back to the King!' called out a great voice behind.
And starting round to deal with this new enemy, lo! we were surrounded
by our own people, hemmed in by spear-points as by a thorn fence, each
blade ready to enter our hearts. Our doom had overtaken us at last.

"`Drop thy weapons or die, son of Ntelani,' said the leader of the
_impi_. `The "word" of the Great Great One was "dead or alive"; if not
alive, then dead.'

"I glanced swiftly at the force surrounding us. It numbered about fifty
men, all young, strong, determined warriors like myself. To resist
would be to die. I looked at the leader, who was well known to me, and
friendly. Then I said:

"`I will disarm, Ngubu. But first let me aid you in stamping out yon
race of evil-doers. Then I will offer no resistance. This will be my
last battle.'

"`The King's orders did not say that, Untuswa. Nothing was in them
about fighting,' answered Ngubu; yet there was a longing look in his
face as he glanced at the Baputi who had clustered on the ridge and were
watching us, uncertain whether to stand or to fly.

"`And the girl?' he said, looking at Nangeza. `I will answer for her.
You know my word stands, Ngubu, and not to save my own life will I
sacrifice yours and those of all here to the wrath of the King. Come!
Tarry no longer!'

"`I will trust you, Untuswa. _Whou_! but it will be a strange battle
for you, and I fear it will indeed be thy last, for I think no man ever
yet took away an inmate of the _Isigodhlo_ and lived.'

"`This cannot be!' cried another, running up. `The King's orders were
to bring back these two. How, then, can you loosen them, perhaps to
flee again, Ngubu?'

"`Peace, Njalo-njalo! I know Untuswa. Now--at them!'

"While we charged up the hill I made up my mind as to one thing, which
was, that if this was to be my last battle, so also should it be
Njalo-njalo's last. But the Baputi did not wait for us; they scattered
and fled among the rocks, and although we spent half the day hunting
them out and slaying all whom we found, the greater portion of them
escaped; which enraged me, whom they had treacherously tried to kill
when a guest at their fires. In the eagerness of the pursuit I had
distanced my own people, when I heard Njalo-njalo's voice crying: `After
him! He is trying to escape!' I turned at this and ran straight back
to where he stood amid a group of others.

"`Trying to escape, is he?' I roared. `Now, Njalo-njalo, c