her side of which is the
kraal of Wambe; that shall be some three days' journey in all.[*] Then
on the night of the third day's journey, let Maiwa lead the impi
in silence up the secret path, so that it comes to the crest of the
mountain that is above the strong place, and here let it hide among the
rocks.

[*] About one hundred and twenty miles.--Editor.

"'Meanwhile on the sixth day from now let one of thy Indunas, Nala,
bring with him two hundred men that have guns, and lead me and my men
as prisoners, and take also a girl from among the Butiana people, who
by form and face is like unto Maiwa, and bind her hands, and pass by
the road on which we came and through the cutting in the cliff on to the
kraal of Wambe. But the men shall take no shields or plumes with them,
only their guns and one short spear, and when they meet the people of
Wambe they shall say that they come to give up the woman and the white
man and his party to Wambe, and to make atonement to Wambe. So shall
they pass in peace. And travelling thus, on the evening of the seventh
day we shall come to the gates of the place of Wambe, and nigh the gates
there is, so says Maiwa, a koppie very strong and full of rocks and
caves, but having no soldiers on it except in time of war, or at the
worst but a few such as can easily be overpowered.

"'This being done, at the dawn of day the impi on the mountain behind
the town must light a fire and put wet grass on it, so that the smoke
goes up. Then at the sight of the smoke we in the koppie will begin to
shoot into the town of Wambe, and all the soldiers will run to kill us.
But we will hold our own, and while we fight the impi shall charge down
the mountain side and climb the schanses, and put those who defend them
to the assegai, and then falling upon the town shall surprise it, and
drive the soldiers of Wambe as a wind blows the dead husks of corn. This
is my plan. I have spoken.'

"'_Ou!_' said Nala, 'it is good, it is very good. The white man is
cleverer than a jackal. Yes, so shall it be; and may the snake of the
Butiana people stand up upon its tail and prosper the war, for so shall
we be rid of Wambe and the tyrannies of Wambe.'

"After that the girl Maiwa stood up, and once more producing the
dreadful little dried hand, made her father and several of his head
councillors swear by it and upon it that they would carry out the war of
vengeance to the bitter end. It was a very curious sight to see. An