"Look here, Sewin," I said. "Supposing you were taken to a review, in
France or Germany say--would you feel any misgivings because the troops
were fully armed?"
"That's all very well, but these are savages you know. And the
ladies--"
"--Have no misgiving at all, Falkner," struck in Miss Sewin serenely.
"If all the savages in Zululand were here, I, for one, would feel
perfectly safe with Mr Glanton."
"Hullo, Glanton. Bow your acknowledgments," cried Falkner, in a tone
whose would-be geniality could not disguise a sneer. "Well, I was not
speaking on my own account."
"Of course you weren't, Sewin," I answered, anxious to avert any
unpleasant feeling. "And now, if the ladies will excuse me for a little
I must go and look out some cows for these fellows to kill. For the
next hour they will exchange their picturesqueness for the decidedly
reverse of the slaughter yard. By the way you might like to come along,
Sewin."
He jumped at the suggestion, but the Major preferred to remain where he
was. Mrs Sewin said they would get through the time getting out their
things and arranging their quarters for the night.
"I should think it'll make a hole in your cattle kraal," he said as we
strolled over.
"Not a big one. I sha'n't give them the pick of the herd of course."
We strolled round to the kraal. My cattle herd was there and we
proceeded to turn out the half dozen beasts I had selected for
slaughter. A number of my guests had crowded up. They had discarded
their shields, but were handling assegais in a manner that was highly
anticipatory.
"Stand back," I cried noting a desire to crowd up. "A few will be
sufficient."
But all were anxious to make one of that few, and by the time the doomed
animals had reached the appointed place, chosen for being well out of
sight--and scent--of the house, a rush was made upon them. Half the
number were down at once, deftly assegaied; the remaining three however
careered away, two wounded, and streaming with blood--the other
untouched. Then ensued something akin to a buffalo hunt. With yells
and whoops the excited savages bounded in pursuit, but even their speed
and agility was not enough to turn the terrified and maddened animals,
and had not a fresh crowd raced forward to head them they would have got
away into the bush. Now two were promptly transfixed with half a dozen
deftly hurled assegais in each, but the last, hardly touched, charged
like lightning through its encompassing destroyers, and came straight
back to the kraal, and, incidentally, for Falkner Sewin, who had left me
to follow on and see the racket.
"Look out!" I roared. "Look out, Sewin! Run, man, for your life!"
If he had taken my warning in time, all would have been well; but for
some reason or other--I suspect cussedness--he did not. The cow, a red
one, with sharp needle-like horns, now thoroughly maddened by the riot
and the blood, and the sharp dig of more than one badly aimed spear, put
down her head, and charged straight for Falkner. I snatched an assegai
from a young Zulu who was standing by me watching the fun, and rushed
forward, and none too soon, for now Falkner was in full flight; the
savage animal, head lowered, and throwing the foam from her mouth, and
"twilling" hideously, was gaining upon him at the rate of two steps to
one. It was now or never. As she shot past me I let go the assegai.
It was a tense moment that--between when the long shaft left my hand and
half buried itself in the side of the cow. But the throw was a right
true one. The keen, tapering blade had bitten right into the heart, and
the maddened beast plunged heavily forward to lie in a moment, dead and
still, and at the sight a great roar of applause went up from the
excited savages, who while trooping back from their unsuccessful chase
had been delightedly watching this its termination.