and pointed in front； a little to the left； where the horn of the great
Usutu army was coming up fast； a long； thin line alive with twinkling
spears； their moving arms and legs causing them to look like spiders； of
which the bodies were formed by the great war shields。
〃See their plan？〃 he said。 〃They would close on Umbelazi and gore him
with their horns and then charge with their head。 The horn will pass
between us and the right flank of the Isigqosa。 Oh！ awake； awake；
Elephant！ Are you asleep with Mameena in a hut？ Unloose your spears；
Child of the King； and at them as they mount the slope。 Behold！〃 he
went on； 〃it is the Son of Dunn that begins the battle！ Did I not tell
you that we must look to the white men to show us the way？ Peep through
your tube； Macumazahn； and tell me what passes。〃
So I 〃peeped；〃 and； the telescope which John Dunn had kindly left with
me being good though small； saw everything clearly enough。 He rode up
almost to the point of the left horn of the Usutu； waving a white
handkerchief and followed by his small force of police and Natal Kafirs。
Then from somewhere among the Usutu rose a puff of smoke。 Dunn had
been fired at。
He dropped the handkerchief and leapt to the ground。 Now he and his
police were firing rapidly in reply； and men fell fast among the Usutu。
They raised their war shout and came on； though slowly； for they feared
the bullets。 Step by step John Dunn and his people were thrust back；
fighting gallantly against overwhelming odds。 They were level with us；
not a quarter of a mile to our left。 They were pushed past us。 They
vanished among the bush behind us； and a long while passed before ever I
heard what became of them； for we met no more that day。
Now； the horns having done their work and wrapped themselves round
Umbelazi's army as the nippers of a wasp close about a fly （why did not
Umbelazi cut off those horns； I wondered）； the Usutu bull began his
charge。 Twenty or thirty thousand strong； regiment after regiment；
Cetewayo's men rushed up the slope； and there； near the crest of it；
were met by Umbelazi's regiments springing forward to repel the
onslaught and shouting their battle…cry of 〃Laba！ Laba！ Laba！ Laba！〃
The noise of their meeting shields came to our ears like that of the
roll of thunder； and the sheen of their stabbing…spears shone as shines
the broad summer lightning。 They hung and wavered on the slope； then
from the Amawombe ranks rose a roar of
_〃Umbelazi wins！〃_
Watching intently； we saw the Usutu giving back。 Down the slope they
went； leaving the ground in front of them covered with black spots which
we knew to be dead or wounded men。
〃Why does not the Elephant charge home？〃 said Maputa in a perplexed
voice。 〃The Usutu bull is on his back！ Why does he not trample him？〃
〃Because he is afraid； I suppose；〃 I answered； and went on watching。
There was plenty to see； as it happened。 Finding that they were not
pursued； Cetewayo's impi reformed swiftly at the bottom of the slope； in
preparation for another charge。 Among that of Umbelazi； above them；
rapid movements took place of which I could not guess the meaning； which
movements were accompanied by much noise of angry shouting。 Then
suddenly； from the midst of the Isigqosa army； emerged a great body of
men； thousands strong； which ran swiftly； but in open order； down the
slope towards the Usutu； holding their spears reversed。 At first I
thought that they were charging independently； till I saw the Usutu
ranks open to receive them with a shout of welcome。
〃Treachery！〃 I said。 〃Who is it？〃
〃Saduko； with the Amakoba and Amangwane soldiers and others。 I know
them by their head…dresses；〃 answered Maputa in a cold voice。
〃Do you mean that Saduko has gone over to Cetewayo with all his
following？〃 I asked excitedly。
〃What else； Macumazahn？ Saduko is a traitor： Umbelazi is finished；〃 and
he passed his hand swiftly across his moutha gesture that has only one
meaning among the Zulus。
As for me； I sat down upon a stone and groaned； for now I understood
everything。
Presently the Usutu raised fierce； triumphant shouts； and once again
their impi； swelled with Saduko's power； began to advance up the slope。
Umbelazi； and those of the Isigqosa party who clung to himnow； I
should judge； not more than eight thousand mennever stayed to wait the
onslaught。 They broke！ They fled in a hideous rout； crashing through
the thin； left horn of the Usutu by mere weight of numbers； and passing
behind us obliquely on their road to the banks of the Tugela。 A
messenger rushed up to us； panting。
〃These are the words of Umbelazi；〃 he gasped。 〃O Watcher…by…Night and O
Maputa； Indhlovu…ene…sihlonti prays that you will hold back the Usutu；
as the King bade you do in case of need； and so give to him and those
who cling to him time to escape with the women and children into Natal。
His general； Saduko； has betrayed him； and gone over with three
regiments to Cetewayo； and therefore we can no longer stand against the
thousands of the Usutu。〃
〃Go tell the prince that Macumazahn； Maputa； and the Amawombe regiment
will do their best；〃 answered Maputa calmly。 〃Still； this is our advice
to him； that he should cross the Tugela swiftly with the women and the
children； seeing that we are few and Cetewayo is many。〃
The messenger leapt away； but； as I heard afterwards； he never found
Umbelazi； since the poor man was killed within five hundred yards of
where we stood。
Then Maputa gave an order； and the Amawombe formed themselves into a
triple line； thirteen hundred men in the first line； thirteen hundred
men in the second line； and about a thousand in the third； behind whom
were the carrier boys； three or four hundred of them。 The place
assigned to me was in the exact centre of the second line； where； being
mounted on a horse； it was thought； as I gathered； that I should serve
as a convenient rallying…point。
In this formation we advanced a few hundred yards to our left； evidently
with the object of interposing ourselves between the routed impi and the
pursuing Usutu； or； if the latter should elect to go round us； with that
of threatening their flank。 Cetewayo's generals did not leave us long
in doubt as to what they would do。 The main body of their army bore
away to the right in pursuit of the flying foe； but three regiments；
each of about two thousand five hundred spears； halted。 Five minutes
passed perhaps while they marshalled； with a distance of some six
hundred yards between them。 Each regiment was in a triple line like our
own。
To me that seemed a very long five minutes； but； reflecting that it was
probably my last on earth； I tried to make the best of it in a fashion
that can be guessed。 Strange to say； however； I found it impossible to
keep my mind fixed upon those matters with which it ought to have been
filled。 My eyes and thoughts would roam。 I looked at the ranks of the
veteran Amawombe； and noted that they were still and solemn as men about
to die should be； although they showed no sign of fear。 Indeed； I saw
some of those near me passing their snuffboxes to each other。 Two
grey…haired men also； who evidently were old friends； shook hands as
people do who are parting before a journey； while two others discussed
in a low voice the possibility of our wiping out most of the Usutu
before we were wiped out ourselves。
〃It depends；〃 said one of them； 〃whether they attack us regiment by
regiment or all together； as they will do if they are wise。〃
Then an officer bade them be silent； and conversation ceased。 Maputa
passed through the ranks giving orders to the captains。 From a distance
his withered old body； with a fighting shield held in front of it；
looked like that of a huge black ant carrying something in its mouth。
He came to where Scowl and I sat upon our horses。
〃Ah！ I see that you are ready； Macumazahn；〃 he said in a cheerful voice。
〃I told you that you should not go away hungry； did I not？〃
〃Maputa；〃 I said in remonstrance； 〃what is the use of this？ Umbelazi is
defeated； you are not of his impi； why send all these〃and I waved my
hand〃down into the darkness？ Why not go to the river and try to save
the women and children？〃
〃Because we shall take many of those down into the darkness with us；
Macumazahn；〃 and he pointed to the dense masses of the Usutu。 〃Yet；〃 he
added； with a touch of compunction； 〃this is not your quarrel。 You and
your servant have horses。 Slip out； if you will； and gallop hard to the
lower drift。 You may get away with your lives。〃
Then my white man's pride came to my aid。
〃Nay；〃 I answered； 〃I will not run while others stay to fight。〃
〃I never thought you would； Macumazahn； who； I am sure； do not wish to
earn a new and ugly name。 Well； neither will the Amawombe run to become
a mock among their people。 The King's orders were that we should try to
help Umbelazi； if the battle went against him。 We obey the King's
orders by dying where we stand。 Macumazahn； do you think that you could
hit that big fellow who is shouting insults at us there？ If so； I
should be obliged to you； as I dislike him very much；〃 and he showed me
a captain who was swaggering about in front of the lines of the first of
the Usutu regiments； about six hundred yards away。
〃I will try；〃 I answered； 〃but it's a long shot。〃 Dismounting； I
climbed a pile of stones and； resting my rifle on the topmost of them；
took a very full sight； aimed； held my breath； and pressed the trigger。
A second afterwards the shouter of insults threw his arms wide； letting
fall his spear； and pitched forward on to his face。
A roar of delight rose from the watching Amawombe； while old Maputa
clapped his thin brown hands and grinned from ear to ear。
〃Thank you； Macumazahn。 A very good omen！ Now I am sure that； whatever
those Isigqosa dogs of Umbelazi's may do； we King's men shall make an
excellent end； which is all that we can hope。 Oh； what a beautiful
shot！ It will be something to think of when I am an idhlozi； a
spirit…snake； crawling about my own kraal。 Farewell； Macumazahn；〃 and
he took my hand and pressed it。 〃The time has come。 I go to lead