ht refuse to see me. Moreover, it
was likely enough that before I could find him one of those broad
spears would find my heart. There was nothing to be done except
submit. Still I did call out in a loud voice--

"Farewell, Zikali. I leave you without a present against my will
who am being taken by soldiers to visit the king at Ulundi. When
we meet again I will talk all this matter over with you."

There was no answer, and as Goza took the opportunity to say that
he disliked the noise of shouting extremely, which sometimes made
him do things that he afterwards regretted, I became silent.
Then we departed, I in the exact centre of that guard of Zulus,
heavy-hearted and filled with fears both for myself and those I
left behind me.

Down the Black Kloof we tramped, emerging on the sunlit plain
beyond without meeting any one. A couple of miles further on we
came to a small stream where Goza announced we would halt to eat.
So we ate of cold toasted meat which one of the men produced from
a basket he carried, unpalatable food but better than nothing.
Just as we had finished I looked up and saw the soldier to whom
my note had been given. He was leading my mare that had been
saddled. On it were my large saddle-bags packed with my
belongings, also my thick overcoat, mackintosh, waterbottle, and
other articles down to a bag of tobacco, a spare pipe and a box
of wax matches. Moreover, the man carried my double-barrelled
Express rifle and a shot-gun that could be used for ball,
together with two bags of cartridges. Practically nothing
belonging to me had been forgotten.

I asked him who had collected the things. He replied the
doctress Nombe had done so and had brought him the horse saddled
to carry them. He did not know who saddled the horse as he had
seen no one but Nombe to whom he had given the writing which she
hid away. In answer to further questions, he said that Nombe had
sent me a message. It was--

"I bid farewell to Macumazahn for a little while and wish him
good fortune till we meet again. Let him not be afraid in the
battle, for even if he is hurt it will not be to death, since
those go with him whom he cannot see, and protect him with their
shields. Say to Macumazahn that I, Nombe, remember in the
morning what I said in the night and that what seems to be quite
lost is ofttimes found again. Wish him good fortune and tell him
I am sorry that I had not time to cause his spare garments to be
clea