The Globe-republican., 1890-09-17

lager Of ten wagons all told against at
least two thousand OF the bravest say.
ages in the world?
"Macumazahn, will you take my
advice this time?" Indaba-zimbi said,
presently.
''What is it?" asked.
This. Leave your wagons here,
jump on that horse, and let US two run
for it as hard as we can go. The Zulus
won't follow us, they will be looking
after the Beers"
said; sit would be the act of a coward.
If die, die"
"Very we'll. Macumazahn, then stay
and be killed." he answered, taking a
pinch of snuff.
''Come, let US see about the wagons"
and we walked towards the lager.
Here every thing was in confusion.
However, got hold of Hans Botha and
put it to him if it would not be best to
life.
''How can we do it?- he answered;
1.-TWO of the women are too fat to 60
mile, one is sick in childbed, and we
have only six horses among us. Be-
sides, if we did We should starve in the
desert. No, Heer Allen, We must fight
it out with the savages, and God help
u.s."
God help US, indeed. Think of the
children, Hans"
Il can't bear to think he answered,
in broken voice, looking at his own
little girl, sweet, curly-haired, blue
eyed child of six, named Tota, whom I
had often nursed as baby. ooh, Heer
Allan, your father, the Predicant, always
warned me against trekking north, and
/ never would listen to him because l
thought him a cursed Englishman; now
1 see my folly. Heer Allan, if you can.
try to save my child from those black
devils if you live longer than l 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 lager.
The wagons, of which, including my
| two, there were ten, were drawn into
the form of square and the disselbOOm
Of each securely dashed 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 wagons was stuffed with branches
of the ''wait-a-uit' thorn, that fortu-
I nately grew near in considerable guam
titles. In this way barrier was formed
of no mean strength as against foe I'M
| provided by firearms, places being left
| for the men to fire from. In little
over an hour every thing 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 lager, small as it was, or at
| least as many of them as it would hold.
I argued strongly against this, pointing
out that the brutes would probably be
seized with panic as soon as the firing
began and trample the defenders of the
lager under foot. AS an alternative
| plan l 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 nat
ure 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 natives, the Boer 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.
| TO BE CONTINUED