"What have you arranged, Allan ?" With some irritation, for I hated that sentence of Brother John's, I replied that I had arranged nothing, but that as none of them seemed to have any suggestions to make, I would go out and talk the matter over with Hans and Mavovo, which I did.
I need not chronicle the results of our conference since other arrangements were being made for us at which I little guessed.
It all came very suddenly, as great things in the lives of men and nations sometimes do.

Although the Mazitu were of the Zulu family, their military organization had none of the Zulu thoroughness.

For instance, when I remonstrated with Bausi and old Babemba as to their not keeping up a proper system of outposts and intelligence, they laughed at me and answered that they never had been attacked and now that the Pongo had learnt a lesson, were never likely to be.
By the way, I see that I have not yet mentioned that at Brother John's request those Pongos who had been taken prisoners at the Battle of the Reeds were conducted to the shores of the lake, given one of the captured canoes and told that they might return to their own happy land.
To our astonishment about three weeks later they reappeared at Beza Town with this story.
They said that they had crossed the lake and found Rica still standing, but utterly deserted.

They then wandered through the country and even explored the Motombo's cave.

There they discovered the remains of the Motombo, still crouched upon his platform, but nothing more.