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Updated: June 18, 2025
"Tis pity that ye saw not all this in time, Ingona," said the king reproachfully. "Tell me, now If this conspiracy had ripened to fruition, would you, O Ingona, have taken the field and led your warriors against me?" "Nay," answered Ingona, "that would I not. The time was when, blinded and misled by Sekosini's plausible arguments and misrepresentations, I might have done so.
"Nay," interrupted Dick, "there is no need; Sekosini has already voluntarily given me the names of those chiefs who are his partners in the conspiracy against you. They are," Dick drew out his pocket book and read "Ingona, Lambati, Mapela, Moroosi, Amakosa, N'Ampata, and Sekukuni nay, do nothing rashly, I pray you, but sit still and hear what I have to say."
This explanation appeared at least partially to satisfy Ingona, who made no further attempt to dissuade Dick from his purpose, but, on the contrary, offered to go forward and prepare Sekosini for the proposed visit.
Whereupon the white man, having suitably expressed the satisfaction which was his at so great an honour, stooped and passed into the hut, preceded by Ingona and followed by Mafuta, whose original wholesome fear of wizards had by this time become completely swamped by his belief in the power of his master to circumvent the most powerful wizard that ever lived.
"Yes," answered Sekosini, "there are Ingona, Lambati, Mapela, Moroosi, Amakosa, N'Ampata, and Sekukuni, all chiefs." "Quite a formidable little crowd," mused Dick, as he drew forth his pocket book to make a few notes. "Just repeat those names again slowly, if you please," he commanded.
As he thus concentrated his will upon theirs he watched each man narrowly, and presently, seeing that they were all absolutely under his control, he raised his hand, and said, in a low, impressive voice: "Listen, O Ingona, Lambati, Moroosi, and Sekukuni!
Ingona, a war-scarred veteran of perhaps fifty years of age, tall, straight as a spear shaft, and of commanding presence, rose to his feet and answered in a clear, deep voice: "It is true, O Mighty One! true in every detail." "It is true," repeated the king, in a tone of deep sorrow; "yes, unhappily there is no room to doubt it; every word carried conviction of its truthfulness to my mind.
And when they had gone he called upon the two remaining chiefs, Moroosi and Sekukuni, to justify themselves, if they could. "I have naught to say, O Great One!" answered Moroosi, "save that, as it was with Ingona so was it with me." "And you, Sekukuni?" demanded the king. "I also am the victim of Sekosini's wiles and his serpent tongue," answered the chief.
He informed Dick that Sekosini was a very great man indeed, second in power and influence only to Lobelalatutu himself; that it was not his custom to receive visitors unless permission had first been asked, the request being invariably accompanied by a present; that evil invariably befell those who were foolhardy enough to offend him; and that if he Ingona might presume to advise, he would strongly recommend the white man not to go near him, as Sekosini had always manifested a peculiarly strong aversion to strangers, and especially to white men since the two visits of the Spirits of the Winds to the Makolo country.
This request appeared to fill Ingona with alarm, which he made no attempt to conceal.
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