PREPARATIONS FOR A START. 237 



and energy. A tear I know was in each of my 

 eyes, but I managed to dispose of them, without 

 being detected doing so, for I did not wish these 

 warriors to think me capable of such weakness, a 

 weakness that they would have scorned to exhibit ; 

 then I enquired if their Bass was in camp ? On 

 this each plucked from the hole in the lobe of his 

 ear a reed ; in both I found half a sheet of note 

 paper, the inditement upon both was the same. 

 " Come and join me here ; capital country ; good 

 people ; I have sent six natives with the Zulus. 

 This is in duplicate, for the reason that their innate 

 recklessness makes me deem it more than probable 

 that only one will reach you. Come at once, there's 

 good fellows ; distance about five days journey ; 

 rivers low. Am in good health. Hope both of you 

 are the same. Dillon." Here was a surprise in 

 very truth. Go I must, for an option of refusal 

 was not left me. The letter though brief was full 

 of affection and thoroughness, just such as he or his 

 compeers could only write, but he had yet to know 

 of Sel win's death. Such impulsive natures as his 

 do not suffer long, but the pain is intense while 

 it lasts. What a shock it will be to him. These 

 and similar ideas rushed through my thoughts, 

 but action, up and be doing, worked upon me as 

 monitors ; so I ordered some of the sea cow's meat 

 to be saved and jerked, the youngster to be 

 cleaned and barbecued, loads to be made up, and 



