p to their regiments and if their wives fled to the English they
would be killed. Again, the king has sent for nearly all our cattle "to
keep them safe." He fears lest we Border Zulus might join our people in
Natal, and that is why he is keeping our cattle "safe."'

"'Life is more than cattle, Magepa. At least you might come.'

"'What! And leave my people to be killed? Macumazahn, you did not use
to talk so. Still, hearken. Macumazahn, will you do me a service? I will
pay you well for it. I would get my daughter Gita and my little grandson
Sinala into safety. If I and my wives are wiped out it does not matter,
for we are old. But her I would save, and the boy I would save, so
that one may live who will remember my name. Now if I were to send them
across the drift, say at the dawn, not to-morrow and not the next day,
but the day after, would you receive them into your wagon and deliver
them safe to some place in Natal? I have money hidden, fifty pieces of
gold, and you may take half of these and also half of the cattle if ever
I live to get them back out of the keeping of the king.'

"'Never mind about the money, and we will speak of the cattle
afterwards,' I said. 'I understand that you wish to send your daughter
and your little grandson out of danger; and I think you wise, very wise.
When once the advance begins, if there is an advance, who knows what may
happen? War is a rough game, Magepa. It is not the custom of you black
people to spare women and children; and there will be Zulus fighting on
our side as well as on yours; do you understand?'

"'_Ow!_ I understand, Macumazahn. I have known the face of war and seen
many a little one like my grandson Sinala assegaied upon his mother's
back.'

"'Very good. But if I do this for you, you must do something for me.
Say, Magepa, does Cetewayo _really_ mean to fight, and if so, how? Oh
yes, I know all you have been telling me, but I want not words but truth
from the heart?'

"'You ask secrets,' said the old fellow, peering about him into the
gathering gloom. 'Still, "a spear for a spear and a shield for a
shield," as our saying runs. I have spoken no lie. The king _does_ mean
to fight, not because he wants to, but because the regiments swear that
they will wash their assegais; they who have never seen blood since that
battle of the Tugela in which we two played a part, and if he will not
suffer it, well, there are more of his race! Also he means to fight
thus,' and he g