Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1890-08-14
how | ESCAPED ISANDULA.
BY WILLIAM NJ. eRAYDoN.

'My dear fellow, don't, beg of you,
go into this campaign with the same
light and boastful spirit that character
lies the rest Of your British troops. Even
your commanders, brave and skilled men
though they are, have no proper esti-
mate of Cetewayo and his Zulus. ]
ought to know them well. Have | not
| traded in ivory and hides all through
/ Zululand, from the Buffalo River to the
Umvolosi2 Have l not lived in their
kraals and hunted the elephant with
their warriorsl No, no, they are not to
be despised-not to be routed at the APP
proach of your bright uniforms and flash
ing rifle barrels. They will yield event
ually, but they will score their mark be-
fore they 60 down, remember that
This prophetic utterance was the last
admonition to me from my old friend,
John Roosevelt, the trader, when / left
Port Durnford for the interior on that
memorable Zulu campaign of 10.
Prophetic words indeed Scarcely
two weeks had passed away when the
dire massacre at lsandula sent SILVER
through all England premonitory
shudder of what was to follow, for on
the heels of this disaster came the awful
tidings from Rorke's Drift.
SILVER yet sometimes to think how
near came TO leaving my bones at Is
andula. Plenty of brave fellows did
leave their bones there. but was one Of
the lucky ones. In fact. | escaped the
terrible scene entirely, though while it
was gong on was conducting NINA
ture warfare of my own which threatened
to have fully as disastrous an ending as
did Isandula.
Early on the afternoon of the day pre-
ceding the massacre our scouts brought
in news of the approach Of the Zulus.
At first little heed was paid to it. Our
intrenchment was a good one, our guns
were well mounted, our ammunition was
plentiful, and the soldiers were in a
cheerful, courageous mood.
But towards evening things assumed
more serious aspect. Fresh news came
In every moment Two impis of Zulus
were advancing from the north. already
an impi had taken up its position on the
slope to the westward, another was on
our eastern flank, and now, to eliminate
matters, horde of the grim warriors
was steadily advancing from the south
Our camp was surrounded, that was GER
tain, and our confidence now gave way
to grave fears.
just before dark, Colonel Chelmsford
summoned me to headquarters, and, as l
fastened along through the camp, OBJ
served with a SILVER the strange quietude
that had fallen on everybody.
The colonels greeting was very grave.
81 have perilous mission for you,
Blount, he said; twill you accept itln
Without waiting for an answer, he
went on:
''We are in grave peril, graver indeed |
than care to admit. Our position is in
vested on all sides, and against COM
bined attack don't see that we can hold /
out long Sir Evelyn Wood is off some
where towards the Umvolosi-how far |
away / can't tell. You must break 1
through the enemy's lines, find Sir Eve
Ign, if possible, and hurry him back
without an hours delay | have chosen
you, Blount, because know your record, |
and believe you can accomplish what |
want, if any man can do it. -
''Tll do my best, colonel, y told him,
and then, with tight clasp of the hand,
! hurried off to make my preparations,
for it was now dark l had a good horse,
and that in itself was everything. Twas
soon ready, and without SAYING word
to anybody l rode to the edge of the
camp, and, dismounting. started on foot
into the darkness, leading my horse by
the bride.
On the eastern side of Our camp were
two hills, ON which the Zulus had in
trenched themselves. Between these
hills was narrow ravine. and here lay
my only hope. If that ravine was unoc-
cupied, was all right; if not, all was up
with ME. knew.
picked my way forward very care
fully. The ground was soft and spongv.
and my horses hoofs made hardly any
noise. On be tn hills shone the camp fires of
the Zulus, blazing away merrily in long
line The ravine was conspicuous only
by its darkness. and from this inferred
that the way was open.
At last reached the very edge of the
ravine. Up above M on the hillsides |
could see the dusky forms moving to and
fro in the freight, and could hear the
rascals' conversation very plainly.
] listened a moment, but all seemed
quiet ahead. The Zulus are sharp fellows,
and for all knew there might be half a
dozen savage warriors lurking in the
shadows, ready to impale me on their
assegais.