Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-09-24

The next thing stiplated was that
II we conquered the white man, John
Every. should be handed over to me,
together with any goods that he might
claim.
His cruel captivity was, I need hard
~ say, the only reason that induced me
TO join in SO harebrained an expedi.
ton. but was careful, from motives
pf policy, to keep this fact in the back.
ground.
Nala accepted this condition.
My third stipulation was that nv
women or children should be killed.
This being agreed to we went on 10
consider ways and means.
Wambe was, 1t appeared, a very
powerful petty chief: that is, he could
put at least 5000 fighting men into the
field. and always had from 1000 to 1000
collected about his kraal, which was
supposed to be impregnable.
Nala, on the contrary, could not at
such short notice collect more than
from 1000 to 1900 men, though. being
of the Zulu stock, they were Of much
better stuff for fighting purposes than
Wambe's Matukus.
These odds, though large, were not.
under the circumstances, overwhclm-
ing.
The real obstacle to our chance OF
success was the difficulty of delivering
crushing assault against Wambe's
strong place.
This was, it appeared, fortified all
cound with schanses, or stone walls,
and contained numerous caves and
koppies in the hillside and at the foot
Of the mountain which no force had
ever been able to capture.
1t was said that in the time Of the
Zulu monarch Dingaan, a great Impi
Of that king having penetrated to this
district, had delivered all assault upon
the kraal. then owned by forefather
of Wambe, and been beaten back with
the loss Of more than 1000 men.
Having thought the question over, l
closely interrogated Maiwa as to the
fortiications and the Typographical pc
culiarities Of the spot. and not without
results.
discovered that the kraal was in
deed impregnable to front attack, but
that 1t was very slightly defended at
the rear, which ran up the slope OF the
mountain-indeed, only By two lines of
stone walls.
The reason of this was that the
mountain is quite impossible. except
by one secret path, supposed to be
known only to the chief and his coun-
cilors, and this being So it mad not
oeen considered necessary to fortify it.
"Well," said. when she had done,
"and now as to this secret path OF
thine, knowest thou aught of it:'
"Ay," she answered. II am 10 fool,
Macumazahn.
knowledge learned is power earned.
II won the secret of that path"
"And canst thou guide an Impi there.
OH, so that it shall fall upon the town
from behind?"
"Yes, that can do, If only Wambe's
people know not that the Impi comes,
for if they know, then can they block
the way"
$50, then, here is my plan.
''Listen. Nala, and say if it be good;
or, IL you have better, show 1t forth.
LET messengers 60 out and summon
all thy ITpi, that 1t be gathered here
on the third day from now.
"Ths being done, let the lmpi, led by
Maiwa, march on the morrow Of the
fourth day, and crossing the noun
tains, let it travel along on the other
side Of the mountains till 1t come to
the place on the farther side Of which
Is the kraal of Wambe; that shall be
some three days journey in all about
100 miles,.
"Then, on the night Of the third days
journey let Maiwa lead the 1mpi In
silence up the secret path, SO that 1t
comes to the crest Of the mountain
that is above the Strong Place, and
here let 1t hide among the rocks.
"NIeanwhile, on the sixth day from
now, let one of the Inundas of Nala
bring with him two hundred men that
have guns, and take me and my men as
prisoners, and take also girl from
among the Butiana people who by
form and face is like unto Maiwa, and
bind her hands, and pass by the road
on which we came. and. through the
cutting In the cliff, on to the kraal of
Wambe.
"But the men shall take no shields or
plumes with them, only their guns and
one short spear, and when they meet
the people Of Wambe they shall say
that they come to give up the woman
md the white man and his party to
Wambe, and to make atonement to
Wambe.
$50 shall they pass in peace, and
travelling thus, on the evening Of the
seventh day we shall come to the gate
VI the place of Wambe, and nigh the
gates there is. SO says. Maiwa, a koppie
rery strong and full of rocks and caves.
out having no soldiers thereon exceps
in time Of war, or, at the worst, but a
Few such as can easily be overpowe.ed.
''This being done, at the dawn OF Gay
-aust the Impi on the mountain behind
the town light a fire, and put wet
grass thereon, 50 that the smoke goes
up.
"Then at the sight Of the smoke will
we in the koppie begin to shoot into
the town of Wambe, whereon all the
soidiers will RIM 70 kill us
"But we will hold our own, and while
we fight the Impi shall charge down
the mountain side and climb the
schanses, and put those who defend
them to the assegai, and then, falling
upon the town, shall surprise it, and
drive the soldiers Of Wambe as the
wind blows the dead husks OF corn