Where there was fire let there be blackness and ashes." Now the White Man lifted his hands and prayed Dingaan not to do this thing that should be the death of many, but the king bade him be silent.
Then he turned his eyes upward and prayed to his gods.

For a moment also the soldiers looked on each other in doubt, for the fire raged furiously, and spouts of flame shot high toward the heaven, and above it and about it the hot air danced.

But their captain called to them loudly: "Great is the king! Hear the words of the king, who honours you! Yesterday we ate up the Amaboona--it was nothing, they were unarmed.
There is a foe more worthy of our valour.

Come, my children, let us wash in the fire--we who are fiercer than the fire! Great is the king who honours us!" Thus he spoke and ran forward, and, with a roar, after him sprang the soldiers, rank by rank.

They were brave men indeed; moreover, they knew that if death lay before them death also awaited him who lagged behind, and it is far better to die with honour than ashamed.