The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-02-20

one lOOkeu Will d DIdNe
"Well, done, Piet," she said, and
calmly began to examine the guns,
while ar the same time quieting the
children, who, now in the dark and dis
turbed by such preparations, began to
be afraid. Again Piet slipped away to
the kopje, AMI when he came back he
said, "Flames are rising from the Van
and the war song is coming
near"
'Loudr' the vrouw asked briefly.
Not very" her son answered, piling
rocks against the door.
"A detached party said his mother
quietly. ''If the Lord wills it, we will
protect our own"
And she made them all kneel down
and pray and then sing a psalm.
1t was a fitfully moonlight 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 long time all was
very still. At last Piet, peering out of
his loophole to the west, saw shadow
among the shadows, and this 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
a V or wedge, and from the heart of
the shadows came a low hum-the song
of the impis.
"How manyY' the mother asked, as
the moon shone out, and Piet told her
there were about 20 with shields and
assagais, for in those days firearms
were not common among the Kaffir
tribes as now.
"a raiding party" said Vrouw Put
ter, and took command. Piet was eager
to fire at once, but she forbade. The
children were very quiet, though trem-
bling. The savages came on and halt
ed, 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, ''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
"Firew she whispered, and from her
own loophole and from Piet's at the
same instant streamed flame, and the
Zulus gave one great cry Of rage and
astonishment, as 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 forbore 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 on TOP
of the other, with their ferocious yells
when a tall man among them with an
iron ring on his head, sign of an 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 thai
| we are so few. Greta and Pretorius
load as fast as you can. Mother, let us
l inIy MY
numerous, they will retire"
| Vrouw Putter nodded consent, anG
at once these two valiant defenders Of
hearth and home began from the hall
dozen firearms at their disposal to poul
bullets into the retreating crowd o.
naked blacks. They could not tell wha
actual effect their missiles had, saw
riors, but they hoped that so quick ant
withering a fire would deceive the par
ty. In this manner, however, the,
used up a good deal of ammunition
from the two boxes of cartridges Pie
had carried to the chicken coop.
| With hardly pause, the induna CAV
his savages their instructions, and sud
denly they ran apart from one anothe
in the moonlight and surrounded th
henhouse and came at it from thre
sides. Now, indeed, the besieged wer
hard put to it, but never Quailed. Gret
took the lightest rifle and, little gir
though she was, her father and brothe
and even her mother had taught her t
use it. She took position, white face
heroine, at one side, and her mothe
and Piet in their old places. Dow
came the Zulus, casting spears befor
them. and sheltered by their Ions
tough bullhide shields. Crack! crack
crack! swiftly the rifles rang out, an
still the Zulus rushed on. The finger
of little Pretorius were busy on tn
| floor of the hut, loading the rifles noN
getting hot. Crack! crack! The savage
reached the wall; one scrambled to tn
roof; he thrust a spear down a cracl
The Beers wife cried out; her shoulde
was pierced. But Piet's voice was tr
umphant, as a yell came from the il
duna himself.
; 81 aimed for the chief and got him!
cried the boy, and indeed the indun
, seemed badly hurt, for he limped bacl
, supported, and again called off h
, soldiers. Piet ran to his mother an
{ helped her bandage the wounded arm
> ''It is nothing" she said bravely, an
added more softly, NOR my life, eithe
If children and home are saved"
= Suddenly little Pretorius cried out
S dismay.
: "Piet," he said, "there are no mol
4 | cartridges!'
, 1t was true. One box was empty, an
e the other covered box did not hold an
!, munition. Piet looked and despaire