very broad stockade, composed of dry thorn
boughs beaten together and interlaced. We made no attempt at
concealment, but advanced singing our great battle-song of victory or
death. Their Masipele gave orders to form in crescent formation, and to
charge forward to surround the kraal.

"_Whau_! that day! The Basutu did not run away when they spied our
approach. They were ready for us, and, clustering as thick as bees,
they fought behind their stockade with all the valour we could wish.
Roaring like lions, we sprang again to the charge, only to be met by
their ready spears and battle-axes on the other side of the stockade,
and before we could leap over and return stab for stab we were hurled
back blinded by great prickly boughs thrust into our faces. They were
nearly as numerous as ourselves, and fought as desperately. Twice we
were repulsed, and that, to us Zulus, represents more than half a
defeat. Our head _induna_ was killed, falling upon a heap of corpses,
the bodies of those he was leading. One horn of the _impi_ was wavering
on the verge of rout. Here was my chance; for I had formed a plan.

"`Follow me, soldiers of the King!' I cried. `I will find a road in!'

"Measuring the distance with my eyes, I ran and leaped. I could leap in
those days as well as run. My leap carried me clear over the stockade,
right into the thick of the swarming Basutu. But I was alone. None had
followed.

"Then I saw red. How I cut and slashed with the strong, broad--bladed
assegai in my hand! Grinning, furious faces hemmed me in; a bright
forest of blades struck and hacked at me from every side. I could feel
the burning sear of wounds, the stunning shock of knob-kerries on my
great war-shield. I could feel more--I could feel blood, that of my
enemies; I could feel the keen blade of my assegai shearing through
them, as they fell one upon another. Ah, the madness of it! The
ecstasy of it! What a glorious form of death was this! I, alone, beset
by foes--felling them around me like trees! I, alone, where none had
dared follow! Ha! surely no braver deed was ever done! The King would
be satisfied now! Dancing, leaping, thrusting, parrying, I hewed my way
through the encompassing crowd, further and further into the kraal,
further and further to death. But for death I cared nothing now, and I
laughed aloud. My furious war-shout was answered by my comrades
outside. Ah, but--they were still outside!

"Now my end w