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Marais； who was a fatalist； wished to go on； saying that the good Lord
would protect us； as He had done in the past。
〃Allemachte！〃 answered the Vrouw Prinsloo。 〃Did He protect all those
who lie dead at Marais's camp； whither your folly led us； mynheer？ The
good Lord expects us to look after our own skins； and I know that these
Zulus are of the same blood as Umsilikazi's Kaffirs； who have killed so
many of our people。 Let us try the mountains； say I。〃
Of course her husband and son agreed with her； for to them the vrouw's
word was law； but Marais； being； as usual； obstinate； would not give
way。 All that afternoon they wrangled； while I held my tongue；
declaring that I was willing to abide by the decision of the majority。
In the end； as I foresaw they would； they appealed to me to act as
umpire between them。
〃Friends；〃 I answered； 〃if you had asked me my opinion before； I should
have voted for trying the mountains； beyond which； perhaps； we might
find some Boers。 I do not like this story of the Zulu impi。 I think
that someone has told them of our coming； and that it is us they mean to
attack and not the Tongas； with whom they are at peace。 My men say that
it is not usual for impis to visit this part of the country。〃
〃Who could have told them？〃 asked Marais。
〃I don't know； mynheer。 Perhaps the natives have sent on word； or
perhapsHernan Pereira。〃
〃I knew that you would suspect my nephew； Allan；〃 he exclaimed angrily。
〃I suspect no one； I only weigh what is probable。 However； it is too
late for us to move to…night either south or westwards； so I think I
will sleep over the business and see what I can find out from my Zulus。〃
That night； or rather the following morning； the question was settled
for us； for when I woke up at dawn； it was to see the faint light
glimmering on what I knew must be spears。 We were surrounded by a great
company of Zulus； as I discovered afterwards； over two hundred strong。
Thinking that after their fashion they were preparing to attack us at
dawn； I called the news to the others； whereon Marais rushed forward；
just as he had left his bed； cocking his roer as he came。
〃For the love of God； do not shoot！〃 I said。 〃How can we resist so
many？ Soft words are our only chance。〃
Still he attempted to fire； and would have done so had I not thrown
myself upon him and literally torn the gun from his hand。 By this time
the Vrouw Prinsloo had come up； a very weird spectacle； I recollect； in
what she called her 〃sleep…garments；〃 that included a night…cap made of
a worn jackal skin and a kind of otter…pelt stomacher。
〃Accursed fool！〃 she said to Marais； 〃would you cause all our throats to
be cut？ Go forward； you； Allan； and talk to those 'swartzels'〃 （that
is； black creatures）； 〃gently； as you would to a savage dog。 You have a
tongue steeped in oil； and they may listen to you。〃
〃Yes；〃 I answered； 〃that seems the best thing to do。 If I should not
return； give my love to Marie。〃
So I beckoned to the headman of my Zulus whom I had hired at Delagoa； to
accompany me； and marched forward boldly quite unarmed。 We were
encamped upon a rise of ground a quarter of a mile from the river； and
the impi； or those of them whom we could see； were at the foot of this
rise about a hundred and sixty yards away。 The light was growing now；
and when I was within fifty paces of them they saw me。 At some word of
command a number of men rushed toward me； their fighting shields held
over their bodies and their spears up。
〃We are dead！〃 exclaimed my Kaffir in a resigned voice。 I shared his
opinion； but thought I might as well die standing as running away。
Now I should explain that though as yet I had never mixed with these
Zulus； I could talk several native dialects kindred to that which they
used very well indeed。 Moreover； ever since I had hired men of their
race at Delagoa； I had spent all my spare time in conversing with them
and acquiring a knowledge of their language； history and customs。 So by
this time I knew their tongue fairly； although occasionally I may have
used terms which were unfamiliar to them。
Thus it came about that I was able to shout to them； asking what was
their business with us。 Hearing themselves addressed in words which
they understood； the men halted； and seeing that I was unarmed； three of
them approached me。
〃We come to take you prisoners； white people； or to kill you if you
resist；〃 said their captain。
〃By whose order？〃 I asked。
〃By the order of Dingaan our king。〃
〃Is it so？ And who told Dingaan that we were here？〃
〃The Boer who came in front of you。〃
〃Is it so？〃 I said again。 〃And now what do you need of us？〃
〃That you should accompany us to the kraal of Dingaan。〃
〃I understand。 We are quite willing； since it lies upon our road。 But
then why do you come against us； who are peaceful travellers； with your
spears lifted？〃
〃For this reason。 The Boer told us that there is among you a 'child of
George'〃 （an Englishman）； 〃a terrible man who would kill us unless we
killed or bound him first。 Show us this child of George that we may
make him fast； or slay him； and we will not hurt the rest of you。〃
〃I am the child of George；〃 I answered； 〃and if you think it necessary
to make me fast； do so。〃
Now the Zulus burst out laughing。
〃You！ Why； you are but a boy who weighs no more than a fat girl；〃
exclaimed their captain； a great； bony fellow who was named Kambula。
〃That may be so；〃 I answered； 〃but sometimes the wisdom of their fathers
dwells in the young。 I am the son of George who saved these Boers from
death far away； and I am taking them back to their own people。 We
desire to see Dingaan； your king。 Be pleased therefore to lead us to
him as he has commanded you to do。 If you do not believe what I tell
you； ask this man who is with me； and his companions who are of your own
race。 They will tell you everything。〃
Then the captain Kambula called my servant apart and talked with him for
a long while。
When the interview was finished he advanced to me and said：
〃Now I have heard all about you。 I have heard that although young you
are very clever； so clever that you do not sleep； but watch by night as
well as by day。 Therefore； that I； Kambula； name you Macumazahn；
Watcher…by…night； and by that name you shall henceforth be known among
us。 Now； Macumazahn； son of George； bring out these Boers whom you are
guiding that I may lead them in their moving huts to the Great Place；
Umgungundhlovu； where dwells Dingaan the king。 See； we lay down our
spears and will come to meet them unarmed； trusting to you to protect
us； O Macumazahn； Son of George；〃 and he cast his assegai to the ground。
〃Come；〃 I said； and led them to the wagons。
CHAPTER XII
DINGAAN'S BET
As I advanced to the wagons accompanied by Kambula and his two
companions； I saw that Marais； in a state of great excitement； was
engaged in haranguing the two Prinsloo men and Meyer； while the Vrouw
Prinsloo and Marie appeared to be attempting to calm him。
〃They are unarmed；〃 I heard him shout。 〃Let us seize the black devils
and hold them as hostages。〃
Thereon； led by Marais； the three Boer men came towards us doubtfully；
their guns in their hands。
〃Be careful what you are doing；〃 I called to them。 〃These are envoys；〃
and they hung back a little while Marais went on with his haranguing。
The Zulus looked at them and at me； then Kambula said：
〃Are you leading us into a trap； Son of George？〃
〃Not so；〃 I answered； 〃but the Boers are afraid of you and think to take
you prisoners。〃
〃Tell them；〃 said Kambula quietly； 〃that if they kill us or lay a hand
on us； as no doubt they can do； very soon every one of them will be dead
and their women with them。〃
I repeated this ultimatum energetically enough； but Marais shouted：
〃The Englishman is betraying us to the Zulus！ Do not trust him； seize
them as I tell you。〃
What would have happened I am sure I do not know； but just then the
Vrouw Prinsloo came up and caught her husband by the arm； exclaiming：
〃You shall have no part in this fool's business。 If Marais wishes to
seize the Zulus； let him do so himself。 Are you mad or drunk that you
should think that Allan would wish to betray Marie to the Kaffirs； to
say nothing of the rest of us？〃 and she began to wave an extremely dirty
〃vatdoek〃； or dishcloth； which she always carried about with her and
used for every purpose； towards Kambula as a sign of peace。
Now the Boers gave way； and Marais； seeing himself in a minority；
glowered at me in silence。
〃Ask these white people； O Macumazahn；〃 said Kambula； 〃who is their
captain； for to the captain I would speak。〃
I translated the question； and Marais answered：
〃I am。〃