Themorningdawnedheavily，andbeforeitwaswelllighttheheraldswereoutsummoningalltotheking\'sIngomboco。Mencamebyhundreds，carryingshortsticksonly——fortobeseenarmedwasdeath——andseatedthemselvesinthegreatcirclebeforethegatesoftheroyalhouse。
Oh！theirlooksweresad，andtheyhadlittlestomachforeatingthatmorning，theywhowerefoodfordeath。Theyseatedthemselves；thenroundthemontheoutsideofthecirclegatheredknotsofwarriors，chosenmen，greatandfierce，armedwithkerriesonly。Theseweretheslayers。
Whenallwasready，thekingcameout，followedbyhisindunasandbyme。Asheappeared，wrappedinthekarossoftiger-skinsandtoweringaheadhigherthananymanthere，allthemultitude——anditwasmanyasthegameonthehills——castthemselvestoearth，andfromeverylipsharpandsuddenwentuptheroyalsaluteofBayete。ButChakatooknonote；hisbrowwascloudyasamountain-top。Hecastoneglanceatthepeopleandoneattheslayers，andwhereverhiseyefellmenturnedgreywithfear。Thenhestalkedon，andsathimselfuponastooltothenorthofthegreatringlookingtowardtheopenspace。
Forawhiletherewassilence；thenfromthegatesofthewomen\'squarterscameabandofmaidensarrayedintheirbeadeddancing-
dresses，andcarryinggreenbranchesintheirhands。Astheycame，theyclappedtheirhandsandsangsoftly:——