er
he could do this upon his own responsibility, he said. Recovering their
own property was one thing, claiming an award out of the "eaten-up"
cattle seemed very much another. How many did Jandosi think would meet
his requirements?

Dawes replied that seventy-five head about represented a moderate
compensation. Sobuza, however, did not receive the proposal with
enthusiasm. Finally it was agreed that sixty head should be allowed, on
the express stipulation that no further claim should be made upon the
king or the Zulu nation either by the two white men or any of their
native followers. As for driving them, he, Sobuza, could not assist
them. He was responsible to the king for every man in the _impi_, and
could not upon his own responsibility send any of the king's subjects
out of the Zulu country. The difficulty, however, might be met by
pressing into the service two or three of the Igazipuza boys who were
young enough to have escaped the massacre of the fighting men and old
enough to understand cattle-driving. So, having obtained their share of
the spoil, Dawes and Gerard bade a cordial farewell to Sobuza and the
Zulu _impi_, and inspanned, and once more the crack, crack of the whips
and the shouts of the drivers, Sintoba and Fulani, resounded cheerily as
they started for home.

But the errand of the king's troops was not quite completed. The hollow
had been effectively scoured in search of fugitives hiding away, but
none such had been found. Save the few who had broken through, only in
order to make their last stand upon the summit of the Tooth, none had
thought of escape. All had fallen where they had stood, fighting
desperately to the last.

"Now will we put in the fire to this nest of wizards!" cried Sobuza
aloud.

Hardly had he given the signal, than smoke was seen rising from the
huts, gathering in dense volumes, and, lo, from four different points
simultaneously, bright flames broke forth, and as the whole huge kraal,
now one vast sheet of leaping, devouring fire, gave forth in
uninterrupted salvo its heavy crackling roar, there went up from the
ranks of the king's warriors, mustering in crescent formation to watch
the completion of their errand of retribution, the thunder of a fierce
war-song of victory and exultation.

"As lightning we smote them,
Where, where are they now?
The sons of the lightning,
The wizards of thunder?
Where, too, is their dwelling,
Their cattle,