Omaha daily bee., 1899-10-29


had given the boy the necessary idea. If
the house were too big, the coop could not
| be accused of that fault About the rocky
| kopje stones were plenty and more conven-
| lent than wood. Therefore, Piet had aided
his father in building solid affair to shelter
| the many fowls. 1t stone, and high
| and roomy. Piet, during the afternoon, had
| made on each side, by careful removal OF
| stones loopholes, and carried to the hen
| house the more precious articles in the house
with all the ammunition and guns. Now
the chickens, squawking, were ruthlessly
| turned out and the little family went in,
the youngsters giggling. The door which
Piet had strengthened. was closed, and the
GARRISON prepared. Vrouw Putter was not
without experience in wars alarms. She
looked round with brave smile.
well DONE Piet," she said, and calmly
began to examine the guns, while at the
same time quieting the children. who, now
in the dark and undisturbed by such prep
arations, began to be afraid. Again Piet
slipped away to the kopje, and when he
came back he said: "Flames are rising
from the Van BoeNeu's and the war song
is coming near
"Loud?" the vrouw asked. briefly
"Not very" her son answered, piline
= rocks against the door
"a detached party" said his mother
quietly "If the Lord wills it, we will pro
tect our own"
And she made them all kneel down ant
pray and then sing a psalm.
1t was a ftfully moonllt night in tn
dry season, and chilly. White clouds pur
sued the moon, after hiding it and leavin
the veldt in darkness, then passing o
and flooding the land with silvery beams
At last Piet, peering out Of his looph0l'
| to the west saw a shadow among tn
shadows, and this shadow moved and glide
and came swiftly up the slope on whic
the chicken coop stood between the hous
and the trees by the river. 1t was followe
by another and another and another an
another, coming on like wild ducks in
V or wedge, and from the heart of tn
shadows came a low hum, the song {
the impis.
How many?" the mother asked, as ii
moon shone out, and Piet told her thel
were about twenty, with shields an
assegais, for in those days firearms wer
not common among the Kafir tribes as nov
"A raiding party said Nrouw futte
n and took command. Piet was eager to fiji
AT once, but she forbade. The children We
- very quiet. though trembling. The savag'
sh came on and halted, and came on agai
,e now silent and apparently puzzled at the
he being no sign of life about the house. .
in the coop stood it could not be readily dl
mt cerned in the shadow OF the slope. Aga
of the Zulus advanced.
ds Mother" said Piet, "if they get clio
to the house they will fire it"
nd She nodded, but waited until the savag
'or were only fifty yards away, then-'tlre
she whispered, and from her own loopho
ram OF af the instant stream
NO flame, and the Zulus gave one great C
,Iv OF rage and establishment, as two OF the
~ number threw their arms high and fe
their shields Gathering beside them
once little Greta and Pretorius did the
bis part and with incredible bravery In su
no infants forebore even to tremble, but hanu
go up fresh guns, while the two derendt
he passed the empty ones down TO be load
-. by these small but trained fingers. I
~ Zulus, however, did not fall back; furio
49, at being taken by surprise they dashed
,,e the little fort and a shower of spears ca
!, clashing against the stone walls. Crac
again went the guns, and again howl
=. pain resounded through the night
Zulus were almost in touch OF the fort
~ nn we're pressing onward, one on top OF
va, other with their ferocious yells' wheh
49, tall man among them with an iron ring
'"e his head sign of an induna or chief, shou
l. |
,-o, | back
"eu Mother" cried Piet, as they seized IT
rifles, don't let them think that we
so few. Greta and Pretorius, load as
ap- as YOU can Mother. let rs fire continuou
- and, thinking we are numerous they
retire"
Yrouw Putter nodded consent and at o
these two valiant defenders OF hearth
home began from the half dozen firearms
their disposal to pour bullets into the
treating crowd OF naked blacks. They &C
not tell what actual effect their missiles !
q save for an occasional cry from the v
y riors, but they hoped that so quick
whitening fire would deceive the party
this manner, however. they used up 6
ds deal OF ammunition from the two boxe'
No cartridges Piet had carried to the chic
~. COOP With hardly pause, the induna 6
,t his savages their instructions, and sudd'
IN they ran apart from one another In
-, moonlight and surrounded the hen house
90 came at 1t from three sides Now, ind
~ the besleged were hard put to IT, but NJ
% quailed. Greta took the lightest rifle
"A little girl though she was, her father
M brother and even her mother had ta'
|. her to use it. She took position, WI