The Dickinson press., 1890-03-29

have only six horses among us. Besides,
if we did we should starve in the desert.
No, Heer Allan, we must fight it out
with the savages, and God help us"
God help us, indeed. Think of the
children, Hansl"
~ can't bear to think, he answered,
in a broken voice, looking at his own
little girl, sweet, curly haired, blue
eyed child of 9, named Tota, whom
had often nursed as a baby. "Oh, Heer
Allan, your father, the Predicant, al
ways warned me against trekking north,
and never would listen to him because
I thought him a cursed Englishman;
now see my folly. Heer Allan, if you
can, try to save my child from those
black devils; if you live longer than /
do, or if you can't save her, kill her."
and he clasped my hand.
"It hasn't come to that yet, Hans"
said.
Then we set to work on the laager.
The wagons, of which, including my
two, there were ten, were drawn
into the form of square, and the
disselboom Of each securely lashed
with reins to the underworks of
that in front Of it. The wheels also
were locked, and the space between the
ground and the bed planks of the wag-
ons was stuffed with branches of the
"wait a bit" thorn that fortunately grew
near in considerable quantities. In this
way a barrier was formed of no mean
strength as against foe unprovided
with firearms, places being left for the
men to fire from. In little over an
hour everything was done that could be
done, and discussion arose as to the
disposal of the cattle, which had been
driven up close to the camp. Some of
the Beers were anxious to get them into
the laager, small as it was, or at least as
many of them as it would hold.
Iargued strongly against this, point
ing out that the brutes would probably
be seized with panic as soon as the fir
ing began, and trample the defenders of
the laager under foot. AS an alternative
ilan suggested that some of the native
servants should drive the herd along the
valley of the river till they reached a
friendly tribe or some other place of
safety. OF course, if the Zulus saw them
they would be taken, but the nature of
the ground was favorable, and it was
possible that they might escape if they
started at once The proposition was at
once agreed to, and, what is more, it was
settled that one Dutchman and such of
the women and children as could travel
should go with them. In half an hours
time twelve of them started with the ma
tives, the Bocr in charge, and the cattle.
Three of my own men went with the
latter, the three others and Indaba-zimbi
stopped with me in the lager.
The parting was a heart breaking scene,
upon which do not care to dwell. The
women wept, the men groaned, and the
children looked on with scared white
faces. At length they were gone, and
for one was thankful of it. There re-
mained in the laager seventeen white
men, four natives, the two Boer fraus
who were two stout to travel, the woman
in childbcd and her baby, and Hans
Botha's little daughter Tota, whom he
could not make up his mind to part with.
Happily, her mother was already dead.
And here I may state that ten of the
women and children, together with about
half of the cattle, escaped. The Zulu
impi never saw them, and on the third
day of travel they came to the fortified
place of a Griqua chief, who sheltered
them on receiving half the cattle in pay
ment. Thence by slow degrees they
journeyed down to the Cape Colony,
reaching q civilized region within little
moro than q year from the date of the
attack on the laager.
The afternoon was now drawing to-
ward evening, but still there were no
signs of the impi. A wild hope struck
us that they might have gone on about
their business. Ever since Indaba-zimbi
had heard that the regiment was sup
posed to belong to the Umtetwa tribe,
he had, l noticed, been plunged in deep
thought. Presently he came to me and
volunteered to go out and spy upon their
movements. At first Hans Botha was
against this idea, saying that he was
"verdonlde eswartzel"-an accursed black
creature-and would betray us. point
ed out that there was nothing to betray.
The Zulus must know where the wagons
were, but it was important for us to
gain information of their whereabouts
Soitwas agreed that Indaba-zimbi should
go. told him this. He nodded his white
lock, said Cali right, Macumazahn," and
started. noticed with some surprise,
however, that before he did SO he went
to the wagon and fetched his "mouti,"
or medicine, which, together with his
own magical apparatus, ho always car.
ried in a skin bag. asked him why he
did this. He answered that it was to
make himself invulnerable against tho
spears of the Zulus. did not in the
least believe his explanation, for in my
heart was sure that he meant to take
the opportunity to make bolt of it, leav-
ing me to my fate. did not, however,
interfere to prevent this, for had an
affection for the old fellow, and sincerely
hoped that he might escape tho doom
which overshadowed us.
So Indaba-zimbi sauntered off, and as
looked at his retreating formI thought
that should never see it again. But I
was mistaken, and little knew that he
was risking his life, not for the Beers,
whom he hated one md all, but for me,
whom in his queer way he loved.
When he had gone we completed our
preparations for defense, strengthening
the wagons and the thorns beneath with
earth and stones. Then at sunset we
ate and drank as heartily as we could
under the circumstances, and when we
had done, Hans Botha. as head of the
party, offered up prayer to God for our
k,,,4 ,sn.l,A a.
see the burly Dutchman, his hat off, his
broad face lit up by the last rays of the
setting sun, praying aloud in homely.
simple language to Him who alone could
save us from the spears of a cruel foe
remember that the last sentence of his
prayer was, Almighty, if we must be
killed, save the women and children and
my little girl Tota from the accursed
Zulus, and do not let us be tortured"
echoed the request very earnestly in