meone appeared, and turned out to be none
other than Hernan Pereira.

He advanced towards us attended by Zulus, as though he were a chief,
looking fat and well and handsomer than ever. Seeing Retief, he lifted
his hat with a flourish and held out his hand, which, I noted, the
commandant did not take.

"So you are still here, Mynheer Pereira!" he said coldly. "Now be good
enough to tell me, what is this matter about the abandoning of our
arms?"

"The king charges me to say--" began Hernan.

"Charges you to say, Mynheer Pereira! Are you then this black man's
servant? But continue."

"That none must come into his private enclosure armed."

"Well, then, mynheer, be pleased to go tell this king that we do not
wish to come to his private enclosure. I have brought the cattle that he
desired me to fetch, and I am willing to deliver them to him wherever he
wishes, but we will not unarm in order to do so."

Now there was talk, and messengers were despatched, who returned at full
speed presently to say that Dingaan would receive the Boers in the great
dancing place in the midst of the kraal, and that they might bring their
guns, as he wished to see how they fired them.

So we rode in, making as fine a show as we could, to find that the
dancing place, which measured a good many acres in extent, was lined
round with thousands of plumed but unarmed warriors arranged in
regiments.

"You see," I heard Pereira say to Retief, "these have no spears."

"No," answered the commandant, "but they have sticks, which when they
are a hundred to one would serve as well."

Meanwhile the vast mob of cattle were being driven in a double stream
past a knot of men at the head of the space, and then away through gates
behind. When the beasts had all gone we approached these men, among whom
I recognised the fat form of Dingaan draped in a bead mantle. We ranged
ourselves in a semicircle before him, and stood while he searched us
with his sharp eyes. Presently he saw me, and sent a councillor to say
that I must come and interpret for him.

So, dismounting, I went with Retief, Thomas Halstead, and a few of the
leading Boers.

"Sakubona [Good day], Macumazahn," said Dingaan. "I am glad that you
have come, as I know that you will speak my words truly, being one of
the People of George whom I love, for Tho-maas here I do not trust,
although he is also a Son of George."

I told Retief what he said.

"Oh!" he exclaimed with a grunt, "it seem