CHAPTER TWELVE.
A day passed without any signs of the Zulus, but at daybreak on thesecond day a Caffre runner came shouting that the Zulus were crossingthe Umganie river. We made a rush for the boats, and were soon all onboard the schooner, where we waited, each with a gun, to see what theZulus would do. The army moved rapidly and swept down on thesettlement, and burnt the huts, but they did not find a living humanbeing. Seeing the ship, they came down to the beech, and shouted to usto come on shore. I knew they had no guns; so, ascending the rigging, Icalled to the leading chief, and said: "Tell the Zulu dog that he is notcunning enough. He sent me to the Pongola, so that he might murder thewhite men without my knowing what he was going to do; but I came beforeyou to tell them. You may now go back again."
A yell arose from the Zulus when they heard this and recognised me, anda hundred men dashed in the water and swam towards the ship. We allowedthese to come close and then fired at them, killing or wounding several;the remainder then swam back to the shore and concealed themselves inthe wood. I knew the Zulus too well to believe they would give up atonce trying to kill the white men, and so I told my companions. Wetherefore kept watch all day and all night, and it was lucky we did so;for, just before daybreak on the following day, the Zulus again enteredthe water and swam silently to the ship. The sailors, however, had nowmade a very useful weapon: they had procured some large, heavy stones,which they had sown up in canvas and fastened to long ropes. These theythrew on the Zulus, and stunned or sunk them. They could haul thestones up again and throw them again. Except by the cable there was nomeans by which the Zulus could climb into the ship, so we could killthem just as we liked.
Finding they could do nothing against people in a ship, the Zuluswithdrew; and we thought that, as we did not see anything of them forthree days, they must have left Natal.
I felt quite certain that the chiefs would not give up trying to killthe white men, for if they returned to the Great Zulu Chief withoutbeing successful, some of them would be assagied to a certainty. At theend of the three days the white men were desirous of going on shore, tosee what remained of their goods. I tried to persuade them not toventure, but they replied that three days had now passed and not a Zuluhad been seen; so it was not likely that any were near Natal. But thiswas the very reason why I thought it likely that they were waiting for achance. I told the white men so; but they only laughed at me and said,"These niggers are off home now." Thinking that I might be of use inkeeping a better look-out than the white men, I went on shore with thosewho landed. Six of them got in a boat, and pulled up the bay, andlanded near where their huts had stood. The remaining men stayed onboard the schooner. There was not a Zulu to be seen anywhere, and wewalked to the remains of the huts, which we found entirely destroyed.
At a short distance from these huts was some thick bush through whichwas a narrow path. This path led to some open ground where the cattlebelonging to the settlers used to graze. The white men were anxious tosee whether the Zulus had destroyed or carried off their cattle, and soentered this path through the wood. Knowing the usual practises of theZulus, I thought this a very dangerous proceeding; but my caution onlymade the white men say, "Don't be afraid, we ain't."
Just before we entered the bush, I saw on the sand several footprints ofmen, quite fresh. These footprints had been made after the last dew hadfallen, so I knew it was not very long since the men who had made themmust have passed over the ground. I called to the white men in front ofme to stop, as I had seen fresh footprints of Zulus; but they repliedthat I couldn't tell when these had been made, and as I was afraid Ifancied these dangers.
Scarcely had they spoken when there was a rustling noise in the bushes,and in an instant about fifty Zulus sprang on to the path, surroundedthe white men, and assagied them instantly. Seeing this, I dived intothe bush, and during the noise crept through the bush and made my escapetowards the shore. I hoped to reach the boat that had brought us fromthe ship; but, on coming within sight of it, I saw it was in possessionof the Zulus. So my retreat by that means was cut off. The distancefrom where I was to the nearest part of the shore to the ship was nearlytwo miles, and there was dense bush nearly the whole way. To attempt towork my way through this bush would have been a most dangerousproceeding, for it is impossible to move in the bush without making anoise; and the Zulus were certain to have placed men on watch in thisbush, so that an assagy stab would be the first thing that wouldacquaint me of the presence of a Zulu. Soon after I had joined thewhite men, they had given me clothes to wear, so the Zulus woulddistinguish me now at a great distance. To lie concealed in the bushwas, I knew, of but little use; for they would follow my trail andsurround me just as they were accustomed to surround a lion. As soon asI had seen that the boat was in possession of the Zulus, I had concealedmyself in the bush to consider what to do; and I decided to work my wayup the coast about a mile, and then take to the beach and try to reachthe ship that way. Just as I had made up my mind to do this, I saw alarge party of Zulus marching from where they had killed the white mentowards the boat; and I noticed that they had put on the clothes of themen they had killed, and at a distance might have been mistaken forwhite men.
I lay still till all these men had passed, and watched theirproceedings. They sat down near the boat, and seemed to be having atalk about something of importance. I tried to think what I shouldpropose had I been at the meeting, and the Zulus my friends; and,knowing the Zulu tactics, I believed I could tell what they said almostas well as if I heard them. My idea was that they would wait till itwas dark, and then get into the boat and pull to the ship; and, by theaid of the clothes they wore, pretend to be white men, and get on boardthe ship. If the men on board were not on their guard, this plan wouldvery likely succeed; and, knowing how careless and unsuspicious thewhite men were, I believed the chances were in favour of the Zulussucceeding in their attempt.
From none of the Zulus having followed me, I believed it possible thatthey had not seen me before I rushed into the bush, when my companionswere attacked; but I knew the habits of the Zulus too well to be certainabout this. They had often told me that the best means to come withinassagy-range of a buck was to walk slowly round him, gradually narrowingthe circle, but never looking at him, and pretending that something inthe distance attracted your attention; then, when near enough, rushforward towards the buck and throw the assagy.
If the Zulus had seen me, they must know I was concealed somewhere; andthe best method of capturing or assagying me was to set several men towatch the country, and to remain perfectly concealed and quiet. Thisplan they had already adopted for three days, and had succeeded intrapping half of the white men. My best chance, therefore, was toremain quiet until it was dark and then to attempt to reach the shipbefore the Zulus could do so.
It required great patience to lie for several hours in the bush, notdaring to move; for, if I even frightened away a bird that had settlednear me, the suspicions of the Zulus would be raised, and the bush inwhich I was concealed probably surrounded. The day passed very slowly;and, after a short time, not a Zulu was to be seen. I knew that thismeant that they were all on watch in the bush; and I thought how easilyignorant white men, who knew nothing about spooring, or who neverwatched other indications, would be surprised and killed by theseso-called savages. I knew that a large body of Zulus were in the bushnear where the boat lay, because two or three vultures kept circlingover the place. I also saw other vultures circling over the bush wherethe white men had been killed, and I was very much afraid that theymight circle over me. If they did, I was lost. The sun seemed to movevery slowly this day, but at last it touched the hills near the Umlassriver, and soon after it became dark. I at once left the bush, andmoved cautiously towards a marsh near the coast. It was by my ears Imust now save myself, and perhaps by my legs. I moved through the longreeds of the marsh, and entered the bush beyond. In the darkness it wasimpossible to move silently in the bush; but I stopped occasionally tol
isten; and, hearing nothing, again advanced. I passed through the bushand came on the open beach, about a mile to the east of the entrance tothe bay. I stopped again to listen, but could not hear any noise whichindicated the presence of the Zulus; and, it was so dark, that I couldsee but a short way ahead or round me. Still advancing slowly andsilently, I moved along the beach towards the point where the schoonerwas at anchor, when I saw before me a group of Zulus standing togethertalking in a very low tone. They saw me as soon as I saw them: and,calling to me, asked who I was. I replied in Zulu, "Don't make a noise;I have news for you presently." I then turned to the right, where therewere several sand-hills between the beach and the bush--amidst which Ishould be lost to sight. The dense bush beyond also prevented theoutline of my figure being seen against the sky; and I thus hoped topass the Zulus and get a start of them. They, however, suspectedsomething, and turned after me. Seeing that the only chance of escapewas a run, I moved quickly among the sand-hills; and then jumping on tothe hard beach, which was better suited for running, I dashed off atspeed. I had no fear of any single Zulu catching me in a straight race,for I had beaten their best runner. What I dreaded was that anotherparty might be on the beach in front of me, when I should be stopped bythem. The noise I made in running would be sure to put a party on thealert; besides which the Zulus in rear who were chasing me now beganshouting; a proceeding I knew they would not adopt unless they hoped tomake known to some other parties that they were in pursuit of an enemy.The distance from where I began running to where the ship was, aboutthree-quarters of a mile, I could run at speed, and now that I wasrunning for my life there was no lack of energy. I found I was leavingthe Zulus behind, and was now well beyond the reach of an assagy. Istill kept on, however, and reached the beach some two hundred yardsbefore the leading Zulu. I jumped into the water, and swam rapidlytowards the schooner; but a new danger here threatened me. The nightwas very dark, and no one on shore could have seen me had it not beenfor the phosphorescence of the water. As I swam I left a trail of lightbehind me--like a rocket--and the Zulus, seeing this, threw theirassagies at me; but, luckily, none struck me, or I probably should neverhave been able to relate my early history. I was soon beyond range ofthe spears, and then called to the men in the ship to lower a rope forme to climb on board. I was heard, and a rope with a bowling-knot atthe end was lowered. In this knot I placed my feet, and was soon onboard, when I told the white settlers and sailors what had taken placeon shore. I also told them that I suspected the Zulus would try to geton board in the disguise of the men they had assagied, and that we mustbe prepared for them. Having given this information, I obtained somedry clothes and some food; and being now listened to with moreattention, I made all arrangements for receiving the Zulus when theymade their attempt to come on board as I felt sure they would. Acareful watch was kept by two men, whilst the others were ready to jumpup at the slightest noise. We had five double-barrelled guns on board,and several boat-hooks, which would serve as excellent weapons to keepoff boarders. I believed the Zulus would try to surprise us, and to geton board under pretence of being white men, for they could not come ingreat numbers in the boat, so I had no fear of being overpowered.
The sailors proposed that, as soon as the wind was suitable, we shouldhoist sail and escape from the bay--certainly the most prudent thing todo; but there was a surf on the bar at present, due to the south-eastwind that had been blowing for some days. And this surf rendered itdangerous to attempt to get out of the bay.
The greater part of the night passed, and not a sign of the Zulus wasvisible; but a short time before day break, and whilst it was stilldark, one of the look-out men came below and called us all to come ondeck, as there was a noise as of oars being used in a boat. We had madeour plans, so as not to indicate we were on guard when the boat camealongside. So we all crouched under the bulwarks and thus concealedourselves. The stream of light in the water made by the boat was soonvisible, and very quickly it came along; the Zulus knew nothing aboutrowing, but they managed the oars very well, and brought the boat closeto the schooner. They were dressed in white men's clothes, but hadtheir assagies and shields in the boat ready for use. I could not helpadmiring the daring of these men, and their obedience to the orders oftheir chief. They had killed several white men, and might have returnedwith their clothes as proofs of their success; but their orders were tokill _all_ the white men, and they were now endeavouring to carry outthese orders. But for our own safety we must kill them, and if possibleobtain possession of the boat. When the Zulus were alongside, one manclimbed on the shoulders of another, and thus reached to the bulwark,and in an instant was on board. As he came on the deck he was struckdown, and the alarm at once spread. Instead of attempting to escape inthe boat, the other Zulus tried to get on board by the same means; andeach man was knocked down before he could use his assagies. As yet nota shot had been fired, but now, as one man only remained in the boat, hepushed off and would have escaped with the boat if we had allowed it, soone of the settlers fired and shot him. The boat was now drifting away,so I jumped over board, and swam towards it, and climbed in. Onentering the boat I found that both the oars had fallen overboard, and Icould not therefore row the boat; and as the tide was running out veryrapidly I was being carried towards the bar. Now, inside the bar sharkswere rarely if ever seen; but on the bar they were numerous, and I knewthe boat would be upset when it reached the breakers on the bar, and Ishould have no chance, as the shark would soon pull me down. Itherefore thought I must give up the idea of saving the boat; and mustjump into the water and try to reach the schooner; but I saw in thewater several streaks of light, which showed me that other Zulus hadentered the water with the intention of assisting their friends, andseveral of these were between me and the ship. To have attempted toreach the ship, therefore, would have been a dangerous proceeding, as Ishould have been caught by several of the Zulus, and either drowned bythem, or taken prisoner, and assagied. I struck out therefore for theopposite shore, where the Bluff of Natal, a high piece of land, stands,and soon reached the shore, where I concealed myself in the bush; and,being much fatigued with the exertions of the day, lay down and soonfell asleep.
I hoped when daylight came to swim back to the schooner, or signal tothem to send me a boat; so I felt no anxiety about the morrow.
I awoke on the following morning from the heat of the sun, which wasshining on me, and for a few seconds I was in doubt where I was and whathad happened. I was stiff and uncomfortable from having laid down in mywet clothes, which were scarcely yet dry, in consequence of the heavydew that had fallen; but I got up and worked my way carefully out of thebush to where I thought I should see the schooner. On reaching theshore I looked and looked again; no schooner was visible where she hadbeen, I then noticed that the wind was blowing from the west--thefavourable wind for a vessel to leave the harbour. I ran round theBluff to the side next the sea, and there saw the schooner with allsails set, about five miles off. I then knew I was deserted by thewhite men, who probably thought I had been drowned, so that I was nowthe only white man remaining on this coast.
During the various adventures through which I had passed since theshipwreck years ago, I had never despaired or felt really unhappy: therewas always some excitement going on, and my mind was occupied inplanning various things either for sporting or other purposes. Now,however, a feeling came over me that I had never experienced before.Had I been better acquainted with the human body and its requirements, Ishould have at once attributed this effect to its proper cause. Duringthe whole of the previous day I had eaten nothing, and had gone throughmuch hard work and excitement. The depression that I suffered was moredue to absence of food than to the causes by which I was surrounded, forwhen I had eaten I saw everything in a more hopeful light. Still I wasin a bad way; for I possessed no weapon except a sailor's knife, I hadno food and did not know where to procure any, and I was probablysurrounded by enemies.
I wandered down the rocks on the s
hore and gazed at the distant ship. Iknew it was useless to signal, she was so far distant; yet I took off myjacket and waved it, till my arm was too tired even to lift above myshoulder. Then I sat down to think.
As I looked down I saw fixed on the rocks at my feet a shell which I atonce recognised as an oyster, such as we used to procure at Bombay.With my knife I opened this, and ate this African shell-fish. Onsearching on the rocks I found hundreds of oysters, and was enabled tomake a hearty meal. Trickling down the side of the bluff was also alittle stream of fresh water. By gathering some large leaves of a plantlike the banana, I allowed the water to accumulate in these, and mythirst was quenched. Growing on the shore also were some trees, bearinga fruit I well knew, and called by my old friends of the Umzimvubu the_Martingula_. It was very good to eat, and in size was similar to aplum, with a peculiar flavour. I also saw several bees, so I hoped toprocure some honey, and there was consequently no fear of starving.
I thought it prudent not to show myself on the shore of the bay, forfear some Zulus might yet remain; though I anticipated that, as soon asthey had seen that the schooner had sailed they would return to theirown country with their proofs of victory.
I considered for some time whether I should try to work my way down thecoast, so as to reach the Umzimvubu and my old friends; but a strangelonging had come over me to once more be among white people, and Ithought that the Bay of Natal would be a much more likely place fromwhich to find a ship than down by the Umzimvubu district. So I decidedto keep myself concealed on the bluff, at least for some time; for Ineed not want for food, as there were oysters in abundance on the rocks,and when the tide went down there were several pools of water left onthe rocks, in which were fish of various sizes: these I caught with aforked stick, and so managed to live on fish diet. I was not long,however, before I adopted a Caffre expedient for obtaining meat. In thebush were numbers of red bush-buck, and also duikers: to trap these Ibent down the stem of a young tree, so as to form a spring, and by meansof withes and the bark of a shrub, which was as strong as rope, I made anoose in the path frequented by these buck. Scarcely an evening passedbut I caught a buck, and so had plenty of meat. I sadly wanted somesalt, however; but I soon thought of a plan for securing this. Therewere several small hollows in the rocks above high-water mark, these Ifilled with sea-water, and, as they were exposed to the sun, the watersoon evaporated, and a deposit of salt remained. With this salt Irubbed the strips of buck-meat I had cut with my knife; and, hangingthese in the sun, made a provision for the future. I was obliged tohang them at the end of thin branches at a distance from the ground, forI found that leopards frequented this place, and although they might notattack me, yet they would at once carry off and devour my meat.
I wanted some weapon very badly: I had cut a stout stick to make aknob-kerrie, but such a weapon would be harmless against a leopard. Ishould have felt more comfortable if I had possessed two or threeassagies, for there is a feeling of power when one grasps a weapon whichwe know how to use. I believed it possible that I might find someassagies, if I crossed the bay and searched along the shore where somany of the Zulus had been killed or wounded. I waited till it wasnearly dark one evening, and then swam across the channel that separatedthe bluff from the wooded shore opposite. I landed on this shore, and,keeping close to the bush, examined all the likely places for an assagyto be found, and at length found three very good ones. I could see nofresh traces of men's footprints, and concluded that all the Zulus hadleft Natal.
I therefore ventured further inland, and visited the locality where thewhite men had been ambushed by the Zulus. I found the remains of theirbodies: hyaenas and vultures having feasted on them, but little remainedexcept their bones. Almost hidden by the long grass, I saw the stock ofa gun; and found this to be a double-barrelled gun, with a flask ofpowder and a bag of bullets close beside it. Such a treasure I had notexpected, and I now felt that I was secure against any average enemy.In order to get across the channel with my powder dry, I collected aquantity of wood and fastened this together by withes and bark, so as tomake a raft on which to keep my powder and gun above the water. Thisraft I pushed before me whilst I swam, and thus succeeded in gettingover the water with my valuable cargo in safety.
I now felt well prepared to pass a long time in my solitary locality; soI set to work to cut down some small trees, and make a sort of Caffrehut. This I deemed necessary for my safety by night, or when I slept;for if a leopard or a rock-snake found me asleep, the first might carryme off before I could use my gun, and the snake might encircle me in hisfolds, and crush me before I could use even a knife. It occupied me twodays to complete my hut, which was then waterproof and quite safe fromthe attacks of any animals--at least so I imagined.
In the present day, when a box of lucifer matches enables every personto instantly procure a fire, it is not easy to realise the difficultythat is experienced by those unprovided by any such artificial aids. Toprocure a fire I was obliged to adopt the usual Caffre method of usingtwo dry sticks. One of soft wood was placed on the ground, the other ofhard wood was held in the hands and worked round, whilst it was pressedinto a hole in the soft wood. After several minutes of this work a fewsparks would be produced, which were placed in a wisp of dry grass, andswung round at arms-length. By this means a small flame was producedand a fire kindled. It was then my particular care to preserve thisfire, and never let it die out. To do so was no easy matter, for I wasobliged to have a large stock of dry wood collected, and to so heap thisup, and protect it from the wind, that it would smoulder for hours. Ifthere came rain, it was even more difficult to keep the fire permanentlyburning; and, after rain, to reproduce fire was extremely laborious.This, then, was one great source of anxiety to me, for I dare not letany smoke rise in the air, for this would let any enemy know that manwas on the bluff; for, clever and cunning as all animals in a wild statebecome, even the monkey or baboon does not know how to create a fire, orhow to keep this fire blazing when they do find one which man haslighted, I have now to relate one of the greatest escapes I everexperienced, though many which I have already described may appear tohave been marvellous.
A week had passed since I had procured the gun and some assagies fromthe place where the Zulus had ambushed the white men, and I had seen nosigns of a human being; but I knew too well the enemy by whom I had beencaptured, not to be aware, that if he intended to recapture me, he wouldlie concealed for many days, watching for a chance of surprising me. Myintention was to support life until a ship came to Natal, for Iconcluded that when the schooner which had escaped, reached Table Bay,and informed the authorities there that the Zulus had overrun Natal,some steps would be taken to obtain at least information as to what hadsince occurred. Thus I lived in daily hopes of seeing a sail, and oncemore joining with white men.
One night I had retired to my hut, and had slept till the dawn began toshow, when I woke with a strange feeling of oppression and weight on mychest. My gun was close beside me, and my knife within reach of myhand. For a moment I was not aware what was the cause of the singularfeeling I experienced, and I opened my eyes without otherwise moving.In the dim light I saw that which, for an instant, caused my heart tocease beating. Over my chest was the coil of the body of a rock-snake,this coil being bigger round than my thigh. I could see that the tailof the snake was outside my small hut, and in consequence of my lying onthe ground the huge reptile had not been able to coil completely roundme. I knew I was in imminent danger, and I also at once decided on thesafest and most probable means of escape. Moving my arm slowly, Igrasped my knife, and then raising my head, saw the snake's eyes withintwo feet of mine. His head was on the ground, and so close that I couldlift my hand above it. I carried out this movement very slowly, thesnake remaining motionless. Then with a sudden stab I drove my longknife through the snake, just where his head joined his neck, and pinnedhim to the ground. With a struggle I slipped from under his body, andnow the fight began. So tenacious of life are thes
e reptiles that,although I had separated his head from his body as regards thevertebrae, yet he twisted and rolled the great coils of his body sorapidly and powerfully that several times he had surrounded my legs witha loop, and it was only by a quick movement on my part that I escapedthe danger of being enclosed in a vice-like embrace. I succeeded,however, in avoiding its coils, and suddenly scrambled out of the hut,leaving the snake in possession.
I knew that the reptile was mortally wounded, and that if I let himremain where he was he would die. I had no wish to enter the hut again,and finish him; for his weight was so great that he might hold me to theground. So I sat outside and listened to him as he occasionally rolled,or turned over. It was lucky for me that the snake was a rock-snake,which is not poisonous. I could fight this fellow on fair terms; for itwas strength against strength, and, with such a weapon as a knife even,I felt equal to the combat. When, however, one meets a puff-adder or acobra, the fight is not equal. You may kill either of these, but ifeither has bitten you your death is certain. Of all the creatures withwhich I have had to fight, a poisonous snake is the very worst. Duringmy residence among the Umzimvubu tribe I had many escapes from thesepoisonous snakes, some of which I may as well now relate.
Round the kraal in which my hut was situated when I lived among theUmzimvubu was a fence, made somewhat in the manner in which hurdles arebuilt in England. One morning I wanted to go out to look for thecattle, and stepped on the fence, intending to leap over it. As my footrested on the upper part, I saw a cobra raise its head from among thebranches, and I instantly fell back, escaping by the smallest distancefrom the rapid dart made by the reptile. To have been bitten would havebeen certain death, for a full-grown active cobra is sure to kill wherehe strikes.
Another escape was from a puff-adder, a snake equally as deadly as thecobra. I was looking after the cattle in the Umzimvubu country, andfinding the sun very warm I went to an acacia tree, so as to sit in theshade, and sat down on a rock near which was some moss. My right handheld my assagies, and as I came to the ground my hand and assagiesrested on a large puff-adder. I felt the reptile move, and seeing myhand was on its neck, I pressed it down, whilst with my other hand Idrew an assagy and drove it through the head of the serpent, and thusescaped the bite which would have proved fatal. I scarcely ever passeda day in the bush without seeing a snake, and I must have killed over ahundred during my residence among the Umzimvubu.
With considerable difficulty I dragged this snake out of my hut andpushed it down the sloping side of the bluff, and into the water, wherethe tide carried it out, and it probably became a feast for shark, whichwere in great numbers outside the harbour.
A few days passed after my adventure with the python, and nothingextraordinary happened. I had succeeded in capturing two red bush-buck,which supplied me with animal food; but the oysters on the rocks and thefish I secured when the tide was low, in the various pools, afforded meplenty to eat. I should certainly have liked some Indian corn, but Idid not dare venture near any of the kraals which were in theneighbourhood, for fear I might not be well-treated by the Caffres, ormight be seen by some of the Zulus who, I still believed, were lurkingin the neighbourhood.
People who have passed their lives amidst scenes of civilisation are notaware of the patience which so-called savages can practise without doinganything unusual. A Caffre will sit for a whole day and watch for abuck to come to some pool to drink; or he will set a trap every eveningfor a month, on the chance of capturing some animal; and never gives upafter repeated failures, as a white man would do. Knowing thesepeculiarities, I believed it possible that the Zulus would wait a montheven, rather than give up the chance of capturing me.
About a week after my escape from the snake, I woke one morning inconsequence of hearing a sea-eagle screaming. Two or three of theseeagles used to fish in the bay, and were splendid birds. I alwaysnoticed that whenever I appeared on the shore, one of these birds gave ashrill warning sort of scream; so, immediately I heard the bird, I creptout of my hut to look round, in order to see if anything was visible onthe shores of the bay. From close beside my hut was a very goodlook-out station, from whence I had a very good view of the shore, fromthe Point to the Berea bush and the Umslatazane river. I scanned thisshore carefully, and after a time saw a man in a tree, evidentlyexamining the bluff where I was. I looked round to see if any smoke wascoming from the embers of my fire, for such a circumstance would at oncehave exposed my whereabouts. Luckily none was visible; so, keepingwatch, I turned my attention to this one man. After a time he descendedthe tree, and then from out of the bush came more than fifty Caffres.At first I could not discover whether they were Zulus or Natal Caffres.Each of the two tribes were armed alike with assagies and shields, butthe _esikoko_ (the ring round the head) was higher with the Zulus thanwith the Natal Caffres; and by this peculiarity I discovered at lastthat it was a party of Zulus; and, from their movements. I had no doubtthey were in search of me, as they repeatedly stopped and pointed to thebluff. As this party advanced along the shore, to a point opposite thaton which was my hut, I thought out what was the best course for me toadopt. The Zulus would have to swim across the channel in order to landnear where my hut was situated; and, if I had only been backed with twoor three men with guns, I could have defied the whole of this party, andeither shot them as they were swimming or when they landed. To adoptthis plan single-handed would, I knew, be useless. I might shootperhaps half a dozen of them, but the others would close in on me andassagy me before I could reload. If they did not do this, they wouldlie in ambush; and when I moved near them, would assagy me when my backwas turned. It would not do, therefore, to stop and fight. Having cometo this conclusion, I waited to see the chief of this party order hismen into the water, so that they should swim across the channel. I thencrept back to my hut to get my gun and ammunition and two assagies. Iconcealed the other assagies and scattered the embers of my fire, sothat the Zulus should not by that know how lately I had been there. Ithen walked backwards for some distance, and, scrambling down thesea-face of the bluff, reached the shore; and, keeping as much aspossible on the rocks, so as to leave no footmarks, I started at a runtowards the west. My intention was to make for the Umbilo river, andwork up this to the Berea bush. There was an immense amount of cover inthe Berea, and elephant-paths in numbers. If I could conceal my trail Imight remain in this bush for a long time without being discovered.There were plenty of berries also that were good to eat, and water wouldnot fail me. Once on my trail, I knew the Zulus too well to doubt theirsearching for me for weeks; but near the Umlass river were Caffres whowould soon dispose of these fifty Zulus. But I did not want to be againtaken among any tribe of Caffres. My instincts now induced me to wishto rejoin white men. A little savage life for a change is agreeable;too much of it soon tires a man who has once enjoyed civilisation.
I did not fear being overtaken by the Zulus; for they would ascend thesteep bluff to my hut very cautiously, and would then be some timebefore they hit off my trail, so I had a good long start of them. WhatI did fear, however, was that some outlying party might be concealedalong the ridge of the bluff; and from these it would be difficult toescape, as I should probably come on them within assagy-throw before Isaw them. In cover, the man who remains still has an immense advantageover another who is moving about. The man who moves cannot do sowithout making a noise; and, in cover, where the extent of one's visionis limited, the ears often discover what the eyes cannot perceive. Allanimals which live in the forest, therefore, possess large ears, whichenable them to hear well all that is going on round them. The leopard,bush-cat, etc, remain still and watchful when in the forest and watchingfor their prey. If they moved about, even their stealthy tread would beaudible, and the animal which they wished to capture would be alarmed,and would escape. I knew the danger I incurred in moving through thebush, but there was no help for it.