saw and recognized me.

"Do you think the Zulus will attack us, Mr. Quatermain?" he said.

"I don't think so, Sir," I answered, "as it is the day of the new
moon which they hold unlucky. But to-morrow it may be
different."

Then he gave certain orders, dispatching Captain George Shepstone
with a body of mounted natives along the ridge to the left, where
presently they came in contact with the Zulus about three miles
away, and making other dispositions. A little later he moved out
to the front with a strong escort, followed by the rocket
battery, which ultimately advanced to a small conical hill on the
left front, round which it passed, never to return again.

Just before he started Colonel Durnford, seeing me still standing
there, asked me if I would like to accompany him, adding that as
I knew the Zulus so well I might be useful. I answered,
Certainly, and called to my head driver, a man named Jan, to
bring me my mare, the same that I had ridden out of Zululand,
while I slipped into the wagon and, in addition to the beltful
that I wore, filled all my available pockets with cartridges for
my double-barrelled Express rifle.

As I mounted I gave Jan certain directions about the wagon and
oxen, to which he listened, and then to my astonishment held out
his hand to me, saying--

"Good-bye, Baas. You have been a kind master to me and I thank
you."

"Why do you say that?" I asked.

"Because, Baas, all the Kaffirs declare that the great Zulu impi
will be on to us in an hour or two and eat up every man. I can't
tell how they know it, but so they swear."

"Nonsense," I answered, "it is the day of new moon when the Zulus
don't fight. Still if anything of the sort should happen, you
and the other boys had better slip away to Natal, since the
Government must pay for the wagons and oxen."

This I said half joking, but it was a lucky jest for Jan and the
rest of my servants, since they interpreted it in earnest and
with the exception of one of them who went back to get a gun, got
off before the Zulu horn closed round the camp, and crossed the
river in safety.

Next moment I was cantering away after Colonel Durnford, whom I
caught up about a quarter of a mile from the camp.

Now of course I did not see all of the terrible battle that
followed and can only tell of that part of it in which I had a
share. Colonel Durnford rode out about three and a half miles to
the left front, I really don't quite know why, for