Inklanzi replied, "We searched everywhere, chief, and we only heard they
had all died."
"If those women are alive, you shall be knob-kerried for not bringing
them."
"Did you fight against my men near the Umlass?" inquired the chief.
"Yes," I replied.
"Can you throw an assagy?"
"Yes, and I can run."
I was proud of my running, for among the Umzimvubu there was no man
could beat me for a short distance.
The chief shouted for one of his guard, who approached crawling on his
hands and knees.
"Bring Cachema," said the chief.
The man jumped up, and rushed off to obey his orders. In a few minutes,
the Zulu called Cachema rushed up within an assagy's-throw of the chief.
He then stopped and shouted "Inkosi" three times.
"Come here," said the chief to Cachema. "You must run with this white
boy and show him how to run."
I looked well at Cachema, and had never seen a finer specimen of a young
man. He was tall--six feet at least; his legs were large compared to
his body, but muscular and well-shaped; his skin shone like satin; and,
as he moved, there was an ease and grace just as we see in a leopard. I
feared I should stand no chance with this man; but I was in excellent
condition, and I saw that he failed in one respect, viz., that he was
flat-footed, whilst I was very high in the instep, and had therefore
more spring than he had.
The chief said, "You two run to that tree, touch it, and run back here
again. I will give a cow to whoever wins." Cachema looked at me with
surprise. He seemed to consider it absurd for me to attempt running
with him, as I was smaller and younger. We took each other's hands, and
when the chief said "Hamba" ("Go") we started.
The tree was about two hundred yards away, and the ground over which we
ran was hard and firm. I got the best of the start, and managed to keep
just ahead of Cachema till we reached the tree. I knew from experience
that most Caffres could run a mile at the same pace as they could run a
few hundred yards, their wind was so good, and they never tired. So I
did not run at full speed to the tree; but, after touching it, I came
back as fast as I could run. I expected every instant to find Cachema
rush past me. I dared not look round to see where he was, but continued
at my best pace, and rushed past the chief several yards ahead of my
opponent.