The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1906-11-20

eRANtArA p 7t+Aef
wait.
10 this we replied BY pushing them
to one side, and marching in single
file through the gateway, which was
distant not more than hundred yargS'
from the koppie.
While we were getting through, the
men. we had pushed away ran toward
the town, calling for assistance caA
that was promptly responded to, for in
another minute we made out scores OF
armed men running hard in our dlrec-
ton.
So we ran, too for the koppie.
AS soon as they understood what we
were after, which they did not at first,
owing to the dinness of the light, they
did their level best to get to the koppie
before us.
But we had the start Of chem, and
with the exception Of one unfortunate
man, who stumbled and fell, we were
well on to it before they arrived.
This man. they captured, and when
fighting began on the following morn
| ing, and he refused to give any infor-
maIlOn, Lney kllieu AlAn.
Luckily they had no time to torture
him, or they would certainly have done
So for these Matuku people are very
fond of torturing their enemies.
When we reached the koppie, the
base Of which covered about half an
acre Of ground, the soldiers who had
been trying to cut us off halted. for
they knew the strength of the position.
This gave us few minutes, before
the light had quite vanished, to recon-
notre the place.
we found that it was unoccupied, for
tilted with a regular labyrinth Of stone
walls. and contained three large caves
and some smaller ones.
The next business was to post the
men to such advantage as time would
allow.
Ny own men was careful to put
right at the top.
They were perfectly useless from ter
ror, and what / feared was that they
might try to escape and give informa-
ton of our plans to Wambe.
So watched them like the apple Of
my eye, telling them that should they
dare to stir they would be shot.
Then it grew quite dark, and pres
emily out of the darkness heard
voices it was that Of the leader Of the
soldiers who had escorted US, calling to
us to come down.
We replied that it was too dark to
move: that we should hit our feet
against the stones.
He insisted upon our descending. and
we fatty refused, saying that if any
attempt was made to dislodge us, we
would fire.
After that, as they had no real in
tention of attacking us in the dark,
the men withdrew, but we saw from
the watchfires that were lighted
around that they were keeping a strict
watch upon our position.
That night was wearing one, for
we never quite knew how the situation
was going to develop. Fortunately we
had some cooked food with us, so we
die not starve.
1t was lucky, however, that we had
uIuIh our La OS1OAC SOtAAAS5 w. ~. 80
had anticipated. there was not drop
of water on the koppie.
At length the night wore away, and
with the first tinge of light began to
go my rounds. and stumbling along the
stony paths, make things as ready as l
could for the attack. which felt sure
would be delivered before we were two
hours older.
The men were cramped and cold, and
consequently low spirited, but | ex-
horted them to the best Of my ability,
bidding them remember the race from
which they sprang, and not show the
white feather to crowd Of Matuka
dogs.
At length it began to grow light, and
presently saw long columns of men
advancing toward the koppie.
They halted, under cover, at a dis
lance of about hundred and fifty
yards, and just as the dawn broke,
herald came forward and called to US.
Our captain stood on the rock and
answered him.
"These are the words Of Wambe,"
he said. "Come forth from the koppie
and give over the evil doors, and go in
peace. or stay on the koppie and be
slain'
1T is too early to come forth as yet"
answered our man, in fine diplomatic
style.
When the sun sucks up the mist.
then will we come forth.
sour limbs are stiff with cold"
"Come forth even now" said the
herald.
mot if know it, my boy said to
myself, but the captain replied that he
would come out when he thought
proper, and not before.
TO be continued1
Legends of Old Newgate.
The number Of persons confined in
fha oavorr4e a+ ono ffnan annq ginnallV