Sekeletu and his companions were mounted on oxen, though, having neither saddle nor bridle, they were perpetually falling off.

Mpepe, armed with his little axe, came along a path parallel to, but a quarter of a mile distant from, that of our party, and, when he saw Sekeletu, he ran with all his might toward us; but Sekeletu, being on his guard, galloped off to an adjacent village.
He then withdrew somewhere till all our party came up.

Mpepe had given his own party to understand that he would cut down Sekeletu, either on their first meeting, or at the breaking up of their first conference.
The former intention having been thus frustrated, he then determined to effect his purpose after their first interview.

I happened to sit down between the two in the hut where they met.

Being tired with riding all day in the sun, I soon asked Sekeletu where I should sleep, and he replied, "Come, I will show you." As we rose together, I unconsciously covered Sekeletu's body with mine, and saved him from the blow of the assassin.