The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-03

wall OF mattress. canvas. biscuit box. and
grain bag.
The suilen neIshbnring hills were hold
ing. If the fugitives spoke truly, Zulu
impis. blood-glutted and thicsting for more
slaughter who would swoop down on the
Drift like wolves on the fold. 1t was now
o'clock in the afternoon. and the SUI
preme question was: Could the defence
hold out till night. when darkness might
put stop to the attack or enable re-en-
forcements to come? The fate of the bat
TALON which had been annihilated would
soon be known and then the General. who
was not many miles away would know Of
the peril of the soldiers at the Drift, would
hurry on at all costs to relieve them.
Il wish" thought Barran, that in place
OF Railton and Thring had a couple more
men like Howard. Railton's so gentle and
humane. and Thrlng isn't a soldier
Here they comet" cried Railton, who
was standing near the senior subaltern.
Now he'll be wanting TO bolt to the
storehouse, muttered Barran, whose eX
tremity had induced an ungenerOus mood
foreign TO his nature.
Remember what I've told you. men, -
he exclaimed Keep your fire tn they
get to the barricade then nit them swift
and low. Don't forget the bayonet-and
what they've done at the Little Hand
With revenge impelling them-revenge
for the butchery of nearly the whole of
their battalion-and nerves strung with
the intense resolve to fight for life every
man for himself the little band awaited
lentlessly.
The ZuIus spread out from the hills in
front of the barricade. expanded in
horseshoe form until the Drift was fully
compassed. then with a waTCry of
"Usuti" that rang over the plain and
echoed up the silent hills. they hurled
themselves agaibt the stubborn foe
They cry 'Csad -coward s, said Rail-
ton. Let them wait and see
Barran, to whom he spoke looked round,
nj Iaf h.. k.h t9lg
The Assistant Commissary's face was soft
and gentle no longer; IL was as inile&ible
as any other at the Drift; his mild blue
eyes glittered with the light of battle; and
his slender form was firm and straight
as Barrans own, and Barran was reckon
ed the smartest figure in the regiment.
Railton held rife, and held it like a
man who knew how TO use it, and meant
Ia use il, wei.
He raised it coolly and deliberately, and
his was the first shot to speed from the
barricade. He had marked a towering
chief on horseback and the warlike figure
ree!ed and tumbied from the saddle.
The ball is open, and I've led the dane
ing" exclaimed RailtOn, reloading May
| live to see the finish,'
Barran heard him. but his cry Of
Bravo was lost In the rattle OF musket-
ry, and Rallton himself became 4 shadow
in the powder smoke.
Drive them back" cried Bairan His
voice was loud and clear, but only one or
two OF those who were nearest 10 him
heard the words. II was not needful that
they should for the onslaught of the en-
envy showed how poor the chance of life
would be II once they got behind the en-
trenchmcnt. Bullets came in murderous
clusters, striking the biscuit boxes with
dull reports, splintering the furniture kor-
ing into the grain bags and the canvas
hattening themselves against the walls III
the buildings, and some crashing through
the windows, while assegsis thrown bv
sinewy and malignant arms. HURLED
through the air like swooping birds
In the ferceness of the first onrush n