d till the buffalo was within a few yards of me; I then held my
heavy assagy by the wooden end, and sprang on one side so quickly that
the buffalo missed me; when swinging my assagy round, I struck the
animal on the hind leg just above the hock, and hamstrung it, so that it
could only move on three legs. Before it could turn and charge again,
the Caffres had closed round it, and had stabbed it in so many places
that it slowly sank to the ground, giving a loud moan as it did so.

I was greatly excited at this scene, and hurled my assagy at the animal,
burying it deep in its side; and then danced about and shouted with
delight as I saw it fall, the Caffres being equally pleased. From down
the ravine we now heard shouts from the men, who announced that the
other buffalo was down and dead. Two of the men whom the buffalo had
knocked down were much hurt, but they were helped home, and in a week
were quite well again; for these people recover very quickly from even
most dangerous wounds.

The buffaloes were quickly skinned and cut up, the meat being carried to
the kraal, where fires were lighted in every hut, and the flesh roasted,
and boiled in large earthen pots. The whole of the afternoon and
evening was passed in feasting, whilst songs with choruses were sung. I
was frequently mentioned as the young white chief, for my performance
was thought highly of, the fact of hamstringing the buffalo having
greatly contributed to the success of the affair, and my quickness in
escaping from the buffalo's charge being also a performance much
appreciated by the Caffres.

The opera-glasses which Inyati had brought with him caused the usual
astonishment when shown to the people at this kraal, and a chief there
offered to buy them for five cows, but Inyati was not willing to sell
them, as he said there was nothing like them in the country.

We returned home the next day, and I once more resumed the usual daily
routine at our kraal.

CHAPTER FIVE.

It was nearly twelve moons after our fight with the buffaloes, that some
strange Caffres came down to our village, and had several long
conversations with Inyati. I soon heard what these talks were about,
and I ascertained the following facts:--

Considerably to the north of our village, and about five days' journey
from us, there were some high mountains called the Quathlamba Mountains;
these mountains broke in spurs, and spread out like fingers of a hand
till they came down t