Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-10-01
CHAPTER VII.

l suggested tulS tO our Cdptulh' dA1
acting OH the hint he directed all the
men to drink what they could, and alst
to fill the seven or eight cooking pots
which we had with us with water.
Then came the crucial moment
How were we to get possession Of the
koppie.
When our captain asked me, said
that thought we had better march uI
and take it, and this accordingly We
went on to do.
When we came to the narrow gate
way we We're, as I expected, stopped
by two soldiers who were Oh guart
there and asked our business.
The captain answered that we hat
changed our mind and would follow or
70 Wambe's kraal.
The soldiers said no; we must now
wait.
To this we replied by pushing then
to one side, and marching in single
file through the gateway, which was
distant not more than hundred yards
from the koppie.
While we were getting through, the
men we had pushed away ran toward
the town, calling for assistance-a cal
that was promptly responded to, for ir
another minute we made out scores OF
armed men running hard in our direc
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 dimness Of the light, they
did their level best to get to the koppie
before us.
But we had the start of them, and
with the exception of one unfortunate
man, who stumbled and fell, we were
we'll 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'
nation, they killed him.
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 al
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 rs time would
allow.
NV own men l 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
entity out of the darkness | heard a
voice; 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.
lie insisted upon our descending, and
we fatty refused, saying that if any
attempt was made to dislodge us, we
would fire.
After that. MS they had no real in
tcntion of attacking us in the dark
the men withdrew. but we saw from
the watchfres that were lighted
around that they were keeping n stric,
watch upon our position.
That night was n wearing one, FOL
we never quite knew how the situation
was going to develop. Fortunately we
had some cooked food with us, SO We
did not starve.
1t was lucky. however. that we had
drunk our fill before coming un. for. as
[ had anticipated, there was not droI
of water OIL the koppie.
At length the night wore away, ant
with the first tlnge Of light began tt
70 my rounds, and stumbling along thu
stony paths, make things rs ready as
could for the attack. which felt SURF
would be delivered before we were tw'
hours older.
The men were cramped and cold, ant
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 TIT
white feather to crowd of Matuk;
dogs.
At length it began to grow light. ant
presently saw long columns of mel
advancing toward the koppie.
They halted, under cover, at a dis
lance of about a hundred and fit!
yards, and just as the dawn broke, ;
herald came forward and called to US.
Our captain stood Oh the rock ant
answered him.
"These are the words Of Wambe,
he said. "Come forth from the koppi'
and give over the evil doors, and 60 II
peace. or stay on the koppie and b.
slain"
at 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
"Our limbs are stiff with cold"
"Come forth even now" said til,