Presently there was a slight rattle of trinkets, and a swish of the tall yellow grass, followed by the apparition of a naked Matabele warrior standing glistening among the rocks of the streamlet, within thirty yards of me.

His white war ornaments--the ball of clipped feathers on his brow, and the long white cow's-tail plume which depended from his arms and knees--contrasted strongly with his rich brown skin.

His kilt of wild cat-skins and monkeys' tails swayed round his loins.

His left hand bore his assegais and knobkerrie beneath the great dappled ox-hide shield; and in his right a yellow walking-staff.

He stood for almost a minute perfectly motionless, like a statue cast in bronze, his head turned from me, listening for any suspicious sound.