s. And in the
middle was Mackay, with his damaged frocker, drawling out his story in
broad Scots.

"'He made this laddie put on his braws, and he commandeered this
iniquitous garment for me. I've raxed its seams, and it'll never look
again on the man that owns it. Syne he arrayed himself in purple and
fine linen till he as like the king's daughter, all glorious without;
and says he to me, "Mackay," he says, "we'll go and talk to these
uncovenanted deevils in their own tongue. We'll visit them at home,
Mackay," he says. "They're none such bad fellows, but they want a
little humouring from men like you and me." So we got on our horses
and started the procession--the Governor with his head in the air, and
the laddie endenvouring to look calm and collected, and me praying to
the God of Israel and trying to keep my breeks from working up above my
knees. I've been in Kaffir wars afore, but I never thought I would
ride without weapon of any kind into such a black Armageddon. I am a
peaceable man for ordinar', and a canny one, but I wasna myself in that
hour. Man, Thirlstone, I was that overcome by the spirit of your
chief, that if he had bidden me gang alone on the same errand, I
wouldna say but what I would have gone.

"'We hadna ridden half a mile before we saw the indunas and their men,
ten thousand if there was one, and terrible as an army with banners. I
speak feeguratively, for they hadna the scrap of a flag among them.
They were beating the war-drums, and the young men were dancing with
their big skin shields and wagging their ostrich feathers, so I saw
they were out for business. I'll no' say but what my blood ran cold,
but the Governor's eye got brighter and his back stiffer. "Kings may
be blest," I says to myself, "but thou art glorious."

"'We rode straight for the centre of the crowd, where the young men
were thickest and the big war-drums lay. As soon as they saw us a
dozen lifted their spears and ran out to meet us. But they stopped
after six steps. The sun glinted on the Governor's gold lace and my
lum hat, and no doubt they thought we were heathen deities descended
from the heavens. Down they went on their faces, and then back like
rabbits to the rest, while the drums stopped, and the whole body
awaited our coming in a silence like the tomb.

"'Never a word we spoke, but just jogged on with our chins cocked up
till we were forenent the big drum, where yon old scoundrel Umgazi was
standing w