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show which of them was favoured。
A minute or two later John Dunn and his following departed； as he said；
to try to make peace with the advancing Usutu。 Umbelazi； Saduko and
their escort departed also towards the main body of the host of the
Isigqosa； which was massed to our left； 〃sitting on their spears；〃 as
the natives say； and awaiting the attack。 As for me； I remained alone
with the Amawombe； drinking some coffee that Scowl had brewed for me；
and forcing myself to swallow food。
I can say honestly that I do not ever remember partaking of a more
unhappy meal。 Not only did I believe that I was looking on the last sun
I should ever seethough by the way； there was uncommonly little of
that orb visiblebut what made the matter worse was that； if so； I
should be called upon to die alone among savages； with not a single
white face near to comfort me。 Oh； how I wished I had never allowed
myself to be dragged into this dreadful business。 Yes； and I was even
mean enough to wish that I had broken my word to Panda and gone off with
John Dunn when he invited me； although now I thank goodness that I did
not yield to that temptation and thereby sacrifice my self…respect。
Soon； however； things grew so exciting that I forgot these and other
melancholy reflections in watching the development of events from the
summit of our tumulus…like knoll； whence I had a magnificent view of the
whole battle。 Here； after seeing that his regiment made a full meal； as
a good general should； old Maputa joined me； whom I asked whether he
thought there would be any fighting for him that day。
〃I think so； I think so；〃 he answered cheerfully。 〃It seems to me that
the Usutu greatly outnumber Umbelazi and the Isigqosa； and； of course；
as you know； Panda's orders are that if he is in danger we must help
him。 Oh； keep a good heart； Macumazahn； for I believe I can promise you
that you will see our spears grow red to…day。 You will not go hungry
from this battle to tell the white people that the Amawombe are cowards
whom you could not flog into the fight。 No； no； Macumazahn； my Spirit
looks towards me this morning； and I who am old and who thought that I
should die at length like a cow； shall see one more great fightmy
twentieth； Macumazahn； for I fought with this same Amawombe in all the
Black One's big battles； and for Panda against Dingaan also。〃
〃Perhaps it will be your last；〃 I suggested。
〃I dare say； Macumazahn； but what does that matter if only I and the
royal regiment can make an end that shall be spoken of？ Oh； cheer up；
cheer up； Macumazahn； your Spirit； too； looks towards you； as I promise
that we all will do when the shields meet； for know； Macumazahn； that we
poor black soldiers expect that you will show us how to fight this day；
and； if need be； how to fall hidden in a heap of the foe。〃
〃Oh！〃 I replied； 〃so this is what you Zulus mean by the 'giving of
counsel；' is it？you infernal； bloodthirsty old scoundrel；〃 I added in
English。
But I think Maputa never heard me。 At any rate； he only seized my arm
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 sh