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ALLAN RETURNS TO ZULULAND.
A whole year had gone by, in which I did, or tried to do, various things that have no connection with this story, when once more I found myself in Zululand--at Umbezi's kraal indeed.

Hither I had trekked in fulfilment of a certain bargain, already alluded to, that was concerned with ivory and guns, which I had made with the old fellow, or, rather, with Masapo, his son-in-law, whom he represented in this matter.

Into the exact circumstances of that bargain I do not enter, since at the moment I cannot recall whether I ever obtained the necessary permit to import those guns into Zululand, although now that I am older I earnestly hope that I did so, since it is wrong to sell weapons to natives that may be put to all sorts of unforeseen uses.
At any rate, there I was, sitting alone with the Headman in his hut discussing a dram of "squareface" that I had given to him, for the "trade" was finished to our mutual satisfaction, and Scowl, my body servant, with the hunters, had just carried off the ivory--a fine lot of tusks--to my wagons.
"Well, Umbezi," I said, "and how has it fared with you since we parted a year ago?
Have you seen anything of Saduko, who, you may remember, left you in some wrath ?" "Thanks be to my Spirit, I have seen nothing of that wild man, Macumazahn," answered Umbezi, shaking his fat old head in a fashion which showed great anxiety.

"Yet I have heard of him, for he sent me a message the other day to tell me that he had not forgotten what he owed me." "Did he mean the sticks with which he promised to bray you like a green hide ?" I inquired innocently.
"I think so, Macumazahn--I think so, for certainly he owes me nothing else.