I would kill him if I dared, but I dare not, who am sure--why I may not say--that the same sun will see his death and mine." He waved his hand to show that the talk on this matter was ended, then added-- "Macumazahn, you are my prisoner for a while, but give me your word that you will not try to escape and you may go where you will within an hour's ride of Ulundi.

I would pay you well to stop here with me, but this I know you would never do should there be trouble between us and your people.

Therefore I promise you that if war breaks out I will send you safely to Natal, or perhaps sooner, as my messenger, whence doubtless you will return to fight against me.

Know that I have given orders that every other white man or woman who is found in Zululand shall be killed as a spy.

Even John Dunn has fled or is flying, or so I hear, John Dunn who has fed out of my hand and grown rich on my gifts.
You yourself would have been killed as you came from Swazi-Land in your cart, had not command been sent to those chiefs through whose lands you passed that neither they nor their people were so much as to look at you." Now for one intense moment I thought, as hard as ever I had done in my life.