Then the remainder of our party turned up one by one, some of them looking very blown, as though they had run a long way.

None were missing, except those who had fired the reeds, and they thought it well to keep clear for a good many hours.

I believe that afterwards they regretted not having taken a longer leave of absence; but when they finally did arrive I was in no condition to note what passed between them and their outraged chief.
Being collected, the question arose what we should do.

Of course, I wished to return to camp and get out of this ill-omened place as soon as possible.

But I had reckoned without the vanity of Umbezi.