"Thou speakest boldly, boy," he replied angrily; "presume not too far." "He may well be bold in whose lips are truth.

The truth is a sharp spear which flies home and misses not.

It is a message from 'the Stars,' O king." Twala scowled, and his one eye gleamed fiercely, but he said nothing more.
"Let the dance begin," he cried, and then the flower-crowned girls sprang forward in companies, singing a sweet song and waving the delicate palms and white lilies.

On they danced, looking faint and spiritual in the soft, sad light of the risen moon; now whirling round and round, now meeting in mimic warfare, swaying, eddying here and there, coming forward, falling back in an ordered confusion delightful to witness.

At last they paused, and a beautiful young woman sprang out of the ranks and began to pirouette in front of us with a grace and vigour which would have put most ballet girls to shame.