children were moved along the gorge, which in
shape may be compared to a bottle with two necks, one at either end,
and encamped in the opening of the second neck, where was the spring
of water. This spot was chosen both because here alone water could be
obtained, without which they could not hold out more than a single day,
and because the koppie whereon grew the strange-looking euphorbia known
as the Tree of Doom afforded a natural rampart against attack.

Shortly after dawn, while the soldiers were resting and eating of
such food as could be procured--for the most part strips of raw or
half-cooked meat cut from hastily killed cattle--the onslaught was
renewed with vigour, Hafela directing his efforts to the forcing of the
natural archway. But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it
was choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men.

"You do but waste your labour, Hafela," said Noma, who stood by him
watching the assault.

"What then is to be done?" he asked, "for unless we come at them we
cannot kill them. It was clever of them to take refuge in this hole. I
thought surely that they would fight it out yonder, beneath the fences
of the Great Place."

"Ah!" she answered, "you forgot that they had Hokosa on their side. Did
you then think to catch him sleeping? This retreat was Hokosa's counsel.
I learned it from the lips of that wounded captain before they killed
him. Now, it seems that there are but two paths to follow, and you can
choose between them. The one is to send a regiment a day and a half's
journey across the cliff top to guard the further mouth of the valley
and to wait till these jackals starve in their hole, for certainly they
can never come out."

"It has started six hours since," said Hafela, "and though the
precipices are steep, having the moon to travel by, it should reach the
river mouth of the valley before dawn to-morrow, cutting Nodwengo off
from the plains, if indeed he should dare to venture out upon them,
which, with so small a force, he will not do. Yet this first plan
of yours must fail, Noma, seeing that before they starve within, the
generals of Nodwengo will be back upon us from the mountains, catching
us between the hammer and the anvil, and I know not how that fight would
go."

"Yet, soon or late, it must be fought."

"Nay," he answered, "for my hope is that should the _impi_ return to
find Nodwengo dead, they will surrender and acknowledge me as king, who
am th