rs,
began pulling the boat down the bay. Luckily the tide had not yet
turned, so the stream was with me. The boat was heavy, and I was not
accustomed to using the oars. So I had great difficulty in moving the
boat. I managed, however, to make it travel through the water. I could
not help being amused at seeing how calmly the Zulus watched me. They
made no attempts to stop me, because they knew that they could then do
nothing effectually, and that if they did attempt to do anything it
would merely excite my suspicions. I knew it would be of great
advantage for me to conceal my identity; for, if they knew that they had
to deal with one who had been trained in their own school of warfare,
they would take extra precautions, to prevent being taken at a
disadvantage. The narrow channel through which I had to make my way was
about half a mile from the river, and as I approached this I kept a
careful watch on the shore. In the boat were two pikes--very good
weapons for close quarters, but no use against an assagy; for the latter
can be thrown and will pass through a man at forty yards' distance. As
I approached the channel, I saw the bushes near the shore moving more
than they would do if the wind alone had acted on them; so I knew where
to expect the enemy. I then saw four Zulus slip quietly into the water;
and, keeping all but their heads under water, make their way to the
centre of the passage where the boat must pass. I went on with my
rowing until I was within an assagy's-throw of these men. I then pulled
three or four strokes rapidly, so as to give the boat considerable
speed; and, dropping the oars in the boat, crouched down and seized one
of the pikes. All was quiet with the Zulus: not a ripple in the water
showed their presence, whilst not a man was seen on the shore.
Suddenly, standing up, I found two of the Zulus within a yard of the
boat. With my pike I thrust at one of these, and drove the pike into
his throat; the other had just placed a hand on the bows of the boat,
and had partly raised himself out of the water. A second thrust, in
this man's chest, sent him back, and he sank--I fancy to rise no more,
as the blood gushed out of his wound as I withdrew the pike.

At the same instant two assagies flew close past my head, and I saw two
Zulus up to their middle in the water and preparing to cast other
assagies at me. Dropping into the bottom of the boat, so that only my
eyes were above the bulwarks,