river must be arrested in its run, so vast were
the numbers that blackened it as they crossed. Our blood burned within
us at the sight of this splendid array. We longed to be among them,
bearing our part as men. We had had more than enough of skulking like
hunted leopards.

"Ho, Siyonyoba!" I cried to the second leader of the refugees. "Form
up our spears in rank, that we go down now and throw in our lot with
these."

Right down we went. The black might of our retreating nation was
halting now, rolling up in waves; and there, on the very spot where we
were finally repulsed by you English in the battle of Nodwengu, _Nkose_,
when we thought to eat up your red square of soldiers, there did we
wanderers, whose lives were forfeit, bring our lives in our hands to lay
them at the feet of the King.

[The battle historically known to us as that of Ulundi is always termed
by the Zulus the battle of Nodwengu, because fought nearest to the kraal
of that name.]

I had sent on men in advance to announce our arrival, and now, as we
drew near, the army opened on either side of us so as to leave us a
broad road.

A dead silence lay upon the whole dense array. I gave one glance back
at those I led--led, it might be, to their death. Truly, a more
warrior-like band never desired to serve any King. Their fugitive life
had hardened the Bapongqolo. Even the picked regiments of Dingane's
army could not surpass them for hardihood and uprightness of bearing;
and though we were probably going to our death, my blood thrilled with
pride that I was the elected leader of so splendid a band.

I gave a signal, and striking their shields in measure as they marched,
the Bapongqolo raised a great song in praise of Dingane:

"There hovers aloft a bird,
An eagle of war,
In circles and swoop
It floats above the world.
The eye of that eagle
Would burn up the world.
But the world is allowed to live.
So clement, so merciful, is that eagle who restrains his wrath.
He retires but to swoop and strike again.
_Hau_! The enemies of that war-eagle
shall melt away like yonder smoke.
A vulture who devours the flesh of men;
So is that bird.
Yonder is flesh that he shall presently eat.
So great is he,
He retires but to swoop and strike again."

So our song thundered forth as we marched straight onward. I gave
another signal. Immediately every shield and weapon fell to the ground
with one crash, and advanci