You are in great danger; the Red Kaffirs are going to attack the house." She flew to the door in her nightdress, and at length I was in the place.
"Thank God! you are still safe," I gasped.

"Put on your clothes while I call Leblanc.

No, stay, do you call him; I must wait here for Hans and your slaves." Away she sped without a word, and presently Hans arrived, bringing with him eight frightened men, who as yet scarcely knew whether they slept or woke.
"Is that all ?" I asked.

"Then bar the door and follow me to the 'sitkammer', where the baas keeps his guns." Just as we reached it, Leblanc entered, clad in his shirt and trousers, and was followed presently by Marie with a candle.
"What is it ?" he asked.
I took the candle from Marie's hand, and set it on the floor close to the wall, lest it should prove a target for an assegai or a bullet.

Even in those days the Kaffirs had a few firearms, for the most part captured or stolen from white men.