t dark and chilly hour which
precedes the dawn. They had entered that forest-belt which had been of
such service to Gerard in first throwing off his enemies, and now Sobuza
had convened his subordinate chiefs around him to hold a council of war.
This was not a lengthy process, for the plans had been already laid.
These were simplicity itself. The _impi_, in compact formation, was to
advance swiftly to the ridge overlooking the hollow, then to charge down
upon the kraal, throwing out "horns," so as to surround the latter. The
inhabitants, thus utterly taken by surprise, would probably offer no
resistance; but any who did were to be slain without mercy. Everything
depended upon the successful carrying out of the surprise part of the
arrangement, otherwise a severe and bloody battle might be reckoned on;
for the Igazipuza were not made of the stuff which would submit to be
"eaten up" without a struggle. Moreover, in their own stronghold they
would prove a terribly formidable enemy, and the king's troops were only
twice their number, odds which the advantage of the ground would go far
to neutralise.

"_Whau_!" muttered Sobuza, taking a final pinch of snuff and rising to
his feet. "I fear we are not going to have things all our own way.
Ingonyama is no fool, still less is Vunawayo. They may believe you were
eaten by the alligator, Jeriji, or they may doubt it; but if they think
there is the least chance of you having escaped, they will be upon their
guard. Now, if you had been taken and brought back, our work would have
been easy. Only," he added, with a humorous twinkle in his eyes, "it
might not have been so easy for you. We might have arrived too late."

The words struck a chill into Gerard's heart. What if they had arrived
too late--too late as far as his friend was concerned. He hoped and
prayed not, and then an outlet to his impatience came in the mandate
that was issued for the advance.

And now, as the grey light of dawn broke over the earth, Gerard was able
for the first time to obtain a view of the barbarous but splendidly
disciplined host in whose midst he was to fight to-day. Debouching from
the forest-belt in the most perfect order came this pick of the king's
troops, marching in four companies. Two of these consisted of
_amakehla_ or ringed men, and the great war-shields borne by these were
white, or nearly so; for this was the draft out of the Udhloko regiment,
a part of the royal corps, warrio