Kafir Stories Seven Short Stories

ing them at a respectful distance on each side. The Balotsi had had a severe lesson, and were not anxious to come again to close quar

them, and returning these, often with deadly effect, for, being physically much strong

i shouting at them in an unknown tongue. At this

the Balotsi, would just keep the Zulus in view, and then assist in their annihilation after the Makalakas had tamed t

eft, 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,

connoitering. When he looked down the valley, what he saw caused even his brave heart to sink. About a mile from him was mass

re in favour of making a dash down the valley and cutting a road through their foes

ss, striking boldly through the mountains to the south-west, trusting to being able to force their way through the forest on the coast side of the range. They could then make direct for some point on the Limpopo, higher up than where they had crossed. By going straigh

, that nothing had been seen of the fugitives. But the mystery was soon solved-the trail was found leading up the spur, and the intention of the Zulus became immediately clear to the Makalaka Chief, It was now his turn to be seriously alarmed, for if these men should succeed in reaching Zululand, an impi of Tshaka's terrible destroyers would soon be on its way to wreak vengeance. Therefore, at any cost, the fugitives must be intercepted and destroyed to a man. So the Makalakas hastened d

. Food, they now had none, and hunger gnawed at them with incessant and increasing violence. Their feet were so sore that every step over the

lope, and in front of them, distant about two days' easy march, could be seen the shining, wood-fringed reaches of t

r ward. When the darkness set in, they could see below them the watch-fires of their foes,

the Zulus, and if the latter could only manage to trend off a little more to the right, and find a passage through the forest, they might be able to creep past the Makalakas and even reach the river before being

s a valley and ascend a spur to the left, and there kindle fires. This spur was almost in front of the main division of the

e Balotsi to indicate that the fugitives were in the forest below the spur. They never supposed that the Zulus would indicate their whereabouts by lighting fires. So

hides and bound pieces around their feel. After this, and a short rest, they felt like new beings. Hope took the place of the blank despair which had overwhelmed them a few hours previously. Another effort and they would reach

impi was now overhauling them fast. Yet they had another short respite. It seemed indeed as if Fate were

arallel to that taken by the fugitives, and about a mile to the right of the latter. In spite of all they had under-gone, the Zulus were still keeping the lead slightly, but their limit of endurance had almost been reached. They were now making down a long, gentle slope towards the river, which was only about four miles d

ttle band of Zulus was surrounded by foes outnumbering them by more than ten to one. At a signal from Kondwana, his men sprang to their feet, and forming themselves into a ring, faced the enemy on al

utwards and those on the inner ring sloping their shields inwards, so as to ward off the assegais passing over the opposite edges of the circle. The Makalakas came on, making a horrible noise in which a buzzing sound seemed to mingle with a

ircle slowly moving on towards the forest-fringe of the river, and consequently the Makalakas became bolder, and closed in nearer and nearer to the doomed circle. But the Zulus did not mean to die quietly. All at once they stopped in their slow, silent progress, and the Makalakas moved in cl

thickest portion of the ring formed by their foes. Only a few yards before

ef in person, whilst hundreds of assegais were hurled in with deadly effect from both sides. About twenty bleeding men managed to reach the forest,

as dead. Their own loss had been heavy. In the final charge they had been cut d

, the surface of which was completely covered over with brushwood. Dry leaves and twigs had accumulated at the bottom, and thus the shock of their fall had

ree remained. All the splendid valour displayed, all the incomparable devotion and endurance manifested, had been was

eature one whit the g