Suddenly all the men commenced performing the most extraordinary antics, leaping, and whirling, and twisting, and turning, at the same time uttering the loudest shrieks and cries at the top of their voices.
“What are they about?” asked Percy, who had crept out after Denis.
“They are simply dancing a war dance in honour of their chief. We shall have an opportunity of witnessing their performance.”
The chief and his attendants were so busily employed in watching the troops, that they did not observe the young Englishmen standing outside their prison.
Presently the leading regiment began to move forward, the men still leaping, twisting, and turning, shaking their shields, quivering their assegais, and shouting all the time until they approached to where the chief stood, when halting for an instant they redoubled their efforts, and then passed on (it cannot be said they marched) to give room for another party who went through the same style of performance.
When the whole had passed in review, they dispersed in different directions, some to bring in wood, and others to slaughter some oxen which had been driven into the camp for the purpose.
So occupied had Umbulazi been with this extraordinary review of his troops, that he had apparently forgotten all about his prisoners, who meantime stood watching the proceedings, much interested with the curious spectacle. Denis at length proposed that they should make off, catch their horses, and gallop away. Percy was opposed to this, as it was nearly certain they would be seen and followed.
“I’m afraid you are right,” said Denis; “and there’s another strong argument in favour of staying—I’m so desperately hungry, that I don’t think I could ride far without food; and as these fellows will soon be having breakfast, I conclude that they will have the grace to offer us some. If they don’t, I shall make bold to go and take it, for they won’t object, even though they may intend to assegai us directly afterwards.”
They waited until the review was over. Denis then advised Percy to go back into the hut, while he set off on a foraging expedition.
“If we two were to go together, they would wonder what had become of Lionel, but if I alone appear, they will suppose that you are both inside the hut,” he said. “The chances are, they don’t put in their heads to find out; for everybody is so busily employed that they won’t trouble themselves about us.”