The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-09-29
CHAPTER XL.
ATTACK ON A WAGON TRAIN.

-,o,t of fourteen men, ride down to Port
Elizabeth. and escort some wagons back
here. There will be party OF native levles
tocone back with you, so that they, with
vour party, will make pretty strong force.
The dangerous point is, OF course. the
Addoo bush. 1t is, hear. full of these
Kaffr Villains. Going down you will pass
through it by daylight; and travel9g las
+bera is no fear of their interfering with
Marty like yours Coming back, the Fin
GOES will let you kaow OF any danger, and
7 sbould hardly think that the natives will
vanture to attack 50 strong party; still,
as the wagons will be laden with ammuni-
+ion and these fellows always seem in some
vav or other to know exactly what is going
on Won cannot be too careful"
Every well, sir. will do my best in the
--.ter."
An bour 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 a heavy sea was setting in, and the
oo.is could not continue the work of un-
loading the ship that had arrived with the
ammunition two days before. Ronald,
after seeing that the horses were all we'll
cared for, 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 white officer was in
specting their arms when he arrived. Ron
aid stood for some time watching the group
with amusement, as some of the
men were in blankets, other 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:
81 don't think there is any making SOL
diers out of these fellows, sergeant"
"Idon't think they would be any the better
for it if you could, sir" Ronald said. "The
fellows will fight after their own fashion,
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
expect of the native levies is that they shall
act as our scouts, find out where the enemy
are hiding, prevent urlrises, and pursue
them when we have defeated them"
'Do they not try to drill them up at the
frontgn
mot at all, sir. 1t would be quite useless
to attempt it. So that they attend on
parade in the right number-ard 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 there own way, and a very
useful way it is"
"Wen, l am very glad to hear you say so.
sergeant. Ihave been doing the best | can
to give them some idea of drill, but | have,
as you see, failed altogether. | have no
orders except to take command of these fell
lows, but l supposed l was expected to
drill them to some extent; still, if you say
they have given it up as hopeless in the
front, need not bother myself about it."
Il doH't think you need, Sir can assure
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.
Il 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? heard that a
detachment of your corps were to accom-
pany US. | suppose you have just arrived
from King Wiliiamstown"
81 came in about an hour ago, sir, and
have just been seeing that the men were
comfortable"
did you meet with any Kaffirs on the
way down!"
1--WE saw no signs of them. We came
through the Addoo bush, which is the most
dangerous point, at a gallop. Not that
there was much chance of their attacking
u.s. The natives seldom attack unless there
is something to be got by it; but we shall
have to be careful as we go back. We
shall be fairly strong party, but others as
strong have been attacked; and the fact of
our having ammunition-the thing of all
others they wants., of course, against
US 81"
But how will they know that we are
carrying ammunitiong'
From the Hottentots, who keep them
informed of everything" Ronald said. ''At
least We have no doubt whatever that it is
the Fl ttentots. OF course, the general
doesn't thi3k so. If he did, suppose he
"oulu Keep Uu0Iu OUT OIL camp; DuG Cner6 is
only one opinion in the ranks about it"
The conversation was interrupted by wells
and screams from the natives, and a general
rush down to the beach.
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 elarm 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
dash lnto the water, eager to be the first
TO capture the prize. Ig GRANT, however.
OF the force of the water, he had been in
stantly swept off his feet by the back rush
OF the waves. The next roller had carried
him some little distance up, aid TIE borne
him out again, and he was il ths ~ 1 OF
the surf. He could swim little, but was
helpless in the midst of such sea a, this.
The natives on the beach were in state OF
the widest excitement; tie women filed the
air with their shrill screams, the men
shouted and gesticulated.
Nothing can save him." the officer said,
shaking his head
Ronald looked round; there was no rope
lying anywhere on the shore.
There's just chancs, think" he said
throwing off his belt, tunic and boots
lake these fellows join hand in ma d, sir;
! WIZ swim out to him-he's nearly gone