that the
chief had forbidden any grazing within a certain radius of the kraal,
all their trek-oxen were driven away to a small outlying kraal in a
distant corner of the hollow. No obstruction was placed in the way of
them looking after the animals, counting them occasionally, and so
forth. But any attempt at inspanning was very promptly frustrated.

As with the chief, so with his followers. Taking their cue from him,
these had become more and more insolent, ruffianly, and bullying in
their demeanour. They would swagger around the waggons, hustle and
annoy Sintoba and the other native servants, pull things about, and
behave in general in such fashion as would almost put to the blush a
crowd of the worst kind of British yahoos. Once, indeed, yielding to an
uncontrollable impulse of exasperation, Gerard had given one of these
sportive young savages a sound thrashing. It was an imprudent not to
say a perilous thing to do. But again a bold attitude answered, and the
Igazipuza became a little more respectful.

Days had merged into weeks, and weeks had almost lengthened into months,
and still no chance of getting away. Taking Sintoba into complete
confidence the pair would, on such few occasions as they could find
themselves absolutely and entirely beyond the reach of prying eyes and
ears, discuss the situation earnestly and in all its bearings. The only
motive either Dawes or Sintoba could guess at was that an Anglo-Zulu war
was imminent, if it had not actually broken out. This would supply a
sufficient reason for their detention. Ingonyama was holding them as
hostages. In the event of hostilities with the British, his intention
was probably to carry them captive to the king's kraal. Or he might be
keeping them with the design of sacrificing them to the manes of such
members of his clan who might eventually be slain. This aspect of the
case was not a pleasant one.

Seldom indeed could they feel sure they were out of hearing of their
gaolers, out of sight never. The latter were ever around them, on one
pretext or another. If they so much as strolled down to a water-hole to
take a swim, a group of armed warriors was sure to start up at some
unexpected point, and hover around them until their return. If they
rode out to see how their stock was getting on, it was the same thing, a
band was sure to make-believe to be proceeding in the same direction,
and they had long since ascertained that the sole entrance to