The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-22

Two of my sons he said have already
driven off the cattle and horses. l have
6 couple of cows in milk in the shed
adjoining the house. and | shall bring them
inside at nignt. The Ksfirs will never
beat down my shutters or door, and o 10 of
US VIII watch BY turns, so that we will give
1t TO them hot If they DO venture to come
on; but think they have had pretty nearly
enough of us"
This was the only house where a success
ful resistance was made, and on getting
to t last station the party bivoCacked
near the ruins of the house, and placing
two men on guard, were soon asleep. They
were undisturbed till morning, and mount
ing as soon as it was daylight, rode back to
MIR. Armstrong; station. Three wagons
had arrived late the night before, and with
the assistance Of the troopers were already
loaded with furniture and other effects.
Two Of the burghers offered to assist Mr..
Armstrong in driving his cattle and horses
to king WIllIamStown. The party was nc
companied by the other settlers and their
families, several Of whom had saved their
wagons and animals, as the Kaffirs had
made their first attack upon Mr. Armstrong
kno wing from the Hottentot servants that
the settlers from three or four of the ad-
joining firms would be gathered there.
Their defeat, therefore, had saved not only
Mr.. Armstrong but the other farms from
settlers before starting bestowed upon Ron
aid and the troopers, and Ronald as soon as
the caravan had started rode somewhat
thoughtfully off wi b his men to the first
place he had visited.
Here they found that the Kaffirs, after
they had left, had made a determined at
tack upon the place, but had been beaten
Off with much loss after several hours
fighting The settlers were now, however,
occupied in preparing t. leave their farms,
as the attack might at any moment be re-
newed, and perhaps with overwhelming
numbers. The party of mounted police
remained in the village until the following
morning, as their horses, after their heavy
work on the previous day, were not fit to
take the long journey back to camp. On the
following morning they saw the settlers
fairly on their way, and then galloped off to
rejoin their corps at Fort Cox.
As they assembled piece of rising ground
within a mile of the fort, and obtained a
fair view OF it, they refined in their horses
simultaneously. The fort itself appeared
silent and deserted, but at a distance of a
few hundred yards from il they could see a
large number OF men moving about.
"Fhose are not soldiers" Ronald ex-
claimed, ''they must be Kaffirs. By Jove
the place is absolutely besieged. Look at
the puffs of smoke. Yes, there can be no
doub5 about it. | expect the column has
gone out again, and the Kaffifs are trying
TO take it before they return. Well, lads,
it's too late in the afternoon now for us to
do anything. We had better ride back two
or three miles and then camp for the night.
In the morning we must try and find out
what has taken place and whore the troop
have got to-"
All agreed that this was the best plan,
and they accordingly rode quietly back, as
for au yht they could tel keen eyes might
be upon them. They did not attempt to
halt until it was quite dark, when they
turned off at right angles to their former
curse, and after riding for about mile,
eacamped in a clump of bushes. They had
plenty of cold meat with them, for the set
tiers had, before starting, filed their haver-
sacks. There was, therefore, no occasion
to light fire, which, indeed, they would in
no case have done, as, should a Kaffir
catch sight of a light, he would asSuredly
bring an overpoweriug force down upon
them.
"We will watch an hour apiece, two on
sentry" Ronald said. ''We can eat our
meal in comfort first. There is no fear of
their coming down upon us at present, at
any rate
The manner in which he had led them in
the attack against the Katfirs had greatly
impressed the men, aad they yielded as
ready and willing obedience, as if their
corporal had been an officer. After the
meal was over, Ronald placed a sentry on
each side of the bush.
II will relieve you at the end of an hour"
he said. keep your ears open. l shall go
out for a bit and reconnoiter, and mind you
DON'T shoot me a | come back. L will give
a low whistle, ike this, when get near you.
If you hear anyone approaching, and ne
doesn't whistle, challenge, but don't snout
too loud. or you might be heard by any
Kaffits who may be in search of us. If he
don't answer, challenge again, and then
step into the bushes. If he comes on, and
you are sure it is man, fire; but don't fire
if you have tne slightest doubt, for it might
be stray animal, and your rifle might
bring the kaffirs down on us"
During the greater part of the night
Ronald moved about, keeping about 100
wards from the clump, and returning every
hour to see the sentries changed. Towards
morning, having heard nothing to lead him
to suppose that there were any Kaffirs in
the neighborhood, he returned to the
hes, and threw himself down for a
couple of hours sleep. AT daybreak, they
were in the saddle again. and approaching
as near as they dared the fort, they concealed
themselves, and presently succeeded in
capturing n Kadir woman who was out
collecting sticks. One of the troop knew
little of the language. and from her they
learnU CndL Cne greater parU OF Ino SOLDIERS
had marched away on the previous morn
ing, and also gathered the direction they
had taken. Keeping up a vigilant lookout,
they rode in that direction, and presently
met detachment of the Ninety first and
their own troop of the Rifles marching back
TO Fort Cox.
The force was under the command Of
Col. Somerset, the colonel of the Cape
Mounted Rifles. Capt. Twentymau. to
who Ronald reported himself, rode for
ward at once to the colonel with the news
that Fort Cox was invested by the
enemy. Ronald was sent for, and ques-
toned as to the strength of the Katfirs. He
said that owing to the position from which
he had seen them, he only commanded
a view OF a portion of the ground. There
appeared to him to be 700 or 800 men so far
as he could see, but, of course, there might
have been double that force on the other
side.
"Well, think we ought to push forward
at once" the colonel said to the officer COM
manding the infantry. ''The governor is
in the fort, and the forco for its defense is a
very small one. At any rate we must try
to relieve him."
The troops were halted for half an hour,
and as the news soon spread that the Kaffirs
were beleaguring Fort Cox, ana that they
would probably have to fight their way
through, they formed up with alacrity as
soon as the order was given. The Cape
Mounted Rifles went out in skirmishing
order, ahead of the infantry, keeping vigi-