he foe, whom as yet none
had seen excepting myself. From all sides now, people were pouring--men
mostly--armed men in groups and bands streaming over the plain, all
converging on the great kraal, and among these, a compact cloud, huge
and dark, marched the splendid regiment of The Scorpions, nearly two
thousand strong, young men mostly, and strangers to fear, of which I was
the chief commander. On they came, singing the war-song of Umzilikazi,
and, filing into Kwa'zingwenya, took up a position in a huge half-circle
within the great central space. These, occupying as they did a military
kraal of their own, were already fully armed, but others from without
were not, and as the latter swarmed in a rush was made upon the places
where the shields were kept. But a strong guard had been placed over
this, and soon the distribution was finished, and the shield-houses were
nearly emptied. Then all were doctored for war and proceeded to the
great plain outside to dance the war-dance.

The while, _Nkose_, I had my hands very full, for in the absence of
Kalipe I was the general in command, and, indeed, so great was my pride
in that position that I would rather risk disaster and defeat than be
once more put down to second again. But almost every moment my runners
were coming and going, yet not noisily and with fuss, but as though seen
by hardly any among us. So far everything had gone well. Mgwali and
his scouts had surprised and slain Mhlangana's outposts, so that none
had escaped, and had dragged the bodies far down the mountain on our
side, lest the vultures gathering in clouds should be visible to the
enemy and convey a warning. Of our men two had been killed and several
wounded, nor did this astonish me. No further move had been made by the
foe, who still lurked behind the forest belts of the flat country beyond
Inkume, little dreaming of the reception we were preparing for him.

Now, as I looked round upon the muster, I felt pride and joy in the host
I was to lead forth. The war spirit gleamed in every eye, and in the
restless twitching of the limbs of the warriors was a fiery impatience
to behold the enemy. None was a stranger to it. Even Ngubazana the
Gaza, coming out from helping the white _isanusi_ to perform his rites,
looked wistfully at the mustered legions, and upon his face came a
warrior light there was no mistaking.

"How now, son of a kindred race?" I said, for I was passing him at the
time. "I thin