The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-02-22

rose. which would seem to suggest
that tho victory" was planned to
take place before that event.
While was Eliminating upon this
subject, | looked around for Hans to
cross-examine him as TO the priests
exact words. only to ind that he
had skunk OF somewhere A few
minutes later he reappeared run
ming back towards us swiftly ana.
| noticed, taking shelter behind
tree trunks and rocks as he came.
"Baas." he gasped, for he was Out
OF breath. "be careful. those Rezu
men are on either side ahead.
went forward and ran into them.
They threw many spears at me.
Look" and he showed d slight cut
on his arm. from which blood was
flowing.
Instantly / understood that we
were ambushed, and began to think
very hard, indeed. AS 1t CHANGED.
we were passing across a large fiat
space upon the ridge, say seven or
eight acres In extent, where the
bush grew lightly, though owing to
the soil being better the trees were
tall. On the steep slope below this
little plain 1t seemed to be denser,
and there it was. according to Hans
that the ambush was set.
81 halted my regiment and sent
back messengers to the others that
they were to halt also as they came
up, on the pretext of giving them
a rest before they were marshalled,
and we advanced to the battle.
Then / told Umslopogaas what
Hans said and asked him to send
out his Zulu soldier whom we could
trust to see II he could obtain con-
firmation of the report. This he
did at once. Also, J. asked him
what he thought should be done,
supposing that it was true.
Form the Amahagger into
square and await attack" he an
swered.
nodded, for that was my own
opinion, but replied:
'Tf they were Zulus, the plan
would be good. But how do we
know that these men will stand?"
1--WE know nothing, Macumazahn,
and therefore can only try. II they
run it must be up hill"
Then | called the captains and
told them what was toward, which
seemed to alarm them very much.
Indeed, one or two of them wanted
to retreat at once, but said would
shoot the first man who tried to do
so. In the end they agreed to my
plan and said that they would post
their best soldiers at the top Of the
square with orders to stop any at
tempt at break.
After this we formed up the
square as best we could, arranging
it in a rather rough, four-fOld line.
While we were doing this we heard
some shouts below and presently
the Zulu returned, who reported
that all was as Hans had said and
that Rezu's men were moving
around us, having discovered, as he
thought, that we had halted and
escaped their ambush.
Still the attack did not develop at
once, for the reason that the Rezu
army was crawling up the steep
TANKS Of the spur on either side OF
the level piece of ground, with a
view of. encircling us altogether, so
as to make a clean sweep of our
force. AS a matter of fact. con-
sidered from our point Of view, this
was a most fortunate move, since
thereby they stopped any attempt
at a retreat on the part of our Anna.
hagger, whose bolt-hole was not
blocked
When we had done all we could,
we sat down, or at least l did. and
waited The night, remember,
was strangely still, only from the
slopes on either side of our pla-
teau came kind OF rustling sound
which in fact was caused by the
feet of Rezu's people, as they
marched to surround us.
It ceased at last and the silence
grew complete, so much so that ]
could hear the teeth of some of our
tall Amahagger chattering with