The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-26

never penetrated beyond the shadowy outskirts. The murderous race through the maze of kraals, with their slumbering occupants. to Mont sofas stronghold in the heart of the village did not ensue. A chain of rifle-fire met them and hurled them back; a fire withheld, in the most ap- proved fashion, until the psychologi- cal moment when the effect would be most deadly. There was no Kaffir warfare here. but the generalship of one who had learned the true art of war. The village was awake. and the defenders fought in white mems fashion, with white mems weapons.
 It was a large band of Ferman Elwoods oid-time hunters and fight ing-men who met the attack. They were trained and disciplined, and they fought under a man whom years of hard experience had taught them to trust, in whom their confi- dence was unbounded. He had gathered them together again from their distant tribes to meet the emergency he had foreseen, and loy- ally they responded to his call.
 It was merciless fight which knew no quarter on either side. and it's fuctuations were marked. Neither side gave away a point. yet there was always a. slight advantage on the side of the defenders. The white men in the open. even though it was dark, afforded a target, while in the dim obscurity of the kraals, beneath overhanging trees. the Kaffirs clung to a cover which served them well. The losses were heavy on both sides. Riderless horses galiopsd loose across the veldt, while many a dark form lay stretched out beneath the shad- ow the trees, stark and lifeless.
 But the white men gained no ground. The defenders held them, and their merciless Ire told desper- ately.
 Elwood waited for the dawn before he laid his last truNp-card upon the table. He knew he must win the day. The night time was all he feared.
 The first streak of dawn shot ath- wart the eastern horizon. It broad ened out and lit the hilltops. Still he held his hand while the battle went on. Minute by minute it grew lighter. The gloom lifted, and a rosy flush spread over the trees and lit up the scene.
 The time had arrived.
 Elwood turned to the old chief at his side and gave a few sharp orders.
 The old man passed them on to his headmen. In their turn they deliv- cred them to others. The word went round, and a great stir and shouting followed.
 became aware of a new and over whelming danger. On the northern and southern sides of the village a tide of savage warriors surged forth on IOOC. In6y were Luo IIl6u OI btl6 location, simple, spear-armed fighting men, grown as rusty as their spears in the art of warfare during the long years of peace.
 Decadent they might be. but they lacked nothing of the aboriginal love of blood and slaughter. They came round from both Hanks of the village fiourishing their spears and stabbing- assegais, dancing, shouting, fiend- ish horde. The effect was instan- taneous. Wearied with the long night battle the white men had no heart for this new danger. They saw them selves about to be caught by an en- veloping movement. The rifles in front of them. and merciless throng of armed savages on their Hanks, they did not wait, A nasty retreat began at once, and almost instantly developed into wholesale flight. ITO Be Continued.1