The Dickinson press., 1890-03-29
about an hours trek away, started
after the wounded buck. As soon as
I came within hundred yards of it,
however, it iumped up and ran away as

however, 1t jumped up and ran away rs
fast as though it were untouched, only
to lie down again at a distance. Ifol-
lowed, thinking that strength would
soon fail 1t. This happened three times.
On the third occasion it vanished behind
a ridge, and though by now was out of
both temper and patience l thought
might as well ride to the ridge and see if
I could get shot at it on the further
side.
Ireached the ridge, which was strewn
with stones, looked over it, and saw-a
Zulu Impil
l rubbed my eyes and looked again.
Yes, there was no doubt of it. They
were halted about thousand yards away,
by the water; some were lying down some
were cooking at fires, others were stalk
ing about with spears and shields in their
hands; there might have been two thou
sand of them in all. While was won
dering-and that with no little uneasi-
ness-what on earth they could be doing
there, suddenly heard wild cry to the
right and left of me. Iglanced first one
way, then the other. From either side
two great Zulus we're bearing down on
me, their broad stabbing assegais aloft,
and black shields in their left hands. The
man to the right was about fifteen yards
away, he to the left was not more than
ten. On they came, their fierce eyes al
most starting out of their heads, and
felt, with cold thrill of fear, that in an
other three seconds those great chang
vans" might be buried in my vitals
On such occasions we act, suppose,
moro from instinct than anything else
there is no time for thought. At any
rate, dropped my reins, and, raising
my gun, fired point blank at the left
hand man. The bullet struck full in the
middle Of his shield, pierced it and
passed through him, and over he rolled
upon the veldt. swung round in the
saddle; most happily my horse was ac-
customed to standing still when fired
from his back, also he was SO surprised
he did not know which way to shy.
Tho other savage was almost ON me; his
outstretched shield touched the muzzle
of my gun as pulled the trigger of the
left barrel. 1t exploded, the warrior
sprung high into the air, and fell against
my horse dead, his spear passing just in
front of my face.
Without waiting to reload, or even to
look If the main body of the Zulus had
seen the death of their two scouts, l
turned my horse and drove my heels
into his sides. AS soon rs was down
tho slope of the rise pulled little to
the right, in order to intercept the
wagons before the Zulus saw them.
had not gone 300 yards in this new di-
rection when, to my utter astonishment,
I struck trail marked with wagon
wheels and the hoofs of oxen. OF wag.
ons there must have been ut least eight,
and several hundred cattle. Moreover,
they had passed within twelve hours;
could tell that by the spoor. Then un-
derstood tho impi was following the
track of the wagons, which in all proba.
bility belonged to q party of emigrant
Beers.
The spoor Of the wagons ran in the d.
rection I wished to go, SO followed it.
About mile further on came to the
crest Of q rise, and there, about five fur
longs away, I saw tho wagons drawn up
in rough lager upon the banks of the
river. There, too, were my own wagons
trekking down the slope towards them.
In another five minutes was there.
The Boers-for Beers they were-were
standing about outside the little laager
watching the approach of my two wag-
ons. I Icalled to them, and they turned
and saw me. The very first man my
eyes fell on was a Boer named Hans
Botha, whom I had known we'll years
ago in the Cape. He was not a bad
specimen Of his class, but very restless
person, with great objection to author
ity, or, as he expressed it. so love of
freedom" He had joined party of the
emigrant Beers some years before, but,
as learned presently, had quarreled
with its leader, and was now trekking
away into the wilderness to found lit
tie colony of his own. Poor fellow! 1t
was his last trek.
GLOW do you do, Meinheer Botha?'
said to him In Dutch.
The man looked at me, looked again,
then, startled out of his Dutch stolidity,
cried to his wife, who was seated on the
box of the wagon:
"Come here, frau, come. Here Is AL
Ian Quaternain, the Englishman, the
son of the 'Predicant.' How goes it,
Heer Quatermain, and what is the news
down in the Cape yonder2'
81 don't know what the news is in the
Cape, Hans" I answered, solemly; "but
the news here is that there is Zulu
impi upon your spoor and within two
miles Of the wagon. That know, for /
have just shot two Of their sentries," and
showed him my empty gun.
For q moment there was silence of
establishment, and I saw the bronzed
faces of the men turn pale beneath their
tan, while one or two of the women
gave little scream, and the children
crept to their sides.
almighty" cried Hans, "that must
be the Umtetwa regiment that Dingaan
sent against the Basutus, but who could
not come at them because of the marshes,
and so were afraid to return to Zululand
and struck north to join Mosilikaaye."
"Laager up, Carlesl Lager up for
your lives, and one of you jump on a
horse and drive in the CATTLE"
At that moment my own wagons came
up. 1ndaba-zimbi was sitting on the box
of the first, wrapped in blanket. !
called him and told him the news.
"Ill tidings, Macumazahn," he said;
there will be dead Beers about to-mor-
row morning, but they will not attack
till dawn, then they will wipe out the
laager so," and he passed his hand be-
fore his mouth.
"stop that croaking, you white headed
crow" said, though I knew that his
words were true. What chance had
lager Of ten wagons all told against at
least two thousand Of the bravest sayages
in the world?
"Macumazahn, will you take my ad-
vice this timer" Indaba-zimbi said, pres
entity.
'What is it7' I asked.
"This. Leave your wagons here.
II. l.