ible prowess of the Zulus, and how none could stand before their
onslaught.

"Yes, of that impi there is an end," answered Sihamba proudly, "if these
children of mine will but take heart and fight as their fathers fought.
Fear not, Lady Swallow, nothing that has not wings can storm the
mountain of Umpondwana."

But for all that she could say Suzanne still felt much afraid, which was
not strange, for she knew that the heart was out of these soldiers
of Sihamba, and knew, moreover, that a Zulu army did not dare to be
defeated, for which reason it must either take the mountain or fight
till it was destroyed.

Now all was confusion; the horns blew and women wailed, while the
captains of the Umpondwana issued their commands, and the men piled up
stones upon the brink of the precipice to roll down upon the foe, and
drove the herds of cattle into the great kraal upon the tableland.

Marching quickly, the impi drew near and the defenders could see that
it numbered about four thousand spears and was composed of two separate
regiments. At a distance of a mile it halted and throwing out horns or
wings surrounded the mountain, up the slopes of which it advanced in a
thin circle, much as beaters do who are driving game to a certain point.
As the circle drew nearer to the cliffs, it thickened, having less
ground to cover, though still there was a gap here and there.

Presently those who were watching saw a man dart through one of these
gaps and run up hill at great speed, followed by Zulu soldiers, who
tried to kill him. But he was the swifter of foot, moreover he knew the
path, so that before they could come up with him he reached the great
stone walls which were built about the source of the river, and was
dragged over them by the defenders.

A while later this man appeared upon the top of the mountain and proved
to be none other than Zinti, who had returned from his errand, and,
having news to tell, risked his life to pass through the impi before
the stronghold was altogether surrounded. Sihamba received him at once,
Suzanne standing at her side, and bade him be brief for she had little
time to listen to long stories.

"I will be brief," Zinti answered. "Lady, as you bade me I crossed the
mountains by the road of which you told me. It is a good road for men on
foot or horseback, but waggons could not travel it. Having reached
the plain on the further side I followed the bank of the river, till
suddenly I came in sight of t