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have told me that something is going to happen to you； and I think you
ought to know it。 I daren't say any more；〃 and he vanished into the
crowd。
At that moment I caught sight of Retief riding to and fro and shouting
out orders。 Going to him； I caught him by the sleeve； saying：
〃Commandant； listen to me。〃
〃Well； what is it now； nephew？ 〃 he asked absently。
I told him what Wood had said； adding that I also was uneasy； I did not
know why。
〃Oh！〃 he answered with impatience； 〃this is all hailstones and burnt
grass〃 （meaning that the one would melt and the other blow away； or in
our English idiom； stuff and rubbish）。 〃Why are you always trying to
scare me with your fancies； Allan？ Dingaan is our friend； not our
enemy。 So let us take the gifts that fortune gives us and be thankful。
Come； march。〃
This he said about eight o'clock in the morning。
We strolled through the gates of the Great Kraal； most of the Boers；
who； as usual； had piled their arms under the two milk trees； lounging
along in knots of four or five； laughing and chatting as they went。 I
have often thought since； that although every one of them there； except
myself； was doomed within an hour to have taken the dreadful step from
time into eternity； it seems strange that advancing fate should have
thrown no shadow on their hearts。 On the contrary； they were quite gay；
being extremely pleased at the successful issue of their mission and the
prospect of an immediate return to their wives and children。 Even
Retief was gay； for I heard him joking with his companions about myself
and my 〃white…bread…week；〃 or honeymoon； which； he said； was drawing
very near。
As we went； I noticed that most of the regiments who had performed the
great military dances before us on the previous day were gone。 Two；
however； remainedthe Ischlangu Inhlope； that is the 〃White Shields；〃
who were a corps of veterans wearing the ring on their heads； and the
Ischlangu Umnyama； that is the 〃Black Shields；〃 who were all of them
young men without rings。 The 〃White Shields〃 were ranged along the
fence of the great open place to our left； and the 〃Black Shields〃 were
similarly placed to our right； each regiment numbering about fifteen
hundred men。 Except for their kerries and dancing…sticks they were
unarmed。
Presently we reached the head of the dancing ground； and found Dingaan
seated in his chair with two of his great indunas； Umhlela and Tambusa；
squatting on either side of him。 Behind him； standing in and about the
entrance to the labyrinth through which the king had come； were other
indunas and captains。 On arriving in front of Dingaan we saluted him；
and he acknowledged the salutation with pleasant words and smiles。 Then
Retief； two or three of the other Boers； Thomas Halstead and I went
forward； whereon the treaty was produced again and identified as the
same document that we had seen on the previous day。
At the foot of it someoneI forget whowrote in Dutch； 〃De merk van
Koning Dingaan〃 ＇that is； The mark of King Dingaan。＇ In the space left
between the words 〃merk〃 and 〃van〃 Dingaan made a cross with a pen that
was given to him； Thomas Halstead holding his hand and showing him what
to do。
After this； three of his indunas； or great councillors； who were named
Nwara； Yuliwana and Manondo； testified as witnesses for the Zulus； and
M。 Oosthuyzen； A。 C。 Greyling and B。 J。 Liebenberg； who were standing
nearest to Retief； as witnesses for the Boers。
This done； Dingaan ordered one of his isibongos； or praisers； to run to
and fro in front of the regiments and others there assembled； and
proclaim that he had granted Natal to the Boers to be their property for
ever； information which the Zulus received with shouts。 Then Dingaan
asked Retief if he would not eat； and large trenchers of boiled beef
were brought out and handed round。 This； however； the Boers refused；
saying they had already breakfasted。 Thereon the king said that at
least they must drink； and pots of twala； or Kaffir beer； were handed
round； of which all the Boers partook。
While they were drinking； Dingaan gave Retief a message to the Dutch
farmers； to the effect that he hoped they would soon come and occupy
Natal； which henceforth was their country。 Also； black…hearted villain
that he was； that they would have a pleasant journey home。 Next he
ordered the two regiments to dance and sing war songs； in order to amuse
his guests。
This they began to do； drawing nearer as they danced。
It was at this moment that a Zulu appeared； pushing his way through the
captains who were gathered at the gate of the labyrinth； and delivered
some message to one of the indunas； who in turn passed it on to the
king。
〃Ow！ is it so？〃 said the king with a troubled look。 Then his glance
fell on me as though by accident； and he added： 〃Macumazahn； one of my
wives is taken very ill suddenly； and says she must have some of the
medicine of the white men before they go away。 Now； you tell me that
you are a new…married man； so I can trust you with my wives。 I pray you
to go and find out what medicine it is that she needs； for you can speak
our tongue。〃
I hesitated； then translated what he had said to Retief。
〃You had best go； nephew；〃 said the commandant； 〃but come back quickly；
for we ride at once。〃
Still I hesitated； not liking this business； whereon the king began to
grow angry。
〃What！〃 he said； 〃do you white men refuse me this little favour； when I
have just given you so muchyou who have wonderful medicines that can
cure the sick？〃
〃Go； Allan； go；〃 said Retief； when he understood his words； 〃or he will
grow cross and everything may be undone。〃
So； having no choice； I went through the gateway into the labyrinth。
Next moment men pounced on me； and before I could utter a word a cloth
was thrown over my mouth and tied tight behind my head。
I was a prisoner and gagged。
CHAPTER XIX
DEPART IN PEACE
A tall Kaffir； one of the king's household guards； who carried an
assegai； came up to me and whispered：
〃Hearken； little Son of George。 The king would save you； if he can；
because you are not Dutch； but English。 Yet； know that if you try to
cry out； if you even struggle； you die；〃 and he lifted the assegai so as
to be ready to plunge it through my heart。
Now I understood； and a cold sweat broke out all over me。 My companions
were to be murdered； every one！ Oh！ gladly would I have given my life
to warn them。 But alas！ I could not； for the cloth upon my mouth was so
thick that no sound could pass it。
One of the Zulus inserted a stick between the reeds of the fence。
Working it to and fro sideways； he made an opening just in a line with
my eyesout of cruelty； I suppose； for now I must see everything。
For some timeten minutes； I dare saythe dancing and beer…drinking
went on。 Then Dingaan rose from his chair and shook the hand of Retief
warmly； bidding him 〃Hamba gachle；〃 that is； Depart gently； or in peace。
He retreated towards the gate of the labyrinth； and as he went the
Boers took off their hats； waving them in the air and cheering him。 He
was almost through it； and I began to breathe again。
Doubtless I was mistaken。 After all； no treachery was intended。
In the very opening of the gate Dingaan turned； however； and said two
words in Zulu which mean：
〃Seize them！〃
Instantly the warriors； who had now danced quite close and were waiting
for these words； rushed upon the Boers。 I heard Thomas Halstead call
out in English：
〃We are done for；〃 and then add in Zulu； 〃Let me speak to the king！〃
Dingaan heard also； and waved his hand to show that he refused to
listen； and as he did so shouted thrice ：
〃Bulala abatagati！〃 that is； Slay the wizards！
I saw poor Halstead draw his knife and plunge it into a Zulu who was
near him。 The man fell； and again he struck at another soldier； cutting
his throat。 The Boers also drew their knivesthose of them who had
timeand tried to defend themselves against these black devils； who
rushed on them in swarms。 I heard afterwards that they succeeded in
killing six or eight of them and wounding perhaps a score。 But it was
soon over； for what could men armed only with pocket…knives do against
such a multitude？
Presently； amidst a hideous tumult of shouts； groans； curses； prayers
for mercy； and Zulu battle cries； the Boers were all struck downyes；
even the two little lads and the Hottentot servants。 Then they were
dragged away； still living； by the soldiers； their heels trailing on the
ground； just as wounded worms or insects are dragged by the black ants。
Dingaan was standing by me now； laughing； his fat face working
nervously。
〃Come； Son of George；〃 he said； 〃and let us see the end of these
traitors to your sovereign。〃