One of them, however, a bolder fellow than the rest, turned and fired at me.

He missed by some yards, as I could tell from the sing of the bullet, for these Arabs are execrable shots.

Still his attempt at murder irritated me so much that I determined he should not go scot-free.

I was carrying the little rifle called "Intombi," that with which, as Hans had reminded me, I shot the vultures at Dingaan's kraal many years before.

Of course, I could have killed the man, but this I did not wish to do.