"That is a lie," responded Norbury. "They had too many eyes, and looked too closely into what did not concern them. They had to fly, and now they will carry strange stories to the English about the doings on the Zulu side." This, I could see, made some impression upon the warriors. However, I confined myself simply to contradicting it. Then Norbury asked the chief to order the return of his weapons. "I need no such order," I said. "I am willing to return them, but--I must have all the cartridges in exchange." He was obliged to agree, which he did sullenly. As he threw down the bandolier and emptied his pockets of his pistol cartridges he said: "Glanton, my good friend--if you value your life I warn you not to come to this section of the Zulu country any more. If it hadn't been for this crowd happening up, you'd both have been dead meat by now. You can take my word for that." "Oh no, I don't," I answered. "I've always been able to take care of myself, and I fancy I'll go on doing it. So don't you bother about that. Here are your shooting-irons." "What about my horse? You've shot my horse you know. What are you going to stand for him?" "Oh blazes take you and your impudence," struck in Falkner. "I'm only sorry it wasn't you I pinked instead of the gee. Outside British jurisdiction, you know," he added with an aggravating grin. "Stand? Stand you another hammering if you like to stand up and take it. You won't? All right. Good-bye. We've no time to waste jawing with any blighted dog-stealer like you." The expression of the other's face was such that I felt uncommonly glad I had insisted on taking his cartridges; and at the same time only trusted he had not an odd one left about him. But the only weapon available was a string of the direst threats of future vengeance, interspersed with the choicest blasphemies, at which Falkner laughed. "You came along like a lion, old cock," he said, "and it strikes me you're going back like a lamb. Ta-ta." I talked a little further with the two chiefs, and then we resumed our way, they walking with us as far as the drift. As to the state of the border Untuswa shook his head. "See now, Iqalaqala," he said. "One thing you can tell your people, and that is that any trouble you may have met with in the land where the Great Great One rules has not been at the hands of his people but at those of your own." This was in reference to all sorts of reports that were being circulated with regard to the so-called enormities of Cetywayo, and the hostility of his people; and the point of it I, of course, fully recognised.