It was evident that an attempt to escape would be useless, so the young hunters sat still, as did Gozo, who looked very much astonished, not being able to make out why the Zulus had captured them. They were fierce-looking fellows, some of them being apparently chiefs, for they wore kilts of monkey or cat skins round their waists. Their breasts and backs were covered with ox-tails, while their heads were adorned with caps of monkey skins, in which were stuck tall plumes composed of ostrich and crane feathers. The rest of the men had very little clothing beyond a small kilt of skins round their waists. They all carried shields on their arms and a bundle of assegais in their hands. Denis was the first to recover from his astonishment, and turning toward one who appeared to be their leader, he asked in as quiet a tone as he could command—
“Why have you thus come suddenly upon us, while we were enjoying our repast? Such is not the way the Zulus behave towards their friends the English.”
“We knew not whether you were English or boers, and we found you hunting in our territory,” answered the chief.
“The English have never been prevented from hunting wherever they choose throughout Zululand,” answered Denis.
“That matters not at present,” said the chief. “You are our prisoners; you must accompany us to our king, and beware that you make no resistance or attempt to escape.”
Denis interpreted what the chief said to Percy, who was naturally anxious to know the result of the conversation.
“We must put the best face we can on the matter,” he added, “and I only hope that they’ll let us keep our guns.”
This seemed very doubtful, for from their looks the Zulus certainly did not regard their prisoners with any affectionate feeling. Lionel had not hitherto spoken, and as they found that Percy was unacquainted with their language, they supposed that he was so likewise.
“Don’t speak to them, Lionel,” said Denis. “I’ll act as interpreter, and then you may be able to find out why they have taken us prisoners, and what they intend to do to us.”
“It will be wise to do so,” answered Lionel; “and if I am able to get away, I will let Uncle Hendricks know what has happened, and he will very soon be down upon these gentlemen, and rescue you.”