Accordingly he was led through the thousands of
huts and across the Great Place to the little enclosure where Cetywayo,
a royal-looking Zulu seated on a stool, and wearing a kaross of leopard
skins, was holding an _indaba_, or conference, surrounded by his
counsellors. The Induna who had conducted him to the august presence
went down upon his hands and knees, and, uttering the royal salute of
_Bayete_, crawled forward to announce that the white man was waiting.
"Let him wait," said the king angrily; and, turning, he continued the
discussion with his counsellors.
Now, as has been said, Hadden thoroughly understood Zulu; and, when
from time to time the king raised his voice, some of the words he spoke
reached his ear.
"What!" Cetywayo said, to a wizened and aged man who seemed to be
pleading with him earnestly; "am I a dog that these white hyenas should
hunt me thus? Is not the land mine, and was it not my father's before
me? Are not the people mine to save or to slay? I tell you that I will
stamp out these little white men; my _impis_ shall eat them up.
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