When it thinned and drew together again, the Shape was gone.
Now I thought that the Zulus would be so impressed by this very queer exhibition, that they would seek no more supernatural guidance, but make up their minds for war at once.

This, however, was just what they did not do.

As it happened, among the assembled chiefs, was one who himself had a great repute as a witch-doctor, and therefore burned with jealousy of Zikali who appeared to be able to do things that he had never even attempted.

This man leapt up and declared that all which they had seemed to hear and see was but cunning trickery, carried out after long preparation by Zikali and his confederates.

The voices, he said, came from persons placed in certain spots, or sometimes were produced by Zikali himself.