n the drift would suspect something
and talk. On the other hand he would earn much credit with his majesty
by revealing the plot, saying that he had learned it from the lips of
the white hunter, whom Umgona and Nahoon had forced to participate
in it, and of whose coveted rifle he must trust to chance to possess
himself.

*****

An hour later two discreet messengers were bounding across the plains,
bearing words from the Chief Maputa, the Warden of the Border, to the
"great Black Elephant" at Ulundi.

CHAPTER V

THE DOOM POOL

Fortune showed itself strangely favourable to the plans of Nahoon and
Nanea. One of the Zulu captain's perplexities was as to how he should
lull the suspicions and evade the vigilance of his own companions, who
together with himself had been detailed by the king to assist Hadden in
his hunting and to guard against his escape. As it chanced, however, on
the day after the incident of the visit of Maputa, a messenger arrived
from no less a person than the great military Induna, Tvingwayo ka
Marolo, who afterwards commanded the Zulu army at Isandhlwana, ordering
these men to return to their regiment, the Umcityu Corps, which was to
be placed upon full war footing. Accordingly Nahoon sent them, saying
that he himself would follow with Black Heart in the course of a few
days, as at present the white man was not sufficiently recovered from
his hurts to allow of his travelling fast and far. So the soldiers went,
doubting nothing.

Then Umgona gave it out that in obedience to the command of the king he
was about to start for Ulundi, taking with him his daughter Nanea to
be delivered over into the _Sigodhla_, and also those fifteen head
of cattle that had been _lobola'd_ by Nahoon in consideration of his
forthcoming marriage, whereof he had been fined by Cetywayo. Under
pretence that they required a change of veldt, the rest of his cattle
he sent away in charge of a Basuto herd who knew nothing of their plans,
telling him to keep them by the Crocodile Drift, as there the grass was
good and sweet.

All preparations being completed, on the third day the party started,
heading straight for Ulundi. After they had travelled some miles,
however, they left the road and turning sharp to the right, passed
unobserved of any through a great stretch of uninhabited bush. Their
path now lay not far from the Pool of Doom, which, indeed, was close to
Umgona's kraal, and the forest that was called Home of the D