had several caves and fortified strongholds which would require a
large force and some hard fighting to overcome. But the insult offered
to our King and nation was so great that, at all hazards, this pestilent
tribe must be stamped off the face of the earth. A damp mist lay upon
the land, and as we paraded before the King, we could not see more than
a few spear-lengths along the ranks. The roar of the _Bayete_ went up
from every throat, and, wheeling, we marched down the great kraal, and
filed out through the lower gate.

"Outside the kraal gates a company of girls had gathered, singing a
martial song to encourage us to deeds of daring. They were divided into
two ranks, and as we passed between, I caught the eye of Nangeza
standing among the crowd, and it seemed as though she were singing to me
alone. And as I looked, I saw that another was feasting his glance upon
her, and that one was Gungana, the _induna_ in command of the
expedition. He was gazing upon her approvingly, and also with an air as
though she were already his. The look seemed to say, `When I return,
thy father shall be satisfied, Nangeza. He shall have the _lobola_ he
has named.' This was what the look seemed to say, _Nkose_, and that as
plain as words; and reading it thus, I said to myself as I gripped my
weapons: `Ha, Gungana! not yet! A powerful _induna_ has no more lives
than an ordinary warrior, and the life of this one is between two
deaths--that dealt out by the King's enemies, and that by the King's
soldier whose bravery thou hast stolen, and whose bride thou wouldst
fain steal also. Be careful, Gungana, be careful!' Thus, with the fire
of vengeance in my heart, I marched forth with the _impi_, and
re-echoing in full chorus the fierce notes of the battle-song which the
girls had led, we left Ekupumuleni far behind us, taking our way on and
on into the enshrouding mist.

"All that day we marched, keeping as much as possible in bushy ravines
and low-lying ground, the while throwing out scouts some distance on
either side to cut off wandering Baputi who might convey tidings of our
arrival to their people. Then at evening we saw the rugged and towering
mountain-range against the sky in front. We halted awhile for a brief
rest, then pushed on the night through, albeit we would have preferred
more darkness to conceal our advance, for the moon was bright and nearly
at half.

"Even in all our pride of war we felt some stirring of misgiving