Come, brave Bangu, come; kill me if you can,' and again he laughed at him.
"Now, Macumazahn, the people of Bangu fell back muttering, for they found this business horrible.

Yes, even those who held my arms let go of them.
"'What will happen to me, Wizard, if I spare the boy ?' asked Bangu.
"Zikali stretched out his hand and touched the scratch that the assegai had made in me here.

Then he held up his finger red with my blood, and looked at it in the light of the moon; yes, and tasted it with his tongue.
"'I think this will happen to you, Bangu,' he said.

'If you spare this boy he will grow into a man who will kill you and many others one day.
But if you do not spare him I think that his spirit, working as spirits can do, will kill you to-morrow.

Therefore the question is, will you live a while or will you die at once, taking me with you as your companion?
For you must not leave me behind, brother Bangu.' "Now Bangu turned and walked away, stepping over the body of my mother, and all his people walked away after him, so that presently Zikali the Wise and Little and I were left alone.
"'What! have they gone ?' said Zikali, lifting up his eyes from the ground.