THE VALLEY OF BONES The week that followed my interview with Cetewayo was indeed a miserable time for me.

For myself, as I have said, I had no fear, for the king's orders were strictly obeyed.

Moreover, the tale of what had happened to the brute who wished to hunt me down in the cattle-kraal had travelled far and wide and none sought to share his fate.

My hut was inviolate and well supplied with necessary food, as was my mare, and I could wander where I liked and talk with whom I would.

I could even ride to exercise the horse, though this I did very sparingly and only in the immediate neighbourhood of the town for fear of exciting suspicion or meeting Zulus whom the king's word had not reached.