ll sides of the square at once, they concentrated their efforts on the
western front, that which faced towards the plain below.

On they came, and among them in the forefront of the battle, now and
again I caught sight of a gigantic man, a huge creature who seemed to me
to be seven feet high and big in proportion. I could not see him clearly
because of the uncertain moonlight, but I noted his fierce aspect, also
that he had an enormous beard, black streaked with grey, that flowed
down to his middle, and that his hair hung in masses upon his shoulders.

"Rezu himself!" I shouted to Umslopogaas.

"Aye, Macumazahn, Rezu himself without doubt, and I rejoice to see him
for he will be a worthy foe to fight. Look! he carries an axe as I do.
Now I must save my strength for when we come face to face I shall need
it all."

I thought that I would spare Umslopogaas this exertion and watched my
opportunity to put a bullet through this giant. But I could never get
one. Once when I had covered him an Amahagger rushed in front of my gun
so that I could not shoot, and when a second chance came a little cloud
floated over the face of the moon and made him invisible. After that I
had other things to which to attend, since, as I expected would happen,
the western face of our square gave, and yelling like devils, the enemy
began to pour in through the gap.

A cold thrill went through me for I saw that the game was up. To re-form
these undisciplined Amahagger was impossible; nothing was to be expected
except panic, rout and slaughter. I cursed my folly for ever having had
anything to do with the business, while Hans screamed to me in a thin
voice that the only chance was for us three and the Zulu to bolt and
hide in the bush.

I did not answer him because, apart from any nasty pride, the thing was
impossible, for how could we get through those struggling masses of men
which surrounded us on every side? No, my clock had struck, so I went on
making a kind of mental sandwich of prayers and curses; prayers for
my soul and forgiveness for my sins, and curses on the Amahagger and
everything to do with them, especially Zikali and the woman called
Ayesha, who, between them, had led me into this affair.

"Perhaps the Great Medicine of Zikali," piped Hans again as he fired a
rifle at the advancing foe.

"Hang the Great Medicine," I shouted back, "and Ayesha with it. No
wonder she declined to take a hand in this business."

As I spoke the wor