Hendricks the Hunter | Page 5

Umgolo. "Perhaps I am wrong. The young chief
may be an enemy of Cetchwayo, and he it is who has sent the army to
destroy him. He knows the bravery and cleverness of Mangaleesu, who,
had he gained an inkling of what is intended, would have made his
escape into Natal. There may be some other cause for the intended
attack, but I am not far wrong, master, you may depend upon that."
"I fear, indeed, that you are right in your conjectures," said the trader. "I
am satisfied that the Zulus do not intend to attack us. Tell the people
that they may again go to sleep, and that they will be summoned if they
are required."
While Umgolo went to execute this order, the trader stood leaning on
his gun at a spot a short distance from the camp, to which he had made
his way the better to watch the proceedings of the Zulu force. He was
considering how he could manage to reach the kraal before the Zulu
warriors had surrounded it, and were ready to commence their work of
slaughter. He might, by following a different direction, and moving
more rapidly over the ground, get to the rear of the kraal, and warn the
doomed inhabitants to flee while there was yet time. Too probably,
however, they would be seen escaping, and would be pursued and
slaughtered before they had time to get to any distance. Still his
generous feelings prompted him to make the attempt. There would be a
considerable amount of risk to himself, though the Zulus at that time
held white men in respect, and himself especially as he had so
frequently traversed their country, and was known to many of them.
Notwithstanding this, if found interfering with their proceedings, they
might, in a sudden fit of anger, put him to death. Leaving the camp,
therefore, he proceeded with rapid steps along the side of the hill, in the
direction the Zulus had taken. Though the kraal was concealed from

view by the shades of night, and no lights issued from it, he well knew
its position. He soon gained a spot whence in daylight he could clearly
have perceived it, when to his grief he saw what might have been
mistaken for a dark shadow creeping over the ground and already
ascending the hill on which the kraal stood. He was now convinced of
the impossibility of getting to it in time to warn the inhabitants of their
impending fate. Perfect stillness reigned around, broken occasionally
by the distant mutterings of a lion, or the melancholy cry of some beast
or bird of prey. Unable to tear himself away from the spot, he waited,
moved by a painful curiosity to learn what would happen, as he knew
that the dusky warriors must have reached the kraal, though he was
unable to see their movements. Still no cry reached his ear. Had the
inhabitants got warning of the intended attack, and beaten a timely
retreat? He hoped that such might have been the case.
A crescent moon and the bright stars shed a faint light over the scene.
He could look far up and down the valley, but the part where the kraal
stood was shrouded in gloom. Presently the silence was broken by a
chorus of shouts and yells, borne by the night wind from the direction
of the kraal, followed by shrieks and cries which continued without
intermission for some minutes, and then he saw lights glimmering here
and there, increasing in intensity, until a circle of flame burst forth,
rising rapidly as the fire caught hold of the combustible material of
which the kraal was composed. By this time all sounds had ceased, and
he knew that the last of the unhappy inhabitants had been killed.
Wishing to avoid the risk of meeting any of the savage warriors, should
they cross the hill, he hastened back to the camp. He found Umgolo,
who had discovered his absence, looking out, wondering what had
become of him.
The Kaffir had heard the yells and shrieks of the savages as they
attacked the kraal, and fearing that his master might have been tempted
to interfere, was proportionally glad to see him return safe.
They were still standing just outside the camp, when the sound of
approaching footsteps reached their ears.

"Here come some of the savage Zulus. We must drive them back, if
they intend to molest us," said the trader.
"No fear of that," replied the Kaffir. "There are but two pair of feet. See!
there they come up the hill."
The next instant the figure of a young warrior, with assegais in hand,
supporting with his left arm a slight girl, came in sight. The flames
from the fire lighted up their