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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 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 w