But from my intimate knowledge of the habits of natives I had little fear that they would attack us at night, though, had they done so, they could have compassed our destruction with but small loss to themselves.

It is not the habit of this people, they like to fight in the light of day--at dawn for preference.
About eleven o'clock, just as I was nodding a little at my post, I heard a low whistle outside the laager.

Instantly I was wide awake, and all along the line I heard the clicking of locks as the Boers cocked their guns.
"Macumazahn," said a voice, the voice of Indaba-zimbi, "are you there ?" "Yes," I answered.
"Then hold a light so that I can see how to climb into the laager," he said.
"Yah! yah! hold a light," put in one of the Boers.

"I don't trust that black schepsel of yours, Heer Quatermain; he may have some of his countrymen with him." Accordingly a lantern was produced and held towards the voice.

There was Indaba-zimbi alone.