ls. As we came near them, they seemed
surprised, and did not know what to do. They soon let Peshauna loose,
and ran for their lives. We gained on them, and I threw away my gun,
that I might run quicker. They had a river to cross, which was deep;
they were wrong to try and get across; they ought to have fought on this
side. Before they had gone over half the water, we had assagied two of
them. They soon sank, and were eaten up by the alligators. The other
two got over. We all jumped into the water, and swam after them. One
of our young men, a very fast runner, went past me, and neared Boy; as
he did, he shouted to him not to run like a dog, but to stop and fight.
Boy took no notice until the man was close to him, when he suddenly
stopped, turned round, and threw an assagy, which went through our fast
runner, and killed him. It was Boy's last achievement, for I was on him
like a leopard, and my assagy going into his heart was pleasant music to
me. The other Kaffir was killed by Ama Sheman. We hid their bodies, as
we did not wish a war with their kraal. We all kept the story quiet,
and they did not for some time discover what had become of Boy and his
party. The hyaenas and vultures soon picked their bones."

I complimented Inkau on his bravery, and told him that I thought his
wife Peshauna was well worth the price he had paid, and the danger he
had incurred, for her possession; and when she came again into the
kraal, I looked upon her wild beauty with additional interest.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

A KAFFIR HUNT--A BATTUE--FIRE-MAKING--A LUNCH AL FRESCO--TROUBLESOME
INVADERS--FLIGHT OF LOCUSTS--CROWS OUTWITTED--ALLIGATOR SHOT--A LION
CHASE--STRENGTH OF THE LION--A SLIGHT MISTAKE--SNUFF-MANUFACTURING--A
PROPOSAL OF MARRIAGE--KAFFIR KINDLINESS.

One morning, Inkau told me that some large buck were in plenty not far
from his kraal, and he thought that, with my help, he and his people
might be able to have some very good sport. Being most anxious to
witness a grand battue amongst the Kaffirs, I urged him to get all the
men together who felt disposed for the expedition; and about a hundred
assembled, all armed with either spears or knob-kerries.

I determined to be an observer of the proceedings rather than an actor,
and not to shoot at anything unless I saw it must otherwise escape, and,
by thus leaving the Kaffirs entirely alone, to watch their particular
devices.

The country was open, and of that park-like,