Evening star., 1896-12-26


silent as it-was rapid. and. as we were on
higher ground than the natives, 1t was inn
possible that they could have seen what
went on. We had taken our places and
disposed OF ourselves and our stock Of am
munition. and then there was q pause.
had contrfved q loophoie for my rifle, and
had seated myself on q mealie bag. so that
my head didn't show above the fortifica-
ton. could see between the bags, and my
eyes wandered over the silent lines Of the
natives on the other side OF the river, and
then upward to the rugged crest of the
eastern hills. now framed in a glowing halo
Of golden light. Suddenly, as I looked, q
stream of sunshine burst through a hollow
in the crest Of the Kopje and fell with daz-
cling brilliancy on the ridge on which our
little fertilization stood. For some mo-
fore I had fully recovered the use of my
eyes, something sang through the air just
over my head and sharp report OF rifie
foli0wed-the attack had begun.
The first sunshine had been the signal,
and those of the warriors who had guns
were already advancing. There might have
been two hundred of them, and they came
on in loose skirmishing order. firing as they
advanced. They crossed the river and
spread themselves so as gradually to face
us on rather more than three sides. They
were probably no great marksmen, but
they couldn't miss the fortifcation, ana
their bullets sang and whistled overhead,
pattered on the roofs and walls of the huts.
and threw up little jets Of dust as they
buried themselves In the dry ground OF tne
inclosure. There was something Impressive
about their cautious deliberation: Nos q
shot was fred by US in reply to their nre,
but their movements did not seem 70 pe
hurried on that account. SLOWLY, aenoere
ately, grimly they closed In, the circle OF
fire growing smaller and smaller as they
advanced: still not a shot was fired in an
swer-still we lay silently watching ana
waiting.
The sun had grown hot. 1t seemed to
- ls>srrf6 Gro
as we waited, and already regretted that
1 hadn't provided myself with q supply OF
water. / was in the very act OF looking
round to see whether it might not be pos
sibie to remedy the omission when 1 was
recalled by sudden noise. 1t was not q
shout 1t was hardly yell; 1t sounded more
like the sullen roar of the breaking sea on
a distant beach. l sprang to my feet In
stinctively, and single glance was sum-
c,ent to explain-the impi was charging.
On they came like black cloud driven
before a gale-as dark, as threatening. ap-
parently as irresistible. 1t was a magniil-
and gazed. On they came-on, on, without
q. break in the dark lines, at pace that
seemed to increase each moment. Town
the river bank: across the ford: disappear
ing for second or two as they plunged,
only to appear the next, like the crest of
some huge roller ct the bottom of the slope
crowned by our little fortress. On, on!
And now they had swept past their own
L
ing eyeballs and flashing eyes of the first
rank, as they dashed forward with upltfted
spears.
Now, men! The two words rang out,
sharp and clear, from the lips OF the doc
tor, and they were answered the next IN
slant by the quick, sharp crack of>the mag.
azine rifles, which seemed to roll round ana
round the inclosure with cracking noise
which drowned for the moment the SOUND
of the advance. The gray smoke rose in
feecy clouds on every side, and each man
could see nothing except what was directly
before him, and even that only by snatches.
They had seemed to be almost upon us
when the order to fire was given, yet now
1 strained my eyes all but vainly to catch
sight of the enemy. Now and then, indeed,
dark figures, with tossing shields and
glancing spears, seemed to fit past IN the
smoky twilight and as often as they did
SO 1 fired, but with what effect 1 couldn't
even guess. The fire must have been deadly
at so short range, and yet they came on.
Nearer and nearer! l could hear the sharp
whirr of the spears; I seemed to hear the
tread of their footsteps; more than once
had seen men go down who couldn't have
been more than few feet away. Suddenly
gust of wind blew strongly in my face.
and the next moment l could see. 1t was
a startling sight. There, within few
yards of US. were the ranks Of the enemy.
but no longer calm and unbroken. Tossing,
leaping. rushing forward or falling back:
Their lines broken and shattered the
ground strewn with dark figures, some
writhing as they lay. and others lying still.
In spite of it all, they were struggling to
advance.
AT that moment there was a rush, and
fence of bags within few feet of my post.
The sharp crack Of my next neighbor's
rifle and my own answered the attempt,
and two Of them fell backward, spear in
hand: the other two had reached our slight
fortification, however. and in moment
they were half over. As 1 sprang to my
feet to meet them the black cloud of
smoke that had lifted seemed to settle
down again, and the figures grew suddenly
dim and misty. Still. I sprang forward,
clubbing my rifle as I did so. Something
flashed past me as came, and for an in
slant my shoulder felt as IL 1t had been
scorched. and then struck. dim figure
stood out for a second in the darkness and
then ii disappeared. There had been an
other. / knew, and 1 made step or two
forward in the smoke. As did so, he was
upon me.
With a leap like a tiger he srrang at me,
and could see the broad-headed spear
fe sh in his hand, even in that dim light. 1
heaved up my rifle to strike once more. and
in the very act we met The man was al
most a giant-sx inches taller and half as
heavy again as myself-and 1 went down.
I could see his black, fierce eyes glare down
into mine; 1 could see his uplifted arm
holding the spear; could even see it as it
came down-down-and that was all!
IL WdS Win d strange, StdTlltu leSllIS
that 1 opened my eyes, and was more
startled to find them look up into the clear
sky and to feel the bright, hot sun in my
face. closed my eyes quickly, but was
distinctly conscious Of a heavy weight that
seemed to press down my legs. and then of
voice which I seemed to know, though
somehow it sounded distant, too. "Bless
my SOUL" it seemed to say In veice that
was like Travers', heres a laundering
great niger lying on top Of Hall. 1 think
tried to laugh, but Just then lost con-
sciousness again.
When came to myself was lying in the
bunk had occupied since came to the
pest at Malakesi, and the first sound that
reached me was that of song which 1
seemed to have heard somewhere in my
dreams. I tried to sit up, but felt strange
ly gtddy. and lay down again. There was a
jcvial laugh at the door, and the next mo-
ment I saw Travers' face bending over me.
What has happened?" 1 asked feebly.
"Oh. nothing much! Baker, fortunately.
was just in time. Now you know what it
Is to enjoy hot Christmas
(The end.)