Indaba-zimbi interpreted my words, but I noticed that he would not look on me as he spoke, but covered his face with his hands and spoke of me as "the ghost" or the "son of the spirit." For some reason that I have never quite understood, the chief consented to the duel.

I fancy it was because he believed me to be more than mortal, and was anxious to see the last of Bombyane.
"Let them fight," he said.

"Give them assegais and no shields; the child shall be to him who conquers." "Yes! yes!" cried the soldiers.

"Let them fight.

Don't be afraid, Bombyane; if he is a spirit, he's a very small one." "I never was frightened of man or beast, and I am not going to run away from a White Ghost," answered the redoubtable Bombyane, as he examined the blade of his great bangwan or stabbing assegai.
Then they made a ring round us, gave me a similar assegai, and set us some ten paces apart.