could do would be to hasten to their
assistance; what with my two rifles, a few Kaffirs to keep watch and so
forth, and my humble self to help with the shooting I might be of the
greatest service--possibly even turn the scale against their enemies.

If I were to decide to take this course instead of making for Bulawayo,
I should, of course, run the risk of encountering an _impi_ of natives
on the warpath, and I should then have my work cut out to come safely
through the danger. But, on the other hand, the journey to Bulawayo was
beset with equal risks, and Bulawayo was farther from this spot than the
farm.

Naturally, there was in reality only one course open to a
self-respecting man, and I decided at once that I would go to the
Gadsbys.

I thought it right, however, to explain the matter to my Kaffirs; for it
was clear to me that the news had greatly alarmed them, and some of them
might prefer to go southward out of the danger-zone.

Three of the five decided to take this course; two--much to their
credit--decided to stand by me; one was the driver of my ox-waggon; the
other my chief hunter, a man who called himself Dicky Brown, a far
better fellow than the Kaffir Billy who figured in the rhinoceros
adventure, and who did not then greatly distinguish himself.

So we three set our faces towards Gadsby's farm, and we had not
travelled five miles before trouble began.

We had stopped at the bank of a small river in order to search for a
ford, when, sitting on a rock, awaiting the return of the Kaffir I had
sent to prospect around, I heard a peculiar sound: a kind of rhythmical
tramp as of many feet working together, walking quickly or trotting,
accompanied by curious noises as of grunting, groaning, coughing, and so
on.

'Matabeles--an _impi_!' said the Kaffir Dicky, his dusky skin looking an
unwholesome ash-colour with terror.

Probably they had struck our trail and were in pursuit; it was a bad
business at the best!

Well, there was not much time for preparation--five or ten minutes,
perhaps, which we spent in fortifying ourselves as far as possible. That
is, we placed the waggon along the river-bank in order to protect
ourselves against an attack in the rear. We got the oxen tethered
behind the waggon, and so we awaited developments.

The impi was now in full view, the whole five hundred or so of warriors
trotting over the ground in step, going at a business-like
pace--something like seven or eight miles