h," remarked Crawford. "But suppose they offend him, how will
he act?"

"A few red coats and our colonial militia would soon keep him in order,
should he show any inclination to quarrel," said Denis.

The conversation was interrupted by a loud shout from Cetchwayo ordering
the army to advance, when they spread out as before, forming one vast
semi-circle, that is, the wings were in advance of the main body, so
that should an enemy be encountered, they might close in and surround
him. In this order they advanced until dark, when they halted, each man
carrying his provisions, so that there was no necessity for forming a
camp or lighting a fire, which would have shown their position to the
enemy. Our friends, who had also brought some food in their holsters,
lay down on the ground near Cetchwayo.

The night passed quietly, with only an occasional alarm from wild
beasts, who however speedily decamped on finding themselves in the
neighbourhood of so vast a concourse of people, and at early dawn the
army again advanced. In a short time much excitement was caused among
the ranks, for scouts came continually hurrying back with information
respecting the movements of the enemy.

A line of hills of no great elevation rose in front, extending north and
south for a considerable distance. These had to be surmounted, when
Cetchwayo told Hendricks that he expected to find Umbulazi's force on
the other side. Not a word was spoken along the whole line; for
although the warriors themselves could not have been heard by the main
body of the enemy, the scouts might have discovered their advance.

Cetchwayo now told Hendricks and his companions to dismount and lead on
their horses, keeping a short distance in the rear of the army.

The Zulu warriors advanced in the same order as before, as fast as the
nature of the ground would allow, concealing themselves as much as
possible, by taking advantage of the trees and bushes and tufts of tall
grass, so that a person standing on the summit of the hill, if he had
perceived them at all, would have had no conception of their numbers.
Whenever shelter was wanting, they stooped down, and very often crawled
along the ground like snakes amid the grass.

The two wings could now be seen creeping up the hillside. Shortly
afterwards the main body reached the bottom, and also began to ascend.
Occasionally a herd of deer or smaller game, driven out of their
coverts, started off, some making for th