The record-union., 1895-08-17

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ourselves and vawned, and blinked. and
finally rose for our morning cup OF coffee
and round of daily labor, which consisted
for the most part of scrutinizing the sur
rounding plain and hills through our
field-glasses, eating, drinking and sleep
ing with what good will we might.
For q whole week we had been cooped
up, getting no news save what our TWO
Kaffir scouts brought in, and that did not
amount to much, and we wearled with an
exceeding WEAKNESS of the monotony of
outpost duty. Little did we think that
the end of it, and 10 not few of us the
end OF all things. was rapidly approach
ing, for Cherry beak, one OF our scouts.
little fuZZy-haired mortal with fiery
red nose-hence his high-sounding name
had come in the previous night with
news that all was quiet and the country
apparently deserted. 1t was true that
his companion, Knobby-shortf for Knob
nose-had not yet returned, but there
was nothing peculiar in this, and we
were somewhat surprised when our or
derly informed US that our worthy scout
had been sighted making for the kraal
az pace which he did not usually affect.
We brisked up at this, and eagerly
awaited his arrival, discussing in the
meantime what this piece Of information
might portend.
The beggar is hungry, depend upon
it," drawled Jones, our young sub;
never knew such man as Knobby for
his breakfast-thats the meaning of his
quick travelling, Pll bet."
Jones, man." said our Captain,
worthy Scot with fund of dry humor,
''ye must not always be judging folk by
yourselt; but, speaking seriously, L fear
this means something more than break
fast to Knobby, and the worst of it is, in
the event of an attack, we have not any
great store of ammunition, thanks to
Tobin: still, IL may merely be scare, and
whatever you do, don't let the men hear
about the cartridges. But here is knobby
and the news!'
Knobby was a Swat by birth, tall,
well-built man. a good scout. and splen-
did runner, but 1t was evident, from his
distressed breathing, that he had about
enough OF II on the present occasion.
He saluted, and was about to make his
report, when Captain Forbes beckoned
him to follow, and accompanied by my
self as senior Lieutenant, made his way
into the hut which served as the officers
quarters. Then knobby told his tale.
Some ten miles to the north he had
come upon a small "ilnpI' encamped,
evidently detachment from larger
body, and had learned that they were on
the way to our kraal, though, apparently,
they were unaware that we were in pos
session. He had managed to steal away
unperceived, and had run at full speed
back to the outpost to give US timely
warning.
How many might there be? KnobDy
had counted them. There were three
hundred young warriors, and they would
be here in a few hours at the most,
for their halt had merely been a tempo
rary one.
1t was a pleasant prospect! Here were
we, not much over forty men all told,
with a decidedly small stock of ammuni-
ton. waiting in an old kraal far away
from the British lines for an attack from
three hundred fighting men of one of
Cetewayo's most famous regiments, led
by q young but ambitious and clever
warrior, for Knobby had, thanks to the
long grass, got close enough to learn de-
tails. Well. there was nothing for it but
to make the best OF it, though we took
care to send Cherry beak with message
to the column. 1t was not the numbers
we cared so much about, for we were be-
hind stockades; it was the cartridges.
"Confound that mad fellowv' muttered
the Captain as we left. what pos
sessed him to meddle with the ammuni-
tion? But for that, we might have
laughed at them"
"If his madness has added to his
strength, he may be of use yet" l an
swered, especially If it comes to close
quarters"
Use! Look at him. What use do you
think can be made of that MANI"
In corner of the little inclosure sat
strange-loOking figure, huge, heavily
built man, his head sunk forward on his
chest. He was busily engaged in max
ing a mudple, as engrossed in this occu-
patton as If he had been a child of in
stead of great stalwart soldier.
ZuZuland had not dealt kindly with
Gentleman Jerry.
On the march up country he had been
struck down with sunstroke, and though
he rapidly recovered at the time, he had
afterwards seemed more gloomy and
silent than ever. Then, a couple of daVs
before we left the main column, a letter
arrived which had greatly distressed him.
Still he was well enough, and seemed
glad when he was allowed to accompany
the detachment; but none of Us had been
much surprised when, two days after we
had reached the kraal, Gentleman Jerry
was found laughing and gibbering to
himself as he sat bareheaded in the sun.
1t was more serious matter, how
ever, when we found that he had gained
an entrance to the hut in which our
precious stock of ball cartridge was stored
and had destroyed as much as he could
lay hands on, tearing open the cases and
using the powder for his own ends
namely. mixing it with water and max
ing hzZiDg cones Of it.
y strict guard had been placed over
him since then, and now he was occupy
ing his time making mudpies and trying
in vain to make them hZZ also II was
pltiable sight; but we had other things
TO think OF, and soon all the men save
Jerry and his guard were at their posts;
ammunition was served out and a large
supply OF water brought in from the
spring close by the kraal. Then we
waited for the enemy.
We had not long 10 wait, but it seemed
hours and hours before any sign of them
appeared; then all of a sudden the crest of
a low hill to the north of US was black
black with armed Zulus. Three hun
dred of themi There must have been
nearer three thousand, a long, line,
which, pausing moment, began slowly
to creep down the yellowish gray hillside
like great black and white snake. They
were q couple of miles away, but we
could see them clearly through the
glasses and TO the unaided eye the CLINT
Of the morning sun on their assegai
blades looked like FURNISHED silver. [
looked around me. The men were at the
loop holes which had been cut in the
outer stockade With grim and set
faces they were watching the advancing
foe, and for the most part were quiet and
silent.
We officers were gathered on the rising
ground in the middle of the kraal, for
there was no need of concealment; and by
one OF the huts was the huge form of
Gentleman Jerry working away at his
little heap Of mud, and over all floated
the old flag its folds streaming out against
the gentle breeze.
Away out on the plain the impi had
halted, and with our glasses we could
see the headmen consulting together.
Then on it came again without cry or
sound, and again halted out of range.
We waited anxiously for it's further
movements, aud then. to our surprise
for the Zulus usually attack in great force
"a small party moved to the front, while
the rest squatted down and prepared to