Before the Battle

           Luckilyforus,Infadoosandthechiefsknewallthepathsofthegreattownperfectly,sothatwepassedbyside-waysunmolested,andnotwithstandingthegloomwemadefairprogress. 

           Foranhourormorewejourneyedon,tillatlengththeeclipsebegantopass,andthatedgeofthemoonwhichhaddisappearedthefirstbecameagainvisible. Suddenly,aswewatched,thereburstfromitasilverstreakoflight,accompaniedbyawondrousruddyglow,whichhungupontheblacknessoftheskylikeacelestiallamp,andawildandlovelysightitwas. Inanotherfiveminutesthestarsbegantofade,andtherewassufficientlighttoseeourwhereabouts. WethendiscoveredthatwewereclearofthetownofLoo,andapproachingalargeflat-toppedhill,measuringsometwomilesincircumference. Thishill,whichisofaformationcommoninSouthAfrica,isnotveryhigh;indeed,itsgreatestelevationisscarcelymorethan200feet,butitisshapedlikeahorseshoe,anditssidesareratherprecipitousandstrewnwithboulders. Onthegrasstable-landatitssummitisamplecamping-ground,whichhadbeenutilisedasamilitarycantonmentofnomeanstrength. Itsordinarygarrisonwasoneregimentofthreethousandmen,butaswetoiledupthesteepsideofthemountaininthereturningmoonlightweperceivedthattherewereseveralofsuchregimentsencampedthere. 

           Reachingthetable-landatlast,wefoundcrowdsofmenrousedfromtheirsleep,shiveringwithfearandhuddleduptogetherintheutmostconsternationatthenaturalphenomenonwhichtheywerewitnessing.