The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-01
A SKIRMISH IN THE TRANSvAAL

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seemed to be losing their lustre. dawn was
| drawing nigh. but night was darkest This
cry of the night bird had ceased and the
chipping of the myriads OF locusts and
! crickets, which make an African night
lively, had also subsidized. There reigned a
deathly stiffness over p ''veldt" Even
the hyenas, which. witt. their shrilI, I'M
earthly laughter, make Il hideous. had
| sought their lair.
Inc sentinels. to whose vigilance was en-
| trusted the safety of the small body of
Beers who formed the advance guard OF
the army. began to feel the chill OF the
damp morning breeze which penetrated to
their very bones. and yet had the strange
effect OF making them drowsy
The camp was situated on a plateau. in
the shadow of some high table mountains.
and heavy fence of thornbushes had
been placed around il. this material being
near at hand the whole surrounding couu-
try being covered with it.
a mist rolled wavelike over the ground,
and 1t appeared to the sleepy eyes OF the
man on guard as If the bushes trembled
thing uucanny about this hour OF the night
which preceded daybreak
Strange" muttered Van wyck, one of
the sentiSels guarding the entrance to the
enclosure; I'D swear that there was a
piece of open ground some fifty yards be-
fore me, and now. with this uncertain
light and the clouds of mist covering the
Garth
that direction. too. Slowly he moved on.
| thinking soon to be relieved. and turned
his back to the bushes which had just at
traeted his attention. And strangely. the
bushes also seemed to move slowly. very
slowly. but still they moved. Even the
high tufts of dry grass appeared to be
shifting their positions. What was the
meaning OF this? Was it only play OF
the imagination?
There was a large rock nearby, and on
it Van Wyck sat down to rest his weary
limbs for just few minutes. The Bushes
continued to shift and the tufts of grass
to advance, and one large tuft came Up
quite close to the inattentive sentinel.
whose head had sunk on his breast and
whose weary eyes had closed. Suddenly
he jumped up and tried to shake the sleep
out of his eyes. That wandering tuft of
grass which had almost reached him stop
ped in its movement. Then the Beers
head gradually again sank down on his
breast. and slowly the tuft Of grass crawl
ed up behind him. until il suddenly drop
ped, and from the ground rose a dark
shadowy form. IL embraced the Beer
soldier; there was a gurgle. horrible
sound as of breaking bones. and all was
deathly stiffness again. The sentinel had
dropped from the rock to the ground.
where large If r
him, plunging his assegai into the mans
heart, to make sure that he was quite
dead.
At the same time the report of gun
was heard from the other side of the
camp. which was followed by second one
from another quarter. The mel in the en-
closure. who slept on their arms. quickly
sprang up and grasped their rifles. In a
moment the whole camp was astir and so
We're the surrounding bushes. From ev-
cry bush leaped IA Kaffir. and with blood
curdiing yell they united and threw them
selves on to the camp. But Western was
with his men, and, brandishing his sword,
he shouted with voice that could be
heard above the din of battle, Form
square. boys, We are surrounded on all
sides." And with the discipline of we'll
drilled soldiers, the half-dazed men quick
" found their places, but not minute too
Regardless of the thorn fence that tore
their flesh these bloodthirsty devils rush
ed on. yelling like demons. But before
the great bulk of the Kaffirs had pene-
trated the fence. the Beers. at the word
of command, poured hail of bullets into
their dense ranks. thereby temporarily
checking their advance.
Now. boys shouted Western. load
quick and fire steady
IN me
riors; on they came like an all-devouring
wave: but they rushed against a solid roct.
and were dashed back bowling with rage
for again having raised their prey. The
wave reeede6. only to come back again and
again gathering strength each time. and
already there were gaps in the square. The
brave Western threw himself in the breach
every time fighting with sword and re-
volver until his men had closed up. He
encouraged them by word and deed, and his
men put up brave fight. But, alas! what
could $50 men do against some 1900 picked
warriors fanatics, who threw their naked
breasts against the guns. regardless Of the
death that Iurked behind them.
The sun was rising the clouds above
the mountain tops began to wear a pink
blush. and OH most welcome sound. VOL
ley fired in the near distance was heard
The Kaffirs also heard il and knew that aid
was coming to the white man. But the
black man wanted TO annihilate the white
man before help could reach him, and SC
they pressed on all the fercer and the
ranks of the Beers began to thin more ana
more.
Hold out boys. hold out for only little
longer Our friends are near and We Will
vet win the day; keep these black devils
engaged. so they do not escape destruc-
tion shouts Western as he rushed for
ward to again cover breach in the ranks
with his own body. though weak from
loss of blood from several wounds
The tramp of larger body of approach
ing men was heard even above the din OF
the furously raging battle The first rays
of the sun lit up the mountain tops and
scattered the mists and showed TO the
brave but badly deeimated fighting little
band a regiment coming to their succor
with fixed bayOnets. for they dared not
use their guns for fear of hitting their
friends And the Beers. too. for the same
reason. had to use their rifles in a differ
ent fashion: they used them as clubs.
The reseuers came upon run; for mo-
ment the Kafflrs who were still in supe-
rior numbers waveTed. but th'ir chieftain
collected his followers quickly. and threw
himself against the onrushng regiment CT
regulars This maneuvre Of the kafiiIs
gave the Beers breathing time. and West
ern. graspirg the situation. quickly gath
cred his men. and by a few rapidly execu-
ted moves ordered his sharpshooterS to
rake the TANKS Of the enemy. The Beers
could also use their guns again, without
fear OF hitting their rescuers. and they did
so with telling effect. More troops ar
rived and soon the day was decided in ia
vor Of the Transvaal flag. a troup OF
cavalry. which had come up meantime. and