The management of this ambush was to be my charge--a heavy one indeed.
Now, the moon would not be up till midnight.

But two hours before that time we began our moves, since the cattle must be driven out of the kraals as soon as she appeared and gave the needful light.

Otherwise the fight in the pass would in all probability be delayed till after sunrise, when the Amakoba would see how small was the number of their foes.

Terror, doubt, darkness--these must be our allies if our desperate venture was to succeed.
All was arranged at last and the time had come.

We, the three captains of our divided force, bade each other farewell, and passed the word down the ranks that, should we be separated by the accidents of war, my wagons were the meeting-place of any who survived.
Tshoza and his fifty glided away into the shadow silently as ghosts and were gone.