of sleep by the shouting around my kraal, I knew
well what was about to happen; but I resolved for Kalinda's sake, as
well as my own, to struggle for life. To fight my way out and to save
my wife, I knew was impossible, had I dashed out boldly as I at first
thought of doing; but she whispered to me, `Let us make a figure; our
enemies will stab at that, and we meantime may perchance get clear.'
The idea struck me as good. She brought me a mat, and we rolled it up
round a thick stick. We then fastened a shield to it, and on the top a
bundle of assegais, as if held in the hand of a warrior. It was much
too dark for our enemies to discover the deceit. When all was ready, I
held the figure in one hand, while I grasped my weapons in the other,
Kalinda keeping close behind me. I then opened the door, and thrust out
the figure in the midst of those standing near, thirsting for my blood.
They instantly, as I knew they would, gathered round it, piercing it
with their assegais. While they were thus employed, I sprang out, still
holding the figure, and in a few bounds reached the inside of the outer
fence, against which I placed my back, and kept my assailants at bay.
As they drew away from the door to attack me, Kalinda rushed out; and
our enemies, who had supposed that there was only one person in the hut,
seeing another appear, fancied that there might be more, and became
confused, not knowing how to act; for many of them had already felt the
point of my assegai. Kalinda, getting close to me without a wound,
threw the figure over the fence, among those guarding the outside. They
instantly rushed at it, leaving the gate for a few seconds unguarded.
This was all I required. Sheltering my wife with my shield, as she
clung to my arm, I sprang with her through the opening, over the bodies
of my slaughtered followers, and before our enemies knew we had gone we
were running like springbocs down the hill. We knew that if our flight
should be discovered we should be pursued, but we hoped that we had not
been seen at the moment we were rushing out of the kraal. I had been
out hunting until late in the evening, and had discovered the tracks of
your waggon. I guessed therefore whereabouts you would camp, and
determined to place my wife under your protection, knowing that while
with you our pursuers would not molest her. For myself, I intended to
follow up my enemies, and revenge myself by trying to kill some of them.
When mornin