hear what was talked about. I also found that none of
my companions ever said a word to me about the men at the Bay; so I
guessed that this was the order of the chief, and that I was not to know
what was being done about the white men. I watched carefully every
proceeding, however, of the chiefs of the different regiments; and I
soon found that preparations were being made for a great expedition
somewhere; and as there was no tribe with which we were at war, I felt
convinced that it must be the white men against whom this army was to be
sent.

From a few remarks I heard, I became certain that the white men at the
Bay were to be surprised and killed; and consequently determined to try
and warn them, and if possible make my escape at the same time. It
would be a great risk, and if discovered I should be assagied at once.
It was evident that there was a suspicion that I could not be trusted
when an attack on white men was intended; otherwise the subject would be
spoken of to me by some of the young chiefs. So I pretended to know
nothing about the proposed expedition, and went my journeys the same as
usual, and when asked for the news I usually said there was none. It
was always the habit of the Zulus, when I visited any place, to at once
say, "_Chela pela s'indaba_" ("Tell us the news"), and the news they
liked best was about proposed expeditions of the army against other
tribes. So, when I told them there was no news, they looked surprised;
for rumours had reached them that some expedition was preparing.

I discovered after a time that at the next full moon the expedition
would start. The army was to assemble near the Tugela river, and make a
rush on to Natal, slaughter the white men, and return as quickly as
possible to the Muse Umkulu or Great Kraal. Having gained this
information, I decided on my own plans. Whenever I was sent on a
message by the chief, I carried with me an assagy of a peculiar shape to
show that I was journeying on the business of the chief. Those who saw
this assagy were bound to give me every assistance, to supply me with
food, and obey my orders. So I was a great man when I carried the
assagy, and was never stopped or even delayed.

One evening, just before the full moon, I received the chiefs orders to
travel to the kraal of a chief named Inyoko Umkulu, who lived near the
Pongola river, and tell him to send some leopard-skins to the Great
Chief. Now the Pongola river was in the oppos