"Go in peace, Chief," he exclaimed; "they seem to have treated you roughlyup yonder. Having no power to interfere, I came away for I could notbear the sight. It is indeed shameful that an aged and venerable man ofrank should be struck into the dirt, and beatwelve by a soldier drunkwith beer."

"Shameful, White Man!" gasped Maputa; "your words are true indeed. Butwait a while. I, Maputa, will roll that stone over, I will throw thatbull upon its back. When next the harvest ripens, this I promise, thatneither Nahoon nor Umgona, nor any of his kraal shall be left togather it."