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expedition of his against Bangu； chief of the Amakoba。 Now； were anyone
else concerned； I should forbid this expedition； and especially should I
forbid you； a white man in my country； to share therein。 But this dog
of a Bangu is an evil…doer。 Many years ago he worked on the Black One
who went before me to send him to destroy Matiwane； my friend； filling
the Black One's ears with false accusations； and thereafter he did
treacherously destroy him and all his tribe save Saduko； his son； and
some of the people and children who escaped。 Moreover； of late he has
been working against me； the King； striving to stir up rebellion against
me； because he knows that I hate him for his crimes。 Now I； Panda；
unlike those who went before me； am a man of peace who do not wish to
light the fire of civil war in the land； for who knows where such fires
will stop； or whose kraals they will consume？ Yet I do wish to see
Bangu punished for his wickedness； and his pride abated。 Therefore I
give Saduko leave； and those people of the Amangwane who remain to him；
to avenge their private wrongs upon Bangu if they can； and I give you
leave； Macumazahn； to be of his party。 Moreover； if any cattle are
taken； I shall ask no account of them； you and Saduko may divide them as
you wish。 But understand； O Macumazana； that if you or your people are
killed or wounded； or robbed of your goods； I know nothing of the
matter； and am not responsible to you or to the white House of Natal； it
is your own matter。 These are my words。 I have spoken。'〃
〃I see；〃 I answered。 〃I am to pull Panda's hot iron out of the fire and
to extinguish the fire。 If I succeed I may keep a piece of the iron
when it gets cool； and if I burn my fingers it is my own fault； and I or
my House must not come crying to Panda。〃
〃O Watcher…by…Night； you have speared the bull in the heart；〃 replied
Maputa； the messenger； nodding his shrewd old head。 〃Well； will you go
up with Saduko？〃
〃Say to the King； O Messenger； that I will go up with Saduko because I
promised him that I would； being moved by the tale of his wrongs； and
not for the sake of the cattle； although it is true that if I hear any
of them lowing in my camp I may keep them。 Say to Panda also that if
aught of ill befalls me he shall hear nothing of it； nor will I bring
his high name into this business； but that he； on his part； must not
blame me for anything that may happen afterwards。 Have you the
message？〃
〃I have it word for word； and may your Spirit be with you； Macumazahn；
when you attack the strong mountain of Bangu； which； were I you；〃 Maputa
added reflectively； 〃I think I should do just at the dawn； since the
Amakoba drink much beer and are heavy sleepers。〃
Then we took a pinch of snuff together； and he departed at once for
Nodwengu； Panda's Great Place。
Fourteen days had gone by； and Saduko and I； with our ragged band of
Amangwane； sat one morning； after a long night march； in the hilly
country looking across a broad vale； which was sprinkled with trees like
an English park； at that mountain on the side of which Bangu； chief of
the Amakoba； had his kraal。
It was a very formidable mountain； and； as we had already observed； the
paths leading up to the kraal were amply protected with stone walls in
which the openings were quite narrow； only just big enough to allow one
ox to pass through them at a time。 Moreover； all these walls had been
strengthened recently； perhaps because Bangu was aware that Panda looked
upon him； a northern chief dwelling on the confines of his dominions；
with suspicion and even active enmity； as he was also no doubt aware
Panda had good cause to do。
Here in a dense patch of bush that grew in a kloof of the hills we held
a council of war。
So far as we knew our advance had been unobserved； for I had left my
wagons in the low veld thirty miles away； giving it out among the local
natives that I was hunting game there； and bringing on with me only
Scowl and four of my best hunters； all well…armed natives who could
shoot。 The three hundred Amangwane also had advanced in small parties；
separated from each other； pretending to be Kafirs marching towards
Delagoa Bay。 Now； however； we had all met in this bush。 Among our
number were three Amangwane who； on the slaughter of their tribe； had
fled with their mothers to this district and been brought up among the
people of Bangu； but who at his summons had come back to Saduko。 It was
on these men that we relied at this juncture； for they alone knew the
country。 Long and anxiously did we consult with them。 First they
explained； and； so far as the moonlight would allow； for as yet the dawn
had not broken； pointed out to us the various paths that led to Bangu's
kraal。
〃How many men are there in the town？〃 I asked。
〃About seven hundred who carry spears；〃 they answered； 〃together with
others in outlying kraals。 Moreover； watchmen are always set at the
gateways in the walls。〃
〃And where are the cattle？〃 I asked again。
〃Here； in the valley beneath； Macumazahn；〃 answered the spokesman。 〃If
you listen you will hear them lowing。 Fifty men； not less； watch them
at nighttwo thousand head of them； or more。〃
〃Then it would not be difficult to get round these cattle and drive them
off； leaving Bangu to breed up a new herd？〃
〃It might not be difficult；〃 interrupted Saduko； 〃but I came here to
kill Bangu； as well as to seize his cattle； since with him I have a
blood feud。〃
〃Very good；〃 I answered； 〃but that mountain cannot be stormed with three
hundred men； fortified as it is with walls and schanzes。 Our band would
be destroyed before ever we came to the kraal； since； owing to the
sentries who are set everywhere； it would be impossible to surprise the
place。 Also you have forgotten the dogs； Saduko。 Moreover； even if it
were possible； I will have nothing to do with the massacre of women and
children； which must happen in an assault。 Now； listen to me； O Saduko。
I say let us leave the kraal of Bangu alone； and this coming night send
fifty of our men； under the leadership of the guides； down to yonder
bush； where they will lie hid。 Then； after moonrise； when all are
asleep； these fifty must rush the cattle kraal； killing any who may
oppose them； should they be seen； and driving the herd out through
yonder great pass by which we have entered the land。 Bangu and his
people； thinking that those who have taken the cattle are but common
thieves of some wild tribe； will gather and follow the beasts to
recapture them。 But we； with the rest of the Amangwane； can set an
ambush in the narrowest part of the pass among the rocks； where the
grass is high and the euphorbia trees grow thick； and there； when they
have passed the Nek； which I and my hunters will hold with our guns； we
will give them battle。 What say you？〃
Now； Saduko answered that he would rather attack the kraal； which he
wished to burn。 But the old Amangwane； Tshoza； brother of the dead
Matiwane； said：
〃No； Macumazahn； Watcher…by…Night； is wise。 Why should we waste our
strength on stone walls； of which none know the number or can find the
gates in the darkness； and t