The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1908-12-29
An Incident of African History.
by RIDER HAGGARD.
E44E
loSR6Pol


drill it would. 1 think. have been diff
ficult to find. as every trooper in it
could ride well, many were fine rifle
shots, and almost all OF them were
thoroughly acquainted with the coun-
try and the natives whom they were
t fight.
The plan was that we were to pro-
coed to Zululand to join another
corps named, | think, the Border
Horse, which had been raised by
Colonel Weatherley. At the last mo-
ment, however, this arrangement was
upset. for the Beers became so threat
ening in their demeanor that the
Administrator of the Transvaal, Sir
Theophilus Shepstone, whose son
George had been killed at Isandhl-
wana, dared not allow so many Eng
lishmen to leave Pretoria.
George Shepstone's body, by the
way. was not discovered till long
afterward, when his bones were iden-
tilted by means of some false teeth.
A native In whose possession his
revolver was found gave to a friend
OF mine an account OF his end. 1t
was a gallant one, for he died fight
Ing In little cleft OF rock, with his
back against q boulder.
Fortunate was IL for us Of the
Pretoria Horse that events shaped
themselves as they did. Weatherley's
corps. which we were to have Joined.
was almost utterly destroyed by the
Zulus at the fight of Inslobane, where
Colonel Weatherley himself was as
sagaied in the vain and desperate at
tempt to defend his fifteen-year-old
son, whom he had been so rash as to
take on service with him as an aide
de-camp.
One day, shortly after the enrol
ment of the Pretoria Horse. as I was
sitting in my Office, which l still at
tended in the intervals OF my mill
tary duties. I observed a Boer gallop
past at full speed in the direction of
Government House. A quarter of an
hour later I saw another Boer. also
galloping hard, with dismay written
on his features and heading the same
way. Then | thought it time TO in
quire into matters and heard an in
teresting story. 1t seemed that these
two Beers and others who lived in
the bush weld beyond a place called
the Salt Pan, at distance of about
twenty-five miles from Pretoria, had
been interviewed by mounted KaGir
wearing the head ring and the Zulu
military uniform. He gave out that
he was one Of King Cetewayo's big
indunas. or confidential chieftains,
and a member of the royal family.
This maa told the Beers that he had
been sent by Cetewayo with an impi,
or army, Of between twenty and thir-
ty thousand men to fall upon Pretoria
and destroy it utterly.
His impi, he said. was now resting
in the bush weld after its long and
rapid march through tho weld which
lies at the back Of what was known
as Secocoeni's Country He added
that the rush on Pretoria would be
made on the following night. the plan
being to storm the town at the break
Of dawn. Further, he told them that
he had come forward with only a
few attendants to warn them to make
themselves scarce, with all their peo-
pie, as he knew that the Beers and
the English were at variance, and the
orders OF his king were that he was
not to kill any Beers unless he was
forced to It. Having said this the
man departed.
Now although this scheme came as
surprise to us. for we had not heard
through our spies that any considera-
bic body OF men had left Zululand,
there was nothing impossible about
the story. All who were acquainted
with Zulu history knew, indeed that
in the days OF the black Napoleon,
/ Chaka. who built up the Zulu power.
his impis had upon different occa-
| sions made even longer and more
difficult marches, carrying annihila-
ton at the end OF them 20 some un-
| fortunate tribe that had earned his
enmity.
Moreover. 70 was quite possible that
an army might have moved through
/ the vast districts uninhabited by
white men which lay behind Seco-
coeni's without our being advised OF
its presence. Great. therefore. was
the CONSERVATION Within twenty
/ four hours a vast concOurse Of armed
savagcs. among the bravest that the
world has ever seen, might be pour
| ing through the unprotected streets
OF the little town, putting every man.
woman and child to the assagai and
/ giving the dwellings TO the flames.
The consultations st Government
/ House were hurried and earnest. and
\ very soon orders reached MS from the
| commandant OF the small body OF
| British troops ln the town They
were 20 the effect that my senior
! officers. Captain Jackson and Lieu
/ tenant Fry were TO take horse at
| once and ride out TO the Salt Pan 90
\ see n they could come Zoo touch with
or find traces OF the Zulu impi This
meant that 7 was left i'm command
OF the Pretoria Horse. no light re-
sponsbility for a young man OF TWEEN
/ ty-one or two who had not been
through any regular military train.
Ing
Before he rode away my captain
told me that he relied upon me to- do
my duty in any emergency. TO- keer
up the credit of the corps. and Of ID
came to the worst and we were over
whelmed by the Zulus. To- see that va
fought the thing out like men.
Then of he galloped. leaving m,
/ to make the best Of the situation. II