e for us to
get into the boat.

I hoped that when the captain knew that all my caution had not been
without cause, he would get into the boat as rapidly as possible, and we
might then easily have pulled beyond the range of an assagy, for no man
can throw an assagy well when he is among the bushes. The captain,
however, instead of following my advice, shouted "Hurrah, we'll wallop
'em!" and before I could stop him, he had called to his men and had
rushed into the bush where the Zulus had been watching us. It was
useless to follow him. I called out to warn him that he was going to
destruction, but he made no reply; and I at once ran to the boat and
pushed off in it, so as to keep a short distance from the shore, and
there waited to see what should occur. I soon heard the report of
pistols and some loud shouting from the sailors, but not a sound came
from the Zulus, who when in the bush like to keep their position secret.
Soon, however, the shouts ceased, and I heard a groan, then another,
and soon all was quiet. I knew too well what had occurred: the captain
and his men might possibly have shot two or three Zulus; but then, when
their pistols were unloaded, the Zulus had closed with them and had
assagied them. I pushed the boat a little farther from the shore, and
waited on the chance of some one of the party having escaped, and of
this one reaching the shore; but in a very short time I saw four Zulus
come to the mouth of the river and beckon to me. They made signs for me
to come on shore, and pointed into the bush behind. I at once knew
that, in my sailor clothes, they did not recognise me; so I called out
in English, "What do you want?"

"He cannot speak Zulu," said one of the men. "We must get the boat, and
then we may get on board the ship in the night."

I then heard them arrange a plan: which was that six of their men were
to run down in the bush to where the channel was very narrow, through
which channel I must pass. They could then, by swimming, get before the
boat and hold on to it; and either get into it, or drag it on shore. A
sailor, such as they supposed I was, they did not seem to think able to
do them much damage. The Zulus sat down on the shore and took snuff
from their small snuff-gourds, and no one unacquainted with the cool
proceedings of these men, would have imagined that they had just been
engaged in a deadly combat.

I spoke to them a few words in English; and then, taking out the oa