The officers wore a
short skin cloak or kaross, and the men also had cloaks, which I found
out afterwards were made from the inner bark of trees.
They advanced in the most perfect silence and very slowly. Nobody said
anything, and if orders were given this must have been done by signs.
I could not see that any of them had firearms.
"Now," I said to Stephen, "perhaps if we shot and killed some of those
fellows, they might be frightened and run away. Or they might not; or
if they did they might return."
"Whatever happened," he remarked sagely, "we should scarcely be
welcome in their country afterwards, so I think we had better do
nothing unless we are obliged."
I nodded, for it was obvious that we could not fight hundreds of men,
and told Sammy, who was perfectly livid with fear, to bring the
breakfast. No wonder he was afraid, poor fellow, for we were in great
danger. These Mazitu had a bad name, and if they chose to attack us we
should all be dead in a few minutes.
The coffee and some cold buck's flesh were put upon our little camp-
table in front of the tent which we had pitched because of the rain,
and we began to eat.
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