titude is the
only one which commands their respect, as indeed Gerard's intrepid and
apparently foolhardy act served to show. And in pursuance of this idea
he would not offer them even the smallest gift, at any rate until they
became civil, lest they should construe the act into a concession to
fear.

"We want to trade, _abelungu_, but not here," shouted several voices.
"Not here. At the kraal of our father, Ingonyama."

"Yes, yes. To the kraal of our father," repeated the crowd.

"You have not enough people to drive all that stock," cried a voice.
"We will help you."

"We will--we will," echoed the crowd, with a shout of boisterous
laughter. And tearing away the thin fence of bushes which enclosed
them, the savages began to drive out the cattle and sheep, pricking them
with their assegais, and roaring with laughter at the pain and terror of
the poor beasts.

"Wait one moment!" cried Dawes. "We have hardly anything to trade, and
are returning home. It will be very inconvenient to us to go out of our
way. Take a couple of oxen and half a dozen goats as a present to your
chief, Ingonyama, and tell him we hope to visit him at some future time.
Now we will keep on our way."

"No--no!" roared the crowd. "No--no! You cannot pass so near the kraal
of our chief without paying him a visit. So come with us, _abelungu_.
We will help drive your cattle."

The tone though effusively good-natured was not to be mistaken. The
best policy was to affect to believe the good nature genuine, and that
these playful barbarians really were consumed with anxiety to show
hospitality to the two white traders, instead of practically taking them
prisoners. And that such they were admitted of no shadow of a doubt.
In a second the minds of both had grasped the situation. If they
refused to proceed to Ingonyama's kraal, the Igazipuza would assuredly
plunder them of every hoof, for they were already driving off the
stock--plunder them even it might be of the trek-oxen and the two
horses. They might even take it into their heads to massacre them, but
this was improbable. So making a virtue of necessity, and giving his
companion a hint to do the like, Dawes replied that since they and their
chief were so anxious to have them as guests, why, they should have
their wish. Then he gave orders to inspan.

Shouting, singing, and indulging in horseplay the savages crowded round,
watching the process. Then as the waggons rolled slowly o