With the exception of some calves, which had been trampled to death in the rush, the herd had gone.

Now, like the Roman emperor--I think he was an emperor--I began to wonder what had become of my legions.
"Umbezi," I shouted, or, rather, sneezed through the smoke, "are you dead, Umbezi ?" "Yes, yes, Macumazahn," replied a choking and melancholy voice from the top of the rock, "I am dead, quite dead.

That evil spirit of a silwana [i.e.wild beast] has killed me.

Oh! why did I think I was a hunter; why did I not stop at my kraal and count my cattle ?" "I am sure I don't know, you old lunatic," I answered, as I scrambled up the rock to bid him good-bye.
It was a rock with a razor top like the ridge of a house, and there, hanging across this ridge like a pair of nether garments on a clothes-line, I found the "Eater-up-of-Elephants." "Where did he get you, Umbezi ?" I asked, for I could not see his wounds because of the smoke.
"Behind, Macumazahn, behind!" he groaned, "for I had turned to fly, but, alas! too late." "On the contrary," I replied, "for one so heavy you flew very well; like a bird, Umbezi, like a bird." "Look and see what the evil beast has done to me, Macumazahn.

It will be easy, for my moocha has gone." So I looked, examining Umbezi's ample proportions with care, but could discover nothing except a large smudge of black mud, as though he had sat down in a half-dried puddle.