obbled indecisively, settled
down, head uppermost, on the waggon-box.

"That's as it should be," said Dawes. "The next thing is to choose our
time. A rainy, dark night would be the best. Zulus, you know, hate
being out of doors at night. They're as frightened of bogies as so many
children. But there's no chance of any such luck, I'm afraid. Well, we
must just watch our opportunity."

The latter came. Two nights after the decision by lot there was a
gathering and a war-dance at the Igazipuza kraal. Throughout the
afternoon the warriors were parading and singing, and towards sundown
there was a great beef-killing, at which Gerard himself assisted, and in
order to lull suspicion, affected great interest in the spearing of the
doomed cattle, half of which, frenzied with apprehension and the clamour
of the crowd, broke loose and temporarily escaped their slayers,
affording much sport to the excited savages in hunting them down one by
one, and slaughtering them, amid an indescribable uproar.

"Now, Ridgeley, you have got everything you will require," said Dawes.
"The map, ammunition, everything. The row will be at its thickest in
less than an hour. That will be the time. Even the guards at the
entrance to this hole will be so taken up watching the fun down here,
you may be able to slip past them."

But Fortune was destined to prove unfavourable. As the moment for
making the attempt drew near, and even John Dawes the imperturbable felt
his pulses beat quicker, messengers arrived from the chief requesting--
though the request was really a command--their presence at the
gathering.

It was disconcerting, at first. But Dawes's keen faculties saw in the
apparent difficulty his opportunity. The messengers were few in number,
and eager to get back themselves to the scene of the festivities. He
readily fell in with the request, and with great deliberation replied
that they would saddle up their horses and ride over forthwith. This
proposal, so far from being received with suspicion, excited no
surprise. Zulus are great sticklers for etiquette; therefore it struck
the messengers as in no wise strange that the two white men should elect
to put in their appearance with every adjunct of state at their
command--to wit, on horseback.

"God bless you, Ridgeley," said Dawes, with unwonted seriousness,
contriving, under cover of saddling up, to exchange a firm hand-clasp
with his young companion, unseen by the messenger