It was evident to us that before very long we should be attacked in overwhelming force.

Indeed, from our point of vantage on the hill we could see troops mustering, and runners going forth from Loo in every direction, doubtless to summon soldiers to the king's assistance.

We had on our side about twenty thousand men, composed of seven of the best regiments in the country.

Twala, so Infadoos and the chiefs calculated, had at least thirty to thirty-five thousand on whom he could rely at present assembled in Loo, and they thought that by midday on the morrow he would be able to gather another five thousand or more to his aid.

It was, of course, possible that some of his troops would desert and come over to us, but it was not a contingency which could be reckoned on.