debeli--or Aba-ka-zulu, as these people termed us--that though they
were in swarming numbers, they fled from their kraals as our tiny _impi_
drew near, and took refuge among the hills. We laughed and shook our
spears at them in proud contempt, and taking whatever we wanted, passed
on our way, for we were only the eyes of the lion this time, not his
teeth and claws, wherefore we left them their lives and their cattle.

But this was not to last for ever. Day by day as we progressed the
country became fairer, swarming as it did with great herds of game--
elephant and buffalo and kudu--in the forest tracts, and vast quantities
of eland and spring-bok and other game upon the rolling treeless plains.
And the cattle which the people owned were round and fat; and the
people themselves, though not warriors, were rich and happy. We looked
at each other and laughed in our delight. Here was the country we would
occupy. Here was the fair land of plenty we had fled from Tshaka's
spears to gain. Here was the land wherein we would set up our new
nation, and these people already here should be our dogs--our slaves.

Thus we thought, thus we spake, although we were but a tiny handful
among tens of thousands. The cattle of these people covered the land--
fat and sleek. It was well. They should be ours. What a nation ours
should become!

So resolving, we continued our march, already the proud march of the
conqueror. It was evening, nigh to sundown. We had slaughtered oxen at
the last kraal we passed, and had seized women and boys to carry our
meat for us. We were ascending a long rise, intending to rest in the
valley beyond, where a river flowed, when, lo! the crest of the hill was
crowned with spears--bright spears--a forest of them moving and
extending in waves of light beneath the now sinking sun.

At the sight a deep gasp broke from every chest, and up went every man's
head with distended nostrils. We snuffed battle even as a hound snuffs
the warm scent of a buck. We gripped our shields and our weapons, and
we massed together, halting to see what the enemy would do next.

"_Haul_ They are surrounding us," muttered some of the warriors in their
deep voices--their eyes glaring like those of hyenas hungering for
blood. "Shall we fall upon them, _Induna_ of the King? Shall we fall
upon them?"

"Not so," I answered, leaning on my shield and calmly taking snuff,
though the wild expectation of battle and its delights cau