Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-01-18

diers on the slope, among whom was,
10 their chief. who had come up. "You
have sent out the little girls to Aghf, and
they are frightened. Let as show them
the way
'No, nor the chief Sususa answered.
laughing. "Wait minute and the little
girls win grow 70 women, and women
are good enough to fight against Boersf'
The attacking Zulus heark the mockery
of their fellows, and rushed forward
again with roar. But the Beers In Ezra
lager had found time to load, and they
met with warm reception. Reserving
their fire till the Zulus were packed like
sheep In kraal, they loosed into them
with the roers, and the warriors fell In
little heaps. But saw that the blood Of
the Umtetwas was up; they did not
mean to be beaten back this time, and
the end was near. Seel six men had
leapt on to the wagon, slain the man be-
hind 1t and sprung into the laager. They
were killed there, but others followed,
and then / turned my head. But could
not shut my ears to the cries of rage and
death. and the terrible S'geei S'geei Of
the savages as they did their work Of
murder. Once only looked up and
saw poor Hans Botha standing on O
wagon shifting down men with the butt
Of his rife Then assegais shot up to-
wards him like tongues of steel, and
when looked again he was gone.
turned sick with fear and rage. But
alasi what could dor They were all
dead now, and probably my own turn
was coming. only my death would not
be so swift.
The fight was ended, and the two
lines on the slope broke their order, and
moved down to the laager. Presently
we were there, and q dreadful sight 1t
was. Many Of the attacking Zulus were
dead-quite fifty, should say-and at
least hundred and fifty were wounded,
some Of them mortally. The chief, Su.
susa, gave an order, the dead men were
picked up and piled in heap. while
those who were slightly hurt walked of
to get some one to tie up their wounds.
But che more serious cases met with a
different treatment. The chief or one
of his indunas considered each case, and
if 1t was in any way bad, the man was
taken up and thrown into the river
which ran near. None Of them offered
any objection, though one poor fellow
SWAIN to shore again. He did not stop
there long, however, for they pushed
him back and drowned him by force.
The strangest case Of all was that OF
the chiefs own brother. He had been
captain of the line, and his ankle was
smashed by bullet. Sususa came up to
him, and having examined the wound
rated him soundly for failing in the first
onslaught.
The poor fellow made the excuse that
1t was not his fault, as the Beers had hit
him In the first rush. His brother adj
mitted the truth Of this and talked 10
him amicably.
"Well," he said at length, offering
him pinch Of snuff. "you cannot walk
again."
"No, chief" said the wounded man,
looking at his ankle.
went on Sususa.
'Yes, chief"
"Say, then, win you sit here on the
veldt, or"-and he nodded towards the
river.
The man dropped his head on his
breast for minute as though in thought.
Presently he lifted it and looked Sususa
straight In the face.
"My ankle pains me, my BROTHER" he
said; "Ithink Twill go back to Zululand,
for there is the only kraal wish to see,
even If creep about 1t like SNAKE"
''It is well, my brother" said the chief.
"Rest SOFTLY" and having shaken hands
with him, he gave an order to one Of the
indunas, and turned away.
Then men came, and, supporting the
wounded man, helped him down to the
banks Of the stream. Here, at his re-
quest, they tied heavy stone round his
neck, and then threw him into deep
pool. saw the whole sad scene, and
the victim never even WINGED. 1t was
impossible not to admire the courage Of
the man, or to avoid being struck with
the cold FLOODED cruelty of his brother,
the chief. And yet the act was neces-
sary from his point Of view. The man
must either die swiftly or be left to per-
ish of starvation, for no Zulu force win
cucumber itself with wounded men.
Years of merciless warfare had 80 har-
dened these people that they looked on
death as nothing, and were, to do them
justice, as willing to meet it themselves
as to infiict It on others. When this very
impi had been sent by the Zulu King
Dingaan. 1t consisted Of some nine thou
sand men. Now 1t numbered about
three; all the rest were dead They, too,
would probably soon be dead. What
did 1t matter? They lived by war, to die
In blood. 1t was their natural end. xiii
till you are killed" That is the motto Of
- ----.~-----~--~ @@A-s>- -
the Zulu soldier. 1t has the meriv of
simplicity.
Meanwhile the warriors were looting
the wagons, including my own, having
first thrown all the dead Beers into a