of Hafela, who, say the
generals, is encamped upon the ridge?"

"He may have left the ridge, King, having been warned of the ambush."

"It cannot be, for when the runner started his fires burned there and
his soldiers were gathered round them."

"Then perhaps his captains sit upon the ridge with some portion of his
strength to deceive those who await him in the gorge; while, knowing
that here men are few, he himself swoops down on you with the main body
of his _impi_."

"At least we shall learn presently," answered the king; "but if it be
as I fear and we are outwitted, what is there that we can do against so
many?"

Now one of the captains proposed that they should stay where they were
and hold the place.

"It is too large," answered the king, "they will burst the fences and
break our line."

Another suggested that they should fly and, avoiding the regiments of
Hafela in the darkness of the night, should travel swiftly in search of
the main army that had been sent to lie in ambush.

"What," said Nodwengo, "leaving the aged and the women and children to
perish, for how can we take such a multitude? No, I will have none of
this plan."

Then Hokosa spoke. "King," he said, "listen to my counsel: Command now
that all the women and the old men, taking with them such cattle and
food as are in the town, depart at once into the Valley of Death and
collect in the open space that lies beyond the Tree of Doom, near the
spring of water that is there. The valley is narrow and the cliffs are
steep, and it may chance that by the help of Heaven we shall be able to
hold it till the army returns to relieve us, to seek which messengers
must be sent at once with these tidings."

"The plan is good," said the king, though none had thought of it; "but
so we shall lose the town."

"Towns can be rebuilt," answered Hokosa, "but who may restore the lives
of men?"

As the words left his lips, a runner burst into the council, crying:
"King, the _impi_ is that of Hafela, and the prince heads it in person.
Already his outposts rest upon the Plain of Fire."

Then Nodwengo rose and issued his orders, commanding that all the
ineffective population of the town, together with such food and cattle
as could be gathered, should retreat at once into the Valley of Death.
By this time the four or five thousand soldiers who were left in the
Great Place had been paraded on the open ground in front of the king's
house, where they stood, still an