and destroy the white men there
located. The Zulus spread like locusts over the land, [A detailed
description of the slaughter of Retief and his party was given us by two
eye-witnesses, one a Kaffir, who subsequently deserted from Panda,
Dingaan's successor, and who was a warrior in Dingaan's service at the
time of the slaughter of Retief. This man stated that two Boers had
concealed their guns, and had time to use them, but not to reload; thus
evincing that some at least of the party suspected treachery. The other
account was from a Kaffir named Copen, who spoke English well, and who
was a boy at the time in Dingaan's kraal. Both accounts agreed in the
main facts.] and, as the emigrants were principally scattered about in
small parties, they fell easy victims to their numerous foes.

Some emigrants near the Blue Krantz river were killed to a man, and the
place was henceforth termed "Weenen" (Weeping). It was from this
neighbourhood that Victor, being fortunately at a short distance from
the detachment when the Zulus attacked it, escaped, and was able to ride
forward and warn his friends of their danger.

Contrary to expectation, the night arrived and passed with no signs of
the enemy; but scarcely had day begun to break than the spies came
galloping in, and announced that the Zulus were swarming over the hills,
and coming rapidly on to the lager. All was ready for their reception,
and before they came within three hundred yards several of their number
were laid low by the deadly weapons of the Boers.

Hans, with his two old companions Victor and Bernhard, had selected a
position near one of the angles of the square, this being the shape in
which the Dutchmen usually drew up their waggons.

As the solid mass of the Zulus charged up to the waggons, an irregular
discharge from the emigrants was poured upon them with fearful effect.
The three-pounder gun, loaded with bullets, sent its messengers of death
among them, and covered the ground with the slain. Even the
highly-trained Zulus could not face this deadly rain of lead, and they
turned and fled to a secure distance, where they were again drawn up in
order by their chiefs, and once more launched against their foes.

Their recent victories over the white men had caused them to underrate
their foes; and this, added to the dread of returning to their chief
without having carried out his orders of exterminating the white men,
gave them great determination in the