Making no answer, they wheeled their horses about and galloped back to the force that was gathering below as swiftly as they had come.
"We must fight, my Lord Macumazana," said Harut, "and if we would live, conquer, as I know that we shall do." Then he issued some orders, of which the result was that the caravan adopted a wedge-shaped formation like to that of a great flock of wildfowl on the wing.

Harut stationed himself almost at the apex of the triangle.

I with Hans and Marut were about the centre of the line, while Ragnall and Savage were placed opposite to us in the right line, the whole width of the wedge being between us.

The baggage camels and their leaders occupied the middle space between the lines and were followed by a small rear-guard.
At first we white men were inclined to protest at this separation, but when Marut explained to us that its object was to give confidence to the two divisions of the force and also to minimize the risk of destruction or capture of all three of us, of course we had nothing more to say.
So we just shook hands, and with as much assurance as we could command wished each other well through the job.
Then we parted, poor Savage looking very limp indeed, for this was his first experience of war.

Ragnall, however, who came of an old fighting stock, seemed to be happy as a king.