At dawn of the following day,
the fourth from the departure of the heralds, the main impi, having
been doctored in the usual fashion, started under the command of Nala
himself, who, knowing that his life and chieftainship hung upon the
issue of the struggle, wisely determined to be present to direct it.
With them went Maiwa, who was to guide them up the secret path. Of
course we were obliged to give them two days' start, as they had more
than a hundred miles of rough country to pass, including the crossing of
the great mountain range which ran north and south, for it was necessary
that the impi should make a wide detour in order to escape detection.
"At length, however, at dawn on the sixth day, I took the road,
accompanied by my most unwilling bearers, who did not at all like the
idea of thus putting their heads into the lion's mouth. Indeed, it was
only the fear of Nala's spears, together with a vague confidence in
myself, that induced them to accept the adventure. With me also were
about two hundred Butianas, all armed with guns of various kinds, for
many of these people had guns, though they were not very proficient in
the use of them. But they carried no shields and wore no head-dress or
armlets; indeed, every warlike appearance was carefully avoided. With
our party went also a sister of Maiwa's, though by a different mother,
who strongly resembled her in face and form, and whose mission it was to
impersonate the runaway wife.
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