pt. I always hold that we ought to
tell the truth and stand the consequences," said Percy. "He had a
perfect right to run away, and he exercised that right. I would rather
you said what had happened, and that he had gone only for our sakes, to
let our friends know what has become of us."

"Well, we'll see how things turn out," said Denis. "Are you not
beginning to feel hungry?"

"Indeed I am, and sleepy too," answered Percy. "I would rather have
something to eat; but as we cannot get that, the best thing we can do is
to go to sleep. I'll try, although our couches are not of the most
luxurious description."

Percy lay down, as did Denis. They felt various creatures crawling over
them; but they knew that they must bear such annoyances patiently.
Their eyes in a short time closed, and they went fast asleep. They were
aroused at early dawn by the shouts and cries of hundreds of voices.
The Zulu gaoler no longer stopped up the doorway by his black body.
They concluded that he was not afraid they would attempt to escape
during daylight, as they would certainly be seen.

Denis therefore crawled out of the hut to look about him. The sun was
just rising over the hills to the eastward. The whole valley, at the
farther end of which they were, was filled with warriors formed into
regiments of four or five hundred men each. Some little distance off,
in front of his hut, stood the chief, Umbulazi, surrounded by his
counsellors and other wise men.

Suddenly all the men commenced performing the most extraordinary antics,
leaping, and whirling, and twisting, and turning, at the same time
uttering the loudest shrieks and cries at the top of their voices.

"What are they about?" asked Percy, who had crept out after Denis.

"They are simply dancing a war dance in honour of their chief. We shall
have an opportunity of witnessing their performance."

The chief and his attendants were so busily employed in watching the
troops, that they did not observe the young Englishmen standing outside
their prison.

Presently the leading regiment began to move forward, the men still
leaping, twisting, and turning, shaking their shields, quivering their
assegais, and shouting all the time until they approached to where the
chief stood, when halting for an instant they redoubled their efforts,
and then passed on (it cannot be said they marched) to give room for
another party who went through the same style of performance.

When the