e Zulus not many miles east of the Umganie
river, and had told the chief of this party that I was among the Umlass
Caffres. This chief concluded that if he could capture me, and take me
back to the Zulu king, he would be well rewarded. He also knew that
there were cattle in plenty belonging to these people, and so, by a
surprise, he hoped to capture me, and also carry off some cattle.

Their plans had been well arranged, for they had kept to the bush until
within a short distance of our kraal. They had then rushed on it, and
were upon us before we could prepare for them. Eondema and I were in
the same hut, and we both made for the doorway, to get out and see what
the noise was caused by. Eondema had scarcely moved a foot out of his
hut before he was knocked on the head with a knob-kerrie, and instantly
killed. Fearing the same fate, I did not follow him; but, seizing my
gun, fired a shot among the Zulus who were round the doorway. In an
instant they retreated, but I heard the call for "_umlilo_" ("fire"),
and I knew they were going to burn the hut down. Now a hut set on fire
from the outside would burn inwards, and roast any one who remained in
the hut; but if the fire were applied to one part of the inside, it
would, if properly kept down, burn outwards and make a hole through
which a man might escape. There was no time to lose. So I blew up the
embers of the fire, and lighted the grass on the inside of the hut
opposite the doorway, and by help of some milk which was in the
calabashes in the hut I prevented the fire from rushing all over the
hut. In the meantime, the Zulus had set fire to the hut near the
doorway, and I could hear the crackling of the flames above me. As soon
as the smoke was very thick I threw the milk on the fire I had lighted,
and pushing against this part, found I had made an opening large enough
to creep through. I wished much to take my gun with me, but this I knew
was impossible; and, besides, it would have been useless as a means of
preservation, for although I might have shot one or two Zulus, yet I
should have been assagied immediately after. My only chance of escape
was that of getting out of the hut without being seen, and being able to
move in the smoke without being recognised.

Having forced my way through the opening in the hut, I lay down outside
for an instant to look round; and, hearing all the Zulus near the door
on the opposite side of the hut to that from which I had