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we could。 Now we were up to our breasts； now we had lost the earth and
were swimming towards the middle of the river； the dog Koos leading
the way。
Then it was that the soldiers appeared upon the bank。 〃Ah！ little
people；〃 one cried； 〃you swim； do you？ Well； you will drown； and if
you do not drown we know a ford； and we will catch you and kill you
yes！ if we must run over the edge of the world after you we will catch
you。〃 And he hurled an assegai after us； which fell between us like a
flash of light。
While he spoke we swam hard； and now we were in the current。 It swept
us downwards； but still we made way； for we could swim well。 It was
just this： if we could reach the bank before we were swept into the
rapids we were safe； if not； thengood…night！ Now we were near the
other side； but； alas！ we were also near the lip of the foaming water。
We strained； we struggled。 Baleka was a brave girl； and she swam
bravely； but the water pushed her down below me； and I could do
nothing to help her。 I got my foot upon the rock and looked round。
There she was； and eight paces from her the broken water boiled。 I
could not go back。 I was too weak； and it seemed that she must perish。
But the dog Koos saw。 He swam towards her； barking； then turned round；
heading for the shore。 She grasped him by the tail with her right
hand。 Then he put out his strengthhe was very strong。 She took
struck out with her feet and left hand； and slowlyvery slowlydrew
near。 Then I stretched out the handle of my assegai towards her。 She
caught it with her left hand。 Already her feet were over the brink of
the rapids； but I pulled and Koos pulled； and we brought her safe into
the shadows； and from the shallows to the bank； and there she fell
gasping。
Now when the soldiers on the other bank saw that we had crossed； they
shouted threats at us； then ran away down the bank。
〃Arise； Baleka！〃 I said： 〃they have gone to see a ford。〃
〃Ah； let me die！〃 she answered。
But I forced her to rise； and after awhile she got her breath again；
and we walked on as fast as we could up the long rise。 For two hours
we walked； or more； till at last we came to the crest of the rise； and
there； far away； we saw a large kraal。
〃Keep heart；〃 I said。 〃See； there is the kraal of Chaka。〃
〃Yes； brother；〃 she answered； 〃but what waits us there？ Death is
behind us and before uswe are in the middle of death。〃
Presently we came to a path that ran to the kraal from the ford of the
Umfolozi。 It was by it that the Impi had travelled。 We followed the
path till at last we were but half an hour's journey from the kraal。
Then we looked back； and lo！ there behind us were the pursuersfive
of themone had drowned in crossing the river。
Again we ran； but now we were weak； and they gained upon us。 Then once
more I thought of the dog。 He was fierce and would tear any one on
whom I set him。 I called him and told him what to do； though I knew
that it would be his death。 He understood； and flew towards the
soldiers growling； his hair standing up on his spine。 They tried to
kill him with spears and kerries； but he jumped round them； biting at
them； and kept them back。 At last a man hit him； and he sprang up and
seized the man by the throat。 There he clung； man and dog rolling over
and over together； till the end of it was that they both died。 Ah！ he
was a dog！ We do not see such dogs nowadays。 His father was a Boer
hound； the first that came into the country。 That dog once killed a
leopard all by himself。 Well； this was the end of Koos！
Meanwhile； we had been running。 Now we were but three hundred paces
from the gate of the kraal； and there was something going on inside
it； that we could see from the noise and the dust。 The four soldiers；
leaving the dead dog and the dying man； came after us swiftly。 I saw
that they must catch us before we reached the gate； for now Baleka
could go but slowly。 Then a thought came into my head。 I had brought
her here； I would save her life if I could。 Should she reach the kraal
without me； Chaka would not kill a girl who was so young and fair。
〃Run on； Baleka！ run on！〃 I said； dropping behind。 Now she was almost
blind with weariness and terror； and； not seeing my purpose； staggered
towards the gate of the kraal。 But I sat down on the veldt to get my
breath again； for I was about to fight four men till I was killed。 My
heart beat and the blood drummed in my ears； but when they drew near
and I rosethe assegai in my handonce more the red cloth seemed to
go up and down before my eyes； and all fear left me。
The men were running； two and two； with the length of a spear throw
between them。 But of the first pair one was five or six paces in front
of the other。 This man shouted out loud and charged me； shield and
spear up。 Now I had no shieldnothing but the assegai； but I was
crafty and he was overbold。 On he came。 I stood waiting for him till
he drew back the spear to stab me。 Then suddenly I dropped to my knees
and thrust upward with all my strength； beneath the rim of his shield；
and he also thrust； but over me； his spear only cutting the flesh of
my shouldersee！ here is its scar； yes； to this day。 And my assegai？
Ah！ it went home； it ran through and through his middle。 He rolled
over and over on the plain。 The dust hid him； only I was now
weaponless； for the haft of my spearit was but a light throwing
assegaibroke in two； leaving nothing but a little bit of stick in my
hand。 And the other one was upon me。 Then in the darkness I saw a
light。 I fell on to my hands and knees and flung myself over sideways。
My body struck the legs of the man who was about to stab me； lifting
his feet from beneath him。 Down he came heavily。 Before he had touched
the ground I was off it。 His spear had fallen from his hand。 I
stooped； seized it； and as he rose I stabbed him through the back。 It
was all done in the shake of a leaf； my father； in the shake of a leaf
he also was dead。 Then I ran； for I had no stomach for the other two；
my valour was gone。
About a hundred paces from me Baleka was staggering along with her
arms out like one who has drunk too much beer。 By the time I caught
her she was some forty paces from the gate of the kraal。 But then her
strength left her altogether。 Yes！ there she fell senseless； and I
stood by her。 And there； too； I should have been killed； had not this
chanced； since the other two men； having stayed one instant by their
dead fellows； came on against me mad with rage。 For at that moment the
gate of the kraal opened； and through it ran a party of soldiers
dragging a prisoner by the arms。 After them walked a great man； who
wore a leopard skin on his shoulders； and was laughing； and with him
were five or six ringed councillors； and after them again came a
company of warriors。
The soldiers saw that killing was going on； and ran up just as the
slayers reached us。
〃Who are you？〃 they cried； 〃who day to kill at the gate of the
Elephant's kraal？ Here the Elephant kills alone。〃
〃We are of the children of Makedama；〃 they answered； 〃and we follow
these evildoers who have done wickedness and murder in our kraal。 See！
but now two of us are dead at their hands； and others lie dead along
the road。 Suffer that we slay them。〃
〃Ask that of the Elephant；〃 said the soldiers； 〃ask too that he suffer
you should not be slain。〃
Just then the tall chief saw blood and heard words。 He stalked up； and
he was a great man to look at； though still quite young in years。 For
he was taller by a head than any round him； and his chest was big as
the chests of two； his face was fierce and beautiful； and when he grew
angry his eye flashed like a smitten brand。
〃Who are these that dare to stir up dust at the gates of my kraal？〃 he
asked； frowning。
〃O Chaka； O Elephant！〃 answered the captain of the soldiers； bending
himself double before him； 〃the men say that these are evildoers and
that they pursue them to kill them。〃
〃Good！〃 he answered。 〃Let them slay the evildoers。〃
〃O great chief！ thanks be to thee； great chief！〃 said those men of my
people who sought to kill us。
〃I hear you；〃 he answered； then spoke once more to the captain。 〃And
when they have slain the evildoers； let themselves be blinded and
turned loose to seek their way home； because they have dared to lift a
spear within the Zulu gates。 Now praise on； my children！〃 And he
laughed； while the soldiers murmured； 〃Ou！ he is wise； he is great；
his justice is bright and terrible like the sun！〃
But the two men of my people cried out in fear； for they did not seek
such justice as this。
〃Cut out their tongues also；〃 said Chaka。 〃What？ shall the land of the
Zulus suffer such a noise？ Never！ lest the cattle miscarry。 To it； ye
black ones！ There lies the girl。 She is asleep and helpless。 Kill her！
What？ you hesitate？ Nay； then； if you will have time for thought； I
give it。 Take these men； smear them with honey； and pin them over ant…
heaps； by to…morrow's sun they will know their own minds。 But first
kill these two hunted jackals；〃 and he pointed to Baleka and myself。
〃They seem tired and doubtless they long for sleep。〃
Then for the first time I spoke； for the soldiers drew near to slay
us。