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murdered； though as we found the Tongas very quiet folk if well treated
and given the usual complimentary presents for wayleaves； this did not
seem probable。 Indeed； a week later our doubts upon this point were
cleared up thus。
We had reached a big kraal called Fokoti； on the Umkusi River； which
appeared to be almost deserted。 We asked an old woman whom we met where
its people had gone。 She answered that they had fled towards the
borders of Swaziland； fearing an attack from the Zulus； whose
territories began beyond this Umkusi River。 It seemed that a few days
before a Zulu impi or regiment had appeared upon the banks of the river；
and although there was no war at the time between the Zulus and the
Tongas； the latter had thought it wise to put themselves out of reach of
those terrible spears。
On hearing this news we debated whether it would not be well for us to
follow their example and； trekking westwards； try to find a pass in the
mountains。 Upon this point there was a division of opinion among us。
Marais； who was a fatalist； wished to go on； saying that the good Lord
would protect us； as He had done in the past。
〃Allemachte！〃 answered the Vrouw Prinsloo。 〃Did He protect all those
who lie dead at Marais's camp； whither your folly led us； mynheer？ The
good Lord expects us to look after our own skins； and I know that these
Zulus are of the same blood as Umsilikazi's Kaffirs； who have killed so
many of our people。 Let us try the mountains； say I。〃
Of course her husband and son agreed with her； for to them the vrouw's
word was law； but Marais； being； as usual； obstinate； would not give
way。 All that afternoon they wrangled； while I held my tongue；
declaring that I was willing to abide by the decision of the majority。
In the end； as I foresaw they would； they appealed to me to act as
umpire between them。
〃Friends；〃 I answered； 〃if you had asked me my opinion before； I should
have voted for trying the mountains； beyond which； perhaps； we might
find some Boers。 I do not like this story of the Zulu impi。 I think
that someone has told them of our coming； and that it is us they mean to
attack and not the Tongas； with whom they are at peace。 My men say that
it is not usual for impis to visit this part of the country。〃
〃Who could have told them？〃 asked Marais。
〃I don't know； mynheer。 Perhaps the natives have sent on word； or
perhapsHernan Pereira。〃
〃I knew that you would suspect my nephew； Allan；〃 he exclaimed angrily。
〃I suspect no one； I only weigh what is probable。 However； it is too
late for us to move to…night either south or westwards； so I think I
will sleep over the business and see what I can find out from my Zulus。〃
That night； or rather the following morning； the question was settled
for us； for when I woke up at dawn； it was to see the faint light
glimmering on what I knew must be spears。 We were surrounded by a great
company of Zulus； as I discovered afterwards； over two hundred strong。
Thinking that after their fashion they were preparing to attack us at
dawn； I called the news to the others； whereon Marais rushed forward；
just as he had left his bed； cocking his roer as he came。
〃For the love of God； do not shoot！〃 I said。 〃How can we resist so
many？ Soft words are our only chance。〃
Still he attempted to fire； and would have done so had I not thrown
myself upon him and literally torn the gun from his hand。 By this time
the Vrouw Prinsloo had come up； a very weird spectacle； I recollect； in
what she called her 〃sleep…garments；〃 that included a night…cap made of
a worn jackal skin and a kind of otter…pelt stomacher。
〃Accursed fool！〃 she said to Marais； 〃would you cause all our throats to
be cut？ Go forward； you； Allan； and talk to those 'swartzels'〃 （that
is； black creatures）； 〃gently； as you would to a savage dog。 You have a
tongue steeped in oil； and they may listen to you。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃that seems the best thing to do。 If I should not
return； give my love to Marie。〃
So I beckoned to the headman of my Zulus whom I had hired at Delagoa； to
accompany me； and marched forward boldly quite unarmed。 We were
encamped upon a rise of ground a quarter of a mile from the river； and
the impi； or those of them whom we could see； were at the foot of this
rise about a hundred and sixty yards away。 The light was growing now；
and when I was within fifty paces of them they saw me。 At some word of
command a number of men rushed toward me； their fighting shields held
over their bodies and their spears up。
〃We are dead！〃 exclaimed my Kaffir in a resigned voice。 I shared his
opinion； but thought I might as well die standing as running away。
Now I should explain that though as yet I had never mixed with these
Zulus； I could talk several native dialects kindred to that which they
used very well indeed。 Moreover； ever since I had hired men of their
race at Delagoa； I had spent all my spare time in conversing with them
and acquiring a knowledge of their language； history and customs。 So by
this time I knew their tongue fairly； although occasionally I may have
used terms which were unfamiliar to them。
Thus it came about that I was able to shout to them； asking what was
their business with us。 Hearing themselves addressed in words which
they understood； the men halted； and seeing that I was unarmed； three of
them approached me。
〃We come to take you prisoners； white people； or to kill you if you
resist；〃 said their captain。
〃By whose order？〃 I asked。
〃By the order of Dingaan our king。〃
〃Is it so？ And who told Dingaan that we were here？〃
〃The Boer who came in front of you。〃
〃Is it so？〃 I said again。 〃And now what do you need of us？〃
〃That you should accompany us to the kraal of Dingaan。〃
〃I understand。 We are quite willing； since it lies upon our road。 But
then why do you come against us； who are peaceful travellers； with your
spears lifted？〃
〃For this reason。 The Boer told us that there is among you a 'child of
George'〃 （an Englishman）； 〃a terrible man who would kill us unless we
killed or bound him first。 Show us this child of George that we may
make him fast； or slay him； and we will not hurt the rest of you。〃
〃I am the child of George；〃 I answered； 〃and if you think it necessary
to make me fast； do so。〃
Now the Zulus burst out laughing。
〃You！ Why； you are but a boy who weighs no more than a fat girl；〃
exclaimed their captain； a great； bony fellow who was named Kambula。
〃That may be so；〃 I answered； 〃but sometimes the wisdom of their fathers
dwells in the young。 I am the son of George who saved these Boers from
death far away； and I am taking them back to their own people。 We
desire to see Dingaan； your king。 Be pleased therefore to lead us to
him as he has commanded you to do。 If you do not believe what I tell
you； ask this man who is with me； and his companions