Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24

greatly superior numbers of Kaffirs. Ronald
gave the word, and his men charged down
into the middle of the fight. The Kafirs
did not await their onslaught, but glided
away among the trees, the Fingoes follow
ing in hot pursuit until recalled by their
officer, who feared that their foes might turn
upon them when beyond the reach of the
rifles of the troopers.
Ronald saw at once as he rode up that
although the Fingoes had arrived in time to
save the wagons, they had come too late to
be of service to the majority of the defend
ers. Some half dozen men, gathered in
body, were still on their feet, but a score of
others lay dead or desperately wounded by
the side of the wagons. As soon as the
Fingoes returned and reported the Kafirs in
full flight, Ronald and the troops dismounted
to see what aid they could render. He
went up to the group of white men, most of
whom were wounded.
"This is a bad job" one of them said;
"but we thought that as there were about 80
of us, the Kafirs wouldn't venture to attack
us. We were all on the alert, but they
sprang so suddenly out of the bushes that
half OF us were speared before we had time
to draw trigger.
"What had we better do, sir-go on or 90
back?" This question was addressed to the
young officer.
'I should think that now you have got 50
far you had better 60 on" he said. "The
tie time. will give you half nv Fingoes
to escort you on through the wood. Don't
you think that will be the best plan, Ser
geant?"
81 think so, sir. I will let you have half
my men to 60 back with them. The rest Of
us had better stay here until they return.
But, first of ali, we will see to these poor
fellows. They may not be all dead"
Most of them, however, were found to be
SO, the Kafirs having sprung upon them
and cut their throats as soon as they had
fallen. Two of them who had fallen near
the group which had maintained the resist
ance were, however, found to be still living,
and these were lifted into the wagons. just
as the party were going to move on toward
the coast, a groan was heard among the
bushes by the side of the road. Ronald and
two of the troopers at once proceeded to the
spot.
"Good heavensp' the former exclaimed,
as he leaned over the man who was lying
there, sit is Mr.. Armstrong"
He was lifted up and carried into the
road. An assegai had passed through both
legs, and another had transfxed his body
near the right shoulder. The point projected
some inches through the back, the shaft
having broken off as he fell. Ronald seized
the stump Of the spear, and with the great
est difficulty drew it out from the wound.
"Cut his things off," he said to the troop
ers, sand tear up something and lightly
bandage the wound. I am afraid it is
fatal one." Then he hurried off to the men.
"Were there not some women in the
wagons ?" he asked.
''Yes, there were three of them" the man
said; ga girl and two women. The women
were the wives Of two Of the men who have
been killed. The girl was the daughter Of
another. suppose the natives must have
carried them of, for see no signs of
them"
Ronald uttered an exclamation of horror;
he knew the terrible fate of women who tell
into the hands Of the Kafirs. He returned
to the officer.
what is it, Sergeant" he asked. "any
fresh misfortune?"
"A young lady know, daughter of that
poor fellow We have just picked up, and two
other women, have been carried Of BY the
natives"