There are many more of our people coming, and we will kill you in the night when you cannot see to shoot us." At this moment, too, Footsack shouted that the wagon was inspanned and ready.

Now I hesitated what to do.

If we made for the wagon, which must be very slowly because of Anscombe's wounded foot, we had to cross seventy or eighty yards of rising ground almost devoid of cover.

If, on the other hand, we stayed where we were till nightfall a shot might catch one of us, or other Basutos might arrive and rush us.

There was also a third possibility, that our terrified servants might trek off and leave us in order to save their own lives, which verily I believe they would have done, not being of Zulu blood.