nd run back here
again. I will give a cow to whoever wins." Cachema looked at me with
surprise. He seemed to consider it absurd for me to attempt running
with him, as I was smaller and younger. We took each other's hands, and
when the chief said "Hamba" ("Go") we started.

The tree was about two hundred yards away, and the ground over which we
ran was hard and firm. I got the best of the start, and managed to keep
just ahead of Cachema till we reached the tree. I knew from experience
that most Caffres could run a mile at the same pace as they could run a
few hundred yards, their wind was so good, and they never tired. So I
did not run at full speed to the tree; but, after touching it, I came
back as fast as I could run. I expected every instant to find Cachema
rush past me. I dared not look round to see where he was, but continued
at my best pace, and rushed past the chief several yards ahead of my
opponent.

I then returned; and, making a salaam in Indian fashion, said "Inkosi."

"Come here," said the chief. I approached him, when he felt my legs,
looked at my feet, and took a general survey of me. He then said, "You
have spoken the truth: you can run." Calling Cachema he said, "Why did
you let this white boy beat you?"

Cachema replied, "He is a springbok, and runs like one."

The chief laughed, and said, "The white boy will now be my head-runner.
You, Cachema, must be called `gathly,'" which meant something like
"slowly."

I was at once provided with some crane's feathers, a large
black-and-white shield, six assagies, and made one of the body-guard of
the Great Chief of the Zulus.

My life was now not as free or as pleasant as it had been among the
Umzimvubu Caffres. Here I was a sort of servant of the chief: before
this I was a chief myself. Sometimes I was days together with nothing
to do: at others I was sent long journeys to take messages from the
Great Chief to some of his principal men. I soon saw that these
journeys would give me an opportunity of escaping when I wished. But
the Zulu chief never seemed to think I should care to get away from him;
for his special body-guard were envied by all the young Zulus, because
they had plenty to eat, plenty to drink, and were able to order nearly
every other Zulu to do things.

A few days after I had been installed as runner, a great review was held
of the army that had gone against the Basutos. This army consisted of
about 5,000 men. They wer