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Updated: May 14, 2025
"Is this how the Four Spirits who placed you on the throne of the Makolo taught you to administer justice?" "Nay," answered the king. "But this is no ordinary crime; it is as vile, in intention at least, as that of those who conspired against Seketulo and restored M'Bongwele. Those chiefs were not only responsible for the death of Seketulo, but also for the horrors that followed; they were "
"'Nkosi," he cried, in a full, deep, resonant tone of voice, "Lobelalatutu, the King of the Makolo, salutes you by the mouth of me, 'Mpandula, and bids you welcome to his royal village. Behold a squadron of his royal guard, which he has dispatched, under my command, to conduct you in all honour to his presence. He awaits you now in his palace.
"Children of the Makolo, how many of your number are absent?" For a full minute dead silence followed upon this question; then a man, whose dress and weapons proclaimed him a chief, strode forward and replied "We are all present, O most potent Spirit, save fifty of the king's guards, who went forth this morning to execute the king's sentence upon Siswani." "Say you so?" retorted the professor.
For nearly a minute he remained silent, apparently debating within himself some very puzzling question. Then he said: "I would that I knew, O white men, all the reasons that have led you to visit the Makolo country. They must be many and great to have induced you to cross the Great Water, and to take so long, so wearisome, and so dangerous a journey afterwards."
It is true; and the meaning of that is that the chiefs of the Makolo are divided into two factions, one of which would leave the government of the nation in my hands, while the other would entrust it to whom?" "Nay, O Great One! who can say? We had not agreed as to that," answered Ingona. "Then after my death how was the matter to have been decided?" demanded the king.
Which the interpreter, who had followed them, promptly interpreted. "I see you, white men," answered the king, slightly raising his right hand in acknowledgement of the salute. "You are welcome to the country of the Makolo. When I was informed of your approach I gave certain orders to my people concerning your comfort and welfare. I trust that those orders have been obeyed to your satisfaction."
We know what happened to M'Bongwele, the former king of the Makolo; and we know why Lobelalatutu was chosen king in his place." "Wau!" murmured the assembled chiefs behind their hands, in awestricken tones; "it is wonderful!" while Lobelalatutu shifted uneasily in his seat as he gazed apprehensively in the faces of his two visitors.
Conducted by their guards, the eight prisoners, their faces set and expressionless as masks, ranged themselves in line before the king; then, for a full minute, there ensued a profound and impressive silence, which was at length broken by Lobelalatutu, who commanded, in a calm, stern voice: "Sekosini, chief Witch Doctor, and you Mapela, Amakosa, N'Ampata, and Sekukuni, chiefs of the Makolo, stand forward and listen to your doom.
And, if I remember aright, they met with some rather exciting adventures among these Makolo, didn't they?" "Rather!" assented Grosvenor. "Were taken prisoners, or something of that sort, and only escaped by the skin of their teeth." "That's it," agreed Dick. "Yes; the man who was then king wanted to steal their airship, didn't he?" "He did and got banished for his pains," answered Grosvenor.
"The four Spirits of the Winds!" ejaculated the king, in great surprise, not wholly untinged with trepidation which emotions were even more strongly displayed by the chiefs who stood about him. "Even so," answered Dick composedly. "We know that they twice visited the Makolo country; and we also know," he added with emphasis "what happened upon each of those occasions.
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