The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-11-29

among the shadows, ana tins SHADOW
moved and glided. and came swiftly up
the slope on which the chicken coop
stood between the house and the trees
by the river. 1t was followed by an
other, and another, and another. and
another, coming on like wild ducks in
or wedge. AMI from the heart OF
the shadows came low hum-the song
of the impis.
"Ilow mnny? the mother asked as
the moon shonc out. and Piet told her
there were about 20, with shields and
assagais. for in those days firearms
were not common among the Katllr
tribes us now.
"a raidng party" said Vrouw Put
ter. and took command. piet was eager
to fire ut once. but she forbade. The
children were very quiet, though trcm-
bling. The savagcs came en- and halt
ed, and came OH again. now silent AMI
apparently puzzled 1T there being no
sign of life about the house. AS the
coop stood it could not be readily dis
cerncd IN the shadow OF the slope.
Again the Zulus advanced.
Mother" said piet. "if they get close
to the house they will fire it,"
She nodded. but waited until the saw
ages were only so yards away then
Fire" she whispered, and from her
own loophole and from Piet's at tile
same instant strcnmed n flame, and the
Zulus gave one great cry OF rage anu
aStOnishment, rs two Of their number
threw their arms high and fell, their
shields gathering beside them. At once
little Grcta and PretOrius did their part.
and with incredible bravery in such i'll
handed up fresh guns, while the two
defenders passed the empty ones down
to be loaded by these small but trained
fingers. The Zulus. however did not
fall back. Furious ut being taken hy
surprise they dashed at the little fort,
and shower Of spears came claslling
against the stone walls Crack. again
went the guns, and again q howl OF
pain rcsOunded through the night. The
Zulus were almost in touch OF the fort.
an. were pressing onward. one on top
of the other, With their fcrocious yclls,
when tall man among them with an
iron ring on his head. sign Of an induna
chief, shouted Il command and at once
his warriors fell back.
Mother" cried Piet. as they seized
fresh rifles. don't let them think that
we are SO few. Greta and pretorius,
load as fast as you can. Mother. let us
fire continuously and, thinking we arc
numerous. they Will retire"
Erou"I i'iittcr nodded consent, and
at once these two valiant defenders of
hearth and home began from the half
dozen firearms at their disposal to pour
bullets into the rctreatinS crowd of
naked blacks. They could not tell what
actual effect their missiles had, save
for an occasional cry from the war
riors, but they hoped that SO Quic, and
whitening n tire would deceive the par
ty. In this manner however. they
used UP n good deal Of ammunition
from the two boxes of cartridges piet
had carried to the chicken coop
With hardly u pause, the indunn gave
his savages their instructions. and sud
denly they ran apart from one another
in the moonlight and surrounded the
henhOuSe and came at it from three
sides. Now, indeed, the besicged were
hard put to it, but never Quailed. Grcta
took the lightest rife and, little girl
though she e'was, her father and brother
and even her mother had taught her to
use it, She took position, n white faced
heroine, ut one side, and her mother
and Piet in tbeir old places. Down
came the Zulus, casting spears before
them. and sheltered by their long,
tough bullhide shields. Crack! crack!
crack! swiftly the rifles rang out, and
still the ZuIus rushed on. The fingers
Of little Prctorius were busy on the
floor Of the hut, loading the rifles now
getting hot. Crack! crack! The savagcs
reached the wall; one scrambled to the
roof; lie thrust spear down n crack.
The Beers wife cried out; her shoulder
was pierced. But Piets voice was tri-
umphant, as yell came from the in
dunn himself.
"I aimed for the chief and got him"
cried the boy, and indeed the induna
seemed badly hurt, for he limped back,
supported, and again called off his
soldiers. Piet ran to his mother and
helped her bandage the wounded arm.
ut Is nothing" she said bravely, and
added more softly. nor my life, either,
If children and home are saved"
Suddenly little PretOrius cried out in
dismay.
"piet," he said, "thcre are no more
cartridges"
1t was true. One box was empty, and
the other covered box did not hold am
munition. Piet looked and despaired
Two gold prospectors had been staying
at the farm who used dynamite in their
work. They had gone off at sign Of
trouble, but had left some tools and
things behind. In this box which Plet
had carried of for ammunition were
instead some sticks Of dynamite.
II - have - betrayed = my fathers
trust" cried Piet. "Aly mistake has
been our ruinw
And he flung himself in despair
against the wall. But his mother find
Ing nothing but empty guns, kneelcd
quietly down and prayed, her babies
about her. She had done all she could.