asapo had been
executed, and so ran into the fight just as it was beginning. I saw the
captain killed and the subsequent engagement. Indeed, as it happened, I
did more. Not knowing where to go or what to do, for I was quite alone,
I pulled up my horse behind a tree and waited till I could escape the
horrors about me; for I can assure anyone who may ever read these words
that it is a very horrible sight to see a thousand men engaged in fierce
and deadly combat. In truth, the fact that they had no spears, and could
only batter each other to death with their heavy kerries, made it worse,
since the duels were more desperate and prolonged.

Everywhere men were rolling on the ground, hitting at each other's
heads, until at last some blow went home and one of them threw out his
arms and lay still, either dead or senseless. Well, there I sat watching
all this shocking business from the saddle of my trained shooting pony,
which stood like a stone, till presently I became aware of two great
fellows rushing at me with their eyes starting out of their heads and
shouting as they came:

"Kill Umbelazi's white man! Kill! Kill!"

Then, seeing that the matter was urgent and that it was a question of my
life or theirs, I came into action.

In my hand I held a double-barrelled shotgun loaded with what we used
to call "loopers," or B.B. shot, of which but a few went to each charge,
for I had hoped to meet with a small buck on my way to camp. So, as
these soldiers came, I lifted the gun and fired, the right barrel at
one of them and the left barrel at the other, aiming in each case at the
centre of the small dancing shields, which from force of habit they held
stretched out to protect their throats and breasts. At that distance, of
course, the loopers sank through the soft hide of the shields and deep
into the bodies of those who carried them, so that both of them dropped
dead, the left-hand man being so close that he fell against my pony, his
uplifted kerry striking me upon the thigh and bruising me.

When I saw what I had done, and that my danger was over for the moment,
without waiting to reload I dug the spurs into my horse's sides and
galloped off to Nodwengu, passing between the groups of struggling men.
On arriving unharmed at the town, I went instantly to the royal huts and
demanded to see the King, who sent word that I was to be admitted.
On coming before him I told him exactly what had happened--that I had
killed two of Cetew