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Almost before I had finished reading this letter； the order came that we
were to go in a body to bid farewell to Dingaan； leaving our arms piled
beneath the two milk trees at the gate of the town。 Most of our
after…riders were commanded to accompany usI think because Retief
wished to make as big a show as possible to impress the Zulus。 A few of
these Hottentots； however； were told to stay behind that they might
collect the horses； that were knee…haltered and grazing at a distance；
and saddle them up。 Among these was Hans； for； as it chanced； I saw and
sent him with the others； so that I might be sure that my own horses
would be found and made ready for the journey。
Just as we were starting； I met the lad William Wood； who had come down
from the Mission huts； where he lived with Mr。 Owen； and was wandering
about with an anxious face。
〃How are you； William？〃 I asked。
〃Not very well； Mr。 Quatermain；〃 he answered。 〃The fact is；〃 he added
with a burst of confidence； 〃I feel queerly about you all。 The Kaffirs
have told me that something is going to happen to you； and I think you
ought to know it。 I daren't say any more；〃 and he vanished into the
crowd。
At that moment I caught sight of Retief riding to and fro and shouting
out orders。 Going to him； I caught him by the sleeve； saying：
〃Commandant； listen to me。〃
〃Well； what is it now； nephew？ 〃 he asked absently。
I told him what Wood had said； adding that I also was uneasy； I did not
know why。
〃Oh！〃 he answered with impatience； 〃this is all hailstones and burnt
grass〃 （meaning that the one would melt and the other blow away； or in
our English idiom； stuff and rubbish）。 〃Why are you always trying to
scare me with your fancies； Allan？ Dingaan is our friend； not our
enemy。 So let us take the gifts that fortune gives us and be thankful。
Come； march。〃
This he said about eight o'clock in the morning。
We strolled through the gates of the Great Kraal； most of the Boers；
who； as usual； had piled their arms under the two milk trees； lounging
along in knots of four or five； laughing and chatting as they went。 I
have often thought since； that although every one of them there； except
myself； was doomed within an hour to have taken the dreadful step from
time into eternity； it seems strange that advancing fate should have
thrown no shadow on their hearts。 On the contrary； they were quite gay；
being extremely pleased at the successful issue of their mission and the
prospect of an immediate return to their wives and children。 Even
Retief was gay； for I heard him joking with his companions about myself
and my 〃white…bread…week；〃 or honeymoon； which； he said； was drawing
very near。
As we went； I noticed that most of the regiments who had performed the
great military dances before us on the previous day were gone。 Two；
however； remainedthe Ischlangu Inhlope； that is the 〃White Shields；〃
who were a corps of veterans wearing the ring on their heads； and the
Ischlangu Umnyama； that is the 〃Black Shields；〃 who were all of them
young men without rings。 The 〃White Shields〃 were ranged along the
fence of the great open place to our left； and the 〃Black Shields〃 were
similarly placed to our right； each regiment numbering about fifteen
hundred men。 Except for their kerries and dancing…sticks they were
unarmed。
Presently we reached the head of the dancing ground； and found Dingaan
seated in his chair with two of his great indunas； Umhlela and Tambusa；
squatting on either side of him。 Behind him； standing in and about the
entrance to the labyrinth through which the king had come； were other
indunas and captains。 On arriving in front of Dingaan we saluted him；
and he acknowledged the salutation with pleasant words and smiles。 Then
Retief； two or three of the other Boers； Thomas Halstead and I went
forward； whereon the treaty was produced again and identified as the
same document that we had seen on the previous day。
At the foot of it someoneI forget whowrote in Dutch； 〃De merk van
Koning Dingaan〃 ＇that is； The mark of King Dingaan。＇ In the space left
between the words 〃merk〃 and 〃van〃 Dingaan made a cross with a pen that
was given to him； Thomas Halstead holding his hand and showing him what
to do。
After this； three of his indunas； or great councillors； who were named
Nwara； Yuliwana and Manondo； testified as witnesses for the Zulus； and
M。 Oosthuyzen； A。 C。 Greyling and B。 J。 Liebenberg； who were standing
nearest to Retief； as witnesses for the Boers。
This done； Dingaan ordered one of his isibongos； or praisers； to run to
and fro in front of the regiments and others there assembled； and
proclaim that he had granted Natal to the Boers to be their property for
ever； information which the Zulus received with shouts。 Then Dingaan
asked Retief if he would not eat； and large trenchers of boiled beef
were brought out and handed round。 This； however； the Boers refused；
saying they had already breakfasted。 Thereon the king said that at
least they must drink； and pots of twala； or Kaffir beer； were handed
round； of which all the Boers partook。
While they were drinking； Dingaan gave Retief a message to the Dutch
farmers； to the effect that he hoped they would soon come and occupy
Natal； which henceforth was their country。 Also； black…hearted villain
that he was； that they would have a pleasant journey home。 Next he
ordered the two regiments to dance and sing war songs； in order to amuse
his guests。
This they began to do； drawing nearer as they danced。
It was at this moment that a Zulu appeared； pushing his way through the
captains who were gathered at the gate of the labyrinth； and delivered
some message to one of the indunas； who in turn passed it on to the
king。
〃Ow！ is it so？〃 said the king with a troubled look。 Then his glance
fell on me as though by accident； and he added： 〃Macumazahn； one of my
wives is taken very ill suddenly； and says she must have some of the
medicine of the white men before they go away。 Now； you tell me that
you are a new…married man； so I can trust you with my wives。 I pray you
to go and find out what medicine it is that she needs； for you can speak
our tongue。〃
I hesitated； then translated what he had said to Retief。
〃You had best go； nephew；〃 said the commandant； 〃but come back quickly；
for we ride at once。〃
Still I hesitated； not liking this business； whereon the king began to
grow angry。
〃What！〃 he said； 〃do you white men refuse me this little favour； when I
have just given you so muchyou who have wonderful medicines that can
cure the sick？〃
〃Go； Allan； go；〃 said Retief； when he understood his words； 〃or he will
grow cross and everything may be undone。〃
So； having no choice； I went through the gateway into the labyrinth。
Next moment men pounced on me； and before I could utter a word a cloth
was thrown over my mouth and tied tight behin