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"Not so," I answered; "but the Boers are afraid of you and think to take you prisoners." "Tell them," said Kambula quietly, "that if they kill us or lay a hand on us, as no doubt they can do, very soon every one of them will be dead and their women with them." I repeated this ultimatum energetically enough, but Marais shouted: "The Englishman is betraying us to the Zulus!
Otherwise he was alone, although I felt sure that the numerous passages around him were filled with guards, for I could hear them moving. On entering this place Kambula and his companions flung themselves upon their faces and began to sing praises of which the king took no notice. Presently he looked up, and appearing to observe me for the first time asked: "Who is that white boy?"
I answered him that I could not speak with the king alone without the permission of the commandant. Thereon Kambula said: "Come with me, I pray you, O Macumazahn, since otherwise you will be taken by force." Now, I told Hans to gallop on to Retief, and tell him of my predicament, for already I saw that at some sign from Kambula I was being surrounded by Zulus.
Perhaps it is only that Dingaan has some message about the treaty to send to me through you." "I am not afraid," I answered. "What is the use of being afraid in a place like this?" "Ask that Kaffir if the king gives you safe conduct," said Retief. I did so, and Kambula answered: "Yes, for this visit. "A dark saying," commented Retief.
"Ask these white people, O Macumazahn," said Kambula, "who is their captain, for to the captain I would speak." I translated the question, and Marais answered: "I am." "No," broke in Vrouw Prinsloo, "I am. Tell them, Allan, that these men are all fools and have given the rule to me, a woman." So I told them. Evidently this information surprised them a little, for they discussed together.
For a while he brooded heavily, then went on: "Your reason is good, Macumazahn, and I accept it. More, I promise you this. Perhaps I shall kill these Boers, or perhaps I shall not kill them. But if I make up my mind to kill them, this girl of yours shall be spared. Point her out to Kambula here not to Tho-maas, for he is a liar and would tell me the wrong one and she shall be spared."
An hour or two later began our trek, word having come to us from Dingaan that we must start at once. Also he sent us guides, under the command of the captain Kambula, to show us the road to Natal. I breakfasted that day with the Reverend Mr. Owen and his people, my object being to persuade him to come away with us, as I did not consider that Zululand was a safe place for white women and children.
Owen, was that they had bewitched some of the king's oxen. While I was recovering from this dreadful spectacle, which, fortunately, Marie did not witness, the captain Kambula arrived, saying that Dingaan wished to see me.
My Zulu fellow-countrymen understand as clearly as anyone the weakness and the strength of the present time. If the Zulu wished to remember Kambula and Ulundi, this would be his supreme opportunity to rise and hurl himself across the Natal frontier.
Then Kambula rose and said: "O king, this is the Son of George, whom you commanded me to capture. "I remember," said Dingaan. "The big Boer who was here, and whom Tambusa" he was one of Dingaan's captains "let go against my will, said that he was a terrible man who should be killed before he worked great harm to my people.
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