hern heights
will be gorged. It is good that you have fallen in with us, Jeriji, you
who are familiar with the place. We will strike them at dawn to-morrow,
and Jandosi shall be brought out alive. See--the sun is nearly down.
Then we will march."

"I am very hungry, Sobuza," said Gerard.

The chief started. Zulus on a war expedition seldom eat more than once
a day, and that in the morning. Then he laughed, and gave orders
accordingly.

"It is war rations," he said, as some dried meat and mealies stamped to
a kind of flaky paste were produced.

The first was rather "high," but Gerard was, as he had said, very
hungry, and fell to, untroubled by overmuch fastidiousness. While thus
engaged he heard a voice say in a jaunty, bantering tone--

"_Saku bona, 'mlungu_! Surely we have met before."

The group of chiefs had temporarily left him, to supervise the few
simple preparations for their march. Looking up he saw a young Zulu,
unringed, who stood there, laughing all over his face. The features
were familiar, but Gerard, who had seen so many natives of late, could
not quite locate them.

"Have you any more guns to sell, _Umlungu_?" said the young fellow,
roguishly.

And then Gerard knew him in a moment.

"Nkumbi-ka-zulu," he said, holding out his hand to show that he bore no
ill-will from their previous very decided misunderstanding. "Why, how
is it that you are here?"

"_Ha_!" said the other, with a laugh, "I am in the Ngobamakosi regiment.
I am going to help `eat up' the Igazipuza."

"Well, Nkumbi, you wanted that double gun badly. Listen to me now.
Jandosi is in the midst of those Igazipuza, and when we attack them they
may rush upon him and kill him. If you are the first to reach his side
that double gun shall be yours. I promise it."

"What if the gun is broken in the battle?"

"Then you shall have as good a one. Only collect some of your
companions, and manage to get near Jandosi when we attack, and that gun
shall be yours."

"You are a straight man, _Umlungu_, and I believe your word. I will try
and win the gun." And then a short and sharp mandate from his superiors
interrupting him, the young warrior turned away abruptly to fall into
his place in the ranks.

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Note 1. "The Lion" was one of the titles of the Zulu kings.

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Note 2. "Izulu