"The way was far and the time short.

Moreover, the women and the children grew weary and footsore, and they are weary in this hour." "Speak not of it, Makedama, my child," said the king.

"Surely thy heart mourned and that of thy people, and soon they shall rest from their weariness.

Say, are they here every one ?" "Every one, O Elephant!--none are wanting.

My kraals are desolate, the cattle wander untended on the hills, birds pick at the unguarded crops." "It is well, Makedama, thou faithful servant! Yet thou wouldst mourn with me an hour--is it not so?
Now, hearken! Bid thy people pass to the right and to the left of me, and stand in all their numbers upon the slopes of the grass that run down to the lips of the rift." So Makedama, my father, bade the people do the bidding of the king, for neither he nor the indunas saw his purpose, but I, who knew his wicked heart, I saw it.