按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 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