ms of the Umpondwana grew weary with
stabbing at them as their plumed heads appeared above the level of the
wall. Still, fighting under the eye of Sihamba, whose bitter tongue
they feared, her people held their own, for indeed the place was almost
impregnable to the attacks of men armed only with spears however brave
they might be, and had it been defended by warriors of true Zulu blood
it could never have been taken.

When the fight had raged for an hour or more the Zulu captains withdrew
their men, and went apart to consult with Van Vooren, for their loss was
heavy, and they saw that if they were to capture the head waters of the
river they must seek some other plan. Very soon they found it. The river
issued from the side of the mountain not as a little stream but as a
broad fierce water. So deep and rapid was it that the triple line of
defence works of the Umpondwana were built only to its edge, for the
water ran through a rocky gorge, although thorn trees fastened by their
trunks were thrust out for ten or twelve feet over the banks of the
gorge from either side of the stream. Now, in the centre of this river,
which may have been thirty paces wide, was a long ridge or saddle of
rock over which the water boiled furiously, although here it was not
more than three feet deep. This ridge began at a point within the last
line of walls and ran down to some five-and-twenty paces below the first
wall. Swart Piet had noted the ridge.

"There is a saddle on which you may ride to victory," he said.

"How so, Bull-Head?" asked the captain.

"Thus. Yonder stand trees with tall stems and green tops; cut them down
and make a bridge from the bank to the saddle; then wade up the saddle
where the water is not more than waist deep, till you are past the third
wall and reach the bank inside it as best you can."

Now although he was a brave man, as were all the Zulus in those days,
the captain looked long and doubtfully at the white water which foamed
upon the ridge.

"There is death in that water," he said.

"Death for some and victory for others," answered Van Vooren, "but if
you fear it, go back to Dingaan and tell him so, for in no other way can
this mountain be taken, seeing that it is impregnable, and that thirst
alone can conquer it."

"I fear nothing, white man," answered the Zulu, "but if you are so
brave, why, show us black people the way along yonder ridge!"

Piet shrugged his shoulders. "I wish to keep alive for rea