or perhaps manners, but taking them as a class they are
certainly heroic folks, who endure many things for small reward, as we
reckon reward. In nothing perhaps do they show their heroism and faith
more greatly than in their persistent habit of conveying women and young
children into the most impossible places of the earth, there to suffer
many things, not exclusive, occasionally, of martyrdom. At least the
Protestant section of their calling does this; the Roman Catholics are
wiser. In renouncing marriage these save themselves from many agonies,
and having only their own lives and health at stake, are perhaps better
fitted to face rough work in rough places.

Even Thomas Bull, not a particularly sensitive person, was tempted more
than once to arrive at similar conclusions during his period of service
in Sisa-land, although neither he nor his wife or child was called upon
to face the awful extremities that have confronted others of his cloth;
for instance, another Thomas, one Owen, who was a missionary in Zululand
at the time when Dingaan, the King, massacred Retief and his Boers
beneath his eyes.

On the following morning Thomas crept out from beneath his wagon, not
refreshed, it is true, but filled with a renewed and even more fiery
zeal. During those damp hours of unrest he had reflected much and
brought the whole position into perspective, a clear if a narrow
perspective. The Chief with whom he had to deal evidently was a fool, if
not an imbecile, and the Christians who remained after a generation of
teaching were for the most part poor creatures, the weak-kneed amongst
this mixed-blood tribe, probably those of the milder Basuto origin.

Such strength as remained in the people, who were, after all, but a
dwindling handful marooned in a distant spot, was to be found among
those of the old Zulu stock. They were descendants of the men sent
by the Kings Chaka and Dingaan to keep an eye upon the humble Basuto
slaves, whose duty it was to herd the royal cattle, the men, too, to
whom was entrusted the proud but hateful business of carrying out
the execution of persons that, for one reason or another, it was not
desirable to kill at home.

The individuals detailed for these duties were for the most part of high
blood, inconvenient persons, perhaps, whom it was desired to move to
a distance. Thus, as Thomas Bull soon learned, Menzi was said to be
no less a man than the grandson of the King Dingaan himself, one whose
fat