to-morrow morning, but they will not attack till dawn, then they will
wipe out the laager _so!_" and he passed his hand before his mouth.

"Stop that croaking, you white-headed crow," I said, though I knew
his words were true. What chance had a laager of ten waggons all told
against at least two thousand of the bravest savages in the world?

"Macumazahn, will you take my advice this time?" Indaba-zimbi said,
presently.

"What is it?" I asked.

"This. Leave your waggons here, jump on that horse, and let us two run
for it as hard as we can go. The Zulus won't follow us, they will be
looking after the Boers."

"I won't leave the other white men," I said; "it would be the act of a
coward. If I die, I die."

"Very well, Macumazahn, then stay and be killed," he answered, taking
a pinch of snuff. "Come, let us see about the waggons," and we walked
towards the laager.

Here everything was in confusion. However, I got hold of Hans Botha and
put it to him if it would not be best to desert the waggons and make a
run for it.

"How can we do it?" he answered; "two of the women are too fat to go
a mile, one is sick in childbed, and we have only six horses among us.
Besides, if we did we should starve in the desert. No, Heer Allan, we