ious to come again to close quarters.
They found, moreover, that throwing the assegai was not of much avail
on account of the large shields which the Zulus carried. Besides, the
Zulus made a practice of picking up the assegais falling near or
amongst them, and returning these, often with deadly effect, for, being
physically much stronger than the Balotsi, their effective range with
the assegai was correspondingly greater.

The Zulus stalked on in grim silence, the Balotsi shouting at them in
an unknown tongue. At this stage the Balotsi had no intention of
attacking.

They knew, what the Zulus did not know, that the Makalaka impi was
waiting just on the other side of the saddle. They, the Balotsi, would
just keep the Zulus in view, and then assist in their annihilation
after the Makalakas had tamed them somewhat. So the Balotsi gave way
consistently whenever the weary and footsore Zulus showed a disposition
to charge.

The Zulus had thus little save hunger to fear so long as they were in
the open country. They marched on, breaking into a trot whenever their
course led downhill, during the whole of the day on which their retreat
began. Each man still had a small supply of meat left, and portions of
this they ate raw as they proceeded. At dusk the foremost of the
Balotsi were some distance behind, and after marching for about two
hours longer the weary fugitives lay down and rested. Sentries, which
were relieved after very short watches, kept guard all night. Before
daylight next morning they again started, and the previous day's
average of speed was kept up until sundown, when they reached the
saddle. They had seen nothing of the Balotsi all day. In fact the
latter were a fair day's march behind.

Kondwana halted his men on the north-western side of the saddle, and
then went forward with another man for the purpose of reconnoitering.
When he looked down the valley, what he saw caused even his brave heart
to sink. About a mile from him was massed the advance division of the
Makalaka army, and as far as he could see beyond, the smoke was arising
from numberless fires.

Kondwana returned to his men, and then the situation was discussed. The
majority were in favour of making a dash down the valley and cutting a
road through their foes. But the young man Senzanga made a suggestion
which soon met with general approval.

All had seen that the Makalaka guides had not led them by a direct
route from the captured kraal to