e from the bay--certainly the most prudent thing to
do; but there was a surf on the bar at present, due to the south-east
wind that had been blowing for some days. And this surf rendered it
dangerous to attempt to get out of the bay.

The greater part of the night passed, and not a sign of the Zulus was
visible; but a short time before day break, and whilst it was still
dark, one of the look-out men came below and called us all to come on
deck, as there was a noise as of oars being used in a boat. We had made
our plans, so as not to indicate we were on guard when the boat came
alongside. So we all crouched under the bulwarks and thus concealed
ourselves. The stream of light in the water made by the boat was soon
visible, and very quickly it came along; the Zulus knew nothing about
rowing, but they managed the oars very well, and brought the boat close
to the schooner. They were dressed in white men's clothes, but had
their assagies and shields in the boat ready for use. I could not help
admiring the daring of these men, and their obedience to the orders of
their chief. They had killed several white men, and might have returned
with their clothes as proofs of their success; but their orders were to
kill _all_ the white men, and they were now endeavouring to carry out
these orders. But for our own safety we must kill them, and if possible
obtain possession of the boat. When the Zulus were alongside, one man
climbed on the shoulders of another, and thus reached to the bulwark,
and in an instant was on board. As he came on the deck he was struck
down, and the alarm at once spread. Instead of attempting to escape in
the boat, the other Zulus tried to get on board by the same means; and
each man was knocked down before he could use his assagies. As yet not
a shot had been fired, but now, as one man only remained in the boat, he
pushed off and would have escaped with the boat if we had allowed it, so
one of the settlers fired and shot him. The boat was now drifting away,
so I jumped over board, and swam towards it, and climbed in. On
entering the boat I found that both the oars had fallen overboard, and I
could not therefore row the boat; and as the tide was running out very
rapidly I was being carried towards the bar. Now, inside the bar sharks
were rarely if ever seen; but on the bar they were numerous, and I knew
the boat would be upset when it reached the breakers on the bar, and I
should have no chance, as t