th him for
a long while.

When the interview was finished he advanced to me and said:

"Now I have heard all about you. I have heard that although young you
are very clever, so clever that you do not sleep, but watch by night
as well as by day. Therefore, that I, Kambula, name you Macumazahn,
Watcher-by-night, and by that name you shall henceforth be known among
us. Now, Macumazahn, son of George, bring out these Boers whom you are
guiding that I may lead them in their moving huts to the Great Place,
Umgungundhlovu, where dwells Dingaan the king. See, we lay down our
spears and will come to meet them unarmed, trusting to you to protect
us, O Macumazahn, Son of George," and he cast his assegai to the ground.

"Come," I said, and led them to the wagons.

CHAPTER XII. DINGAAN'S BET

As I advanced to the wagons accompanied by Kambula and his two
companions, I saw that Marais, in a state of great excitement, was
engaged in haranguing the two Prinsloo men and Meyer, while the Vrouw
Prinsloo and Marie appeared to be attempting to calm him.

"They are unarmed," I heard him shout. "Let us seize the black devils
and hold them as hostages."

Thereon, led by Marais, the three Boer men came towards us doubtfully,
their guns in their hands.

"Be careful what you are doing," I called to them. "These are envoys,"
and they hung back a little while Marais went on with his haranguing.

The Zulus looked at them and at me, then Kambula said:

"Are you leading us into a trap, Son of George?"

"Not so," I answered; "but the Boers are afraid of you and think to take
you prisoners."

"Tell them," said Kambula quietly, "that if they kill us or lay a hand
on us, as no doubt they can do, very soon every one of them will be dead
and their women with them."

I repeated this ultimatum energetically enough, but Marais shouted:

"The Englishman is betraying us to the Zulus! Do not trust him; seize
them as I tell you."

What would have happened I am sure I do not know; but just then the
Vrouw Prinsloo came up and caught her husband by the arm, exclaiming:

"You shall have no part in this fool's business. If Marais wishes to
seize the Zulus, let him do so himself. Are you mad or drunk that you
should think that Allan would wish to betray Marie to the Kaffirs, to
say nothing of the rest of us?" and she began to wave an extremely dirty
"vatdoek", or dishcloth, which she always carried about with her and
used for every purpose, tow