ter, white
man, water.)
"Bring a pannikin of water, here lies a sick Kaffir," shouted Jan to
Ralph, who was still seated on the waggon-box staring at the mountain.
Ralph brought the water, and the soldier drank it greedily.
"Who are you, and how come you here?" asked Jan.
"I am a soldier of Dingaan," answered the man, "but when we were
attacking the little people on that mountain I fell sick. Still I came
away with the impi, but here my strength failed me, and here I have lain
for a round of the sun and a round of the moon. I begged them to kill
me, but my brothers would not, for they said that I might recover and
join them."
"Where have they gone?" asked Jan.
"They have gone to eat up the Boers in Natal," the Zulu answered in
a hollow voice, his empty eyes wandering towards the mountains of the
Quathlamba range. "Yes, they have gone to do the King's bidding on the
white men, for his word came to us while we besieged yonder stronghold.
To-morrow at the dawn they attack the little laager beneath the white
koppie by the banks of the Tugela, and I must reach them by then--yes,
yes, now I am strong again, and I shall attack with them to-morrow at
the dawn. Farewell, white men, I will not kill you because you gave me
the water which has made me strong again," and, rising from the ground,
he grasped his spear and started forward at a run.
"Stay," cried Ralph. "I would question you as to what has happened on
that mountain;" but the man did not seem to hear him. For thirty paces
or so he ran on, then suddenly he halted and saluted with his spear,
crying in a loud voice:
"Chief, I report myself, I am present."
Next he stretched his arms wide and fell forward upon his face. When
they reached him he was quite dead.
"This is a strange story that we have heard about the Zulus and the folk
in Natal," said Jan, rubbing his forehead.
"I think that the man was wandering in his mind," answered Ralph, "still
there may be truth in it; but, father," he added, with a gasp of
fear, and, catching Jan by the arm, "what has happened on the mountain
Umpondwana? The Zulus have been there, and--what has happened on the
mountain?"
Jan shook his head, but did not answer, for he knew too well what
happens where the Zulu impis pass.
Notwithstanding that Ralph was mad with impatience we halted the waggon
for a few minutes to take counsel, and in the end decided to send the
voorlooper back to the camp which we had left to wa
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