To the left of him were gathered the girls and women, and their knees were weak with fear.

One by one they were led before him, and stood before him with bowed heads.

Then he would bid them be of good cheer, and speak softly to them, and in the end would ask them this question: "Hast thou, my sister, a cat in thy hut ?" Now, some would say that they had a cat, and some would say that they had none, and some would stand still and make no answer, being dumb with fear.

But, whatever they said, the end was the same, for the king would sigh gently and say: "Fare thee well, my sister; it is unfortunate for thee that there is a cat in thy hut," or "that there is no cat in thy hut," or "that thou canst not tell me whether there be a cat in thy hut or no." Then the woman would be taken by the slayers, dragged without the kraal, and their end was swift.

So it went on for the most part of that day, till sixty-and-two women and girls had been slaughtered.