade a shield-holder to fetch someone, I could not hear whom.
"Doubtless," thought I to myself, "it is the executioner," and at that thought a kind of mad rage seized me.

Why should my life be ended thus in youth to satisfy the whim of a savage?
And if it must be so, why should I go alone?
In the inside pocket of my ragged coat I had a small loaded pistol with two barrels.

One of those barrels would kill Dingaan--at five paces I could not miss that bulk--and the other would blow out my brains, for I was not minded to have my neck twisted or to be beaten to death with sticks.

Well, if it was to be done, I had better do it at once.