The representative., 1899-11-09

Are the guns cleaned and loaded.''
yes. said Piet, "and, mother, II you
approve, we must leave the house. It 10 too
Dig ana rambling for us two to protect
Leave the house?" *
Not very far" said Piet, and explained
In that land of few dwellers, space is
not OF much consideration. The farm build
ings were quite widely scattered and Farmer
Putter had built his cowbyres and pigpens
and so on proper distance away from his
house walls. ALI the afternoon Piet had
/ been marching, laden with packages and
bundles. between the house and the out
buildings. Now, when it was dark, he put
| out all the lights OF the house and the
windows and doors were stoutly barred. -.
+. Where are we going to sleep?" the chill
dren asked, accustomed to rise and lie down
with the sum- and Piet answered cheerfully:
| I'm the chicken COOP
| The children, at first astonished and In
credulous, were delighted when they dis
covered that their brother meant what he
said, for the sight of the chickens feeding
had given the boy the necessary idea. II
the house were too big the coop could not
be accused of that fault. About the rocky
kopje, stones were plenty and more con-
venient than wood. Therefore, Piet had
aided his father in building a solid af-
fair to shelter the many fowls. 1t was
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 ammu-
milton and guns. Now the chickens sQuawk-
ing, were ruthlessly turned out, and the
! little family went in, the youngsters gig
Cling. The door which Piet had strengthen
ed was closed, and the garrison prepared.
Vrouw Putter was not without experience
in wars alarms. She looked round with a
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 disturbed by such pre-
parations, began to be afraid. Again Piet
! slipped away to the kopje, and when he
came back he said: FLAMES are rising
from the Van Boeven's, and the war song is
| coming near
'Loud?" the vrouw asked, briefly.
mot very," her son answered. piling rocks
against the door.
"A detached party" said his mother,
quietly. IF the Lord wills it, We will pro-
tect our own"
pray, and then sing psalm.
1t was a fitfully moonit night in the dry
season, and chilly. White clouds pursued
the moon after hiding it and leaving the
veldt in darkness, then passing on and
| flooding the land with silvery beams. For
a long time all was very still. At last Piet
peering out of his loophole to the west
saw a shadow among the shadows, and
this shadow moved and glided, and came
swiftly up the slope which the chicken
coop stood between the house and the trees
by the river. 1t was followed by another,
and another, and another, and another, com
ing on like wild ducks in V or wedge, and
from the heart of the shadows came low
hum-the song of the Impis.
How many?" the mother asked, as the
moon shone out, and Piet told her there
were about 20, with shields and assegais,
for in those days firearms were not common
among the Kaf6r tribes as now.
"a raiding party said Vrouw Putter, and
took command. Piet was eager to fire at
once but she forbade. The children were
very quiet, though trembling The savages
came and halted and came on again.
now silent and apparently puzzled at there
being no sign Of life about the house. AS
the coop stood it could not be readily dis
cerned in the shadow of the slope. Again
the Zulus advanced.
Mother said Piet, eff they get close
to the house they will fire it,"
She nodded, but waited until the savages
were only so yards away, then-"Fire!" she
whispered, and from her own lcophole and
from Piets at the same instant streamed
fame, and the Zuus gave one great cry
OF rage and astonishment, two of their
number threw their arms high and fell, their
shields Gathering beside them. At once
little Greta and Pretorius did their part,
and with incredible bravery in such in
fants forebore even to tremble, but 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
at being taken by surprise they dashed at
the little fort, and shower of spears came
clashing against the stone walls. Crack.
again went the guns, and again howl of
pain resounded through the night. The
Zulus were almost in touch of the fort, and
were pressing onward, one top of the
other with their ferocious yells, when a
tall man among them with an iron ring on
his head, sign of induna chief, shouted
a command and at once his warriors fell
back.
Mother" cried Piet as they. seized fresh
rifles, don't let them think that we are
Sc few. Greta and Pretorious, load as fast
as you Mother, let us fire continuously
and, thinking are numerous, they will
retire."
Vrouw Putter nodded consent, and at once
these two valiant defenders of hearth and
home began from the halfdozen firearms
at their disposal to pour bullets into the
retreating crowd of naked blacks. They
could not tell what actual effect their mis-
siles had, save for the occasional cry from
the warriors, but they hoped that so quick
and whitening a fire would deceive the
party. In this manner, however, they used |
up a good deal of ammunition from the
two boxes of cartridges Piet had carried to |
the chicken-coop. With hardly a pause
the induna gave his savages their instruc-
tions, and suddenly they ran apart from
one another in the moonlight and sur
rounded the hen house and came at it from |
three sides. Now, indeed the besieged !
were hard put to it, but never quailed. |
Greta took the lightest rifle and little girl |
though she was, her father and brother and |
even her mother had taught her to use it. |
She took position, a white faced heroine, |
at one side, and her mother and Piet in |
their old places. Down came the Zulus. |
CIT 11Eo