not true； my father； that for long hours you lay silent and alone； while three thousand warriors shouted for your life？ And when they grew weary； did you not stand and say； pointing towards the ocean： “Kill me if you wish； men of Cetywayo； but I tell you that for every drop of my blood a hundred avengers shall rise from yonder sea！”
Then； so it was told me； the regiments turned staring towards the Black Water； as though the day of Ulundi had already e and they saw the white slayers creeping across the plains。
Thus； Sompseu； your name became great among the people of the Zulu； as already it was great among many another tribe； and their nobles did you homage； and they gave you the Bayete； the royal salute； declaring by the mouth of their Council that in you dwelt the spirit of Chaka。
Many years have gone by since then； and now you are old； my father。 It is many years even since I was a boy； and followed you when you went up among the Boers and took their country for the Queen。
Why did you do this； my father？ I will answer； who know the truth。 You did it because； had it not been done； the Zulus would have stamped out the Boers。 Were not Cetywayo’s impis gathered against the land； and was it not because it became the Queen’s land that at your word he sent them murmuring to their kraals？ To save bloodshed you annexed the country beyond the Vaal。 Perhaps it had been better to leave it； since “Death chooses for himself；” and after all there was killing — of our own people； and with the killing； shame。 But in those days we did not guess what we should live to see； and of Majuba we thought only as a little hill。
Enemies have borne false witness against you on this matter； Sompseu； you who never erred except through over kindness。 Yet what does