Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-08-24
CHAPTER XII.
ATTACK ON A WAGON TRAIN.

Sergeant Blunt. you will take detach-
ment of IA men, ride down to Port Eliza
beth, and escort some wagons back here.
There will be party of native levies to
come back with you, so that they, with your
party. will make a pretty strong force. The
dangerous point is, of course. the Addoo
Bush. 1t is, hear, full of these kafflr
Williams. Going down you will pass through
it by daylight; and travelling fast, there Is
no fear of their interfering with party like
yours. Coming back, the Fingoes will let
you know of any danger, and L should
hardly think that the natives will venture
to attack so strong a party; still, as the
wagons will be laden with ammunition, and
these fellows always seem in some way or
other to know exactly what is going on,
you cannot be too careful"
Very well, sir. 1 will do my best in
the NATTER
An hour later Ronald started with the
detachment. They travelled rapidly and
reached Port Elizabeth on the third day
after starting without any adventure what
ever. The wagons were not ready to start,
for heavy sea was setting in, and the
boats could not continue the work OF un-
loading the ship that had arrived with the
ammunition two days before. Ronald after
the rations served out, and the cooking
commenced, strolled down to the beach to
watch the heavy surf breaking on the
shore.
The encampment of the native levies was
on the shore, and a white officer was in
specting their arms when he arrived. Ro-
nald stood for some time watching the
group with amusement, as some of the men
were in blankets, others in karosses Of COW
skin, many with feathers stuck in their
hair, all grinning and highly amused at the
efforts of their officer to get them to stand in
regular line, and to hold their muskets at
an even slope on their shoulders. Some Of
their wives were looking on and laughing;
others were squatting about by the shelters
they had erected, cooking mealies for din
ner. The officer, who was quite a young
man, seeing Ronald looking on, said, rue
fully:
~ don't think there is any making SOL
diers out of these fellows, Sergeant"
81 don't think they would be any the bet
ter for it if you could, sir" Ronald said.
"The fellows will fight after their own fash
ion, and do not think any amount of drill
would improve them in the slightest; in
fact, it would only puzzle and confuse them
to try to teach them our discipline. They
must fight the Kaffirs in Kaffir fashion.
When it comes to regular fighting it must
be done by the troops. All that you can
act as our scouts, find out where the enemy
are hiding, prevent surprises, and pursue
them when we have defeated them"
'Do they not try to drill them up at the
front?"
''Not at all, sir. It would be quite use
less to attempt it. So that they attend on
parade in the right number-and their own
head man looks after that-nothing more is
expected of them. They march in a rough
body anyhow, and when it comes to fight
ing they fight in their own way, and very
useful way it is.
"Well, I am very glad to hear you say SO.
Sergeant. 1 have been doing the best l can
to give them some idea of drill, but have,
as you see, failed altogether. 1 have no
orders except to take command of these fell
lows, but supposed 1 was expected to drill
them to some extent; still, if you say they
have given it up as hopeless in the front, 1
need not bother myself about it. T"
81 don't think you need, cir. I can as
sure you that no attempt is made to drill
them in that way in the 'front.'"
The young officer, with an air of relief, at
once dismissed the natives from parade.
81 am in charge of the party that is going
up with you tomorrow, sir, or at least as
soon as the wagons are ready for you"
"Oh, is it you, Sergeant? I heard that
detachment of your corps was to accompany
us. I suppose you have just arrived from
King Williamstown.?"
81 came in about an hour ago, sir, and
have just been seeing that the men were
comfortable"
ibid you meet with any Kafirs on the
1--WE saw no signs of them, We came
through the Addoo Bush, which is the most
dangerous point. at gallop. Not that there
was much chance OF their attacking us. The
natives seldom attack unless there is some
thing to be got by it; but we shall have to be
careful as we 60 back. We shall be fairly
strong party, but others as strong have been
attacked; and the fact of our having ammu-
nition-the thing Of all others they want
is, of course, against US.
"But how will they know that we are
carrying ammunition?"
"From the Hottentots, who keep them in
formed of everything" Ronald said. cat
least, we have no doubt whatever that it is
the Hottentots. OF course, the General
doesn't think so. II he did, I suppose he
would keep them out of camp; but there is
only one opinion in the ranks about it."
The conversation was interrupted by yells
and screams from the natives and general
rush down TO the Deach.
"There is something the matter" the
young officer said; and he and Ronald went
down to the edge of the water.
They soon saw what was the occasion of
the alarm among the natives. Some of the
women and boys had been down at the edge
of the surf, collecting bits of wood, thrown
ashore, for their fires. A boy of some IA
years Of age had seen a larger piece than
usual approaching the shore, and just as the
waves had thrown it up he made q dash into
the water, eager to be the first to capture the
prize. Ignorant, however, of the force of
the water, he had been instantly swept off
his feet by the back rush of the waves. The
next roller had carried him some little dis
tance up, and then borne him out again,
and he was in the midst of the surf He
could swim little, but was helpless in the
midst OF such a sea as this. The natives on
the beach were in a state of the widest ex-
the women filled the air with their
shrill screams, the men shouted and gesticu-
lated.
Nothing can save him." the officer said,
shaking his head. Ronald looked round
I here was no rope lying anywhere on the
shore.
"There's just chance, think, " he said,
throwing off his belt, tunic and boots.
Make these fellows join hand in hand, sir;
1 will swim out to him-he's nearly gone
now-and bring him In. We shall be rolled
over and over, but if the line o. men can
grab us and prevent the undercurrent from
carrying us out again, it will be all right"
The officer was about to demonstrate, but
Ronald, seizing the moment when the water
had just swept back, rushed in, sprang head
foremost into the great wall of approaching
water, and in half minute later appeared
some distance out. A fek vigorous strokes
took him to the side nflthe drnwuinr hov