seat only with great
difficulty. But, wounded though it was, the horse was going swift as
the wind. Although the most fleet-footed of our warriors were streaming
in pursuit, he was leaving them farther and farther behind.

"Hurry now, Untuswa," said the King. "Push on thine own men, and send
word to Kalipe, to form up the whole body of the army. Run not, so as
not to arrive breathless, yet march as rapidly as possible, and strike
yon evil-doers while yet surprise is in their midst. Strike them hard,
and spare none; for these Amabuna are as a devastating plague of locusts
in whatsoever land they appear. Go!"

I saluted hurriedly and already was speeding down the hillside. The
warriors had formed into rank, awaiting the commands of the Great Great
ONE. Quickly making known the word to Kalipe, we started, eager to pour
forth the blood of this accursed people, before whom other nations go
down, like trees before the storm, never to rise again.

We were not long in coming upon the wagons of the strangers--not far
behind the man who had escaped--for, as we drew near, we could see them
bringing their wagons together, so as to form a square enclosure. But
most of their cattle were still outside. We could see them, too, as
they moved hither and thither--large men most of them, with hairy faces,
and clad in the tanned skins of animals; indeed, their wide leather
breeches made a swishing sound as they walked. We could make out their
women, too, helping to fortify the camp, as hard as the fighting men;
and many a grunt and smothered burst of laughter went up from our young
warriors at the sight of those, for their women looked even as sacks,
and yet more devoid of shape, and their faces, looking out from great
bonnets were ugly. Yet they worked hard, pushing at the wheels of the
wagons, and talking in their harsh and unpleasing tongue.

Now we consulted hurriedly together, Kalipe and I, and sent forward a
strong body of the fleetest-footed of our warriors, that they should
drive off the cattle. These dashed forward with wild yelling, and soon
we saw them in among the herdsmen, spearing right and left. The
Amabuna, behind the wagons opened fire upon them; but, beyond killing a
good many of their own cattle, the fire was harmless, for our people
were sheltered behind the beasts as they swept them away.

Meanwhile we had been forming up, in shape like a half-moon; and, as the
bellowing, plunging mass of horns and hi