cil.

On the morrow the king promised to sign the paper giving the lands they
asked for to the Boers, and all was smooth as water when there is no
wind. Before the paper was signed the king gave a great dance, for there
were many regiments gathered at the kraal, and for three days this dance
went on, but on the third day he dismissed the regiments, all except
one, an impi of lads, who were commanded to stay. Now all this while
I wondered what was in the mind of Dingaan and was afraid for the
Amaboona. But he was secret, and told nothing except to the captains of
the regiment alone--no, not even to one of his council. Yet I knew that
he planned evil, and was half inclined to warn the Captain Retief, but
did not, fearing to make myself foolish. Ah! my father, if I had spoken,
how many would have lived who were soon dead! But what does it matter?
In any case most of them would have been dead by now.

On the fourth morning, early, Dingaan sent a messenger to the Boers,
bidding them meet him in the cattle kraal, for there he would mark the
paper. So they came, stacking their guns at the gate of the kraal,
for it was death for any man, white or black, to come armed before the
presence of the king. Now, my father, the kraal Umgugundhlovu was built
in a great circle, after the fashion of royal kraals. First came the
high outer fence, then the thousands of huts that ran three parts round
between the great fence and the inner one. Within this inner fence was
the large open space, big enough to hold five regiments, and at the top
of it--opposite the entrance--stood the cattle kraal itself, that cut
off a piece of the open space by another fence bent like a bow. Behind
this again were the Emposeni, the place of the king's women, the
guard-house, the labyrinth, and the Intunkulu, the house of the king.
Dingaan came out on that day and sat on a stool in front of the cattle
kraal, and by him stood a man holding a shield over his head to keep
the sun from him. Also we of the Amapakati, the council, were there, and
ranged round the fence of the space, armed with short sticks only--not
with kerries, my father--was that regiment of young men which Dingaan
had not sent away, the captain of the regiment being stationed near to
the king, on the right.

Presently the Boers came in on foot and walked up to the king in a
body, and Dingaan greeted them kindly and shook hands with Retief, their
captain. Then Retief drew the paper from a leather