Chapter 7. In The Hands Of The Zulus

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_ CHAPTER SEVEN. IN THE HANDS OF THE ZULUS

The three lads found themselves the sole occupants of a hut about seven feet in diameter, and of a height scarcely sufficient to enable them to stand upright, except in the centre. There was but one opening, through which they had been compelled to creep, and this was closed by one of their guards sitting down before it, with his knees drawn up to his chin, the only light and air they enjoyed being admitted through the small space above his shoulders.

"It isn't altogether pleasant to be shut up like rats in a trap," said Denis, as he surveyed the hut; "but it might have been worse if a party of Kaffirs had slept in it last night. As far as I can judge it hasn't been occupied before."

"If it had, there would have been mats and bundles of grass," observed Lionel; "whereas we shall have nothing but the bare ground to lie on."

"As the ground appears to be perfectly dry, we need not complain of that," observed Percy, "I only hope that the chief will let us go in the morning."

"There's very little chance of that," said Denis. "He intends that we should be of some use to him, or he would not have sent his people to capture us. I wonder whether he will send us some food."

"I can't say I feel very hungry," observed Percy. "It is fortunate that we took a good dinner."

They waited and waited, expecting that Umbulazi would think of them, but no food was brought. At last Denis spoke to their Kaffir guard, saying that they were very hungry, and would be much obliged if he would obtain some provisions; but no answer was returned to his request.

"I believe the fellow is asleep," said Lionel. "Yes! listen, I can hear him snoring. I see his head nodding through the opening. If that's the way he keeps guard, I think I can play him a trick; and the chances are the rest of the fellows are asleep also. It is now nearly dark outside. In a little time the whole camp will have lain down. We could easily make a hole under the wall of the hut, large enough for me to creep through, and once outside, if the guards don't catch me, I could find my way to where the horses are feeding."

"A capital idea," said Denis. "I don't think there will be much difficulty in carrying it out."

"But you would run a fearful risk of having an assegai sent through you if you were discovered," exclaimed Percy. "For your own sake I had much rather you did not make the attempt."

"I am not afraid of that," answered Lionel. "I'll take good care not to be caught. I know the ways of the people, where they are likely to be sleeping, and where their guards are posted. The chances are they will be asleep in a short time, like that fellow who is acting as doorkeeper to us. If I can manage to reach our camp, Hendricks will soon come and set you free."

"But suppose you were to meet a lion or leopard, as you have no rifle, how would you defend yourself?"

"I would keep out of his way, and shout and shriek at the top of my voice, you may depend upon that," he answered.

Percy was at last induced, though not very willingly, to consent to Lionel's making the attempt he proposed.

They all three sat down on the ground to talk over the matter, and agreed that it would not be wise to commence operations until later on in the night.

Fortunately Percy had a match-box, for the Zulus had not rifled their pockets, and striking a light, he ascertained that it was about eleven o'clock.

"We cannot have a better time," said Denis, "so we'll set to work immediately; but I say, we must keep talking, lest that black guard of ours should open his ears and suspect something."

They accordingly all three began talking as if holding some exciting discussion, Denis every now and then giving way to a hearty laugh.

Percy tried to imitate him, but did not succeed very well, for he was exceedingly anxious about Lionel's undertaking, which he thought more dangerous than it really was. Having no tools except their knives, the operation was a long one. They cut through the lower part of the twigs, and had to scrape away the earth with their hands. Only two could work at a time, and they took it by turns, the third sitting near the door to hide his companions or give notice, should the guard awake and look in.

"We shall be through in another minute!" exclaimed Lionel. "Hurrah, it is done now!" he cried out soon afterwards. "I can be through in a moment. What is the old fellow at the door about?"

"He is still snoring away," answered Percy.

"Well, then, do you and Denis keep talking and laughing, and I'll slip out."

"But do come back if you find any difficulty in making your way to the horses," said Percy. "It would be far better that we should submit to whatever the prince intends than that you should run the risk of being killed."

"No fear," answered Lionel, as he shook hands with his companions. "Depend upon it, I shall be safe with Hendricks before the morning. Good-bye!" and he began to crawl through the opening. He stopped, however, before he was quite through, and backing in said, "Remember to close the hole, Denis, before the morning, so that, if possible, the Zulus might not discover how I got out."

"I'll do my best," said Denis, and Lionel again crawled through the opening. Not the slightest noise was made, so that the guards at the entrance of the hut, even if they had not been asleep, would not have heard him. Denis, as soon as he had gone, lay down with his head to the opening to listen. No sound reached his ears. He then crept partly through, but could see nothing. Not a person was stirring, not even a dog barked. "Lionel will get clear, I hope," he said, as he drew back into the hut. "He is a wonderfully sharp, clever little fellow. As he lived so long among the Zulus, he knows all their ways. Even if he meets any one, he will be able to pretend to be a young Zulu, provided it is still dark, though of course his dress would betray him in daylight. I almost wish that we had gone too," said Denis. "If he succeed, so might we."

"Not so sure of that," observed Percy. "Three objects moving along the ground would be more likely to be discovered than one; and if I were addressed, I, at all events, could not pretend to be a Zulu boy, whatever you might do. Still, it would have been satisfactory had we all got free; but then, what would have become of poor Gozo? They would have assegaid him in revenge. Depend upon it, we were wiser to remain. Perhaps, after all, Lionel is hiding, and may find it necessary to come back."

They waited anxiously, almost fearing to hear Lionel's voice. Time went on, but he did not make his appearance. At last Denis thought that he might venture to stop up the opening; so he began shovelling in the earth and replacing the twigs; he knew, however, should any one examine the outside, it must be discovered that a hole had been made; but it was just possible that it might not be observed, and he amused himself by thinking that if so how puzzled the Zulus would be to account for the disappearance of Lionel.

"I'll pretend not to know what has become of him, and to be as much astonished as they are," he said, laughing. "I'll suggest that he might have vanished through the roof, or that he was not put in at all, or that he has evaporated, although, to be sure, they won't know what that means, and I don't know how I could well explain it, as the Kaffir tongue has nothing equivalent to the term. However, I'll do my best to mystify them."

"I would rather not make the attempt. I always hold that we ought to tell the truth and stand the consequences," said Percy. "He had a perfect right to run away, and he exercised that right. I would rather you said what had happened, and that he had gone only for our sakes, to let our friends know what has become of us."

"Well, we'll see how things turn out," said Denis. "Are you not beginning to feel hungry?"

"Indeed I am, and sleepy too," answered Percy. "I would rather have something to eat; but as we cannot get that, the best thing we can do is to go to sleep. I'll try, although our couches are not of the most luxurious description."

Percy lay down, as did Denis. They felt various creatures crawling over them; but they knew that they must bear such annoyances patiently. Their eyes in a short time closed, and they went fast asleep. They were aroused at early dawn by the shouts and cries of hundreds of voices. The Zulu gaoler no longer stopped up the doorway by his black body. They concluded that he was not afraid they would attempt to escape during daylight, as they would certainly be seen.

Denis therefore crawled out of the hut to look about him. The sun was just rising over the hills to the eastward. The whole valley, at the farther end of which they were, was filled with warriors formed into regiments of four or five hundred men each. Some little distance off, in front of his hut, stood the chief, Umbulazi, surrounded by his counsellors and other wise men.

Suddenly all the men commenced performing the most extraordinary antics, leaping, and whirling, and twisting, and turning, at the same time uttering the loudest shrieks and cries at the top of their voices.

"What are they about?" asked Percy, who had crept out after Denis.

"They are simply dancing a war dance in honour of their chief. We shall have an opportunity of witnessing their performance."

The chief and his attendants were so busily employed in watching the troops, that they did not observe the young Englishmen standing outside their prison.

Presently the leading regiment began to move forward, the men still leaping, twisting, and turning, shaking their shields, quivering their assegais, and shouting all the time until they approached to where the chief stood, when halting for an instant they redoubled their efforts, and then passed on (it cannot be said they marched) to give room for another party who went through the same style of performance.

When the whole had passed in review, they dispersed in different directions, some to bring in wood, and others to slaughter some oxen which had been driven into the camp for the purpose.

So occupied had Umbulazi been with this extraordinary review of his troops, that he had apparently forgotten all about his prisoners, who meantime stood watching the proceedings, much interested with the curious spectacle. Denis at length proposed that they should make off, catch their horses, and gallop away. Percy was opposed to this, as it was nearly certain they would be seen and followed.

"I'm afraid you are right," said Denis; "and there's another strong argument in favour of staying--I'm so desperately hungry, that I don't think I could ride far without food; and as these fellows will soon be having breakfast, I conclude that they will have the grace to offer us some. If they don't, I shall make bold to go and take it, for they won't object, even though they may intend to assegai us directly afterwards."

They waited until the review was over. Denis then advised Percy to go back into the hut, while he set off on a foraging expedition.

"If we two were to go together, they would wonder what had become of Lionel, but if I alone appear, they will suppose that you are both inside the hut," he said. "The chances are, they don't put in their heads to find out; for everybody is so busily employed that they won't trouble themselves about us."

Percy agreed to the proposal, and creeping in, sat down to wait the return of Denis.

"There's nothing like putting a bold face upon the matter," thought Denis; and seeing Umbulazi standing in front of his hut, he walked boldly up to him.

"_Unigane_!" he said, saluting him in the Kaffir fashion.

"_Saka bona_," answered the chief, equivalent to good morning. "What is it you want, my friend?"

"My companions and I were made prisoners by your people, but I conclude that you do not wish to starve us, and we want some breakfast," answered Denis.

"You should have remained inside the hut where you were placed, and it would have been brought to you," said the chief, apparently just recollecting all about his captives. "How dare you come out?"

"To obtain some fresh air, and to see you review your magnificent army," answered Denis.

"And you think that my soldiers are fine fellows?" said the chief, evidently well pleased. "They will be able to drive Cetchwayo and all his followers out of the country, so that none will be left to oppose me."

"I have not seen Cetchwayo's army, so that I cannot reply to that remark," answered Denis. "What is in the future no man can tell."

"Ah! but I have engaged a famous enchantress who knows all things that are going to happen. She is to come to me this morning, having spent the night in looking into the future, and will tell me what is to be my fate, whether I shall be defeated or gain the victory and become king of the Zulus."

"If you become king of the country, you will wish to be friends with the English, as Panda is. Now it strikes me, the best way to show your friendly intentions is to treat well those who fall into your power. I hope therefore, after we have had some breakfast, that you will restore us our rifles and horses, and allow us to return to those who are waiting for us."

"Go back to your hut, and wait until I send for you!" answered Umbulazi, making a grimace from which Denis drew no favourable augury. He thought it wise to obey.

"What news?" asked Percy, as he entered.

"One certain piece of news is that Lionel got off safe; but what the chief intends doing with us is more than I can say. I hope he will send us some breakfast; if not, we must forage for ourselves. The fellows down there will soon have their meat cooked and their mealy cakes baked. Before they have eaten them all up I will go down to one of the fires and claim a portion."

They waited for some time.

"I can stand this no longer!" cried Denis at last, and he got up intending to proceed to the nearest fire, when just as he crawled through the opening a Kaffir woman appeared carrying a basket on her head.

"The chief has sent you this," she said; "you are to eat it and be thankful; but he bids me tell you that if you attempt to run away you will be killed."

"We are much obliged to the chief," said Denis, as the girl placed the basket on the ground. "Tell him that we wish to remain friends, and that when he gives us permission we will bid him good-bye."

Denis, however, was too hungry to say more, and taking up the basket entered the hut. It contained a gourd of whey, some mealy cakes and cooked buffalo flesh.

"This isn't bad, after all," observed Denis as they fell to. "We have got Lionel's share as well as our own; however, we may stow that away in case we want it."

They had just finished their meal when their attention was attracted by a loud hubbub outside.

Denis crept out to ascertain the cause of the noise. Percy followed him, when they saw the whole Zulu army collected in two long lines, extending to the farther end of the valley. In the distance appeared one of the strangest figures imaginable. It was that, as the dress betokened, of a woman. Slowly she advanced up the centre, between the two lines of warriors, followed by a dozen men or more, carrying large shields, against which they beat with their clubs, making a sound like that of drums. As she drew near it was seen that she was bedecked in the most curious fashion. Her nose was painted white, as was one of her eyelids, while the other was dyed with red earth. Her long hair was plastered together by a mixture of grease and clay blackened with charcoal. Round her neck were suspended coils of the entrails of animals stuffed with fat, while her hair was stuck over in all directions with the gall bladders of animals. Several dried snakes, a human skull, and the heads and claws of birds, hung suspended from her shoulders, besides which she wore a necklace made of human finger bones, and rings of the same description round her ankles, her only actual garment being a short kilt hanging from her waist. In her left hand she held a wand with long tails at its end, which she flourished vigorously above her head as she advanced with prancing steps up the valley. In her right she carried her magic rattle, which she shook violently, now on one side, now on the other. The men drew aside to let her pass and to avoid being struck either by her wand or rattle, evidently holding her in great awe. On she came, however, disregarding their terror, and showing no inclination to denounce any of them as evil-doers, the service wizards and enchantresses are generally employed in rendering to the governing powers. As she got near to Umbulazi, she increased the rapidity of her movements, springing forward in the most wonderful manner, now turning to one side, now to the other, and bounding high in the air, while the charms she wore rattled and bumped against her body. Umbulazi and the chiefs round him watched these proceedings with intense eagerness, wondering what she would next do. Presently her eye fell on Denis and Percy.

"I think we should be wise to get into our hut," exclaimed Percy. "I don't like the look of that hideous creature."

Before, however, they could do so she was up to them, and flourishing her magical wand she struck them both on the shoulders. Although the blows did not hurt them, the effects were likely to prove disastrous. In another instant she had bounded away, and was apparently about to retire between the lines of soldiers. She had not gone far, however, before Umbulazi shouted to her to return.

Almost directly she had delivered the blows, several of the Zulu warriors, chiefs and others, rushed with threatening gestures towards the two captives. Denis, who was well acquainted with the customs of the Zulus, fully expected that a cruel death was instantly to be their lot; but mustering all his courage, he put on as determined a look as he could assume.

"We're in for it, Percy," he said, "so you must be prepared for the worst; but I'll try what I can do with these abominable savages."

Then looking boldly at the surrounding chiefs he addressed them in an undaunted tone.

"What are ye about to do, my friends?" he asked. "Because that strange woman struck us, are we to be treated as if we had committed some crime or were your sworn enemies?"

But no reply was deigned; all the expostulations he could offer were without the slightest effect. He and Percy were dragged up to the hut of the chief, before whom the woman was standing. He had just put the important question for her to answer--whether if he went to war he should obtain success over his enemies.

"Success will attend those who are the bravest and most numerous. See yonder host spread out before you. Can you doubt, O Prince, that victory will be yours?" she replied, in a loud chanting tone.

Umbulazi looked highly pleased at this answer.

"You hear what the wise woman says?" he exclaimed, turning to his chiefs.

"We will fight, we will gain the victory," they shouted.

Denis and Percy were all this time watching the proceedings with the greatest anxiety, wondering what would happen to them.

"What would you have me do with these white boys?" asked the chief.

"They have come as spies into your camp. They are the sons of those who have often tried to dispossess you of your lands. Let them, before the sun sets, be pierced through with assegais, and become as the dust of the earth."

"What does she say?" asked Percy, observing the expression of Denis's countenance.

"Something not very pleasant to us. She advises these fellows to kill us. But she has made a mistake, and not for the first time in her life; for she declares that we came into the camp to act as spies. Now the prince and the rest of the chiefs know perfectly well that we were brought in prisoners, and I should think they will have wit enough to see that she knows nothing about the matter."

From the remarks made by the chiefs, and the fierce glances they cast at him and Percy, Denis however felt anything but sure that they would do so.

"I'm very thankful that Lionel escaped," said Percy. "He will tell Hendricks where we are, and if we do not return, he will know what has become of us. Still I can scarcely fancy that these fellows will really put us to death."

"I don't think they would if they were left to themselves," said Denis; "but that dreadful old woman has so wonderful an influence on their superstitious minds, that she can induce them to do anything she likes. Now I suspect that she is in the interest of the other party, and she thinks that if these fellows can be induced to kill us, they will make our countrymen their enemies."

"If they are to die, the sooner they are put to death the better," exclaimed Umbulazi. "We will then, my brave warriors, set forth, sure of victory, to fight our foes."

Just at this juncture a large band of warriors was seen approaching the camp, led by a chief, who could be distinguished as such by the plumes in his head-dress, his cloak, and kilt of skins, and the ornaments on his oblong shield. He hastened on with his followers towards where Umbulazi was standing. As he drew near, Denis exclaimed--

"I am much mistaken if that young chief is not Mangaleesu, who was for so long living near Maritzburg. He was always a great friend of Lionel's and mine, and I'm sure he would not see us massacred without trying to save us." Denis however waited until the fresh arrivals had paid their respects in the usual fashion to the prince. He then shouted out in English, "Mangaleesu, Mangaleesu! come and save us. These people accuse us of being spies, and threaten to kill us, although the prince himself knows we were brought into the camp against our wills, and that our only object is to get back to Hendricks, with whom we are travelling."

Mangaleesu, on hearing his name called, came up to them, and at once addressing their captors, inquired what crime they had committed.

No one could at first answer him, but at last one of them observed that the great enchantress declared that they had come into the camp as spies.

"But you all know that they were brought into the camp, and I will answer for it that they have no evil intentions against the prince or any one else. If we were to kill them, we should make all the white men in Natal our enemies," answered Mangaleesu.

His arguments appeared to be prevailing, when the savage old hag, fearing that her influence would be lost, should her orders not be obeyed, shouted out in a croaking voice--

"Kill them! kill them! If they are allowed to live, you cannot gain the victory."

"If they are killed," cried Mangaleesu, "neither I nor my followers can unite with those who allow so cruel an act. The English have always been my friends, and I will not see them ill-treated, notwithstanding what that old woman says. It was not long since that she was seen paying a visit to Cetchwayo, and who can tell that she has not been sent by him to betray us?"

The hag, who heard all that was said, began to move uneasily, and gradually drew back from the crowd, until she joined the men who had accompanied her into the camp. So deeply steeped in superstition were the minds of the Zulus, that they could not divest themselves of the idea that her predictions would be fulfilled, in spite of all Mangaleesu had said. Denis and Percy were therefore kept strictly guarded in their midst.

They could see the old witch at some distance gesticulating violently, waving her arms about, occasionally leaping from side to side in the most extraordinary fashion. Now and then she pointed to them in a way which made them fear that she was still urging the chiefs to put them to death. Mangaleesu was the only one who held out. Had he not arrived, it seemed very probable that the savages would have plunged their assegais in their bodies. Even now their lives hung in the balance. For some time she was seen talking to several men, among whom were those who had been their guards during the night. Presently she advanced, and as she waved her wand, and pointed towards them, Denis heard her exclaim--

"There were three of them! Where is the third? Without him the number is incomplete."

The prince, who seemed to have forgotten this fact, on hearing her speak, exclaimed--

"You are right, most sagacious prophetess. There were three. Bring him forth, that he may suffer the doom of the others."

Instantly several of the young chiefs rushed to the hut, and were seen, one after the other, crawling in.

"They'll be mighty puzzled when they find that he's not there," said Denis. "I'm doubly thankful that he got off if we are to be killed, and there seems a great chance of that."

"Do you think they'll have the barbarity to put us to death?" asked Percy. "What object can they have in doing so?"

"Those fellows think no more of killing a man than we do of snuffing out a candle. If Mangaleesu cannot persuade them to let us go, we'll have a poor chance indeed of escape."

It seemed that Denis was right in his conjectures. The dreadful old witch was evidently bent on their destruction. Still, while there's life there's hope, and Percy did not give way to despair. They both maintained as calm a manner as they could command.

Again Mangaleesu addressed the prince with a boldness which astonished the other chiefs, who regarded the dreadful old impostor with the most profound awe; but he was again out-talked, both by her and the other chiefs. Presently the men who had gone into the hut to look for Lionel returned with the astonishing announcement that he was not to be found, declaring that they could not account for his disappearance.

"What has become of your companion?" asked Umbulazi.

"We were not set to watch him, and if he's not there, it's clear that he's gone," answered Denis, adding in English, "and I hope you are much the wiser for the information."

"How did he go?" asked the prince.

"If he walked, he went on two legs," answered Denis.

"But how did he get out of the hut?" inquired the Prince.

"The guards who had us in charge should answer that question," said Denis, in the same tone as before.

"Where are the guards? Send them here!" cried Umbulazi, in an angry tone.

Denis feared that the poor fellows would lose their lives, and unwilling to have them put to death, he cried out--

"They are not to blame. He is but a small boy, so he crept out by a hole, through which a large man could not have forced his way. He is with our friends long ago, I hope, so you need not trouble yourselves about him."

This answer, however, did not save the unfortunate guards, who soon approached, looking very downcast.

"I gave three prisoners into your charge; here are two, but where is the third?" asked the prince.

The three guards could not reply. At last one of them asked permission to go and search the hut. The prince told them that they might do so, but must come back and be killed, if they did not find the boy.

As may be supposed, they were a long time in making the search, and although the Zulus are very indifferent to death, yet they were naturally unwilling to go back and be killed. Denis earnestly hoped that they would try and make their escape, for he justly feared that should the prince once see blood flowing, like the savage tiger, he would be even more ready than before to shed theirs.

At last the prince, growing impatient, ordered some men to go to the hut and bring out the guards, either with or without the prisoner. The unhappy wretches were quickly dragged forward.

"Where is the boy?" asked the prince.

No answer was given.

"Kill them!" he exclaimed; and in an instant some heavy clubs descended on their heads, and each man lay in his blood, pierced by a dozen assegais.

"It will be our turn next!" cried Denis. "Are you ready, Percy?"

"As much as I can be. How thankful I am that Lionel escaped!" As he spoke, a dozen warriors with their assegais uplifted, still dripping with the blood of their former victims, approached; but at that moment there was a cry that some white men were coming, one of them waving a flag.

"Hold!" exclaimed Umbulazi. "It will not be wise to kill the prisoners just as their countrymen are coming. I would rather have them as friends than enemies."

Denis, who heard him speak, felt his heart bound.

"I don't think we shall die just yet," he said to Percy, "for here come Hendricks and Crawford and Umgolo, with a dozen armed men close behind them." _

Read next: Chapter 8. The Escape

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