elani, and many others who loved not the House which had
deposed the tribe of Umtetwa, the royal House of Dingiswayo, which was
our own. Then Tshaka grew jealous, as he ever did when he saw one of
his chiefs increase in power and influence. He sent Umzilikazi upon war
expeditions, in the hope of procuring his death, and when this failed,
and our chief returned covered with greater glory than ever, the King
tried another plan. He declared we had hidden the best of the spoil,
had sent the best of the cattle and captives away into the mountains,
and an _impi_ was ordered out, to take us unawares and destroy us.

"But not thus were we to be taken. Such a move had been expected, and
for some time previously Umzilikazi had been sending men to explore the
passes of the mountains--the great Kwahlamba range--which shut us in
behind as with great rocky walls; hither, too, our cattle and women were
sent. The while our chief had been talking to the heads of the
different clans which made up his following, and his talking had fallen
upon ready ears. There were fair lands away beyond the mountains--lands
of waving grass and flowing streams and countless herds of game, lands
where dwelt tribes whose only destiny was to serve the all-powerful
Amazulu. They had only to cross the mountains and conquer those lands.

"The old men took snuff and listened, and saw that the words were wise.
To remain was certain death; to fly would mean possible safety and
wealth. The young men listened and gripped their weapons. The prospect
of conquering out a new kingdom, of the enemies we should meet and
slay--this it was that fired our blood. Besides, we would have gone
through flame at the bidding of our chief, who had led us so often to
victory. Moreover, it was darkly whispered that the iron yoke of
Tshaka, in the matter of earlier marriage being permitted, and
such-like, would be relaxed. So day by day, in batches, our women and
cattle were moved higher and higher up the mountain-passes, preparing
for flight; and we lay under arms, and ready to give our destroyers a
great deal of trouble when they should arrive. And in order that we
should be found thoroughly prepared, some of us younger men, fleet of
foot and strong of vision, were posted upon the lower heights of the
Kwahlamba, whence we could see for an enormous distance. At last the
day came.

"The sun had just risen, and was flooding the land with gold. It was a
clear morning, a