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one of whom bore a white flag in token that they came to parley。 Our
advance guard allowed them to pass and they galloped on； dodging in
and out between the camels with wonderful skill till at length they
came to where we were with Har？t and Mar？t； and pulling up their
horses so sharply that the animals almost sat down on their haunches；
saluted by raising their spears。 They were very fine…looking fellows；
perfectly black in colour with a negroid cast of countenance and long
frizzled hair which hung down on to their shoulders。 Their clothing
was light； consisting of hide riding breeches that resembled bathing
drawers； sandals； and an arrangement of triple chains which seemed to
be made of some silvery metal that hung from their necks across the
breast and back。 Their arms consisted of a long lance similar to that
carried by the White Kendah； and a straight； cross…handled sword
suspended from a belt。 This； as I ascertained afterwards； was the
regulation cavalry equipment among these people。 The footmen carried a
shorter spear； a round leather shield； two throwing javelins or
assegais； and a curved knife with a horn handle。
〃Greeting； Prophets of the Child！〃 cried one of them。 〃We are
messengers from the god Jana who speaks through the mouth of Simba the
King。〃
〃Say on； worshippers of the devil Jana。 What word has Simba the King
for us？〃 answered Har？t。
〃The word of war； Prophet。 What do you beyond your southern boundary
of the Tava river in the territory of the Black Kendah； that was
sealed to them by pact after the battle of a hundred years ago？ Is not
all the land to the north as far as the mountains and beyond the
mountains enough for you？ Simba the King let you go out； hoping that
the desert would swallow you； but return you shall not。〃
〃That we shall know presently；〃 replied Har？t in a suave voice。 〃It
depends upon whether the Heavenly Child or the devil Jana is the more
powerful in the land。 Still； as we would avoid bloodshed if we may； we
desire to explain to you； messengers of King Simba； that we are here
upon a peaceful errand。 It was necessary that we should convey the
white lords to make an offering to the Child； and this was the only
road by which we could lead them to the Holy Mount； since they come
from the south。 Through the forests and the swamps that lie to the
east and west camels cannot travel。〃
〃And what is the offering that the white men would make to the Child；
Prophet？ Oh！ we know well； for like you we have our magic。 The
offering that they must make is the blood of Jana our god； which you
have brought them here to kill with their strange weapons； as though
any weapon could prevail against Jana the god。 Now； give to us these
white men that we may offer them to the god； and perchance Simba the
King will let you go through。〃
〃Why？〃 asked Har？t； 〃seeing that you declare that the white men cannot
harm Jana； to whom indeed they wish no harm。 To surrender them to you
that they may be torn to pieces by the devil Jana would be to break
the law of hospitality； for they are our guests。 Now return to Simba
the King； and say to Simba that if he lifts a spear against us the
threefold curse of the Child shall fall upon him and upon you his
people： The curse of Heaven by storm or by drought。 The curse of
famine。 The curse of war。 I the prophet have spoken。 Depart。〃
Watching； I could see that this ultimatum delivered by Har？t in a most
impressive voice； and seconded as it was by the sudden and
simultaneous lifting of the spears of all our escort that were within
hearing； produced a considerable effect upon the messengers。 Their
faces grew afraid and they shrank a little。 Evidently the 〃threefold
curse of the Child〃 suggested calamities which they dreaded。 Making no
answer； they wheeled their horses about and galloped back to the force
that was gathering below as swiftly as they had come。
〃We must fight； my Lord Macumazana；〃 said Har？t； 〃and if we would
live； conquer； as I know that we shall do。〃
Then he issued some orders； of which the result was that the caravan
adopted a wedge…shaped formation like to that of a great flock of
wildfowl on the wing。 Har？t stationed himself almost at the apex of
the triangle。 I with Hans and Mar？t were about the centre of the line；
while Ragnall and Savage were placed opposite to us in the right line；
the whole width of the wedge being between us。 The baggage camels and
their leaders occupied the middle space between the lines and were
followed by a small rear…guard。
At first we white men were inclined to protest at this separation； but
when Mar？t explained to us that its object was to give confidence to
the two divisions of the force and also to minimize the risk of
destruction or capture of all three of us； of course we had nothing
more to say。 So we just shook hands； and with as much assurance as we
could command wished each other well through the job。
Then we parted； poor Savage looking very limp indeed； for this was his
first experience of war。 Ragnall； however； who came of an old fighting
stock； seemed to be happy as a king。 I who had known so many battles；
was the reverse of happy； for inconveniently enough there flashed into
my mind at this juncture the dying words of the Zulu captain and seer；
Mavovo； which foretold that I too should fall far away in war； and I
wondered whether this were the occasion that had been present to his
foreseeing mind。
Only Hans seemed quite unconcerned。 Indeed I noted that he took the
opportunity of the halt to fill and light his large corn…cob pipe； a
bit of bravado in the face of Providence for which I could have kicked
him had he not been perched in his usual monkey fashion on the top of
a very tall camel。 The act； however； excited the admiration of the
Kendah； for I heard one of them call to the others：
〃Look！ He is not a monkey after all； but a manmore of a man than his
master。〃
The arrangements were soon made。 Within a quarter of an hour of the
departure of the messengers Har？t； after bowing thrice towards the
Holy Mountain； rose in his stirrups and shaking a long spear above his
head； shouted a single word：
〃Charge！〃
CHAPTER XI
ALLAN IS CAPTURED
The ride that followed was really quite exhilarating。 The camels；
notwithstanding their long journey； seemed to have caught some of the
enthusiasm of the war…horse as described in the Book of Job； indeed I
had no idea that they could travel at such a rate。 On we swung down
the slope； keeping excellent order； the forest of tall spears shining
and the little lancer…like pennons fluttering on the breeze in a very
gallant way。 In silence we went save for the thudding of the hoofs of
the camels and an occasional squeal of anger as some rider drove his
lance handle into their ribs。 Not until we actually joined battle did
a single man open his lips。 Then； it is true； there went up one
simultaneous and mighty roar