s meant to do that, though not yet. We are not going
to die this time, Baas. Those who have the Great Medicine don't die; it
is the others who die, like that fellow," and he pointed to an Amahagger
who went reeling round and round with a bullet from his Winchester
through the middle, for he had fired in the midst of his remarks.

"Curse--I mean bless--the Great Medicine," I said as I lifted my rifle
to my shoulder.

At that moment all those Amahagger--there were about sixty of them
left--became seized with a certain perturbation. They stood still, they
stared towards the fold of ground out of which they had emerged; they
called to each other words which I did not catch, and then--they turned
to run.

Umslopogaas saw, and with a leader's instinct, acted. Springing over the
parapet, followed by his remaining Zulus of the Axe, he leapt upon them
with a roar. Down they went before _Inkosikaas_, like corn before a
sickle. The thing was marvellous to see, it was like the charge of a
leopard, so swift was the rush and so lightning-like were the strokes or
rather the pecks of that flashing axe, for now he was tapping at their
heads or spines with the gouge-like point upon its back. Nor were these
the only victims, for those brave followers of his also did their part.
In a minute all who remained upon their feet of the Amahagger were in
full flight, vanishing this way and that among the trees. Hans fired
a parting shot after the last of them, then sat down upon a stone and
finding his corn-cob pipe, proceeded to fill it.

"The Great Medicine, Baas," he began sententiously, "or perhaps
your reverend father, the Predikant----" Here he paused and pointed
doubtfully with the bowl of the pipe towards the fold in the ground,
adding, "Here it is, but I think it must be your reverend father, not
the Great Medicine, yes, the Predikant himself, returned from Heaven,
the Place of Fires!"

Looking vaguely in the direction indicated, for I could not conceive
what he meant and thought that the excitement must have made him mad, I
perceived a venerable old man with a long white beard and clothed in a
flowing garment, also white, who reminded me of Father Christmas at a
child's party, walking towards us and radiating benignancy. Also behind
him I perceived a whole forest of spear points emerging from the gully.
He seemed to take it for granted that we should not shoot at him, for he
came on quite unconcerned, carefully picking his way amon