The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-02-17

X. |
halted, and came on again, now siieh.
and apparently puzzled at there oeihs
no sign of life about the house. "a, n
the coop stood it could not be readily
dis cerned in the shadow OF the slope
Again the Zulus advanced.
"Mother." said Piet, 'if they ges
close to the house they will fire 1t.
She nodded, but waited until the
sayages we're only fifty yards away,
then1''Firs" she whispered, and from
bar own loophole and from Piet's a.
the same instant streamed name' anu
the Zulus gave one great cry OF raeo
and establishment, as two OF 'ne'
number threw their arms high and 1eii'
their shields Gathering beside them,
Al once little Greta and Pretorius ala
their part. and with incredible bravery
in such infants forebore even to trem-
BILE. but handed up fresh guns, "ni.e
the two defenders passed the empty
ones down to be loaded by these small
but trained fingers. The zuios, no"
ever, did not fall back. Furious az
being taken by surprise they dasneu
at the little fort, and shower OF
snears came clsshing against the stone
walls. Crack! again went the guns,
and again q howl of pain resounoeo
throus oh the night. The Zulus were
almost in touch OF the fort, and were
pressing onward, one on top Oh .ne
other. with their ferocious yells, when
tall man among them with an IRON
ring on his head, sign OF an 1nuuha
chief, shouted command anu ~
once his warriors fell back.
"Mother." cried Piet, as they
se;zed fresh riAe,, 'don't let them
think that we are so few. Greta aud
Pretorius. load as fast as you can.
Mother. let US fire continuously ana,
thinking we are numerous, they VIZ
; retire" Vrouw Putter nodded con'
sent, and without a moments pause
the induna gave his savages their IN
structions. and suddenly they raj
Q anart from one another in the moon
Q LIGHT and surrounded the henhous'
i. and came at it from three sides. NOW
8 indeed. the bssieged were hard put u
It If. but never quailed. Greta took tn
g liehtest rifle, and, little girl thoug
sbe was. her father and brother an
1t even her mother had taught her
n nsa IL She took position, white
:, faced heroine, at one side, an" nc
. mother and Piet in their old placer
II Down came the Zulus, casting spear
9. before them, and sheltered by the
70 long. tough bullhide shields. Craci
crack crack swiftly the rifles rar
ont and still the Zulus rushed o.
=. The fingers of little Pretorius we
hnsv on the floor of the hut. loadir
=. the rifles now getting hot. Crac
~ crackI The savages reached the wa
NC ono .crambled to the roof; he thrus,
II. spear down a crack. The Boer 8 w
- cried out; her shoulder was pierce
80 But Piet's voice was triumphant as
'so veil came from the induna himself.
"a M aimed for the chief and got MN
. ha cried the boy, and indeed the indu
w. eeemed badly hurt, for he imp
90 back. supported, and again called
90 hrs soldiers. Piet ran to his mot
GIG and helped her bandage the wouno
the arm.
md cit is nothing" she said, brave
an. and added more softly, "nor my
KEN either. if children and home
saved"
and Suddenly little Pretorius cried
hey in dismay.
can't "2iet." he said. ''there are no m
the cartridges"
boy r. was true. One box was emf
we're ord the other covered box dld
lsed hoId ammunition. Piet looked
ople despaired. Two gold prospec.ors
ven, been staying at the farm VINO
haa dynamite in their work. Ihey
al zone off at sign of trouble, put
was left some tools and things behind
dur tb;s box which Piet had carr ed Of
each ammunition, were instead some 8
'ns s. of dynamite.
louse "I-have - betrayed-my fat
ouse' ,rustr, cried Pet. "My mistake
wara been our ruir!
little And he flung himself in de
- ro;net the wall, But his mo
Rad fnding nothing hut empty
a car. kueeled quietly down and praye'
was babies about her. She had don
wars she could. The rest lay with n
it'll a power.
For a moment Pet was crazy
and than recovered himself. He
guns, through his loophole. The
20 the were in a group quite hundred
* and awav. almost indistinguishable
began night. Even as Piet looked
away moved and be knew they were
e back to attack again. With shout
om the the furious boy suddenly stool
ong is the dangerous box he had carrie
the house, aud then drew dow
briefly. rocks Irom 'no 80 80 sticks
'o' r" Mantle. carried such deadly thu
id his his nanos 'nao W. aasbed
- "i through the night, yelling. In.
!, armed on him in amaze, think
!, - NO mad, and greeted HIM with
LII. i, of spears. Unstricken, Pet
e Write within fifty yards of them, AM
~ W. one after another, he threw al
rLnasa e with all his might the fearful
!. !, LAn 'sns mite. There was fearful conc
t;ma which dashed the boy to the
rs roar as of artillery, medley Q