lackened, whence gleamed forth eyes fell
with hate and purpose; and the flashes of the guns would singe and
blind, so near were they, as they were thrust forward and discharged
where the crowd was thickest and most threatening. Even their women
fought. We could see them behind, loading the guns as fast as the
Amabuna could fire almost. Great broad-faced hags would reach over the
waggons and hack at our warriors with axes and choppers, or hurl pans of
boiling water over their naked bodies when they approached too near.

More hot, more fierce, their fire hissed through our ranks. The Amabuna
had loaded their guns with many bullets at a time, and these, tearing
through our serried ranks at close quarters, cut down our men like corn.

Again and again they fell back, only to rush forward once more. But
every such onward rush was made with less and less of heart. They could
not face those terrific storms of lead, and we, _izinduna_, seeing that
the day was lost, made haste to draw off our warriors before these,
panic-stricken, should break and flee. And what a loss had been ours!
The waggon forts seemed ringed in with the heaps of our dead. And those
who lived! Bleeding, panting, begrimed; shields hacked and slit, broken
spears, wounds gaping redly--such was our aspect. Many with shattered
limbs, where the bullets of the Amabuna had met them, dragged themselves
forward and begged of their brethren the death of the spear, which was
granted them. Our repulse was complete.

Yet there remained the cattle, and all outside the waggon forts we
speedily collected; for the Amabuna, valiant as they were when under
that shelter, were too wise to leave it and come forth to meet us in the
open. But although it was a very large and fine herd of beasts which we
swept before us on our return to Nkunkundhlovu, our minds were uneasy.
Those Amabuna had held their own against us, and were left alive.
Presently they would bring others. For every one we could kill, five
would grow in his place, as, indeed, we were soon to see.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

OF A NEW WITCH-FINDING.

Dingane was very angry when we returned to Nkunkundhlovu, and, indeed at
first, it looked as though some would pay for our repulse with their
lives. But that was no time for sacrificing skilled leaders of men, and
winning the resentment of their relatives and following; and this the
King knew. So, with gloomy and bitter reproaches, he dismissed us.

The fi