Both parties crowded up to their chiefs.

One of the opposite party coming too near, one of mine drove him back with a battle-axe.

The enemy protested their amicable intentions, and my men asserted the fact of having the goods knocked down as evidence of the contrary.

Without waiting long, I requested all to sit down, and Pitsane, placing his hand upon the revolver, somewhat allayed their fears.

I then said to the chief, "If you have come with peaceable intentions, we have no other; go away home to your village." He replied, "I am afraid lest you shoot me in the back." I rejoined, "If I wanted to kill you, I could shoot you in the face as well." Mosantu called out to me, "That's only a Makalaka trick; don't give him your back." But I said, "Tell him to observe that I am not afraid of him;" and, turning, mounted my ox.