The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-11-28

For a moment they hesitated, then they
came on again with hideous clamor.
Fortunately by this time Indaba-zimbi,
who also had gun, was standing by my
side, otherwise should have been torn
to pieces before could reload. He fired
both barrels into them. and again
checked the rush. But they came on
again, and notwithstanding the appear
ance of two other natives with guns, which
they let off with more or less success, we
should have been overwhelmed by the
great and ferocious apes had not by
this time succeeded in reloading the
elephant gun. When they were right
on to US fired, with even more deadly
effect than before, for at that distance
every slug told on their long line. The
howls and screams of rage and fury
were now something inconceivable.
One might have thought we were doing
battle with host of demons; indeed in
that light-for the overhanging arch Of
rock made it very dark-the crashing
shouts and somber, glowing eyes of
the apes looked like those of devils as
they are represented by monkish fancy.
But the last shot was too much for them;
they withdrew, dragging some of their
wounded with them, and thus gave us
time to get our men up the cliff. In a
few minutes all were there, and we ad-
vanced down the passage, which pres
emily opened into rocky gully with
shelving sides. This gully had water
way at the bottom of it; it was about a
hundred yards long, and the slopes on
either side were topped by precipitous
cliffs. 1 looked at these slopes; they
literally swarmed with balloons, grunt-
ing, barking, screaming and beating
their breasts with their long arms in
fury. 1 looked up the waterway; along
it, accompanied by mob, or, as it were,
guard of balloons, came Hendrika, her
long hair flying, madness written on her
face, and in her arms was the senseless
form of little Tota.
She saw us, and foam of rage burst
from her lips. She screamed aloud. To
me the sound was a mere articulate cry,
but the balloons clearly understood it,
for they began to roll rocks down on
to US. One bowlder leaped past me and
struck down Kaff1r behind; another
fell from the roof of the arch on to
mans head and killed him. Indaba-
zimbi lifted his gun to shoot Hendrika;
I knocked 1t up, so that the shot went
over her, crying that he would kill the
child. Then / shouted to the men to
open out and form line from side to
side of the shelving gully. Furious at
the loss of their two comrades, they
obeyed me, and keeping in theNwater-
way myself, together with Indaba-zimbi
and the other guns, gave the word to
charge.
Then the real battle began. 1t is
difficult to say who fought the most
fiercely, the natives or the balloons.
The Kafirs charged along the slopes,
and as they came, encouraged by the
screams of Hendrika, who rushed to and
fro holding the wretched Tota before
her as shield, the apes bounded at
them in fury. Scores were killed by the
assegais, and many more fell beneath
our gun-shots; but still they came on.
Nor did we 60 scatheless. Occasionally
man would slip, or be pulled over in
bue grip VI d DdDOOH. men
would fling themselves upon him like
dogs on rat and worry him to death.
We lost five men in this way, and l my
self received bite through the fieshy
part of the left arm, but fortunately
native near me assegaied the animal be-
fore was pulled down.
At length, and all of sudden, the
balloons gave up. A panic seemed to
seize them. Notwithstanding tho cries
of Hendrika they thought no more of
fight, but only of escape; some even did
not attempt to get away from the as
segais Of the Kaffirs, they simply hid
their horrible faces in their paws, and,
moaning piteously, waited to be slain.
Hendrika saw that the battle was
lost Dropping the child from her arms,
she rushed straight at us, very picture
of horrible insanity. / lifted my gun,
but could not bear to shoot After all
she was but a mad thing, half ape, half
woman. So 1 sprang to one side, and
she landed full on Indaba-zimbi, knock
ing him down. But she did not stay to
do any more. Wailing terribly, she
rushed down the gully and through the
arch, followed by many of the surviving
balloons, and vanished from our sight.
TO BE CONTINUED.