he
assegai from a child--I had no experience of the weapon. Moreover,
though I was quick and active, he must have been at least twice as
strong as I am. However, there was no help for it, so, setting my teeth,
I grasped the great spear, breathed a prayer, and waited.

The giant stood awhile looking at me, and, as he stood, Indaba-zimbi
walked across the ring behind me, muttering as he passed, "Keep cool,
Macumazahn, and wait for him. I will make it all right."

As I had not the slightest intention of commencing the fray, I thought
this good advice, though how Indaba-zimbi could "make it all right" I
failed to see.

Heavens! how long that half-minute seemed! It happened many years ago,
but the whole scene rises up before my eyes as I write. There behind us
was the blood-stained laager, and near it lay the piles of dead; round
us was rank upon rank of plumed savages, standing in silence to wait
the issue of the duel, and in the centre stood the grey-haired chief and
general, Sususa, in all his war finery, a cloak of leopard skin upon his
shoulders. At his feet lay the senseless form of little Tota, to my
left squatted Indaba-zimbi, nodding his white lock and muttering
something--probably spells; while in front was my giant antagonist, his
spear aloft and his plumes wavering in the gentle wind. Then over all,
over grassy slope, river, and koppie, over the waggons of the laager,
the piles of dead, the dense masses of the living, the swooning
child, over all shone the bright impartial sun, looking down like the
indifferent eye of Heaven upon the loveliness of nature and the cruelty
of man. Down by the river grew thorn-trees, and from them floated
the sweet scent of the mimosa flower, and came the sound of cooing
turtle-doves. I never smell the one or hear the other without the scene
flashing into my mind again, complete in its every detail.

Suddenly, without a sound, Bombyane shook his assegai and rushed
straight at me. I saw his huge form come; like a man in a dream, I saw
the broad spear flash on high; now he was on me! Then, prompted to it by
some providential impulse--or had the spells of Indaba-zimbi anything to
do with the matter?--I dropped to my knee, and quick as light stretched
out my spear. He drove at me: the blade passed over my head. I felt
a weight on my assegai; it was wrenched from my hand; his great limbs
knocked against me. I glanced round. Bombyane was staggering along with
head thrown back and outst