Moreover, I cleared the nipple with a thorn, and shook a little fine powder into it, so as to obviate any chance of a miss-fire.

Then I set on the cap and waited.

What was going on among the Boers or the Zulus I do not know.

In this last crisis of all our fates I never looked, being too intent upon my own part in the drama.
By now the vultures appeared to have realised that something unusual was in progress, which threatened danger to them.

At any rate, although by this time they had collected in hundreds from east, west, north, and south, and were wheeling the heavens above in their vast, majestic circles, none of them seemed to care to descend to prey upon the bodies.
I watched, and saw that among their number was that great king bird which had bitten Hans in the face; it was easy to distinguish him, because he was so much larger than the others.