took place; and, the sea going
rapidly down, the surf on the bar decreased, the sailors set sails on
the vessel, and she glided out of the harbour, and, crossing the bar,
was soon lost to view behind the high land of the bluff.

I was now once more alone as regards white men, but I might be
surrounded by enemies; so after looking all round the country as far as
I could obtain a view, I descended from the tree and sat down to
consider what to do. Suddenly I heard a human voice--it came from the
shore outside the bush. Listening attentively, I heard the Zulu
language spoken; and as the men spoke loudly, their words were
distinctly audible.

"The ship has left now," said one of the men, "there is nothing for us
to wait for."

"He must have gone in the ship," said another.

"Yes, his people must have taken him with them. He was very cunning:
dressed like a white man, he deceived us at first, and he must have
heard us speak of the plan for capturing the boat at the narrows. I
knew him when he rose in the boat after shooting Copen."

"He has escaped us," said another Zulu, "but we have killed four white
men, and have their small guns to take to our chief." "_Hambani si
hambi_" ("let us be going"), said a loud voice, and I could hear the
tread of the men as they moved along the beach.

I remained motionless while the sun travelled about ten times its own
breadth, for I knew enough of the Zulus' cunning to be aware that this
conversation might be carried on in various places, as a trap to throw
me off my guard, in case I was concealed near enough to hear what was
spoken. I then crept through the bush as stealthily as a snake, and
examined the beach, and saw a long distance off a party of about forty
Zulus moving along the shore towards the Umganie river, which was the
direction of the Zulu country. I remained concealed until it became
nearly dark, and then made my way down to the entrance of the bay, where
the channel was very narrow. The tide was low, and no current was
running in either direction; so I swam across the channel without
difficulty, and made my way up the bluff to my old kraal, which I found
had not been burnt or destroyed. There were several excavations made by
the sea on the shore side of the bluff--sort of caves, in fact--and to
one of these I made my way; and, having lighted a fire in this cave,
cooked the whole of the antelope's flesh and made a good meal, whilst I
reserved a large quantity fo