shore with those
who landed. Six of them got in a boat, and pulled up the bay, and
landed near where their huts had stood. The remaining men stayed on
board the schooner. There was not a Zulu to be seen anywhere, and we
walked to the remains of the huts, which we found entirely destroyed.

At a short distance from these huts was some thick bush through which
was a narrow path. This path led to some open ground where the cattle
belonging to the settlers used to graze. The white men were anxious to
see whether the Zulus had destroyed or carried off their cattle, and so
entered this path through the wood. Knowing the usual practises of the
Zulus, I thought this a very dangerous proceeding; but my caution only
made the white men say, "Don't be afraid, we ain't."

Just before we entered the bush, I saw on the sand several footprints of
men, quite fresh. These footprints had been made after the last dew had
fallen, so I knew it was not very long since the men who had made them
must have passed over the ground. I called to the white men in front of
me to stop, as I had seen fresh footprints of Zulus; but they replied
that I couldn't tell when these had been made, and as I was afraid I
fancied these dangers.

Scarcely had they spoken when there was a rustling noise in the bushes,
and in an instant about fifty Zulus sprang on to the path, surrounded
the white men, and assagied them instantly. Seeing this, I dived into
the bush, and during the noise crept through the bush and made my escape
towards the shore. I hoped to reach the boat that had brought us from
the ship; but, on coming within sight of it, I saw it was in possession
of the Zulus. So my retreat by that means was cut off. The distance
from where I was to the nearest part of the shore to the ship was nearly
two miles, and there was dense bush nearly the whole way. To attempt to
work my way through this bush would have been a most dangerous
proceeding, for it is impossible to move in the bush without making a
noise; and the Zulus were certain to have placed men on watch in this
bush, so that an assagy stab would be the first thing that would
acquaint me of the presence of a Zulu. Soon after I had joined the
white men, they had given me clothes to wear, so the Zulus would
distinguish me now at a great distance. To lie concealed in the bush
was, I knew, of but little use; for they would follow my trail and
surround me just as they were accustomed to surro