cy how differently
Laputa would have managed it all had he lived; how swift and sudden his
plans would have been; how under him the fighting would not have been
in the mountain glens, but far in the high-veld among the dorps and
townships. With the Inkulu alive we warred against odds; with the
Inkulu dead the balance sank heavily in our favour. I leave to others
the marches and strategy of the thing, and hasten to clear up the
obscure parts in my own fortunes.

Arcoll received my message from Umvelos' by Colin, or rather Wardlaw
received it and sent it on to the post on the Berg where the leader had
gone. Close on its heels came the message from Henriques by a Shangaan
in his pay. It must have been sent off before the Portugoose got to
the Rooirand, from which it would appear that he had his own men in the
bush near the store, and that I was lucky to get off as I did. Arcoll
might have disregarded Henriques' news as a trap if it had come alone,
but my corroboration impressed and perplexed him. He began to credit
the Portugoose with treachery, but he had no inclination to act on his
message, since it conflicted with his plans. He knew that Laputa must
come into the Berg sooner or later, and he had resolved that his
strategy must be to await him there. But there was the question of my
life. He had every reason to believe that I was in the greatest
danger, and he felt a certain responsibility for my fate. With the few
men at his disposal he could not hope to hold up the great Kaffir army,
but there was a chance that he might by a bold stand effect my rescue.
Henriques had told him of the vow, and had told him that Laputa would
ride in the centre of the force. A body of men well posted at Dupree's
Drift might split the army at the crossing, and under cover of the fire
I might swim the river and join my friends. Still relying on the vow,
it might be possible for well-mounted men to evade capture.
Accordingly he called for volunteers, and sent off one of his Kaffirs
to warn me of his design. He led his men in person, and of his doings
the reader already knows the tale. But though the crossing was flung
into confusion, and the rear of the army was compelled to follow the
northerly bank of the Letaba, there was no sign of me anywhere. Arcoll
searched the river-banks, and crossed the drift to where the old Keeper
was lying dead. He then concluded that I had been murdered early in
the march, and his Kaffir, who migh