“And it’s all for a sixpenny fare—and they’re cab-horses!” ejaculated Mr. Linton. “By Jove, just fancy an impi of those fellows under Cetewayo going out to battle—with broad spears instead of feather dusters!”
Jim whistled under his breath, watching the row of child-like giants. Then he burst into a laugh. On the far side of the row was a Zulu who had been unable to get round in time to join in the general effort to attract the tourist. He was contenting himself by stooping and peering between the wheel-spokes, grinning from ear to ear as he beat upon them in the hope of catching the passenger’s eye. The effect was indescribably ludicrous.
“Isn’t he lovely!” laughed Norah. “Oh, Jimmy, can you imagine a stolid Melbourne cabby playing ‘Bo-peep’ behind his wheels like that!”
“I’d give a lot to see it,” Jim said, “especially if I could dress him in that kit first. I wonder what’s the duty on one rickshaw complete with Zulu—it would be rather a lark to import one to Australia after the war!”
“You couldn’t do it—the cabmen would rise up and slay you,” Wally said. “Well, I want to go inland, and see those chaps on their native heath. Great Scott, what fighting-men they’d make!”
“Once,” said Mr. Linton. “Not now—since they learned the ways of civilisation. But what they must have been! Did you ever hear of the impi that failed in battle, under Chaka? He mustered them afterwards and told them their punishment. There was a cliff half a mile away, with a sheer drop of hundreds of feet into a rocky gorge; at a signal their officers gave them the word to march, and took them straight forward, over the edge!”
“And they went over?” Norah was wide-eyed with horror.
“Every man. The king stood near the edge to watch; and as they passed him they tossed their shields aloft and gave him the royal salute—‘Bayété!’ Then they went down, like warriors. They knew it was the only thing left to them; it was not possible to fail the king and to continue to live.”
“He gave one impi a chance, though,” Wally said. “They were a very famous fighting regiment, and in some way or other they disobeyed him. Chaka didn’t want to kill them—possibly he was short of recruits, like Great Britain! But he paraded them and told them that because of their previous good record he would spare their lives, under one condition—that they left their assegais in the kraal, went out into the bush, and brought him a living lion, full-grown, with teeth and claws perfect!”
“What—with their bare hands?” Jim asked, incredulously.