of Zulus."

"We have our spies out, and one is hidden in that tree on the hill
there, and if he saw danger he would signal to us at once. A man
reported yesterday afternoon that he heard a shot fired from near the
Tugela, but as no one else heard it we began to doubt his report. Still
we came on this way on the chance of its being true, and we camped last
night about a mile from here, and at daybreak crossed your spoor, and
followed it for some time, when a spy came in, and said he had seen a
man asleep under a tree, and thought he was a Zulu. You were lucky to
escape being assagied at once, before we found out our mistake."

"Ah!" said the Dutchman, "there's a signal. Matuan, come here. What
does Kangela mean?"

A Kaffir approached at this remark, and looking steadily towards a
Kaffir who was signalling from a hill on which the Dutchman had said a
spy was concealed, he at once replied--

"Zulus are coming. Not many; we can fight them."

The Kaffir's words were heard with delight by the assembled men, who
waited for the Dutchman's directions before acting in any way. "Select
three men," said the Dutchman, who answered to the name of Berg, "and
let them be good runners. They must draw the Zulus into an ambush.
Conceal the remainder, Matuan, hereabouts."

Berg having given these directions, and seen the three Kaffirs
despatched in the direction in which the Zulus were advancing, followed
the Kaffirs, who had run to some bushes, and were all concealed amongst
them.

"Next to cattle, these fellows will like to carry off the spears and
shields of their enemies," said Berg, "and we may please them. They are
disheartened at the defeat of their people. Our guns will ensure us a
victory, so we need not fear the results. We will wait here."

The Kaffirs on the hill had again disappeared, and a traveller who
passed this way, and could not read the spoor that was written on the
ground, would have fancied that no human being was within miles of him.
There were, however, half-a-dozen white men, and nearly a hundred
Kaffirs, crouching among the bushes, waiting to slay an enemy.

"I expect the Zulus who have hunted me are those who are now coming this
way," said Hans.

"How many are there?" inquired Berg.

"Upwards of twenty."

"Here they come!" exclaimed the Dutchman. "They are in haste to be
slain, for not a man will escape."

The three Kaffirs who had been sent on had soon discovered the Zulus,
but prete