The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1913-06-12

COulQ near Tue Luuu VI luS1i io0S 40
thew rushed off. The young warrior,
startled, made a leap for the shaft,
but there was no one to help him up,
for all his friends had bolted. AS he
was struggling hard to try and climb
out ] rushed and got him round the
waist. My word, didn't he yell! Evi-
IDENTITY he thought the spirits had got
hold CT him. | soon found I had
caught a Tartar, for the beggar man
aged to get an aim clear and jabbed
me Gown the back with one of his
asseeais. We rolled over and over,
and a; last l 60. him by the throat
and started to choke him into insen-
sibility, though he still struggled
furiously.
Hurry up, Haigh," came the cry,
in familiar voice. THE niggers are
here in hundreds, and there's not
moment to spare
"Help!" 1 shouted. ''I've got fel-
low down here, and if l let go he'll
stab me-" With that, down through
the hole dropped my chum, O'Leary.
In an instant he had sized up the sit
nation, and gave the Matabele crack
over the head with the butt end OF
his Martini, which effectively Quieted
him.
We've got no time to waste he
said, "Kneel down, so that | can
reach the top with my hands, then Ill
be able to pull you out
l bent down, he got on my back
and shouldered himself up through
the shaft. A second later he came
down again like shot.
Good heavens!" he cried. The
brutes are back again, and they spot
ted me-"
We were now in quite a Tx. l
learned from O'Leary that he had
come back for me alone, the rest hav-
ing gone on as hard as they could to
bring up Raaf, so as to attack the
Matabele in force. O'Leary had his
rife and about 80 rounds of ammuni-
ton, also revolver and a few cart
ridges. The revolver he handed to
me. We then retired to my corner
and listened.
There was a hot argument going
on at the mouth of the pit, but no
one ventured down. All the better
for US, we thought, for every moment
meant that help was getting nearer.
Presently we heard a shout, and
soon learned what it meant. Down
the shaft came bundle of lighted
thacht, then another and another. In
half a minute the smoke was blind
ing.
O'Leary kept his head we'll.
Put that stuff out" he gasped.
Throw grain on it. Get it out some
how or we're done for.
For the next few minutes we work
ed like fury, but the Matabele gave
us no rest, throwing down more and
more grass till the place was agloW
with fire and thick with pungent
smoke.
Look here yelled O'Leary. 1--WE
have got to plug that hole. Where's
that blessed nigger?'
Turning round, he snatched at the
unconscious mans shoulders, bade
me catch hold, and by main force,
we heaved the warrior up the shaft.
He had only been stunned, and
could feel him kick feebly as we
lifted him. Suddenly We felt the
natives weight taken off our arms.
He began to go up the shaft.
Hang on to his leg," shouted
O'Leary. They're trying to hoist
him out
hung on with all my strength, but
1 could still feel him going up. There
must have been quite lot of Mata-
belle pulling at him.
Bend his leg over, or they'll have
him out" snapped O'Leary.
pulled one way, O'Leary the 9TH
er, but it was a mighty hard job to
keep our human cork" in position.
The unfortunate negro had by this
time recovered his senses and was
shouting his opinion of the proceed
ings in no uncertain voice, kicking
and struggling like a madman, so
that it was all We could do to keep
our hold on him.
Failing to achieve their object by
main strength, the Matabele up above
now tried another plan, and Incident
ally showed us what little value they
attached to human life, even that OF
their own kith and kin. Bringing up
a musket, they showed it down along