He thrust at me, but I leapt over his spear _thus_," and he gambolled into the air.

"He thrust at me again, but I bent myself _thus_," and he ducked his great head.

"Then he grew tired and my time came.

He turned and ran round the rock, and I, I ran after him, stabbing him through the back, _thus_, and _thus_, and _thus_, till he fell, crying for mercy, and rolled off the rock into the river; and as he rolled I snatched away his plume.

See, is it not the plume of the dead dog Umbelazi ?" Cetewayo took the ornament and examined it, showing it to one or two of the captains near him, who nodded their heads gravely.
"Yes," he said, "this is the war plume of Umbelazi, beloved of the King, strong and shining pillar of the Great House; we know it well, that war plume at the sight of which many a knee has loosened.