Come, Spirit, I will fight you for the child." The soldiers cheered and laughed.

"Yes! yes!" they said, "let Bombyane fight the White Spirit for the child.

Let them fight with assegais." For a moment I hesitated.

What chance had I against this black giant?
But I had promised poor Hans to save the child if I could, and what did it matter?
As well die now as later.

However, I had wit enough left to make a favour of it, and intimated to the chief through Indaba-zimbi that I was quite willing to condescend to kill Bombyane, on condition that if I did so the child's life should be given to me.