Part 29 (1/2)
”They'll do that before nightfall, Mr Quater of the Zulus Look here, why don't you get on your horse and come off with me? This is a queer place for you”
”Because I proroan, for really, as I looked at those savages round reeable fashi+on, and those other thousands of savages advancing towards us, I felt such little courage as I possessed sinking into my boots
”Very well, Mr Quatermain, you know your own business best; but I hope you will come out of it safely, that is all”
”Same to you,” I replied
Then John Dunn turned, and inasked Umbelazi what he knew of the movements of the Usutu and of their plan of battle
The Prince replied, with a shrug of his shoulders:
”Nothing at present, Son of Mr Dunn, but doubtless before the sun is high I shall know ust of wind struck us, and tore the nodding ostrich plu Whilst a murmur of dismay rose from all who sahat they considered this very ill-oently to the ground at the feet of Saduko He stooped, picked it up, and reset it in its place, saying as he did so, with that ready wit for which some Kafirs are remarkable:
”So may I live, O Prince, to set the crown upon the head of Panda's favoured son!”
This apt speech served to dispel the general gloom caused by the incident, for those who heard it cheered, while Umbelazi thanked his captain with a nod and a smile Only I noted that Saduko did not mention the name of ”Panda's favoured son” upon whose head he hoped to live to set the crown Now, Panda had many sons, and that day would shohich of them was favoured
Adeparted, as he said, to try toUsutu Umbelazi, Saduko and their escort departed also towards the qosa, which wason their spears,” as the natives say, and awaiting the attack As forso myself to s food
I can say honestly that I do not ever re of aon the last sun I should ever see--though by the way, there was uncommonly little of that orb visible--but what made the matter worse was that, if so, I should be called upon to die alone ale white face near to comfort ed into this dreadful business Yes, and I was even one off with John Dunn when he invited oodness that I did not yield to that temptation and thereby sacrificethat I forgot these and otherthe development of events fronificent view of the whole battle Here, after seeing that his regieneral should, old Maputa joined hting for him that day
”I think so, I think so,” he answered cheerfully ”It seereatly outnuqosa, and, of course, as you know, Panda's orders are that if he is in danger we ood heart, Macumazahn, for I believe I can prorow red to-day You will not go hungry from this battle to tell the white people that the Aht No, no, Macu, and I who ath like a cow, shall see one ht with this sa battles, and for Panda against Dingaan also”
”Perhaps it will be your last,” I suggested
”I dare say, Macuiment can make an end that shall be spoken of? Oh, cheer up, cheer up, Macumazahn; your Spirit, too, looks towards you, as I promise that we all will do when the shi+elds meet; for know, Macumazahn, that we poor black soldiers expect that you will show us how to fight this day, and, if need be, how to fall hidden in a heap of the foe”
”Oh!” I replied, ”so this is what you Zulusof counsel,' is it?--you infernal, bloodthirsty old scoundrel,” I added in English
But I think Maputa never heard me At any rate, he only seized my arm and pointed in front, a little to the left, where the horn of the great Usutu ar spears; theirthem to look like spiders, of which the bodies were forreat war shi+elds
”See their plan?” he said ”They would close on Ue with their head The horn will pass between us and the right flank of the Isigqosa Oh! awake, awake, Elephant! Are you asleep with Ma, and at them as they mount the slope Behold!” he went on, ”it is the Son of Dunn that begins the battle! Did I not tell you that we h your tube, Macumazahn, and tell me what passes”
So I ”peeped,” and, the telescope which John Dunn had kindly left with h He rode up al a white handkerchief and followed by his small force of police and Natal Kafirs
Then fro the Usutu rose a puff of smoke Dunn had been fired at
He dropped the handkerchief and leapt to the ground Now he and his police were firing rapidly in reply, andthe Usutu
They raised their war shout and cah slowly, for they feared the bullets Step by step John Dunn and his people were thrust back, fighting gallantly against overwhel odds They were level with us, not a quarter of a mile to our left They were pushed past us They vanished a while passed before ever I heard what became of the done their work and wrapped themselves round Umbelazi's army as the nippers of a wasp close about a fly (why did not Uan his charge Twenty or thirty thousand strong, regiiment, Cetewayo's men rushed up the slope, and there, near the crest of it, wereforward to repel the onslaught and shouting their battle-cry of ”Laba! Laba! Laba! Laba!”
The noise of theirshi+elds came to our ears like that of the roll of thunder, and the sheen of their stabbing-spears shone as shi+nes the broad su and wavered on the slope; then from the Amawombe ranks rose a roar of
_”Uiving back Down the slope they went, leaving the ground in front of them covered with black spots which we knew to be dead or wounded e home?” said Maputa in a perplexed voice ”The Usutu bull is on his back! Why does he not trample him?”