Fort Worth weekly gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-12-04

'"S Sieaf IN Inc OmlnOus slltuCe, hhu
again cheered his comrades as they ran
up on foot TO FIRE the huts. His voice
was drowned by tremendous yoiiey as
the hidden Zulus suddenly poured IN
their fire, and for a moment the troopers
wavered in face of the pplting hail OF
bullets. Then q tall ofticer-Blaine
recognized D'Arcy-advanced with reg
ulatiOn stride, and paused before the
center hut. mark 10 the enemy. The
bullets struck about his feet, but the
commandant needed them not, and pro-
ceeded to I'LL his pipe. This done. he lit
match on the sole of his boot, puffed
out few whits aud applied the nearly
burnt out match TO the dry thatch, while
his men. encouraged by his cooluess,
faced the storm.
The colonel, O few yards in advance,
TO get clear OF the driving smoke,
studied the position of the enemy with
his quick eye, but could see 10 opening.
As he stood. the dust WAS thrown I'D be-
tween his feet by well-aimed bullet.
Here, my man, he said to his
orderly, LEND me your rifle minute. -
There WAC Il sharp crack, q loud cry
from Zilu, ana the rife was banded
back with the remark: THAT fellow
should have aimed better. -
A few officers gathered about the
colonel, persund!ng him to try and carry
the position by charge.
"Wei, gentlenen-if I held that
mountain, / would defy brigade to
dislodge me without guns-but if your
men would like 10 make an attempt,
well and good. Let two companies of
the Light Horse protect the right AMI
left wings. Advanced
Blaine saw the men spread out in
skirmlshing order and charge up the
rocks-but, st the same time, he noticed
the Iulus slipping away from the center
TO strengthen the horns.
When the troopers poured up over the
rocks there was not q Zulu to meet them,
but while they looked about voice rang
out in trumpet tones, giving an order in
Gutu, and Il swarm of black warriors
closed il AT a rush from right and left,
overlapping the TANKS. They were held
back for q moment by the two COM
panies, then they rushed in.
Amongst the rocks the heavily booted
troopers were at Disadvantage. They
could have held the position only at the
loss of their horses, aud the order to re-
tire was given. There was one sharp
collision, n series of fierce hand to hand
chargers. They mounted and charged
upon their foes. who melted away, and
again formed up behind the rocks. The
men would have dearly liked another
brush, but the colonel, having proved
the hopelessness of charge against
willy foe in such position. would waste
20 more men or ammunition.
The Zuius left their retreat with mock
ing cries and shouts of iu (victory) and
some of them rushed off towards the
smouidering ashes. Looking TO see what
was the object of their haste. Blaine ia
covered a wounded trooper crawling
along on hands and knees. This man
seeing he was pursued, turned slowly
round rested his carbiue on an anthill,
ana dropped the leading Zulu in his
track. The others, however. rushed on,
and it was evident e. few seconds would
see the end of the tragedy.
Blaine looked towards the slowly re-
treating column TO see il help would be
afforded, and at the same instant an Of
iicer turned his head to look back.
In second his horse shot out from the
ranks ana swept up. Blaine felt his
heart go TO his mouth. as he watched the
race His eyes glanced feverishly from
the leeDing stride of the Zulus 10 see the
rush of the horse. The distance which
separated the rescuer from ths wounded
man WAS treble the distance which lay
between him and the Zulus, but the
horse, magnificent black charger,
swept over the ground like the wind.
The horse was first at the spot, but
his terrific speed carried him by, and
the Zulms letting him pass, rushed on to
their victim. This man, however,
4; ball hi.
carbiue dropped another Zulu and he
fuced the others with his revolver. As
they pauseo TO make the final rush the
horse and his rider swept down upon
them again, and the sharp crack of the
revolver made them look TO their safety.
The rider rose in his stirrups and hurled
his pistol nj the mead of one Zulu, who
fell like II log, then with his sword be
fought like demon, his mighty strength
forcing the guard of his enemies, who
came thicker and thicker from the main
body. Now he sprAng from the saddle,
lifted the wounded man to his vacant
seat, and with his hand on the stirrup
ran by tbs side of his horse through the
thick of the enemy, who thrust at him
with their spears.
Escape for either seemed impossible,
but with ringing hurrah the lancers
charged TO the rescue, Drury Lowe on
small yellow pony at their head, and
after a short struggle the Zulus rushed
back 10 their retreat before the thunder
of the great horses.
The lHncers closed around the gallant
trooper and the man he had saved, and
retreated in companies of four to the
lively sound of the bugie, two comp anies
with lancers erect aud ready always
facing the enemy. 1t was q fine specta-
Gle, but it had its sad aspect IN the load
which one charger bore, the llfeless body
of the adiutant shot dead in the charge.
Blaine's gaze was fixed on the retreat
ing force with a strange look on his face.
He had forgotten about his own desper-
ate position, and was thinking of other
matters for in the rider of the tlack
horse he had recognized Capt. DaIston,
and Miss Rath's father in the rescued
man.
CHAPTER NXI.-AN ALARM.
''See here. Dick-if there's any
charge against me, why in thunder don't
they bring it. stead of letting me NOPE
around, like sick bar in cane
brake?'' Cob Rowe had been forgotten
III the CONSERVATION caused by the death
of the Prince Imperial. and WAS becom-
ing FESTIVE.
Gen. Wood IS column. known as the