The driver and leader I got without much difficulty，two Zulus，named respectively Goza and Tom；but the servants were a more difficult matter.It was necessary that they should be thoroughly trustworthy and brave men，as in a business of this sort our lives might depend upon their conduct.At last I secured two，one a Hottentot called Ventv?gel (wind-bird)，and one a little Zulu named Khiva，who had the merit of speaking English perfectly.Ventv?gel I had known before；he was one of the most perfect "spoorers"-(game trackers)I ever had to do with and tough as whipcord.
He never seemed to tire.But he had one failing，so common with his race，drink.Put him within reach of a bottle of grog and you could not trust him.But as we were going beyond the region of grog-shops this little weakness of his did not so much matter.
Having got these two men I looked in vain for a third to suit my purpose，so we determined to start without one，trusting to luck to find a suitable man on our way up country.But on the evening before the day we had fixed for our departure the Zulu Khiva informed me that a man was waiting to see me.Accordingly when we had done dinner，for we were at table at the time，I told him to bring him in.Presently a very tall，handsome-looking man，somewhere about thirty years of age，and very light-colored for a Zulu，entered，and，lifting his knob-stick by way of salute，squatted himself down in the corner on his haunches and sat silent.I did not take any notice of him for a while，fop it is a great mistake to do so.If you rush into conversation at once a Zulu is apt to think you a person of little dignity or consideration.
I observed，however，that he was a "Keshla"(ringed man)，that is，that he wore on his head the black ring，made of a species of gum polished with fat and worked in with the hair，usually assumed by Zulus on attaining a certain age or dignity.Also it struck me that his face was familiar to me.
"Well，"I said at last，"what is your name？"
"Umbopa，"answered the man，in a slow，deep voice.
"I have seen your face before."
"Yes；the lnkoosi (chief)saw my face at the place of the Little Hand the day before the battle."Then I remembered.I had been one of Lord Chelmsford's guides in that unlucky Zulu war，and had had the good fortune to leave the camp in charge of some wagons the day before the battle.While I had been waiting for the cattle to be inspanned I had fallen into conversation with this man，who held some small command among the native auxiliaries，and he had expressed to me his doubts of the safety of the camp.At the time I had told him to hold his tongue，and leave such matters to wiser heads；but afterwards I thought of his words.
"I remember，"I said；"what is it you want？"
"It is this，`Macumazahn'(that is my Kaffir name，and means the man who gets up in the middle of the night；or，in vulgar English，he who keeps his eyes open).I hear that you go on a great expedition far into the north with the white chiefs from over the water.Is it a true word？""It is."
"I hear that you-go even to the Lukanga River，a moon's journey beyond the Manica country.Is this so also，`Macumazahn'？""Why do you ask whither we go？What is it to thee？"I answered，suspiciously，for the objects of our journey had been kept a dead secret.
"It is this，O white men，that if indeed you travel so far I would travel with you."There was a certain assumption of dignity in the man's mode of speech，and especially in his use of the words "O white men，"instead of "O Inkosis"(chiefs)，which struck me.
"You forget yourself a little，"I said："Your words come out unawares.
That is not the way to speak.What is your name，and where，is your kraal？
Tell us，that we may know with whom we have to deal.""My name is Umbopa.I am of the Zulu people，yet not of，them.
The house of my tribe is in the far north，it was left behind when the Zulus came down here a `thousand years ago，'long before Chaka reigned in Zululand.I have no kraal.I have wandered for many years.I came from the north as a child to Zululand，I was Cetywayo's man in the Nkomabakosi regiment.I ran away from Zululand and came to Natal because I wanted to see the white man's ways.Then I served against Cetywayo in the war.Since then I have been working in Natal.Now I am tired，and would go north again.
Here is not my place.I want no money，but I am a brave man，and am worth my place and meat.I have spoken."I was rather puzzled at this man and his way of speech.It was evident to me from his manner that he was in the main telling the truth，but he was somehow different from the.ordinary run of Zulus，and I rather mistrusted his offer to come without pay.Being in a difficulty，I translated his words to Sir Henry and Good，and asked them their opinion.Sir Henry told me to ask him to stand up.Umbopa did so，at the same time slipping off the long military great-coat he wore，and revealing himself naked except for the，moocha round his centre and a necklace of lions'claws.He certainly was a.magnificent-looking man；I never saw a finer native.Standing about six foot three high，he was broad in proportion，and very shapely.In that light，too，his skin looked scarcely more than dark，except here and there where deep，black scars marked old assegai wounds.Sir Henry walked up to him and looked into his proud，handsome face.
"They make a good pair，don't they？"said Good；"one as big as the other.""I like your looks，Mr.Umbopa，and I will take you as my servant，"said Sir Henry in English.
Umbopa evidently understood for he answered in Zulu，"It is well"；and then，with a glance at the white man's great stature and breadth，"we are men，you and I."
