word that means "Hut-with-a-flat-roof," is surrounded by forest, for
here trees grow wonderfully well, perhaps because of the water that
flows from its slopes. Forcing our way through this forest, which was
full of game, I reached its eastern foot and there camped, five
days before that night of full moon on which I had arranged to meet
Umslopogaas.

That I should meet him I did not in the least believe, firstly because
I thought it very probable that he would have changed his mind about
coming, and secondly for the excellent reason that I expected he had
gone to call upon the King against his will, as I had been asked to do.
It was evident to me that he was up to his eyes in some serious plot
against Cetywayo, in which he was the old dwarf Zikali's partner, or
rather, tool; also that his plot had been betrayed, with the result that
he was "wanted" and would have little chance of passing safely through
Zululand. So taking one thing with another I imagined that I had seen
his grim face and his peculiar, ancient-looking axe for the last time.

To tell the truth I was glad. Although at first the idea had appealed to
me a little, I did not want to make this wild-goose, or wild-witch chase
through unknown lands to seek for a totally fabulous person who dwelt
far across the Zambesi. I had, as it were, been forced into the thing,
but if Umslopogaas did not appear, my obligations would be at an end
and I should return to Natal at my leisure. First, however, I would do
a little shooting since I found that a large herd of elephants haunted
this forest. Indeed I was tempted to attack them at once, but did not
do so since, as Hans pointed out, if we were going north it would be
difficult to carry the ivory, especially if we had to leave the waggon,
and I was too old a hunter to desire to kill the great beasts for the
fun of the thing.