'Tween Snow and Fire

Shoot again, Umlilwane--shoot again, if you dare. Hau! Hear my `word.' You have slain my dog--my white hunting dog, the last of his breed--who can outrun every other hunting dog in the land, even as the wind outstrippeth the crawling ox-wagon, and you have shed my blood, the blood of a chief. You had better first have cut off your right hand, for it is better to lose a hand than one's mind. This is my `word,' Umlilwane--bear it in memory, for you have struck a chief--a man of the House of Gcaleka."

[Umlilwane: "Little Fire"--Kafirs are fond of bestowing nicknames. This one referred to its bearer's habitually short temper.]