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strength on stone walls； of which none know the number or can find the
gates in the darkness； and thereby leave our skulls to be set up as
ornaments on the fences of the accursed Amakoba？ Let us draw the
Amakoba out into the pass of the mountains； where they have no walls to
protect them； and there fall on them when they are bewildered and settle
the matter with them man to man。 As for the women and children； with
Macumazahn I say let them go； afterwards； perhaps； they will become
_our_ women and children。〃
〃Aye；〃 answered the Amangwane； 〃the plan of the white Inkoosi is good；
he is clever as a weasel； we will have his plan and no other。〃
So Saduko was overruled and my counsel adopted。
All that day we rested； lighting no fires and remaining still as the
dead in the dense bush。 It was a very anxious day； for although the
place was so wild and lonely； there was always the fear lest we should
be discovered。 It was true that we had travelled mostly by night in
small parties； to avoid leaving a spoor； and avoided all kraals； still；
some rumour of our approach might have reached the Amakoba； or a party
of hunters might stumble on us； or those who sought for lost cattle。
Indeed； something of this sort did happen； for about midday we heard a
footfall； and perceived the figure of a man； whom by his head…dress we
knew for an Amakoba； threading his way through the bush。 Before he saw
us he was in our midst。 For a moment he hesitated ere he turned to fly；
and that moment was his last； for three of the Amangwane leapt on him
silently as leopards leap upon a buck； and where he stood there he died。
Poor fellow！ Evidently he had been on a visit to some witch…doctor；
for in his blanket we found medicine and love charms。 This doctor
cannot have been one of the stamp of Zikali the Dwarf； I thought to
myself； at least； he had not warned him that he would never live to dose
his beloved with that foolish medicine。
Meanwhile a few of us who had the quickest eyes climbed trees； and
thence watched the town of Bangu and the valley that lay between us and
it。 Soon we saw that so far； at any rate； Fortune was playing into our
hands； since herd after herd of kine were driven into the valley during
the afternoon and enclosed in the stock…kraals。 Doubtless Bangu
intended on the morrow to make his half…yearly inspection of all the
cattle of the tribe； many of which were herded at a distance from his
town。
At length the long day drew to its close and the shadows of the evening
thickened。 Then we made ready for our dreadful game； of which the stake
was the lives of all of us； since； should we fail； we could expect no
mercy。 The fifty picked men were gathered and ate food in silence。
These men were placed under the command of Tshoza； for he was the most
experienced of the Amangwane； and led by the three guides who had dwelt
among the Amakoba； and who 〃knew every ant…heap in the land；〃 or so they
swore。 Their duty； it will be remembered； was to cross the valley；
separate themselves into small parties； unbar the various cattle kraals；
kill or hunt off the herdsmen； and drive the beasts back across the
valley into the pass。 A second fifty men； under the command of Saduko；
were to be left just at the end of this pass where it opened out into
the valley； in order to help and reinforce the cattle…lifters； or； if
need be； to check the following Amakoba while the great herds of beasts
were got away； and then fall back on the rest of us in our ambush nearly
two miles distant。 The management of this ambush was to be my chargea
heavy one indeed。
Now； the moon would not be up till midnight。 But two hours before that
time we began our moves； since the cattle must be driven out of the
kraals as soon as she appeared and gave the needful light。 Otherwise
the fight in the pass would in all probability be delayed till after
sunrise； when the Amakoba would see how small was the number of their
foes。 Terror； doubt； darknessthese must be our allies if our
desperate venture was to succeed。
All was arranged at last and the time had come。 We； the three captains
of our divided force； bade each other farewell； and passed the word down
the ranks that； should we be separated by the accidents of war； my
wagons were the meeting…place of any who survived。
Tshoza and his fifty glided away into the shadow silently as ghosts and
were gone。 Presently the fierce…faced Saduko departed also with his
fifty。 He carried the double…barrelled gun I had given him； and was
accompanied by one of my best hunters； a Natal native； who was also
armed with a heavy smooth…bore loaded with slugs。 Our hope was that the
sound of these guns might terrify the foe； should there be occasion to
use them before our forces joined up again； and make them think they had
to do with a body of raiding Dutch white men； of whose roersas the
heavy elephant guns of that day were calledall natives were much
afraid。
So Saduko went with his fifty； leaving me wondering whether I should
ever see his face again。 Then I； my bearer Scowl； the two remaining
hunters； and the ten score Amangwane who were left turned and soon were
following the road by which we had come down the rugged pass。 I call it
a road； but； in fact； it was nothing but a water…washed gully strewn
with boulders； through which we must pick our way as best we could in
the darkness； having first removed the percussion cap from the nipple of
every gun； for fear lest the accidental discharge of one of them should
warn the Amakoba； confuse our other parties； and bring all our deep…laid
plans to nothing。
Well； we accomplished that march somehow； walking in three long lines；
so that each man might keep touch with him in front； and just as the
moon began to rise reached the spot that I had chosen for the ambush。
Certainly it was well suited to that purpose。 Here the track or gully
bed narrowed to a width of not more than a hundred feet； while the steep
slopes of the kloof on either side were clothed with scattered bushes
and finger…like euphorbias which grew among stones。 Behind these stones
and bushes we hid ourselves； a hundred men on one side and a hundred on
the other； whilst I and my three hunters； who were armed with guns； took
up a position under shelter of a great boulder nearly five feet thick
that lay but a little to the right of the gully itself； up which we
expected the cattle would come。 This place I chose for two reasons：
first； that I might keep touch with both wings of my force； and；
secondly； that we might be able to fire straight down the path on the
pursuing Amakoba。
These were the orders that I gave to the Amangwane； warning them that he
who disobeyed would be punished with death。 They were not to stir until
I； or； if I should be killed； one of my hunters； fired a shot； for my
fear was lest； growing excited； they might leap out before the time and
kill some of our own people； who very likely would be mixed up with the
first of the pursuing Amakoba。 Secondly； when the cattle had passed and
the signal had been given； they were to rush on the Amakoba； throwing
themselves across the gully； so that the enemy