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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 would have to fight
upwards on a steep slope。
That was all I told them； since it is not wise to confuse natives by
giving too many orders。 One thing I added； howeverthat they must
conquer or they must die。 There was no mercy for them； it was a case of
death or victory。 Their spokesmanfor these people always find a
spokesmananswered that they thanked me for my advice； that they
understood； and that they would do their best。 Then they lifted their
spears to me in salute。 A wild lot of men they looked in the moonlight
as they departed to take shelter behind the rocks and trees and wait。
That waiting was long； and I confess that before the end it got upon my
nerves。 I began to think of all sorts of things； such as whether I
should live to see the sun rise again； also I reflected upon the
legitimacy of this remarkable enterprise。 What right had I to involve
myself in a quarrel between these savages？
Why had I come here？ To gain cattle as a trader？ No； for I was not at
all sure that I would take them if gained。 Because Saduko had twitted
me with faithlessness to my words？ Yes； to a certain extent； but that
was by no means the whole reason。 I had been moved by the recital of
the cruel wrongs inflicted upon Saduko and his tribe by this Bangu； and
therefore had not been loath to associate myself with his attempted
vengeance upon a wicked murderer。 Well； that was sound enough so far as
it went； but now a new consideration suggested itself to me。 Those
wrongs had been worked many years ago； probably most of the men who had
aided and abetted them by now were dead or very aged； and it was their
sons upon whom the vengeance would be wreaked。
What right had I to assist in visiting the sins of the fathers upon the
sons？ Frankly I could not say。 The thing seemed to me to be a part of
the problem of life； neither less nor more。 So I shrugged my shoulders
sadly and consoled myself by reflecting that very likely the issue would
go against me； and that my own existence would pay the price of the
venture and expound its moral。 This consideration soothed my conscience
somewhat； for when a man backs his actions with the risk of his life；
right or wrong； at any rate he plays no coward's part。
The time went by very slowly and nothing happened。 The waning moon
shone brightly in a clear sky； and as there was no wind the silence
seemed peculiarly intense。 Save for the laugh of an occasional hyena
and now and again for a sound which I took for the coughing of a distant
lion； there was no stir between sleeping earth and moonlit heaven in
which little clouds floated beneath the pale stars。
At length I thought that I heard a noise； a kind of murmur far away。 It
grew； it developed。
It sounded like a thousand sticks tapping upon something hard； very
faintly。 It continued to grow； and I knew the sound for that of the
beating hoofs of animals galloping。 Then there were isolated noises；
very faint and thin； they might be shouts； then something that I could
not mistakeshots fired at a distance。 So the business was afoot； the
cattle were moving； Saduko and my hunter were firing。 There was nothing
for it but to wait。
The excitement was very fierce； it seemed to consume me； to eat into my
brain。 The sound of the tapping upon the rocks grew louder until it
merged into a kind of rumble； mixed with an echo as of that of very
distant thunder； which presently I knew to be not thunder； but the
bellowing of a thousand frightened beasts。
Nearer and nearer came the galloping hoofs and the rumble of bellowings；
nearer and nearer the shouts of men； affronting the stillness of the
solemn night。 At length a single animal appeared； a koodoo buck that
somehow had got mixed up with the cattle。 It went past us like a flash；
and was followed a minute or so later by a bull that； being young and
light； had outrun its companions。 That； too； went by； foam on its lips
and its tongue hanging from its jaws。
Then the herd appeareda countless herd it seemed to meplunging up
the inclinecows； heifers； calves； bulls； and oxen； all mixed together
in one inextricable mass； and every one of them snorting； bellowing； or
making some other kind of sound。 The din was fearful； the sight
bewildering； for the beasts were of all colours； and their long horns
flashed like ivory in the moonlight。 Indeed； the only thing in the
least like it which I have ever seen was the rush of the buffaloes from
the reed camp on that day when I got my injury。
They were streaming past us now； a mighty and moving mass so closely
packed that a man might have walked upon their backs。 In fact； some of
the calves which had been thrust up by the pressure were being carried
along in this fashion。 Glad was I that none of us were in their path；
for their advance seemed irresistible。 No fence or wall could have
saved us； and even stout trees that grew in the gully were snapped or
thrust over。
At length the long line began to thin； for now it was composed of
stragglers and weak or injured beasts； of which there were many。 Other
sounds； too； began to dominate the bellowings of the animals； those of
the excited cries of men。 The first of our companions； the
cattle…lifters； appeared； weary and gasping； but waving their spears in
triumph。 Among them was old Tshoza。 I stepped upon my rock； calling to
him by name。 He heard me； and presently was lying at my side panting。
〃We have got them all！〃 he gasped。 〃Not a hoof is left save those that
are trodden down。 Saduko is not far behind with the rest of our
brothers； except some that have been killed。 All the Amakoba tribe are
after us。 He holds them back to give the cattle time to get away。〃
〃Well done！〃 I answered。 〃It is very good。 Now make your men hide
among the others that they may find their breath before the fight。〃
So he stopped them as they came。 Scarcely had the last of them vanished
into the bushes when the gathering volume of shouts； amongst which I
heard a gun go off； told us that Saduko and his band and the pursuing
Amakoba were not far away。 Presently they； too； appearedthat is the
handful of Amangwane didnot fighting now； but running as hard as they
could； for they knew they were approaching the ambush and wished to pass
it so as not to be mixed up with the Amakoba。 We let them go through
us。 Among the last of them came Saduko； who was wounded； for the blood
ran down his side； supporting my hunter； who was also wounded； more
severely as I feared。
I called to him。
〃Saduko；〃 I said； 〃halt at the crest of the path and rest there so that
you may be able to help us presently。〃
He waved the gun in answer； for he was too breathless to speak； and went
on with those who were left of his followingperhaps thirty men in
allin the track of the cattle。 Before he was out of sight the Amakoba
arrived； a mob of five or six hundred men mixed up together and
advancing without order or discipline； for they seemed to have lost
their heads as well as their cattle。 Some of them had shields