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 the
charge。 The Amawombe have orders to defend you to the last； for I wish
you to see the finish of this fight。 Farewell。〃
Then off he hurried； followed by his orderlies and staff…officers。
I never saw him again alive； though I think that once in after years I
did meet his idhlozi in his kraal under strange circumstances。 But that
has nothing to do with this history。
As for me； having reloaded； I mounted my horse again； being afraid lest；
if I went on shooting； I should miss and spoil my reputation。 Besides；
what was the use of killing more men unless I was obliged？ There were
plenty ready to do that。
Another minute； and the regiment in front of us began to move； while the
other two behind it ostentatiously sat themselves down in their ranks；
to show that they did not mean to spoil sport。 The fight was to begin
with a duel between about six thousand men。
〃Good！〃 muttered the warrior who was nearest me。 〃They are in our bag。〃
〃Aye；〃 answered another； 〃those little boys〃 （used as a term of
contempt） 〃are going to learn their last lesson。〃
For a few seconds there was silence； while the long ranks leant forward
between the hedges of lean and cruel spears。 A whisper went down the
line； it sounded like the noise of wind among trees； and was the signal
to prepare。 Next a far…off voice shouted some word； which was repeated
again and again by other voices before and behind me。 I became aware
that we were moving； quite slowly at first； then more quickly。 Being
lifted above the ranks upon my horse I could see the whole advance； and
the general aspect of it was that of a triple black wave； each wave
crowned with foamthe white plumes and shields of the Amawombe were the
foamand alive with sparkles of lighttheir broad spears were the
light。
We were charging nowand oh！ the awful and glorious excitement of that
charge！ Oh； the rush of the bending plumes and the dull thudding of
eight thousand feet！ The Usutu came up the slope to meet us。 In
silence we went； and in silence they came。 We drew near to each other。
Now we could see their faces peering over the tops of their mottled
shields； and now we could see their fierce and rolling eyes。
Then a roara rolling roar such as at that time I had never heard： the
thunder of the roar of the meeting shieldsand a flasha swift；
simultaneous flash； the flash of the lightning of the stabbing spears。
Up went the cry of：
_〃Kill； Amawombe； kill！〃_ answered by another cry of：
_〃Toss； Usutu； toss！〃_
After that； what happened？ Heaven knows aloneor at least I do not。
But in later years Mr。 Osborn； afterwards the resident magistrate at
Newcastle； in Natal； who； being young and foolish in those days； had
swum his horse over the Tugela and hidden in a little kopje quite near
to us in order to see the battle； told me that it looked as though some
huge breakerthat breaker being the splendid Amawomberolling in
towards the shore with the weight of the ocean behind it； had suddenly
struck a ridge of rock and； rearing itself up； submerged and hidden it。
At least； within three minutes that Usutu regiment was no more。 We had
killed them every one； and from all along our lines rose a fierce
hissing sound of 〃S'gee； S'gee〃 （〃Zhi〃 in the Zulu） uttered as the
spears went home in the bodies of the conquered。
That regiment had gone； taking nearly a third of our number with it； for
in such a battle as this the wounded were as good as dead。 Practically
our first line had vanished in a fray that did not last more than a few
minutes。 Before it was well over the second Usutu regiment sprang up
and charged。 With a yell of victory we rushed down the slope towards
them。 Again there was the roar of the meeting shields； but this time
the fight was more prolonged； and； being in the front rank now； I had my
share of it。 I remember shooting two Usutu who stabbed at me； after
which my gun was wrenched from my hand。 I remember the melee swinging
backwards and forwards； the groans of the wounded； the shouts of victory
and despair； and then Scowl's voice saying：
〃We have beat them； Baas； but here come the others。〃
The third regiment was on our shattered lines。 We closed up； we fought
like devils； even the bearer boys rushed into the fray。 From all sides
they poured down upon us； for we had made a ring； every minute men died
by hundreds； and； though their numbers grew few； not one of the Amawombe
yielded。 I was fighting with a spear now； though how it came into my
hand I cannot remember for certain。 I think； however； I wrenched it
from a man who rushed at me and was stabbed before he could strike。 I
killed a captain with this spear； for as he fell I recognised his face。
It was that of one of Cetewayo's companions to whom I had sold some
cloth at Nodwengu。 The fallen were piled up quite thick around mewe
were using them as a breastwork； friend and foe together。 I saw Scowl's
horse rear into the air and fall。 He slipped over its tail； and next
instant was fighting at my side； also with a spear； muttering Dutch and
English oaths as he struck。
〃Beetje varm！ ＇a little hot＇ Beetje varm； Baas！〃 I heard him say。 Then
my horse screamed aloud and something hit me hard upon the headI
suppose it was a thrown kerryafter which I remember nothing for a
while； except a sensation of passing through the air。
I came to myself again； and found that I was still on the horse； which
was ambling forward across the veld at a rate of about eight miles an
hour； and that Scowl was clinging to my stirrup leather and running at
my side。 He was covered with blood； so was the horse； and so was I。 It
may have been our own blood； for all three were more or less wounded； or
it may have been that of others； I am sure I do not know； but we were a
terrible sight。 I pulled upon the reins； and the horse stopped among
some thorns。 Scowl felt in the saddlebags and found a large flask of
Hollands gin and waterhalf gin and half waterwhich he had placed
there before the battle。 He uncorked and gave it to me。 I took a long
pull at the stuff； that tasted like veritable nectar； then handed it to
him； who did likewise。 New life seemed to flow into my veins。 Whatever
teetotallers may say； alcohol is good at such a moment。
〃Where are the Amawombe？〃 I asked。
〃All dead by now； I think； Baas； as we should be had not your horse
bolted。 Wow！ but they made a great fightone that will be told of！
They have carried those three regiments away upon their spears。〃
〃That's good；〃 I said。 〃But where are we going？〃
〃To Natal； I hope； Baas。 I have had enough of the Zulus for the
present。 The Tugela is not far away； and we will swim it。 Come on；
before our hurts grow stiff。〃
So we went on； till presently we reached the crest of a rise of ground
overlooking the river； and there saw and heard dreadful things； for
beneath us those devilish Usutu were massacring the fugitives and the
camp…followers。 These were being driven by the hundred to the edge of
the water； there to perish on the banks or in the stream； which was
black with drowned or drowning forms。
And oh！ the sounds！ Well； these I will not attempt to describe。
〃Keep up stream；〃 I said shortly； and we struggled across a kind of
donga； where only a few wounded men were hidden； into a somewhat denser
patch of bush that had scarcely been entered by the flying Isigqosa；
perhaps because here the banks of the river were very steep and
difficult； also； between them its waters ran swiftly； for this was above
the drift。
For a while we went on in safety； then suddenly I heard a noise。 A
great man plunged past me； breaking through the bush like a buffalo； and
came to a halt upon a rock which overhung the Tugela； for the floods had
eaten away the soil beneath。
〃Umbelazi！〃 said Scowl； and as he spoke we saw another man following as
a wild dog follows a buck。
〃Saduko！〃 said Scowl。
I rode on。 I could not help riding on； although I knew it would be
safer to keep away。 I reached the edge of that big rock。 Saduko and
Umbelazi were fighting there。
In ordinary circumstances； strong and active as he was； Saduko would
have had no chance against the most powerful Zulu living。 But the
prince was utterly exhausted； his sides were going like a blacksmith's
bellows； or those of a fat eland bull that has been galloped to a
standstill。 Moreover； he seemed to me to be distraught with grief； and；
lastly； he had no shield left； nothing but an assegai。
A stab from Saduko's spear； which he partially parried； wounded him
slightly on the head； and cut loose the fillet of his ostrich plume；
that same plume which I had seen blown off in the morning； so that it
fell to the ground。 Another stab pierced his right arm； making it
helpless。 He snatched the assegai with his left hand； striving to
continue the fight； and just at that moment we came up。
〃What are you doing； Saduko？〃 I cried。 〃Does a dog bite his own
master？〃
He turned and stared at me； both of them stared at me。
〃Aye； Macumazahn；〃 he answered in an icy voice； 〃sometimes when it is
starving and that full…fed master has snatched away its bone。 Nay；
stand aside； Macumazahn〃 （for； although I was quite unarmed； I had
stepped between them）； 〃lest you should share the fate of this
woman…thief。〃
〃Not I； Saduko；〃 I cried； for this sight made me mad； 〃unless you murder
me。〃
Then Umbelazi spoke in a hollow voice； sobbing out his words：
〃I thank you； White Man； yet do as this snake bids youthis snake that
has lived in my kraal and fed out of my cup。 Let him have his fill of
vengeance because of the woman who bewitched meyes； because of the
sorceress who has brought me and thousands to the dust。 Have you heard；
Macumazahn； of the great deed of this son of Matiwane？ Have you heard
that all the while he was a traitor in the pay of Cetewayo； and that he
went over； with the regiments of his command； to the Usutu just when the
battle hung upon the turn？ Come； Traitor； here is my heartthe heart
that loved and trusted you。 Strikestrike hard！〃