noon
The Makalakas thought that Kondwana 's fires were signals from the Balotsi to indicate that the fugitives were in the forest below the spur . They never supposed that the Zulus would indicate their whereabouts by lighting fires . So when daylight came , the Zulus had succeeded in outflanking their foes , and were making , as fast as starvation and their lacerated feet would let them , for the river . Towards noon , a herd of cattle was seen . This was at once taken possession of , and soon a number of the beasts were slaughtered . The starving men tore the raw , smoking flesh , and drank the blood greedily . They then cut up the hides and bound pieces around their feel .