Yet I am not ashamed to confess that I have always held, and still hold, otherwise.

I believe that in my extremity some kindly Power did speak to me in answer to my earnest prayers and to those of others, giving me guidance and, what I needed still more, judgment and calmness.
At any rate, that this was my conviction at the moment may be seen from the fact that I hastened to obey the teachings of that tiny, unnatural voice.
Climbing out of the wagon, I went to Hans, who was seated near by in the full glare of the hot sun, at which he seemed to stare with unblinking eyes.
"Where's the rifle, Hans ?" I said.
"Intombi is here, baas, where I have put her to keep her cool, so that she may not go off before it is wanted," and he pointed to a little grave-like heap of gathered grass at his side.
The natives, I should explain, named this particular gun "Intombi", which means a young girl, because it was so much slimmer and more graceful than other guns.
"Is it clean ?" I asked.
"Never was she cleaner since she was born out of the fire, baas.

Also, the powder has been sifted and set to dry in the sun with the caps, and the bullets have been trued to the barrel, so that there may be no accidents when it comes to the shooting.

If you miss the aasvogels, baas, it will not be the fault of Intombi or of the powder and the bullets; it will be your own fault." "That's comforting," I answered.

"Well, come on, I want to go to the Death-hill yonder." "Why, baas, before the time ?" asked the Hottentot, shrinking back a little.