The Young ColonistsGeorge Alfred Henty











THE YOUNG COLONISTS.


LONDON:
PRINTED BY GILBERT AND R1VINGTON, LIMITED,
ST. John's square.


THE
YOUNG COLONISTS
G. A. HENTY
AUTHOR OF "CLIVE IN INDIA," "UNDER DRAKS's FLAG," ETC.
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS
Broadway, Ludgate Hill
NEW YORK: 9 LAFAYETTE PLACE
1885


BOOKS OF TEATEL AND ADVENTURE,
Uniform with this Volume.
NOTABLE VOYAGES. By W. H. G. Kingston. A New
Edition, brought down to the last Arctic Expedition. With
Coloured Plates and numerous Woodcuts.
GREAT AFRICAN TRAVELLERS. By W. H. G. KING-
STON. A New Edition, containing the latest Records of
African Discoveries. With Portrait and numerous Illus-
trations.
THE LITTLE SAVAGE. By Captain Marryat. With
Illustrations by Sir John Gilbert, R.A.
TRAVELLING ABOUT OVER OLD AND NEW
GROUND. By Lady Barker. With Illustrations.
SHIPWRECKS AND DISASTERS AT SEA. By
W. H. G. Kingston. With 180 Illustrations.
THE SWISS FAMILY ROBINSON. (W. H. King-
ston's Edition.) With Coloured Plates and many Illus-
trations on Wood.


THE YOUNG COLONISTS.
CHAPTER I.
A SNOW-DRIFT.
THE country round Castleton, in Derbyshire, is
greatly admired by summer tourists, for it lies in
the wildest part of that county; but in winter the
wind whistles sharply over the bleak hills—where
there are no trees to break its violence,—the sheep
huddle under the shelter of the roughly-built stone
walls, and even lovers of the picturesque would at
that season prefer a more level and wooded country.
The farm of Mr. Humphreys was situated about a
mile from Castleton. It consisted of 100 acres or so
of good land in the bottom, and of five or six times as
much upland grazing on the hills. Mr. Humphreys
owned as well as farmed his land, and so might have
claimed, had he chosen, the title of gentleman-farmer;
but he himself would have scoffed at such an idea. He
was a hard-working, practical farmer, about over his
ground from morning to night, save when the hounds
met within easy distance in winter; then he would
mount "Robin," who served alike as hunter, or hack,
B


2
The Young Colonists.
or to drive in the neat dog-cart to Buxton market;
and, although there were many handsomer horses
in the field, Mr. Humphreys was seldom far off when
the fox was killed.
His family consisted of his wife and two sons,
the eldest, Richard, was about fourteen years old.
His brother, John, was three years younger.
Both went to school at Castleton. The younger
boy was fond of his books; he had always been
weak and delicate, and, being unable to spend his
time in active exercise out of doors, he was gene-
rally to be found reading by the fire in winter, or
lying on the ground in summer under a tree in
the orchard, with his chin on his hand, and the
book before him. Richard had no literary taste;
he managed to scrape through his work and keep
a moderate place in his class, somewhere about
half-way down; but he threw his whole heart into
outdoor exercise, and was one of the best bats in the
school, although there were many there older by years.
He knew every foot of the hills, could tell every bird
by its note, and knew all about their nests and eggs.
Except in school, or perhaps during the long winter
evenings, it was rare indeed to find Dick with a
book in his hand.
"You will never set the Thames on fire, Dick," his
father would say to him.
"I shall never want to, father," he would reply.
"I do not see that learning will ever be much good
to me."


The Young Colonists.
"That is a foolish idea, Dick. A great deal
of the learning that boys get at school is of no
actual value in pounds, shillings, and pence. It is
not the fact of knowing Latin, and Greek, and
mathematics which benefits a man; but it is the
learning of them. It is the discipline to the mind,
which is of benefit. The mind is like the body.
There is no use in cricket, or in boating, or in
hunting, but these things strengthen the body and
make it active and healthy, and able to do better
everything which it undertakes, and it is exactly
the same thing with the mind; besides, the days are
coming when farmers must farm their land with
science and intelligence, or they will be left behind
in the race. We are being rivalled by the farmers of
America. Not only do we have to pay rent, but by
the tithes and rates and taxes they put upon us
government makes the English farmer pay a heavy
tax upon every bushel of corn he produces, while
they allow the American corn to come into the
market tax-free. This may be all right, but it docs
not appear fair to me. However, there it is, and
we have got to meet it, and if we are to keep our
heads above water, it can only be by farming up to
the very best lights of the day."
"Well, father," Dick said, "then it seems to me
that when we grow up, John and I must farm
together. He shall be the scientific partner; I will
do the work."
"That is all right enough, Dick, but you must
B 2


4 The Young Colonists.
have some science too, else you and he will never
get on. You would want to go on in the old-
fashioned groove, and would call his ideas new-
fangled. No, I intend you, when you get old enough,
to go to Cirencester College, where you will learn
the theory and science of farming thoroughly. You
will get the practical part at home. As to John, he
is a child yet, and, I trust, will grow up strong
and active; but if his tastes remain as they now are,
I do not think it likely he will take to farming, and
we must find some other career for him."
One afternoon in the beginning of December
two of Dick's school-fellows said to him,—
"We are going over the hills to our uncle's farm,
Dick. Will you go with us?"
When there was nothing better to do, Dick was
always ready for a walk, and he at once agreed
to accompany the Jacksons. The elder boy was
about his own age, the younger two years his
junior.
The Jacksons called for him directly he had
finished his dinner, and they started away together
for a farm which was about four miles distant.
They struck right across the hills, as it would have
been two miles longer by the nearest road.
"I should not be surprised," Dick said, "if it
were to snow to-night; it is bitterly cold, and the
clouds look very heavy."
"I hope it won't snow until we get back," James,
the younger of the brothers, remarked.


The Young Colonists. 5
"I don't know," Dick answered, looking at the
clouds. "I should not be surprised if it began at
any moment."
The wind was blowing strongly. The hills
were high and steep, and, although the boys made
their best speed, it was considerably over an hour
before they reached the farm. They had started
at two, and it was now a quarter past three. Mr.
Jackson was out. The boys delivered the message
with which they had been charged to their
aunt.
"Now," she said, "I will cut you each a hunch
of cake, and when you have eaten that and had
a glass of fresh milk you had best start at once.
It is bitterly cold, and we are going to have snow.
The sooner you are home, the better."
The boys now ate their cake. Mrs. Jackson
came to the door with them. Then she said, as
the first flake of snow fell,—
"I am not sure, boys, that you had not better
stay here all night."
The boys laughed.
"Why, what would they say at home? They
would just be in a way about us."
"Well, at any rate, you had better go by the
road."
"Oh, that is two miles farther at least. We should
not get home until long after dark. We shan't be
an hour by the hills. We know every foot of the
way."


6 The Young Colonists.
"Well, good-bye, then. Make as much haste as
you can."
For half a mile their way led along the road, then
they scrambled over a wall and began to ascend
the barren hill-side. The snow was falling fast now.
Thicker and thicker it came down, and when, hot and
panting, they reached the top of the hill, the wind
blew the flakes so fiercely into their faces that they
were half-blinded, and were obliged to turn their backs
to the gale while they got breath. For half an hour
they struggled on. They could scarcely see ten
paces before them through the driving snow, and in
every sheltered spot white patches rapidly began to
form.
"How different things look in a snow-storm!"
Dick said, as they stopped for breath and shelter
under the lee of a wall. "I don't know, Tom, but
I am not quite sure that we are going straight; I do
not know what wall this is" "No more do I," Tom Jackson replied. "I felt
quite sure that we were going right at first, but some-
how I don't think so now."
"I wish the snow would stop for a minute," Dick
said, "just to let us have a look round. If I could
see a hundred yards I am sure I should know where
we are. What is the matter with you, James; what
are you blubbering about?"
"My feet are so cold ; they hurt dreadfully."
"Oh, never mind," Dick said. "Come, boys, push
along, and we shall soon be home."


The Young Colonists.
7
Again they started with heads bent to face the storm.
"It is getting dark awfully fast," Tom Jackson
said.
"It is, and no mistake. Come, let us have a trot.
Come on, young one."
But, although Dick spoke hopefully, he was not as
confident as he appeared. He was sure now that
they had lost the way. They might not, he hoped,
be far off the track; but he knew that they were not
following the precise line by which they came.
It was now nearly dark. The snow was falling
thicker than ever, and the ground, except upon the
uplands exposed to the full force of the wind, was
covered with a white mantle.
On arriving at the bottom of a steep hill, they
stopped again.
"Do you know where we are, Tom?"
"Not in the least," Tom answered.
"This ought to be the last valley," Dick said,
"and after one more climb we ought to go straight
down into Castleton. Don't you remember in
that valley there were a lot of sheep in a fold, with a
wall round it? If we can find that, we shall know
that we are right. It is near the bottom, so ,
we shall not miss it. Which way shall we turn, left or
right?"
"Let us try the left first," Tom said.
They walked for half a mile, gradually ascending.
"It is not this way," Tom said at last. "We are
getting to the head of the valley. What are you


8 The Young Colonists.
doing, James?" as the young boy, who had been
sobbing for some time, threw himself on the snow.
"I cannot go any farther," he murmured. "I am
so cold, and so tired, and so sleepy."
"Oh, nonsense!" Dick said. "Here, take hold of
his arm, Tom, and lift him up; give him a good shake;
he must go on; he would die if he stopped here."
The two lads raised the younger boy, and half-sup-
porting half-dragging him turned and retraced their
footsteps.
It was pitch dark now, and they could not see a
yard before them. For some time they continued
their way.
"There is no shepherd's hut. Certainly, this is not
the valley. What on earth are we to do?"
"I don't know," Tom said, beginning to cry.
"Shut up, Tom Jackson. What are you thinking
about? This is no time for howling like a baby; you
have got to think of what is best to do. It is no use
climbing the next hill, for we might be going away
from home, instead of getting nearer. Besides, we
should have to haul Jimmy up, for he can scarcely
stand now; and, although it is bitterly cold here, it
would be worse on the top of the hill. No, we have
got to stop here all night, that is clear."
"We shall be dead before morning!" Tom roared.
"I will hit you in the eye, Tom Jackson, if you
don't shut up ; you are as bad as a girl; I am ashamed
of you. Now, what we have got to do, is to find some
sort of shelter, either a wall or bush, and we must


The Young Colonists.
9
keep on until we come to something. Keep awake,
Jimmy; we shan't have much farther to go, and then
you can lie down quietly."
They went on for a bit.
"It is no use," Dick said. "They don't put walls
across bottoms; more likely to find one either to the
right or left. Now, Tom, you stop here for a minute
or two, and I will look about; you keep shouting every
minute, so that I can find my way back to you."
Turning off, he began to ascend the next hill,
and in two or three minutes shouted the glad news
to Tom that he had found the wall; then he
returned.
Jimmy, cheered at the prospect of lying down, made
an effort, and they soon reached the wall.
Like most of the walls in Derbyshire, it was formed
of flat stones laid without mortar, some four feet high.
"Now, Tom, set to work; get some stones off the
wall on both sides, and build up two other walls
against this; three feet wide inside will do, and just
long enough to lie in. Here, Jimmy, you help; it
will keep you awake, and, you see, the higher we
make the walls the snugger it will be; we will have
quite a nice house."
The boys all set to work, and in half an hour three
walls were built. At the point where the two side
walls touched the other, they were three feet high,
and sloped down to two at the lower end.
"Now, Jimmy, you chuck the snow out. Tom and
I will go, one each way, along the wall; likely enough


io The Young Colonists.
we may come upon some bushes—they often grow
in shelter of the walls: if we can find a few sticks we
will cover the house over. Lots of these stones are
a couple of feet long, and we will manage a sort of
roof. The snow will soon cover it, and we shall be
as warm as possible."
A quarter of an hour later the two boys returned;
both had been successful and brought a bundle of
sticks ; these were laid across the top, interspersed with
smaller twigs, the ends being kept down with stones to
prevent their being blown away. The last were placed
in position after the boys had crept inside. They did
not attempt to roof it with stones, for the supply of
sticks and brushwood was large enough to catch the
snow-flakes as they fell, and these would soon form
a covering, while it would have been difficult to
balance the stones.
Jimmy was by this time in a state almost of
lethargy; but the others were fairly warm from their
exertions. They now lay down close beside the
younger boy, one on each side. At first they felt the
cold extremely.
"Let us keep awake as long as we can," Dick said.
"I don't feel inclined to sleep at all," Tom answered;
"my hands and feet feel frozen, but I am warm enough
everywhere else, and the ground is precious hard and
bumpy."
"I am only afraid about Jimmy," Dick said; "he is
sound asleep, and he was so awfully cold; lie as close
as you can to him, Tom, and put your arm over


The Young Colonists. 11
him and keep your legs huddled up against
his."
"It feels warmer than it did," he went on, after a
pause of half an hour; "don't you think so, Tom?"
"A lot warmer," Tom said. "I expect the snow
has made a good thick roof."
"Yes, and the wind does not blow through the
stones as it did. I expect the snow is drifting up all
round ; it was getting very deep against the wall when
we got in, and if it goes on all night, Tom, I should
not wonder if we are covered deep before morning.
The wind always sweeps it off the hills, and makes
deep drifts in the bottoms."
"What shall we do, then?"
"I don't know," Dick answered; "but there will
be plenty of time to think of that in the morning.
I think Jimmy is all right, Tom; I have just put my
hand inside his waistcoat and he feels quite warm
now. Say your prayers, and then let us try to get off
to sleep."
This they were not very long in doing, for the air in
the little hut was soon heated by the action of their
bodies. Outside the storm was still raging, and the
wind, laden with swirling snow from the uplands,
was piling it high in the valleys. Already the hut
was covered and the wall behind it.
All night and all next day the snow continued to
fall; the next day, and the next, it kept on. Old
folks down in Castleton said they never remembered
such a storm. It lay three feet deep in the fields, and


12
The Young Colonists.
there was no saying how deep the drifts might be in
the hollows. For the first two days the wind had
tried its best to keep the hills clear, but it had tired of
the work, and for the last two had ceased to blow,
and the great feathered flakes formed steadily and
silently.
Tom was the first to wake.
"Holloa!" he exclaimed, "where are we? Oh!
I remember. Dick, are you awake?"
"Yes, I am awake now," Dick said. "What is it?
It is not morning yet. I seem to have been asleep
a long time, and don't my bones just ache? Jimmy,
old boy, are you all right?"
"Yes," Jimmy grunted.
"It is quite warm," Dick said. "It feels very close,
and how still it is! The wind has quite gone down.
Do you know, Tom, I think it must be morning. There
seems a faint sort of light. I can see the stones in the
wall behind you."
"So it must," Tom assented. "Oh! how stifling it
is!" and he raised himself into a sitting position.
"I am afraid we are buried deep in the snowdrift.
Put your hand up, Tom; don't you feel some of these
sticks are bent in the middle?"
"Ever so much; there must be a great weight on
them. What are we to do, Dick; shall we try and
dig a way out?"
"That will be no good," Dick answered; "not if it
is deep; and if it has been snowing all night, there is
no saying how deep it may be this morning down


The Young Colonists.
13
in this bottom. This drift-snow is like dust. I re-
member last winter that Bill Jones and Harry Austin
and I tried to make a tunnel in a deep drift, but
the snow fell in as fast as we scraped it away. It
was just like dry sand."
"We are all right for warmth," Tom said; "but it
feels quite stifling."
"Yes, we must try and get some air," Dick said.
"The roof-sticks are close together down at our feet.
There were three or four left over when we had finished,
so we can take them away without weakening the
roof. We might shove one of them up through
the snow."
The sticks were removed carefully, but a quantity
of fine snow fell in on their feet. One was then
shoved up through the top, but the only effect,
when it was removed, was that it was followed by
some snow powdering down on their faces.
"Let us tie four of them together," Dick said. "I
have plenty of string in my pocket."
This was done, fresh sticks being tied to the bottom
as the first were shoved up through the snow.
"Now, Tom, help me to work it about a bit, so as to
press the snow all round, and make a sort of tube."
For some time a shower of little particles fell as
they worked, but gradually these ceased. Then
the stick was cautiously lowered, being untied joint
by joint, and looking up the boys gave a shout of
pleasure. At the top of the hole, which was some six
inches wide at the bottom, was a tiny patch of light.


The Young Colonists.
15
"They must have given up all hope by this time,"
Dick said, on the fifth morning, "and must be pretty
sure that we are buried in the drift somewhere; but,
as all the bottoms will be like this, they will have
given up all hopes of finding our bodies till the thaw
comes."
"That may be weeks," Tom said; "we might as
well have died at once."
"We can live a long time here," Dick replied con-
fidently. "I remember reading once of a woman
who had been buried in the snow being got out
alive a tremendous time afterwards. I think it was
five weeks, but it might have been more. Hurrah!
I have got an idea, Tom."
"What is that ?" Tom asked.
"Look here; we will tie three more sticks—"
"We can't spare any more sticks," Tom said;
"the snow is up to our knees already."
"Ah! but thin sticks will do for this," Dick
said; "we can get some thin sticks out here. We
will tie them over the others, and on the top of all
we will fasten my red pocket-handkerchief, like a
flag; if any one comes down into this bottom they
are sure to see it."


16 The Young Colonists.
CHAPTER II.
THE RED FLAG.
Dick's plan was soon carried into effect, and the
little red flag flew as an appeal for help ten feet
above the snow in the lonely valley.
Down in Castleton events had turned out just
as the boys had anticipated. The night of the
snow-storm there was no sleep for their parents, and
at daybreak, next morning, Mr. Humphreys and
Mr. Jackson set out on foot through the storm for the
distant farm. They kept to the road, but it took
them four hours to reach the farm, for the drifts
were many feet deep in the hollows, and they had the
greatest difficulty in making their way through.
When, upon their arrival, they found the boys
had left before the gale began, their consternation
and grief were extreme, and they started at once on
their return to Castleton.
Search-parties were immediately organized, and
these, in spite of the fury of the storm, searched the
hills in all directions.
After the first day, when it was found that they
were not at any of the shepherds' huts scattered
among the hills, all hopes of finding them alive
ceased. So hopeless was it considered, that few
parties went out on the three following days; but


i8
The Young Colonists.
Nothing, however, was seen, save a smooth, white
surface of snow.
"What is that ?" one exclaimed suddenly. "Look,
there is a little red flag flying down there—come
along."
The boys rushed down the hill at full speed.
"Don't all go near the flag," one said; "you
may be treading on their bodies."
They arrived within ten yards of the flag, in
which they soon recognized a red pocket-handker-
chief. They were silent now, awe struck at the
thought that their companions were lying dead
beneath.
"Perhaps it is not theirs," the eldest of the party
said presently. "Anyhow I had better take it off
and carry it home."
Treading cautiously and with a white face, for he
feared to feel beneath his feet one of the bodies of
his friends, he stepped, knee-deep in the snow-drift,
to the flag. He took the little stick in his hand
to pluck it up; he raised it a foot, and then gave a
cry of astonishment and started back.
"What is the matter ?" the others asked.
"It was pulled down again," he said in awe-struck
tones. "I will swear it was pulled down again."
"Oh, nonsense !" one of the others said; "you are
dreaming."
"I am not," the first replied positively; "it was
regularly jerked in my hand."
"Can they be alive down there ?" one suggested.


The Young Colonists.
19
"Alive! How can they be alive after five days,
twenty feet deep in the snow? Look at the flag!"
There was no mistake this time ; the flag was raised
and lowered five or six times. The boys took to
their heels and ran and gathered in a cluster fifty
yards away on the hillside.
"What can it be?" they asked, looking in each
others' pale faces.
The behaviour of the flag seemed to them some-
thing supernatural.
"We had better go back and tell them at home,"
one of them said.
"We can't do that; no one would believe us. Look
here, you fellows," and he glanced round at the bright
sky, "this is nonsense; the flag could not wave of
itself; there must be somebody alive below; perhaps
there is a shepherd's hut quite covered with the drift,
and they have pushed the flag up through the
chimney."
The supposition seemed a reasonable one, and a
little ashamed of their panic the group returned to-
wards the flag. The eldest boy again approached it.
"Go carefully, Tomkins, or you may fall right
down a chimney."
The flag was still continuing its up and down move-
ment ; the boy approached and lay down on the snow
close to it; then he took hold of the stick; he felt a
pull, but held fast; then he put his mouth close to the
hole, two or three inches in diameter, through which
it passed,
C 2


20
The Young Colonists.
"Halloa!" he shouted ; "is any one below?"
A cry of "Yes, yes," came back in reply. "The
two Jack-sons and Humphreys."
"Hurrah!" he shouted at the top of his voice/and his
companions, although they had not heard the answer,
joined in the cheer.
"Are you all right?" he shouted down again.
"Yes, but please get help and dig us out."
"All right; I will run all the way back; they will
have men here in no time; good-bye; keep up your
spirits."
"They are all there below!" he shouted to his friends.
"Come on, you fellows, there is not a moment to lose."
Wild with excitement the boys made their way home;
they rushed down the hill-sides, scrambled through
the drifts in the bottoms,' in which they sometimes dis-
appeared altogether, and had to haul each other out,
struggled up the hills, and, panting and breathless,
rushed in a body into Mr. Humphreys' farmhouse, that
standing nearest to them, on their way to Castleton.
"We have found them ; we have found them," they
panted out. "They are all alive."
Mrs. Humphreys had risen from her seat in a
chair by the fire as the boys entered, and uttering a
faint cry fell back insensible.
At this moment the farmer, who had but five minutes
before returned, having been out since daybreak on
the hills, hurried into the room; he was taking off his
heavy boots when he heard the rush of feet into the
house. "We have found them, sir; they are all alive!"


The Young Colonists.
21
"Thank God! thank God!" the farmer exclaimed
reverently, and then seeing his wife insensible hurried
towards her, uttering a shout for the servants. Two
women ran in. "Look to your mistress," he said;
"she has fainted; the good news has been too much
for her—the boys are found alive."
With mingled exclamations of gladness and dismay .
the servants raised their mistress.
"Now, boys, where are they?" Mr. Humphreys
asked.
The lads gave a rapid narrative of what had
happened.
"Under the snow all this time!" the farmer exclaimed;
"they must be, as you say, in a hut. Now, will one of
you stay and show me the way back, and the others
go on to Mr. Jackson's and other places, and bring a
strong party of men with shovels on after us?"
The lad who had spoken with the prisoners re-
mained to act as guide, the others hurried off.
"Come with me, my boy, into the larder. There,
help yourself; you must be hungry and tired, and you
have got to do it over again."
Mr. Humphreys then ran into the yard, and bade
the four labourers provide themselves with shovels
and prepare to accompany him at once.
He then went back into the parlour. His wife was
just opening her eyes; for a time she looked confused
and bewildered, then suddenly she sat up and gazed
beseechingly at her husband—memory had come back
to her.


The Young Colonists.
23
"There is no door, father; but you had better dig
from below, because of the wall."
"There must be a door," Mr. Humphreys said to
himself, as he rejoined the men. "There can't be a
hut without a door; Dick must be a little light-
headed, and no wonder. Now, lads, let us set to work
from below."
The five men were soon at work, throwing aside the
snow. In a short time the other parties arrived.
Mr. Humphreys had brought with him a stock of
candles. These were lit and stuck in the snow, where,
as there was no wind, they burnt steadily, affording
sufficient light for the search. The work was all
the more difficult from the lightness of the snow, as
the sides fell in like sand as they worked upon it,
and they were obliged to make a very broad cutting.
At last there was a cheer, as they struck the ground.
"Now, working up hill we must be at the hut in a
few feet."
Twenty willing hands laboured away incessantly,
but to their surprise no hut was met with; they
worked and worked, throwing the snow behind them,
until Mr. Jackson struck his shovel upon something
hard.
"Here is a wall or something," he said.
Another minute uncovered a low wall of two feet in
height, and directly afterwards a leg was popped up
through the snow. A loud cheer broke from the men.
But again the snow-drift fell in from the sides, and
it was another quarter of an hour before the lads were


The Young Colonists.
25
following day, have been up and about. As it was, in
a fortnight, he was perfectly himself again.
Tom Jackson was confined to the house for many
weeks; he lost several of his toes, but eventually
became strong and hearty again. James, however,
never recovered—the shock to his system had been
too great; he lingered on for some months, and then
sank quietly and painlessly.
The events of the snow-storm left a far deeper
trace upon Mrs. Humphreys than upon her son. The
terrible anxiety of those five days had told greatly
upon her, and after they were over she seemed to
lose strength rapidly. She had never been very
strong, and a hacking cough now constantly shook
her. The doctor who attended her looked serious,
and one day said to Mr. Humphreys,—
"I don't like the state of your wife; she has
always been weak in her lungs, and I fear that the
anxiety she went through has somehow accentuated
her former tendency to consumption. The air of
this place—you see she was born in the south—is too
keen for her. If I were you I would take her up to
London and consult some first-rate man in lung
diseases, and get his opinion."
The next day Mr. Humphreys started for London.
The celebrated physician examined his wife, and
afterwards took him aside.
"I cannot conceal from you," he said, "that your
wife's lungs are very seriously affected, although con-
sumption has not yet thoroughly set in. If she remains


26
The Young Colonists.
in this country she may not live many months; your
only hope is to take her abroad—could you do that?"
"Yes, sir," Mr. Humphreys said. "I can take her
anywhere. Where would you advise?"
"She would benefit from a residence either in
Egypt or Madeira," the doctor said; "but for a
permanency I should say the Cape. I have known
many complete cures made there. You tell me that
you are engaged in agricultural pursuits; if it is
possible for you to settle there, I can give you every
hope of saving her life, as the disease is not yet
developed. If you go, don't stay in the lowlands,
but get up into the high plateaus, either behind the
Cape itself, or behind Natal. The climate there is
delicious, and land cheap."
Mr. Humphreys thanked him and left, returning
the next day to Castleton. The astonishment of the
boys, and indeed of Mrs. Humphreys, was unbounded,
when the farmer announced in the evening at supper
that he intended to sell his land and emigrate at once
to the Cape.
The boys were full of excitement at the new and
strange idea, and asked numerous questions, none of
which the farmer could answer; but he brought out
a pile of books, which he had purchased in town,
concerning the colonies and their resources, and
for once Dick's aversion to books vanished, and he
was soon as much absorbed as his brother in the
perusal of the accounts of the new land to which they
were to go.


The Young Colonists.
27
On the following Saturday, to the surprise of all
Castleton, an advertisement appeared in the Derby-
shire paper announcing the sale by auction at an
early date of Mr. Humphreys' farm.
Dick and John were quite heroes among their
companions, who looked with envy at boys who were
going to live in a land where lions and elephants
and all sorts of wild beasts abounded, to say nothing
of warlike natives.
"There always seem to be Kaffir wars going on,"
one boy said, "out at the Cape; you will have all
sorts of excitement, Dick."
"I don't think that sort of excitement will be nice,"
Dick replied; "it must be horribly anxious work to
think every time you go out to work that the place
may be attacked and every one killed before you get
back. But that is all nonsense, you know; I have
been reading about some of the Kaffir wars; they are
in the bush-country, down by the sea. We are going
up on to the high lands at the back of Natal. Father
says very likely we may buy a farm in the Transvaal,
but mother does not seem to like the accounts of the
Dutchmen or Boers, as they are called, who live there,
and says she would rather have English neighbours;
so I expect if we can get a farm somewhere in
the Natal colony, we shall do so."
"You seem to know all about the place," the
boy said, surprised.
"Well, we have had seven or eight books to read
about it, and I seem now to know more about South


28
The Young Colonists.
Africa than about any other country in the world.
There are the diamond-fields, too, out there, and
I hope, before I settle down regularly to a farm,
that father will let me go for a few months and try
my luck there. Would it not just be jolly to find a
diamond as big as a pigeon's egg and worth about
twenty thousand pounds?"
"And do they do that ?" the boy asked.
"Well, they don't often find them as big as that;
still, one might be the lucky one."
The news that Mr. Humphreys and his family
were about to sell off and emigrate naturally caused
a great deal of talk in and around Castleton, and
put the idea into the minds of many who had never
before seriously thought of it. If Mr. Humphreys,
who had one of the best farms in the neighbourhood,
thought that it would pay him to sell his land and go
out, it would surely be a good thing for others to
do the same. He was considered to be a good
farmer and a long-headed man; one who would
not take such a step without carefully looking into
the matter—for Mr. Humphreys, in order to avoid
questioning and the constant inquiries about his
wife's health, which would be made, did he announce
that he was leaving for that reason, did not think it
necessary to inform people that it was in the hopes
of staving off the danger which threatened her that
he was making a move.
A great many of the neighbouring labourers
would gladly have gone with him; but he found by


The YoungColonists.
29
his reading that Kaffir labour was to be obtained
out there very cheaply. He determined, however, to
take with him two of his own hands; the one a strong
active young fellow named Bill Harrison, the other a
middle-aged man named Johnson, who had been
with him from a boy. He was a married man
with two girls, aged fifteen and sixteen, the eldest
of whom was already employed by Mrs. Humphreys
in the house. Johnson's wife was a superior woman
of her class, and Mr. Humphreys thought that it
would be pleasant for his wife, having a woman
at hand, whom she could speak to. The girls
were to act as servants—indeed Mr. Humphreys
thought it probable that the whole party would
live under one roof.
Among those whom Mr. Humphreys' decision to
emigrate had much moved was Mr. Jackson. He
was not in so good a position, as he did not farm
his own land ; but he had sufficient capital to start
him well in the colony, where a farm can be bought
outright at a few shillings an acre. He talked the
matter over with his friend on several occasions,
and at last said,—
"Well, I think I have pretty well made up my
mind; the doctor is telling me that my poor little
chap is not likely to live long ; his mother is wrapped
up in him, and will never like the place again ;—so I
think on all grounds a change will be good. I can't
come out with you, because I have got a lease of
the farm; but I fancy that it is worth more than it


30
The Young Colonists.
was when I took it, and if I can get a good tenant to
take it off my hands I don't suppose the landlord
will make any objections. I shall look about at once,
and, when my poor little chap is gone, I shan't be
long before I come after you. You will let me know
how you find the place, and whether these book-
accounts are true ?—I have heard that many of these
chaps who write books are awful liars. I should
like to get a farm as near you as may be."
It was early in the spring when Mr. Humphreys
and his party embarked at Plymouth in the Dunster
Castle. The farm had sold well, and Mr. Humphreys
possessed a capital of several thousand pounds—a
sum which would make him a rich man in the
colony. None of the party had ever seen the sea
before, and the delight of the two boys and the
wonderment of the labourers at all they saw was
very great. Mr. Humphreys had taken first-class
passages for himself and family, while the others
of course were steerage passengers.


The Young Colonists.
31
CHAPTER III.
THE FARM.
The voyage to the Cape passed without any
incident whatever. The weather was fine the
whole distance. Without even a single storm to
break the monotony they touched at Capetown
and Port Elizabeth, and at last arrived at Durban.
The journey had not been too long for the boys;
everything was so perfectly new to them that they
were never tired of watching the sea and looking
for porpoises and the shoals of fish, over which
hovered thousands of birds.
Once or twice they saw a whale spout, while
flying-fish were matters of hourly occurrence. They
had prodigious appetites, and greatly enjoyed the
food, which was altogether different to that to which
they had been accustomed. They had stopped
at Madeira and St. Vincent, where great stocks of
delicious fruit had been taken on board. Altogether
they were quite sorry when they arrived at the end of
the voyage.
The landing was effected in large boats, as the
Dimster Castle drew too much water to cross the
bar at the mouth of the harbour.
They stopped only one day at Durban, where Mr.
Humphreys hired a waggon to take the party to


32
The Young Colonists.
Pieter-Maritzburg, the capital. He was not en-
cumbered with baggage, as he had decided to buy
everything he wanted in the colony.
"You may pay dearer," he said, " no doubt; but
then you get just what you want. If I were to take
out implements, they might not be suited to the
requirements of the country. As for clothes, they
would of course be pretty much the same everywhere;
still, it is better to take out only a year's requirements
and to buy as we want, instead of lumbering over the
country with a quantity of heavy baggage."
The party were greatly amused at their first
experience of a Cape waggon; it was of very large
size, massively built, and covered with a great
tilt; and it was drawn by sixteen oxen, spanned
two by two. This was an altogether unnecessary
number for the weight which had to be carried, but
the waggon had come down loaded from the interior,
and Mr. Humphreys therefore paid no more than he
would have done for a waggon with a small number of
oxen. They took two days to accomplish the journey,
the women sleeping at night in the waggon, and
Mr. Humphreys and his sons in blankets on the
ground.
The driver, who was an Englishman, had been many
years in the colony, and from him, upon the road,
Mr. Humphreys gained much valuable information
about the country. The driver was assisted by two
Kaffirs, one of whom walked ahead of the leading cattle,
the other alongside, shouting and prodding them.


The Young Colonists. 33
The boys were astonished at the power and
accuracy with which the driver whirled his whip; this
had a short handle and a lash of twenty yards long,
and with it he was able to hit any animal of the
team with absolute certainty, and indeed to make
the thong alight on any part of their bodies at which
he aimed.
On theirarrival at Pieter-MaritzburgMr. Humphreys
hired a house, and here he placed his party while he
set to work to make inquiries after a suitable loca-
tion. He soon heard of several places which seemed
suitable, and having bought a horse started for New-
castle, a small town situated close to the frontier-
line between the Transvaal and Natal.
He was away for three weeks, and on his return
informed his wife that he had purchased a farm of
2000 acres, with a substantial farmhouse, at a dis-
tance of ten miles from Newcastle, for the sum of
1500/.
The farmhouse was already roughly furnished, but
Mr. Humphreys purchased a number of other articles,
which would make it comfortable and home-like. He
laid in a great stock of groceries, and then hiring a
waggon, similar to that in which they had before
travelled, started with his party for the farm, having
also hired four Kaffirs to assist there. Travelling
by easy stages, it took them twelve days to get to
Newcastle. The country was undulating and the
road rose steadily the whole distance.
Near Pieter-Maritzburg the population was com-
D


34 The Young Colonists.
paratively thick. The fields were well cultivated
and the vegetation thick and luxuriant, but as they
ascended the character of the country changed. Vast
stretches of rolling grass everywhere met the eye.
This was now beautifully green, for it was winter.
In the summer and autumn the grass becomes dry
and burnt up; fire is then applied to it, and the whole
country assumes a black mantle. But the first shower
of rain brings up the young grass and in a very short
time the country is covered with fresh verdure.
Mr. Humphreys told his wife that, before fixing
on the farm, he had ridden into the Transvaal, and
found that land could be purchased there even more
cheaply than in Natal; but that he had much conversa-
tion with English settlers on the frontier, and these
had for the most part strongly advised him to settle
inside the Natal frontier.
"It may be that all will be right," one had told him,
"but the Boers have not yet recovered from their
scare from Secoceni."
"Who is Secoceni, father?" Dick asked. "The
books we have say nothing about him."
"No," Mr. Humphreys said; "they were all pub-
lished a few years since, and none of them treat
much of the affairs of the Transvaal, which, as an
independent state, had comparatively little interest
to English settlers. There are in the Transvaal,
which is of immense extent, a very large number of
natives, enormously outnumbering the Boers. In the
southern districts, where the Boers are strongest, they


The Young Colonists.
35
cruelly ill-treat the natives, making slaves of them,
and thinking no more of shooting one of them down
than they would of shooting a dog. In the outlying
provinces they live almost on sufferance of the natives,
and, were these to unite their forces and rise, they
could annihilate the Dutch. Secoceni is a powerful
chief, who lives with his tribe in a natural stronghold;
he has always held himself as independent of the
Dutch. As his men used to make raids upon the
Boers' cattle, the latter attacked him, and in alliance
with Swazis, another powerful tribe, endeavoured to
carry his fortress; they were, however, badly beaten;
it being only by the gallantry of their native allies that
the Boer contingent was saved from destruction.
Secoceni then took the offensive. A perfect panic
seized the Boers; they refused to obey the orders of
their government, and to turn out to resist the in-
vaders. The treasury was empty, for their govern-
ment had never been enabled to persuade them to pay
taxes. They applied for aid to Natal, but finally their
plight was so bad that they were glad to accept the
offer which Mr. Shepstone made them, of annexation
to England, by which they secured our protection
and were safe from annihilation. Secoceni was not
the only enemy who threatened them. They had a
still more formidable foe in the Zulus on the eastern
frontier. These are a very warlike people, and it was
known that their king meditated the conquest of the
Transvaal. But, glad enough as the Boers were at the
moment to accept the protection of England, now
D 2


36 The Young Colonists.
that the danger is over a great many of them would
like to kick down the bridge which has helped them
over the stream. They make no secret of their dislike
to Englishmen, and although they are glad enough to
sell their land at prices immensely in advance of the
former value, for indeed land was previously almost
unsaleable in the Transvaal, they are on bad terms
with them. One of my informants describes them
as a sullen, sulky people, and predicts that sooner or
later we shall have trouble with them ; so I thought it
better altogether to pay a little higher for my land,
and to be within the boundaries of this colony."
On arriving at the farm Mrs. Humphreys was
glad to find that the house, though rough, was sub-
stantial. It was built of stone. The walls were of
great thickness, as the stones were laid without mortar,
with which, however, it was faced inside and out.
One large room occupied the greater portion of the
ground floor; beside this was a small sitting-room.
Upstairs were four bedrooms. For the time the small
room downstairs was turned into a bedroom, which
Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys occupied. The four bed-
rooms upstairs just held the rest of the party. The
out-houses consisted only of a large barn and a rough
stable.
Mr. Humphreys at once rode over to Newcastle,
and obtained the services of a mason and six Kaffirs,
and proceeded to add a wing to the farmhouse.
This was for the use of Johnson and his wife, and
Harrison. The whole party were, however, to take


The Young Colonists.
37
their meals together in the great kitchen. A hut was
also built for the Kaffirs, and another large stable was
erected.
A few days after his arrival Mr. Humphreys went
across the border into the Transvaal, taking Harrison
and two of the Kaffirs with him, and returned a fort-
night later with a herd of 400 cattle, which he had
purchased. He also bought three yoke of oxen,
broken to the plough. Hitherto the farm had been
purely a pastoral one, but Mr. Humphreys at once
began to break up some land for wheat and Indian
corn. The Kaffirs were set to work to fence and dig
up a plot round the house for vegetables, and to dig
holes near it, over a space of some acres, for the recep-
tion of 3000 young fruit-trees—apples, pears, peaches,
and plums,—which he had bought at Pieter-Maritz-
burg, and which were to come up in two months' time.
He also bought six riding-horses.
In a few weeks the farm assumed quite a different
appearance. A gang of Kaffirs, ten strong, had been
hired to hurry on the work of preparing the orchard
and erecting a fence round it. Wood was, Mr.
Humphreys found, extremely scarce and dear, the
country being absolutely bare of trees, and wood for
fuel was only obtained in kloofs or deep hollows, and
had to be fetched long distances.
"I suppose," Mrs. Humphreys said to her husband
one evening, "you mean to make cattle-raising your
principal point?"
"No," he said; "every one raises cattle, and the


38
The Young Colonists.
Dutch can do it cheaper than we can; they have
immense tracts of land, and their Kaffir labour
costs them next to nothing. I do not say that we
could not live and to a certain extent thrive on cattle,
but I think that there is something much better to be
done. Wood is an awful price here, and all that is
used has to be brought up from the coast. I think
therefore of planting trees. The climate is magnifi-
cent, and their growth will be rapid. They will of
course require fencing to keep out the cattle, but I
shall do that, as I am doing the orchard, with wire
fencing and light iron-uprights. Labour is plentiful,
and there are large nurseries near Pieter-Maritzburg,
where I can procure any number of young trees ; so I
mean to plant 200 acres a year—in ten years the whole
farm will be planted, and the toppings for poles and
fire-wood will in a very short time after planting begin
to pay well. In fifteen years the first 200 acres will
be fit to fell, and the property will be worth a very
large sum of money. Of course we can sell out before
that if we like. But at the present price of wood up
here, or even should it fall to a quarter of its present
price, the value of the 2000 acres of wood will in
twenty years be extremely large."
The boys were delighted with their new life. Mr.
Humphreys had, before leaving England, bought for
Dick a Winchester repeating-rifle. These arms are
very light, and Dick was able to carry his without
difficulty; and very shortly after their arrival his
father had a mark erected at a distance from the


The Young Colonists.
39
house, at which he could practise with safety. Game
was abundant all over the country. Herds of
deer and antelope of various kinds often swept past
in sight of the farmhouse, and winged game also
abounded.
Mr. Humphreys had at home been considered a
first-rate shot at partridges, and had for four or five
years belonged to the Castleton volunteers, and had
carried off many prizes for rifle-shooting. He was
now able, by going out for a few hours once or twice
a week, to keep the larder well supplied, and the
little flock of fifty sheep, which he had bought for
home-consumption, was but seldom drawn upon.
The Kaffirs were fed upon mealies, as they call Indian
corn, of which Mr. Humphreys had no difficulty in
purchasing sufficient for his wants from the neigh-
bouring farmers.
His next neighbours were two brothers, Scotch-
men, named Fraser, who lived at a distance of four
miles. They rode over the day after the travellers'
arrival, and offered their services in any way. Mr.
Humphreys, however, was well supplied with stores
of all kinds, and his two white labourers, being both
handy men, were able to do all that was required about
the house.
The Frasers proved pleasant neighbours, and often
rode over and spent Sunday with the Humphreys,
and the boys sometimes went over and spent the day
with them.
A Kaffir lad, son of one of the men engaged upon


40
The Young Colonists.
the farm, was hired by Mr. Humphreys as a special
attendant for Dick. On these vast undulating plains,
where there are no trees to serve as a landmark,
it is exceedingly difficult for a stranger to find his
way. Dick was told by his father that, whether
riding or walking, he was always to take the Kaffir
boy with him; and except when he was indulging in
a gallop the lad was easily able to keep up with him.
He had been born a hunter, and soon taught Dick
how to stalk the timid deer, and, as the lad improved
in his shooting, he was ere long enabled to keep the
larder supplied—a duty which Mr. Humphreys gladly
handed over to him, as every minute of his own time
was occupied by his work on the farm.
Of an evening after supper, which was partaken of
at the conclusion of work, the men retired to their
own wing and Mrs. Humphreys and the two girls
sat down to their sewing by the fire; for upon the
uplands the evenings are quite cold enough to find a
fire a comfort in winter. Then the boys would take
out their lesson-books and work steadily for three
hours. Under the changed conditions of their life, Mr.
Humphreys felt that Dick might, if he chose, well dis-
continue his study of the classics, and his work there-
fore consisted in the reading of history, travels, and
books of scientific knowledge.
"Next to being a learned man," his father said to
him, "the best and most useful thing is to be a
thoroughly well-informed man on all general sub-
jects."


42
The YoungColonists.
the two boys had become inseparable friends at home
after their adventure in the snow, upon which
occasion Tom, as he freely owned, had owed his life
to Dick's energy and promptness of suggestion. Dick
was fond of his brother, but three years make a great
difference at this period of life, and, as their tastes were
wholly dissimilar, John had never been a companion
for him. Since their arrival in South Africa they
had got on very well together ;• still, they had not the
same ideas or subjects of thought, and it was an
immense delight to Dick to have his old friend and
companion with him.
It must not be supposed that Dick's time was
occupied solely in amusement; from early morning
until dinner-time he worked steadily. Sometimes he
assisted to erect the hurdles and strain the wires of
the fencing; at others he aided in the planting of
the fruit-trees ; then he would be with the Kaffirs who
were breaking in the oxen for the waggons. At
all times he took off his coat and worked with the
rest, for, as his father said,—
"If a farmer is to be able properly to look after men
at work, he must be able to do the work himself."
While Dick was at work with the men, John, who
was too young to be of any use, remained indoors at
his books, and, although of an afternoon he would
stroll out, he seldom went far from the house. The
other boys generally went for long rides when work
was done. One day they sighted a herd of steinbock.
Leaving their horses with the Kaffir lad in a hollow,


The Young Colonists.
43
they crept round so as to get the deer between them
and the wind, and managed to reach unobserved
a brow within a hundred yards of the herd. Dick
had by this time become a good shot, and the buck
at which he aimed fell dead in its tracks. Tom
was not much of a shot, but he had fired into the
thick of the deer and gave a shout of delight at seeing
one of them fall. The rest of the herd dashed off at
full speed. Tom ran, shouting, forward, but to his mor-
tification the stag that he had hit rose again to its feet
and went off at a trot in the direction taken by the
others ; a minute later the Kaffir boy was seen running
towards them at his full speed, leading the horses.
The two boys on his arrival leapt into their saddles
and started in pursuit of the wounded stag, which was
still in sight, thinking at first they could easily ride
it down. But the animal seemed rather to gain than
to lose strength, and, although they had considerably
lessened the start he had obtained of them, he still
kept steadily on. Active and wiry as their horses were,
they could not overtake it, and the boys had at last
the mortification of seeing that the stag was now
gaining upon them, and they presently drew rein, and
their panting horses came to a standstill.
"What a horrid sell!" Tom Jackson exclaimed
angrily. "I can't understand his going like that
after I fairly brought him down."
"I expect," Dick said, " that your bullet can only
have grazed his skull; it stunned him for the moment,
but after he had once come to himself he went on as


44 The Young Colonists.
briskly as usual. If he had been hard hit we should
certainly have ridden him down."
"Well, I suppose," Tom said more goodhumouredly,
"there is nothing for it but to ride back."
"But which is our road ?" Dick said in some dismay.
"I am sure I have no idea, and now that the sun is
gone in there is nothing to steer by."
While they had been riding, the day had changed;
the sky, which had for weeks been bright and fine,
was now overcast with heavy clouds.
"We are in for a storm, I think," Dick went on, " and
it is coming on fast. I have not an idea which way
to go, and I think our best plan will be to halt. Joel
will track us, and the farther we go the longer he
will be in overtaking us. There is the first drop!
The best thing to do, Tom, will be to take off our
saddles and tether our horses, and then to wait. This
storm is a nuisance; in the first place we shall be
drenched, in the second it will wash out our tracks, and
the darkness will come so quickly that I am afraid
Joel will not be able to trace us. You see we do not
know whether we have been riding straight or not;
the stag may have been running in a circle for any-
thing we know, and as we have been riding for some-
thing like two hours, we may be within five miles of
home or we may be five and twenty."
Scarcely had the boys got the saddles off and
tethered their horses when the rain came down in a
sheet, accompanied by the most tremendous thunder
and the most vivid lightning Tom had ever seen.


The Young Colonists.
45
"This is awful, Dick," he said.
"Yes," Dick agreed; " thunderstorms here are fright-
ful. Houses are often struck; but, lying down here in
the open, there is not much fear."
For hours the storm continued unabated; the rain
came down in a perfect deluge. The boys had put
their saddles together and had covered these with the
horse-cloths so as to form a sort of tent, but they were
nevertheless soaked to the skin, and, to add to their
discomfiture, the horses had been so frightened by
the blinding glare of the lightning that they tugged
at the ropes until, as the wet penetrated the ground,
the pegs became loosened, and they scoured away
into the darkness.
After continuing for five hours the rain suddenly
ceased.
"What are we to do in the morning, Dick?"
"If it is fine it will be easy enough; we shall put
our saddles on our heads and walk eastward. I have
got a little pocket-compass which father gave me in
case I should at any time get lost, so we shall have
no difficulty in keeping our way, and sooner or later
we must strike the road running north to Newcastle."
They did not, however, wait till morning; so wet
and chilled were they, that they agreed they would
rather walk than lie still. Accordingly they put the
saddles on their heads as soon as the rain ceased and
the stars shone out, struck a light and looked at their
compass, fixed on a star to steer by, and then set
out on their journey.


46
The Young Colonists,
Fortunately, after two hours' walking, they struck
the road at a point some ten miles from the farm, and
were home soon after daybreak, just as their fathers
were about to set out with a body of Kaffirs in search
of them. Joel had returned late at night, having
turned his face homeward when it became too dark
to follow the track; the horses had both come in
during the night


The Young Colonists.
47
CHAPTER IV.
THE OUTBREAK OF WAR.
As soon as the JacksonsJ house was finished, they
went into residence there; but two or three times a
week Dick and Tom managed to meet, one or other
being sure to find some excuse for riding over.
The Humphreys had arrived in Natal at the end of
April, 1877, and by November in the following year
their farm presented a very different appearance to
that which it had worn on their arrival—sixteen months
of energetic labour, carried on by a considerable
number of hands, will effect wonders. Possessing ample
capital Mr. Humphreys was able to keep a strong
gang of Kaffirs at work, and for some time had thirty
men upon the farm. Thus the house which, when he
took it, stood solitary and lone in a bare plain, was now
surrounded by 200 acres of young trees. Of these,
twenty acres were fruit-trees; the remainder, trees
grown for their wood. These were planted thickly, as
they would every year be thinned out, and the young
poles would fetch a good sum for fencing. Although
they had only been planted a few months, they were
already green and bright; they were protected from
the cattle by a wire fence encircling the whole.
The cattle had thriven and were doing well, and a
large field of Indian corn had been harvested for the


The Young Colonists.
49
in, and when these were not employed in bringing up
young trees and fencing from Newcastle they worked
upon the road between Newcastle and Pieter-
Maritzburg, there being a great demand for convey-
ance, as numbers of traders were going up into the
Transvaal and opening stores there. Mr. Jackson had
also two waggons engaged in the same work. When
trees and goods were wanted for the farm, Dick went
down with the waggons to see that these were properly
loaded, and that the young trees, which were often in
leaf, were taken out every night and set with the roots
in water until the morning.
One evening, early in October, Mr. Jackson rode
over with Tom.
"I have heard," the former said to Mr. Humphreys,
"that the government have determined on moving
the troops down to the Zulu frontier; the attitude of
Cetewayo is very threatening."
"He is a troublesome neighbour," Mr. Humphreys
said. "They say that he has 30,000 fighting-men, and
in that case he ought to be able to overrun both
Natal and the Transvaal, for there is no doubt that
Zulus fight with great bravery. As for the Dutch, I
really can't blame the Zulus. The Boers are always
encroaching on their territory, and any remonstrance is
answered by a rifle-shot. Had it not been for our
annexation of the Transvaal, Cetewayo would have
overrun it and exterminated the Dutch before now.
We have a strong force in the colony just at present,
and I think Sir Bartle Frere means to bring matters
E


50 The Young Colonists.
to a crisis. The existence of such an army of warlike
savages on the frontier is a standing threat to the very
existence of the colony, and the constitution of the
army renders it almost a necessity that it should fight.
All the men are soldiers, and as none are allowed to
marry until the regiment to which they belong has
distinguished itself in battle they are naturally always
burning for war. The Pieter-Maritzburg paper says
that it understands that Sir Bartle Frere isabout tosend
in an ultimatum, demanding—in addition to various
small matters, such as the punishing of raiders across
the frontier—the entire abandonment of the present
system of the Zulu army, and cessation of the bloody
massacres which constantly take place in that country.
If a man offends the king, not only is he put to death,
but the whole of the people of his village are often
massacred. Altogether an abominable state of things
prevails \ there seems to be but one opinion through-
out the colony, that it is absolutely necessary for
our safety that the Zulu organization shall be broken
up."
"I see," Mr. Jackson said, "that there is an
advertisement in the papers for waggons for the
transport of stores, and the price offered is ex-
cellent. A large number are required; I was
thinking of sending down my two teams—what do
you think?"
"I have been turning it over in my mind," Mr.
Humphreys replied, "and I am inclined also to offer


The Young Colonists.
51
my waggons. The rate of pay is, as you say, high, and
they certainly will have a difficulty in obtaining the
number they require. I shall not have need for mine
for home purposes for a considerable time now. The
hot weather will soon be setting in, and planting is
over for the season. I shall of course go on digging
holes for my next batch, but I shall not want them
up until after the end of the hot season. So I think,
as I can spare them, I shall hire them to government.
I think we ought all to do what we can to aid it at
present; for every one agrees as to the necessity of the
steps it is now taking."
"And do you think that there will be any fighting,
father?" Dick asked eagerly.
"That no one can say, my boy. The Zulus are a
proud as well as a brave people, and believe that they
are invincible. I hardly think that they will consent
to break up their army and abandon their customs
at our dictation ; I should not be surprised if it comes
to fighting."
"Oh, father, if you hire the waggons to govern-
ment, may I go with them? I can see that the
Kaffirs look after the oxen, you know, and that
everything goes straight. I have picked up a little
Kaffir from Joel, and can manage to make them
understand."
"Well, Dick," Mr. Humphreys said, after a little
thought, " I don't know that I have any objection to
it; it will be a change for you, and of course there will
be no chance of the waggons being near if any fighting
E 2


52
The Young Colonists.
goes on. What do you think, Jackson? I suppose
your boy will want to go if mine does?"
"Well, I don't mind," Mr. Jackson answered. "I
suppose it will not be for long, for the boy is useful
on the farm now. However, as you say, it will be
a change, and boys like a little excitement. Well,
I suppose I must say yes; they are fifteen now, and
old enough to keep out of mischief."
The boys were delighted at the prospect of the
expedition, and at once went out to talk matters over
together. They cordially agreed in the hope that
the Zulus would fight, and promised themselves
that if possible they would see something of it.
Their fathers would, they thought, allow them to take
their horses, and it would be easy, if the waggons were
left behind, to ride forward with the troops, and see
what went on.
Two days later the four teams started together for
Pieter-Maritzburg. Contrary to their expectations the
boys were not allowed to take their horses.
"No, no, Dick," Mr. Humphreys had said, when his
son asked him, " no horses, if you please; I know what
you will be up to. Galloping about to see what is
going on, and getting into all sorts of mischief and
scrapes. No, if you go, you go with the waggons, to
see that everything goes straight, to translate orders to
the Kaffirs, and to learn something of waggon-driving
across a rough country. For between this place and
Pieter-Maritzburg it is such a fair road that you really
learn nothing in that way; once get into a cross


The Young Colonists. 53
country, and you will see how they get waggons
down steep kloofs, across streams, and over rough
places. No, you and Tom will stick to the waggons. I
have been fixing a number of rings to-day underneath
one of them, and your mother and the women have
been at work, making a sort of curtain to hook on all
round; so at night you will have a comfortable place
to sleep in, for the waggons will likely enough be
so filled with cases and stores that there will be no
sleeping in them. You can take the double-barrel
as well as your Winchester, as of an evening you
may be able to get a shot sometimes at game, which
will vary your rations a bit. You must take with you
a stock of tinned meats from Pieter-Maritzburg, for I
do not suppose they will issue regular rations to you.
So long as you are this side of the Tugela, you will
be able to buy food; but if the troops cross into
Zululand, you may have to depend on what you
carry."
Tom with his two waggons arrived at daybreak,
and the four teams set off together, Mrs. Humphreys
—who had now completely lost her cough and was
quite strong and well—laying many injunctions upon
Dick against exposing himself to any danger, and
Dick promising to be as careful as possible.
Upon their arrival at Pieter-Maritzburg the boys
went at once to the government transport-yard, and
on stating their errand were shown into the office of
the officer in charge.
"We have brought down four teams of sixteen oxen


54 The Young Colonists.
each," Dick said, "from near Newcastle, to be hired
to the government."
"That is right, my lads," the officer said, "we
have room for plenty more. This is the form of con-
tract. You engage to serve the government by the
month; you bear any damages which may take place
from wear and tear of the roads, breakdowns, and
the other ordinary accidents of travel; the govern-
ment engages to make good any loss or damage which
may occur from the action of the enemy. This is not,"
he said, smiling, "likely to take place, but still those
are the terms. Have you any authority from your
fathers, to whom, I suppose, the teams belong, to
sign the contracts for them?"
"Yes, sir," Dick said. "Here is a paper from my
father, and one from Tom Jackson's father, saying
that they agree to be bound by the terms of the con-
tract, and that they authorize us to sign in their
names. We are going with the waggons, sir, to look
after the Kaffirs."
"Well," the officer said, "you can do as you like
about that; but if you speak Kaffir it will be useful—
only, mind, you will have to provision yourselves.
From the day the teams are taken up, rations of
mealies will be served to the Kaffirs at the various
halting-places, but there is no provision for rations
of white men. The cattle, too, will be fed, but you
will have to see to yourselves."
"Yes, sir; we expected to do so."
"Well, you had better fetch the teams up to the


The Young Colonists.
55
yard. I must inspect and pass them before they are
taken up. Bring them round at once; then they
will be loaded to-night, and start at daybreak to-
morrow."
The teams were brought round to the yard,
and immediately passed by the officer, who indeed
remarked upon the excellence of the animals. The
Kaffirs were directed to outspan or unyoke the oxen,
for whom rations of hay and grain were at once
issued.
The boys returned to the town and made their pur-
chases, which were carried down by two Kaffirs and
stored in the waggons, which were already in process
of being loaded—two with boxes of ammunition, the
others with miscellaneous stores for the troops. They
slept at an hotel, and next morning at daybreak pre-
sented themselves at the yard. The Kaffirs were
already harnessing up the oxen, and in a quarter of
an hour the four waggons, with sixteen others, started
for the Tugela.
It was now the middle of December. Early in the
month commissioners had been sent to Cetewayo
with the terms decided upon by Sir Bartle Frere.
The first clauses of the document contained the
settlement of the disputed frontier, and fines were
fixed to be paid by the chiefs whose men had com-
mitted forays across the borders; it then went on to
demand that the whole of Cetewayo's army should at
once be disbanded; freedom of marriage was to be
allowed, when the parties thereto were of age; justice


56
The Young Colonists.
was to be impartially administered; missionaries to be
allowed to reside in the Zulu country; British resi-
dents to be appointed; all disputes between Zulus and
Europeans to be referred to the king and resident;
and no expulsion from Zulu territory was to be carried
into effect without the distinct approval of the resident.
It was intimated to the king that unless these
terms were accepted by the nth of January the
army would at once invade the country. Few men
expected that the Zulu king would tamely submit
to conditions which would deprive him of all the
military power in which he delighted, and would re-
duce him to a state of something like dependency
upon the British.
During the month of December General Thesiger,
who commanded the British forces in South Africa,
made every effort to prepare for hostilities. The
regiments which were at the Cape were brought
round by sea; a brigade of seamen and marines was
landed from the ships of war; several corps of
irregular horse were raised among the colonists;
and regiments of natives were enrolled. Before the
date by which the king was to send in his answer the
troops were assembled along the frontier in the follow-
ing disposition :—
No. i Column.
{Headquarters, Thring's Post, Lower Tugela.)
Commandant.—Col. C. K. Pearson, the Buffs.
Naval Brigade.—170 bluejackets and marines of


The Young Colonists.
57
H.M.S. Active (with one Gatling and two 7-pounder
guns), under Captain Campbell, R.N.
Royal Artillery.—Two 7-pounder guns and rocket-
battery, under Lieut. W. N. Lloyd, R.A.
Infantry.—2nd battalion, 3rd Buffs, under Lieut.
Col. H. Parnell.
Mounted Infantry.—100 men under Capt. Barrow,
19th Hussars.
Volunteers.—Durban Rifles, Natal Hussars, Stanger
Rifles, Victoria Rifles, Alexandra Rifles. Average,
forty men per corps—all mounted.
Native Contingent.—1000 men under Major Graves,
the Buffs.
No. 2 Column.
[Headquarters, Helpmakaar, near Rorke's Drift.)
Commandant.—Col. Glyn, 1st battalion, 24th
Regiment.
Royal Artillery.—N. battery, 5 th brigade, Royal
Artillery (with 7-pounder guns), under Major A.
Harness, R.A.
Infantry.—Seven companies 1st battalion, 24th
Regiment, and 2nd battalion, 24th Regiment, under
Lieut.-Col. Degacher.
Natal Mounted Police.—Commanded by Major
Dartneil.
Volunteers.—Natal Carabineers, Buffalo Border
Guard, Newcastle Mounted Rifles—all mounted;
average, forty men.
Native Contingent.—1000 men, under Commandant
Lonsdale, late 74th Highlanders.


58 The Young Colonists.
No. 3 Column.
{Headquarters, Utrecht.)Commandant.—Col. Evelyn Wood, V.C., C.B.,40th
Regiment.
Royal Artillery.— nth battery, 7th brigade, R.A.
(with four 7-pounder guns), under Major E. Tremlett,
R.A.
Infantry.—1st battalion 13th Regiment, and 90th
Regiment.
Mounted Infantry.—100 men, under Major J. C.
Russell, 12th Lancers.
Frontier Light Horse.—200 strong, under Major
Redvers Buller, C.B., 60th Rifles.
Volunteers.—The Kaffrarian Vanguard, Comman-
dant Schermbuicker, 100 strong.
Native Contingent.—The Swazis, our native allies,
some 5000 strong.
In the first fortnight of their engagement the
waggons travelled backward and forward between
Pieter-Maritzburg and Grey Town, which for the time
formed the base for the column of Colonel Glyn.
The distance of the town from the capital was forty-
five miles, and as the waggons travelled at the rate of
fifteen miles a day, they were twelve days in accom-
plishing two double journeys. When they were
loaded up the third time, they received orders to go
straight through to the headquarters of the column
at Helpmakaar. The boys were pleased at the change,
for the road as far as Grey Town was a good one.
They reached Grey Town for the third time on the


The Young Colonists.
59
2nd of January. Here they found the place in a state
of great excitement, a mounted messenger having
arrived that morning with the news that Cetewayo
had refused all demands and that large bodies of
the Zulus were marching towards the frontier to
oppose the various columns collecting there.
On arriving at the government-yard the lads re-
ceived orders at once to unload the waggons and to
take on the stores of the 2nd battalion of the 24th, which
was to march from Grey Town the next morning. The
start was delayed until the afternoon, as sufficient wag-
gons had not arrived to take on their baggage. The
road was rough, and it was late in the afternoon before
they arrived at the Mooin River.
The weather had set in wet, the river was in
flood, and the oxen had immense difficulty in getting
the waggons across. Two teams had to be attached
to each waggon, and even then it was as much as
they could do to get across, for the water was so high
that it nearly took them off their feet.
The troops were taken over in punts, and, after
crossing, a halt was made for the night.
After seeing the cattle outspanned and attended to,
the boys wandered away among the troops, as they
were to start at daybreak, and it was long past
dark before all were over. The tents were not pitched,
and the troops bivouacked in the open. Brushwood
was collected from the rough ground around, and blaz-
ing fires were soon burning merrily. It was all new and
very amusing to the boys. The troops were in high


6o The Young Colonists.
spirits at the prospect of an early brush with the
enemy, and songs were sung around the fires until the
bugle rang out the order, " Lights out," when the men
wrapped themselves in their blankets and lay down,
and the boys retired to their snug shelter under the
waggons, where their Kaffirs had as usual laid piles
of brushwood to serve as their beds.
The next morning they were off early, and reached
the Tugela after five hours' march. This river does
not here form the frontier between Zululand and Natal,
this being marked by the Buffalo—a much larger and
more important stream—from the point where this
falls into the Tugela, some fifteen miles below the spot
where they crossed the latter river, which here runs
towards the southwest.
Two more days' marching took the column to
Helpmakaar. The weather was wet and misty, and
the troops now marched in close order, with flankers
thrown out, for the road ran parallel with the Buffalo,
about five miles distant, and it was thought possible
that the Zulus might cross the river and commence
hostilities. A cordon of sentinels had, however, been
placed all along the river from Rorke's Drift down
to the point of junction of the Buffalo and Tugela;
below the stream was so wide that there was no fear
of the Zulus effecting a crossing.
Most of the troops which had been stationed at
Helpmakaar had already marched up to Rorke's
Drift, and after staying two days at Help-
makaar the 2nd battalion of the 24th marched


The Young Colonists. 61
to that place, where the 1st battalion of the same
regiment were already encamped.
Two days later the remainder of the force destined
to act under Colonel Glyn had assembled at Rorke's
Drift—the term "drift" meaning a ford across a
river.
This column was the strongest of those which had
been formed for the simultaneous invasion of Zulu-
land, and General Thesiger was himself upon the
spot to accompany it. Many of the waggons which
had brought up stores were sent back to Grey Town
for further supplies; but those of the boys, being
laden with the spare ammunition and baggage of a
portion of the 24th, were to accompany the column in
its advance.
The last two days of the term granted to Cetewayo
to accede to our terms were full of excitement; it had
been reported, indeed, that the king was determined
upon resistance, but it was thought probable that he
might yield at the last moment, and the road leading
down to the drift on the other side of the river was
anxiously watched.
As the hours went on and no messenger was seen
approaching, the spirits of the troops rose, for there
is nothing that soldiers hate so much as, after enduring
the fatigues preparatory to the opening of a cam-
paign, the long marches, the wet nights, and other
privations and hardships, for the enemy to yield with-
out a blow. Men who had been in the campaigns of
Abyssinia and Ashanti told their comrades how on


62
The Young Colonists.
both occasions the same uncertainty had prevailed as
to the intentions of the enemy up to the last moment;
and the fact that in both campaigns the enemy had
at the last moment resolved to fight, was hailed as a
sort of presage that a similar determination would be
arrived at by the Zulu king.
To the boys these days passed very pleasantly;
they had nothing to do but to wander about the camp
and watch the proceedings. There was a parade of
the two native regiments before the general, who was
much pleased with their appearance, and who ex-
horted them on no account to kill women, children,
or prisoners.
Among these native regiments were curiously many
Zulus; for great numbers of this people had at various
times been obliged to take refuge in Natal, to avoid
the destruction threatened them by their despotic
king, and these were now eager to fight against their
late monarch.
Some of the bodies of volunteer horse were very
smart and soldier-like in their appearance. They
were for the most part composed of young farmers,
and Dick and Tom bitterly regretted that they had
not been a few years older, in which case, instead of
looking after a lot of bulls, as Dick contemptuously
said, they might have been riding in the ranks of the
volunteers.
By the regulars the two days were spent in
cleaning their arms and accoutrements, whose
burnish and cleanliness had suffered much in the


The Young Colonists. 63
long wet march, and from the bivouacs on the damp
ground.
After marching from Grey Town with the 24th the
boys had been placed regularly on the roll of the army,
as conductors, and, although they drew no pay, had
now the advantage of receiving rations as white men.
They had upon the line of march frequently chatted
with the young officers of the regiment, who, finding
that they were the sons of well-to-do farmers and
were cheery, high-spirited lads, took to them very
much, and invited them of an evening to join them
round the camp-fire.
The last day came, and still no messenger arrived
from Cetewayo, and in the evening orders were
issued that the column should at daybreak pass the
drift and advance into the enemy's country. The
troops laid down that night in high spirits, little
dreaming of the disaster which was to befall them in
the campaign which they thought of so lightly.


64
The Young Colonists.
CHAPTER V.
ISANDULA.
At two o'clock on the morning of the I ith of January
the bugle sounded the reveille, and the troops pre-
pared to cross the Buffalo. Tents were struck,
baggage piled on the waggons, and the regiments
stood to arms at half-past four. The native contingent
crossed first. The cavalry brigade under Lieut.-Col.
Russell placed their ammunition on a pontoon and
rode over. The river was in some places up to the
necks of the infantry, and even the cavalry were nearly
swept away. The first and second battalions of the
24th crossed on the pontoons. The third regiment
of the native contingent threw out skirmishers, but
could find no trace of the enemy.
A heavy storm had come on at daybreak, but this
left off at nine o'clock. Lieut.-Col. Buller, commanding
the Frontier Light Horse, now rode in from the camp
of Colonel Wood's force, which had crossed the Blood
River and had encamped in Zululand at a spot about
thirty-two miles distant. Lord Chelmsford rode over
there with an escort of the Natal Mounted Police and
the Natal Carabineers, who on their return captured
three hundred head of cattle, several horses, and a num-
ber of sheep and goats. During the day the waggons,


The Young Colonists.
65
oxen, and ambulances were brought across the river
on the platoon.
Early next morning the 1st battalion of the 1st
Native Regiment, four companies of the 1st battalion
of the 24th, and 300 of the irregular horse started
on a reconnaissance towards the kraal of Sirayo,
the chief whose sons had been the greatest offenders in
the raids into Natal. The cavalry were thrown out
in skirmishing order, and after marching nine miles
they descended into the slope of the valley in which
Sirayo's kraals were situated. The enemy were heard
singing their war-songs in one of the ravines, and the
3rd Native Regiment advanced against them with the
24th in reserve. The Zulus opened fire as they ap-
proached, and so heavy was this that many of our
natives turned and ran ; they were rallied, however, and
with a rush carried the caves in which the Zulus were
lurking.
In the meantime the 24th's men had moved round to
the head of the ravine, and cut off the enemy's retreat.
There was a skirmish between the cavalry and some
mounted Zulus, and six of these, including a son of
Sirayo, were killed. Thirty horses and 400 head of
cattle were captured.
The next day was spent in cleaning up arms and
accoutrements, after the heavy rain which had fallen
the preceding week, and several days were spent in
making the roads passable for the waggons.
On the 20th the force moved forward, leaving one
company of the 2nd battalion of the 24th, under
F


66
The Young Colonists.
Lieutenant Bromhead, with some engineers and a few
natives to guard the ford and look after the platoons,
and garrison the store and hospital. The column
camped at Isandula, or, as it is more properly called,
Isandwhlana, ten miles distant from Rorke's Drift.
A portion of the road was extremely rough, and the
waggons had the greatest difficulty in making their
way forward.
The spot selected for a camping-ground was a wide
flat valley, with hills on the left and undulating ground
on the right; almost in the centre rose an isolated
hill, perpendicular on three sides, and very steep and
difficult on the fourth. The camp was pitched in
front of this hill, looking down the valley, with a mile
of open country between it and the hills on the left.
The camp was formed in the following order: on
the left were the two battalions of the 3rd Native
Regiment; the Royal Artillery were in the centre;
next to these was the 2nd battalion of the 24th.
The line was then taken up by the cavalry, with the
1st battalion of the 24th on the right of the whole.
The waggons were all placed between the camp and
the hill at the back.
By a strange and criminal neglect no attempt was
made to intrench this position, although it was known
that the column might at any moment be attacked by
the Zulus.
It was determined that the greater part of the
force should advance the next morning towards a
stronghold, ten miles distant from the camp, straight


The Young Colonists.
67
down the valley. News had come that a large number
of Zulus were at this spot, and it was supposed
that these would fight. The column consisted of
eight companies of each of the battalions of the 3rd
Native Regiment, with the greater part of the cavalry.
The force started early and marched for three hours
down the valley. Here they came on much culti-
vated ground, but the kraals had been deserted by
the enemy. At four o'clock, as the cavalry were
skirmishing at a distance on both flanks, they came
upon a body of Zulus about 2000 strong. The horse
fell back upon the infantry, but, as it was now late,
Major Dartnell decided to encamp for the night, and
to attack in the morning. A messenger was despatched
into camp with a report of the day's proceedings, and
some provisions and blankets were sent out, with news
that the general would join the troops with reinforce-
ments in the morning.
At daybreak he left the camp at Isandula with
seven companies of the 2nd battalion of the 24th,
and orders were sent to Colonel Durnford, at Rorke's
Drift, to bring up 200 mounted men and his rocket-
battery, which had reached that spot.
The Zulus were seen in all directions, and a good
deal of skirmishing took place. By a gross neglect,
equal to that which was manifested in the omission to
fortify the camp, no steps whatever were taken to
keep up communication between ^the column, which
now consisted of the greater part of the troops, and
those who remained at the camp at Isandula. No
F 2


68
The Young Colonists.
signallers were placed on the hills, no mounted videttes
were posted, and the column marched on, absorbed in
its own skirmishes with the enemy, as if the general
in command had forgotten the very existence of the
force at Isandula. Even in the middle of the day,
when the firing of cannon told that the camp was
attacked, no steps were taken to ascertain whether
reinforcements were needed there, and it was not until
hours after all was over that a party was despatched
to ascertain what had taken place at the camp.
Upon the day on which the two native regiments
advanced, the two boys felt the time hang heavy on
their hands; they would have liked to take their guns
and go out to shoot some game for their dinners, but all
shooting had been strictly forbidden, as the sound of a
gun might cause a false alarm. After hanging about
the camp for an hour or two, Dick proposed that they
should climb the hill which rose so steeply behind them.
"If the columns have any fighting," he said, " we
should be sure to see it from the top."
Borrowing a telescope from one of the officers of the
volunteer cavalry, they skirted round to the back of the
hill, and there began their climb. It was very steep,
but after some hard work they reached the summit,
and then crossed to the front and sat down in a com-
fortable niche in the rock, whence they could command
a view far down the valley. They could see the two
battalions of infantry marching steadily along, and
the cavalry moving among the hills and undulations
on both flanks. They had taken some biscuits and a


The Young Colonists. 69
bottle of beer up with them, and spent the whole day
on the look-out. The view which they gained was a
very extensive one, as the hill was far higher than
those on either side, and in many places they could
see small bodies of the enemy moving about. At
sunset they descended.
"I vote we go up again," Tom said the next
morning. "The general has gone forward with most
of the white troops, and there is sure to be fighting to-
day. We shall have nothing to do, and may as well
go up there as anywhere else."
After the general's departure there remained in
camp five companies of the 1st battalion of the 24th,
and one of the 2nd battalion, two field-pieces with
their artillery-men, and some mounted men.
Just as the boys were starting at eight in the
morning, there was a report in the camp that the
Zulus were gathering in force to the north of the
camp. This quickened the boys' movements and
half an hour later they gained the top of the hill,
and from their old position looked down upon the
camp lying many hundred feet below them. There
was considerable bustle going on, and the Kaffir
drivers were hastily collecting the cattle which were
grazing round, and were driving them into camp.
"There is going to be a fight!" Dick exclaimed,
as they gained their look-out; "there are crowds of
Zulus out there on the plains."
Could the boys have looked over the hills a mile
away to their right, they would have seen that the


70
The Young Colonists.
number of Zulus down in the valley in front was but
a small proportion of those gathering for the attack;
for 15,000 men had moved up during the night, and
were lying quietly behind those hills, 3000 or 4000
more were taking the road to Rorke's Drift, to cut off
any who might escape from the camp, while as many
more were showing down the valley. Altogether
some 24,000 of the enemy had gathered round the
little body in the camp. To the boys, however, only
the party down the valley was visible.
At eleven o'clock Colonel Durnford came into camp
with his 350 mounted men from Rorke's Drift, and
advanced with them to meet the enemy threatening
the left flank, while two companies of the 1st bat-
talion of the 24th moved out to attack their right.
The Zulus, now reinforced from behind the hills,
moved forward steadily, and Colonel Durnford with his
cavalry could do little to arrest them. For an hour the
infantry stood their ground, and the two field-pieces
swept lines through the thick ranks of the enemy.
The Zulus advanced in the form of a great crescent.
"Things look very bad, Dick," Tom said; "what
do you think we had better do?"
"I think we had better stay where we are, Tom, and
wait and see what occurs; we have a splendid view of
the fight, and if our fellows meet them we shall see
it all; but if—oh, look there, Tom!"
Over the hills on the left thousands of Zulus were
seen pouring down.
"This is terrible, Tom. Look here, I will crawl








The Young Colonists.
71
along over the crest, so as not to be seen, and look
behind to see if it is clear there. If it is, I vote we
make a bolt. It is of no use our thinking of going
down for a couple of horses; the Zulus will be in the
camp long before we could get there."
Five minutes later he again joined his friend.
"They are coming up behind too, Tom. They
have really surrounded us. Look, they are close to
the camp!"
It was a scene of frightful confusion. Nothing could
be seen of the companies of the 24th, which had
gone out to meet the Zulus. The great wave of the
advancing army had swept over them. Below, the
panic was complete and terrible, and soldiers, native
drivers, and camp-followers were running wildly in all
directions.
One party of the 24th's men, about sixty strong, had
gathered together and stood like a little island. The
incessant fire of their rifles covered them with white
smoke, while a dense mass of Zulus pressed upon them.
Many of the soldiers were flying for their lives; others
again, when they found that their retreat was cut off, had
gathered in groups and were fighting desperately to
the last. Here and there mounted men strove to cut
their way through the Zulus, while numbers of fugi-
tives could be seen making for the river, hotly pursued
by crowds of the enemy, who speared them as they
ran.
"It is frightful, frightful, Tom 1 I cannot bear to
look at it."


72 The Young Colonists.
For a few minutes the fight continued. The crack
of the rifles was heard less frequently now. The
exulting yell of the Zulus rose louder and louder.
On the right Colonel Durnford with his cavalry
essayed to make one last stand to check the pursuit
of the Zulus and give time for the fugitives to escape;
but it was in vain, showers of assegais fell among
them, and the Zulu crowd surged round.
For a time the boys thought all were lost, but a
few horsemen cut their way through the crowd and
rode for the river. The artillery had long before
ceased to fire, and the gunners lay speared by the
cannons. The first shot had been fired at half-past
eleven, by one o'clock all was over. The last
white man had fallen, and the Zulus swarmed like
a vast body of ants over the camp in search of
plunder.
Horror-stricken and sick, the boys shrank back
against the rock behind them, and for some time
sobbed bitterly over the dreadful massacre which had
taken place before their eyes. But after a time they
began to talk more quietly.
"Will they come up here, do you think, Dick?"
"No, I don't think so," Dick replied. "They could
hardly have seen us come up here, even if they had
been on the look-out on the hills, and as they reached
the back of the mountain before the camp was taken,
they will know that nobody could have come up after-
wards. Lie back here; we cannot possibly be seen from
below. They will be too much taken up with plundering


The Young Colonists.
73
the camp to think of searching this hill. What on
earth is the general doing ?—I can see his troops right
away on the plain. Surely he must have heard the
guns? Our only hope now is that when he hears it he
will march straight back; but, even if he does, I fear
that the Zulus will be too strong for him. The
whole force which he has with him is no stronger
than that which has been crushed here, and I
don't expect the native regiments can make much
stand if attacked by such a tremendously strong
force."
So long as the daylight lasted, the boys, peering
occasionally over, could see the Zulus at the work of
plundering. All the sacks and barrels were taken
from the waggons and cut or broken open, each
man taking as much as he could carry of the tea,
sugar, flour, and other necessaries ; many of the yoke-
oxen were assegai ed at once, and cut up and eaten,
the rest being driven off towards the north by a party
of warriors.
At nightfall the tents were set on fire; they soon
burnt out, and the boys could no longer see what was
taking place. Rising from the shelter, they walked
back to the other side of the crest.
"I can hear firing now," Dick said; "it seems to
me that it is back at Rorke's Drift."
They were soon sure that they were not mistaken;
as it grew darker a flittering light was seen in that
direction, and a continued fire of distant musketry was
heard. Later on there was a broad glare in the sky.


74
The YoungColonists.
"I fear it is all over there too," Dick said, " and
that the place has been burnt."
Still, however, the firing continued, as heavy as ever,
and long on into the night the lads sat listening to
it. At last they fell asleep, and when they awoke
the sun was already high. Thus they missed their
chance of escape.
At nine o'clock in the evening Lord Chelmsford's
force, hearing at last what had happened, marched
back into the camp, and before day had fairly broken
continued their way down to Rorke's Drift. The
defenders here, a little garrison, under Lieutenant
Bromhead of the 24th, and Chard of the Royal
Artillery, had made an heroic defence against some
4000 of the enemy. With mealy bags and boxes
they built up a breastwork, and this they held all
night, in spite of the desperate efforts of the Zulus to
capture it. The hospital, which stood at one end of
the intrenchment, was carried and burnt by the Zulus,
but the little garrison held out till morning in an
inner intrenchment round the store-house.
Here was seen what could be done in the way of de-
fence by the aid of hastily-thrown-up intrenchmentsj
and had breastworks been erected at Isandula, as they
ought to have been the instant the troops arrived
there, and still more so when the major portion of
the column marched away, the force there, small as it
was, would doubtless have made a successful resistance.
Even had the step been taken, when the Zulus were
first seen approaching, of forming a laager—that is,


The Young Colonists.
75
of drawing up the waggons in the form of a hollow
square—at the foot of the steep mountain, the disaster
might have been averted. It may be said that the
massacre of Isandula was due entirely to the over-
confidence and carelessness of the officers in command
of the column.
The boys on waking crawled back cautiously to
a spot where they could obtain a view over the
valley, and, to their surprise, the force which, on the
afternoon before, they had seen out there had entirely
disappeared. Many bodies of Zulus were seen moving
about, but there was no trace of the white troops.
They made their way to the back of the hill, and
then, to their horror, saw the column moving away
from them, and already half-way on its road to
Rorke's Drift.
Their first impulse was to get up and start off in a
run in pursuit of it, but this feeling lasted but a
moment, for between the hill and the column many
scattered parties of Zulus were to be seen. The boys
looked blankly at each other. It was but too clear that
they were cut off and alone in the enemy's country.
"Whatever shall we do, Dick?"
"I have not the least idea, Tom. At any rate there
is nothing to be done at present. We should be asse-
gaied in a moment if we were to go down; let's go
back to our old look-out."
After much talk they agreed that it would be hope-
less to attempt to make south and cross the Buffalo,
as many of the fugitives had done. There were sure


76
The Young Colonists.
to be strong bodies of Zulus along the river, and even
if they passed these without detection they would be
unable to cross the river, as they would find no ford,
and neither of them was able to swim.
There were great numbers of Zulus in the camp
below, and these seemed to be pursuing the work of
plundering more minutely than they had done on the
previous day. The stores scattered recklessly about
were collected, placed in empty barrels, and loaded
up on the waggons. Presently a number of cattle
were brought down; these were harnessed to the
waggons and driven off, and by nightfall nothing save
scattered remnants marked the place where the British
camp had stood. But from their post the boys could
see that the ground far and near was dotted with
corpses, black and white.
After nightfall the boys descended to the camp, and
having marked the exact spot where the waggons had
stood were able to collect a number of pieces of the
broken biscuit scattered about; they were fortunate
enough to light upon a water-bottle still full, and with
these treasures they returned to the post on the moun-
tain. They had agreed to wait there for three or four
days, in fact as long as they could hold out, and then
quietly to walk into one of the native kraals. If
caught in the act of flight they were certain of being
killed, but they hoped that when the Zulus' blood had
cooled down after the conflict their lives might possibly
be spared.
This plan was carried out; for four days they


The Young Colonists.
77
remained on the hill of Isandula, and then descending
late one evening to the plain walked for ten or twelve
miles north, and waiting until daybreak showed them
a large native kraal at no great distance, they made for
it, and sat quietly down at the door of the principal hut
Presently a girl issued from a neighbouring hut, and,
upon seeing them, gave a scream and ran back again.
The cry brought others to the doors of the huts.
When the boys were seen, a perfect hubbub of tongues
broke forth, and many of the men, running out with
their spears, advanced towards the lads. They sat
perfectly quiet, and held up their hands to show that
they were unarmed. The Zulus hesitated. Dick went
through the motion of eating and drinking, and in his
best Kaffir begged for a glass of water.
The Zulus, seeing that the boys were alone,
approached them, and began to ask them questions,
and were evidently much surprised at hearing that
they had escaped from the massacre of the British.
From the door of the hut in which they were sitting
a chief, evidently of high rank, for the others greeted
him respectfully, now came out.
After the cause of the tumult was explained to
the chief, he ordered the boys to be bound. This
was done and they were put into an empty hut while
their fate was decided upon; after much deliberation
it was agreed by the Zulus that, as they were but
boys and had come into the camp unarmed and
of their own accord, their lives should for the
present be spared.


78 The Young Colonists.
It happened that in the village were a party of
men who belonged to the tribe of Umbelleni, whose
territory lay to the north-west, and these volunteered
to take the prisoners to their chief, who was one of
the strongest opponents of the English. His country,
indeed, lay just within the Zulu frontier, and, having
been engaged in constant skirmishes and broils with
the Dutch settlers, he was even more disappointed
than the other chiefs at the taking over of the Trans-
vaal by England, just at the time when the Zulus
were meditating its conquest.
The road from Itelezi, the village at which the boys
had given themselves up, to Umbelleni's country ran
along between the Blood River and the lofty hill-coun-
try; and, although they were ignorant of the fact,
Colonel Wood's force was at that moment lying on
this line. They were therefore taken up over a moun-
tain-country, crossing Mount Ingwe, to the Zlobani
Mountain, a stronghold ten miles south of Umbel-
leni's chief kraal, and where at present he was resid-
ing. After three days' journey the lads, exhausted
and footsore, ascended to the plateau of the Zlobani
Mountains.
Upon their way they passed through many
villages, and at each place it needed the efforts of
their guards to prevent their being seriously mal-
treated, if not killed. The Zulus, although victorious
at Isandula, had suffered terribly, it being estimated
that nearly 3000 had fallen in the attack.
Thus there was not a village but had lost some of


The Young Colonists.
79
its members, for, although the Zulu regiments have
local denominations and regular military kraals,
each regiment consists of men drawn from the
population at large.
Every four or five years all the lads who have
passed the age of eighteen since the formation of the
last corps, are called out and formed into a regi-
ment, or are embodied with some regiment whose
numbers have fallen in strength. Thus a regiment
may consist of men differing considerably from each
other in point of age, the great distinction being
that some corps consist entirely of married men,
while others are all unmarried. A regiment remains
unmarried until the king formally gives the permis-
sion to take wives, and the corps to whom the
boon has been granted are distinguished from the
others by their hair being arranged in a thick ring
round the head. So great is the enmity between these
married regiments and their less fortunate comrades
that they are never encamped in each other's view,
as fighting in that case would inevitably take place.
Thus it happened that, although some of the corps
had suffered far more than others, the loss was spread
over the whole of Zululand.


8o
The Young Colonists.
CHAPTER VI.
ZLOBANI.
While disaster had fallen upon the centre column,
the division under Colonel Evelyn Wood had been
showing what could be done when care and prudence
took the place of a happy-go-lucky recklessness. It
had advanced from Utrecht on the 7th of January,
and had moved up to the frontier at Sandspruit. At
two in the afternoon of the 10th it moved forward,
halted at six, and again advanced by the light of the
moon at half-past one in the morning; a mounted
advance-guard was thrown out, flanking patrols were
organized, and the troops moved in the greatest silence.
The next day Colonel Buller, with his irregular
horse, went out, and after a skirmish with the Zulus
brought in a thousand cattle, and Captain Barton, with
a party scouting in another direction, captured 550.
On the following morning a reconnaissance in force
was made, and a good deal of skirmishing took place;
but, as Colonel Wood never allowed his men to follow
the Zulus into rough ground, the latter were unable to
effect anything against the column. This division
advanced forward but slowly, as it was intended that
they should keep within reach of the leisurely-moving
central column.
After several slight skirmishes the news reached


The Young Colonists.
81
them on the 24th of the disaster of Isandula, and with
it Colonel Wood received orders to fall back; and on
the 26th he encamped at Kambula. Raids were made
in all directions with great success ; the great military
kraal of Manyamyoba was captured and destroyed by
Colonel Buller and his cavalry. As Colonel Wood's
was now the most advanced column,Colonel Rowlands,
with a wing of the 80th and a couple of guns and 200
Swazis, together with Raaf's Horse and Wetherby's
Borderers, were sent as a reinforcement to him.
The Zulus were not idle, and Umbelleni and
Manyamyoba made several successful raids across the
border and destroyed the kraals of natives friendly to
the English. These two chiefs were not regular Zulu
chieftains ; both were adventurers who had gathered
under them numbers of broken men, and had for
years carried on raids on their own account from their
mountain-stronghold, in much the same way that
the Scotch borderers of olden times harassed the
country on the English side of the frontier.
Oham, the king's brother, with his own following,
came into Colonel Wood's camp, and gave himself up,
saying that he was altogether opposed to the war.
The boys on their arrival at Zlobani were brought
before Umbelleni. That chief briefly gave orders
that they should be killed; but two or three of his
headmen represented to him that they might be of
use; they would be able to carry a message to the
British camp, should he desire at any time to send
one; by their appearance and dress, they could tell
G


The Young Colonists.
83
leni, about three miles from the Intombe River. On
the bank of the river could be seen twenty waggons.
These waggons had come down from Derby, on their
way to Luneberg, a town situated four miles from the
Intombe. Major Tucker, who commanded there, sent
Captain Moriarty with a company of the 80th, seventy
strong, down to the river to protect the waggons
whilst crossing, and that officer had orders to neglect
no precaution, and above all to keep an incessant and
vigilant look-out.
The river was in flood, and no crossing could be
effected, and for four days the waggons remained on
the northern bank. Captain Moriarty placed the
waggons in laager on the bank, and took post there
with forty of his men, leaving Lieutenant Harwood
with thirty-four on the south bank with directions to
cover the sides of the laager with a flanking fire, should
it be attacked. The position of the waggons was a
dangerous one, as the ground rose immediately behind
them, and was covered with bush.
In the middle of the night of the nth Umbelleni's
men arose, and, accompanied by the boys, started from
the kraal, and Dick and Tom were filled with forebod-
ings of what was about to happen. Dick had already
gathered from the natives that theguardoi the waggons
was an extremely small one, and, as the body moving to
attack them were between 4000 and 5000 strong, the
chance of a successful resistance appeared small.
When within a short distance of the waggons two
of the Zulus motioned to the boys to stop. In ten
G 2


84
The Young Colonists.
minutes they heard a sentry challenge; his shout was
answered by a loud yell, and the Zulus poured down
to the attack. Unfortunately Captain Moriarty had
not taken sufficient precaution against surprise, and
before the men were fairly under arms the Zulus were
upon them.
The force on the other side of the river were now on
the alert, and their rifle-fire opened before that of
the defenders of the waggons. For a moment or two
there was a sharp rattling fire from the waggons ; then
there were shouts and screams, the firing ceased,
and the boys knew that the laager had been captured.
Many of the soldiers indeed were assegaied before
they could leave their tents, most were slaughtered at
once, but a few managed to swim across the river.
The Zulus swarmed after them. Lieutenant Harwood
jumped upon his horse and rode off to Luneberg to
fetch assistance. The little detachment was broken
by the rush of the Zulus, but a serjeant and eight men
fell back into a deserted kraal, and succeeded in re-
pelling the attacks of the enemy.
Lieutenant Harwood was afterwards tried by court-
martial for his conduct; he was acquitted, but the
general in command refused to confirm the verdict,
and the commander-in-chief at home approved of the
view he took of the matter, and issued a general order
to the effect that "An officer, being the only one
present with a party of soldiers actually engaged with
the enemy, is not under any pretext whatever justified
in deserting them, and thus by so doing abandoning
them to their fate."


The Young Colonists.
85
Apprehensive of the arrival of reinforcements from
Luneberg, Umbelleni did not continue his attack upon
the little party in the kraal, but, after hastily plunder-
ing the waggons, retreated with his force, and the next
day returned to Zlobani.
A few days passed and the boys learnt that two
regiments from Uluridi were expected shortly to re-
inforce Umbelleni's men. The chief himself, with the
majority of his followers, was now at his kraal, four
miles distant, but the boys remained in the village on
the Zlobani plateau. Several times they saw parties
of British horse riding over the plains and from a dis-
tance reconnoitring the position, and they wondered
whether there could be any intention on the part of
Colonel Wood to attack it. There was on the plateau
a large number of cattle, part the property of Umbel-
leni's men, but the great majority spoil taken in raids.
It seemed to the boys that an attack could scarcely
be successful. The sides of the mountains were ex-
tremely precipitous, covered with bush, and contained
large numbers of caves. There was but one path up
which mounted men could ride; this was about halfway along the west side, the hill being a much greater
length from north to south than from east to west.
Up the southern extremity of the plateau was a path
by which footmen could descend to the plain, but it was
exceedingly steep and altogether impracticable for
cavalry; a handful of men should have been able to
hold the position against an army.
Colonel Wood having heard of the large quantity
of cattle concealed on the Zlobani Mountain had dc-


7he Young Colonists.
87
evening Colonel Wood joined them with his staff,
eight mounted men of the 50th regiment and six
natives under Untongo, a son of Pongo, a friendly
chief. Untongo had.by some means obtained infor-
mation that seven strong regiments had marched from
Ulundi seven days before, and was most anxious that
the column should return to Kambula.
Colonel Wood, however, could not carry out this
advice, for Colonels Buller and Wetherby and Piet-
Uys, with their commands, who were in front, had
moved forward a long distance, and a retreat now
would leave them to be surrounded and cut off. The
troops lay down and slept, and at half-past three
o'clock again prepared to advance. Distant shots
were heard, showing that Colonel Buller was attacked,
and just as the party was setting off, Colonel
Wetherby with his troopers rode in, having in the
night got separated from Buller's men in the wild and
broken country. As the troops advanced they came
here and there across the bodies of Zulus, showing
that Buller had had to fight his way. Captain Ronald
Campbell ascended a rock and scanned the country
with his glass. Far away, almost in the centre of the
gigantic and apparently inaccessible cliff of Zlobani,
the remains of Buller's column could be seen slowly
advancing, driving some dark masses of cattle and
Zulus before them.
Colonel Wetherby obtained permission to lead his
men on at once to Buller's assistance, while Colonel
Wood followed with the remainder of the force.


88
The YoungColonists.
Wethcrby moved by a terribly difficult path to the
right, while Wood kept to what seemed the main
track. About half a mile further the latter came on a
party of 200 Zulus, armed with rifles; these crossed
in front of him, taking an occasional shot at the leading
files of the party, who on account of the difficulties of
the road were compelled to dismount and lead their
horses. Their object was evidently to cut off
Wetherby's troop from the main column. Lieutenant
Lysons, leaving the column, reconnoitred the ground,
and found that Wetherby's party was already divided
from them by a deep and impassable ravine, at the
bottom of which was the pathway by which Buller had
made his way to the summit of the cliff. A strong party
of Zulus were seen faraway in front, working as if to cut
off Buller's horse. It was clear that there was nothing
to do but to press forward in hopes that the line taken
by Wetherby and that which the main column was
following would come together.
At this moment a heavy fire was opened by a party
of the enemy from a narrow ledge of rock a hundred
yards above them. Untongo and two of his men
guided a party of eight marksmen to a still higher
point, and their fire speedily drove off the Zulus.
Half an hour's march brought Wood upon Wetherby's
track, and high above them to the right the rear of
Buller's column could be seen. No more unsuitable
ground for the operation of mounted men could be
found; perpendicular rocks rose in all directions,
while steep precipices fell away at their feet. Killed


The Young Colonists.
89
and wounded horses were seen at every turn of the
road, showing how stoutly the enemy had held their
ground, and how difficult an operation Buller had
performed. Sending fifty men to work upon the
right flank and endeavour to take the Zulus in the
rear, Colonel Wood kept his men for a few moments
under cover of a friendly ledge of rocks, to take breath
and look to their rifles, girths, and ammunition, and
then pressed rapidly forward and joined the Border
Horse.
The scene was now most exciting. The firing was
almost continuous, and the yells of the savages rose
from every rock and bush, mingled with the loud cheers
of Buller's men far up in front, as they saw the co-
lumn approaching to their aid. The ground was now
more level and practicable for riding, and Colonel
Wood mounted his horse and, accompanied by his
own little escort of a dozen men and the Border
Horse under Colonel Wetherby himself, with his
gallant boy, aged fifteen, who was fighting by his
side, galloped forward for the front, leaving Colonel
Russell in command of the column. When within a
hundred paces of the summit of the cliff a rain of fire
opened upon their front and flank from a mass of
Zulus firing from caves, crevices, and behind enormous
boulders. From one cave to the right front an exces-
sively heavy fire was kept up, and Colonel Wetherby
dashed at this with his men just as Colonel Wood's
horse staggered from a deep assegai wound in the chest.
At the same moment a native from behind a boulder


90
The Young Colonists.
fired at that officer at ten paces' distance; the bullet
missed him and Lieutenant Lloyd rode at the man, but
fell, shot through the head. Colonel Wood and Cap-
tain Ronald Campbell rode forward to cover his body.
Two more Zulus fired at the same instant and the
colonel's horse fell dead. Colonel Wetherby's men
were hotly engaged at close quarters with the Zulus,
and were unable to join the colonel. Captain Camp-
bell, Lieutenant Lysons, and the eight 90th men of
the escort rushed at the opening. Captain Campbell
fell, shot through the head, but the rest dashed
forward.
There was a movement in the cave and a sudden
shout in English of " Come on!" and as the little
band dashed in and fell upon the Zulus they saw, to
their astonishment, two English boys, armed with
assegais, attacking these in the rear. In another
minute the Zulus were all cut down, and the party
returned to Colonel Wood.
On the previous afternoon Zulu scouts had arrived
at Zlobani with the news that an English column was
on its way towards it. Messengers were despatched
to Umbelleni's kraal, and at night his force there
came to the assistance of those at Zlobani. Early
in the morning the boys proceeded with a number of
Zulus to the edge of the plateau, and were placed
with eight of their guards in a cave. From its mouth
they watched anxiously the events of the day.
Colonel Buller's party had struck upon the right
road, and after hard fighting gained the summit of


The Young Colonists.
91
the cliff. Here a great quantity of cattle were col-
lected, and these were sent off in charge of a body
of friendly natives, which accompanied the force.
This column in the advance had not passed near the
cave in which the boys were placed. Their hearts
beat high, as they saw Colonel Wood's column sud-
denly turn off from the line which Buller had fol-
lowed, and make straight for it. Their excitement
grew higher and higher as the conflict increased in
vigour.
Soon the Zulus in the cave were at work. When
Captain Campbell charged forward with his handful
of men, Dick and Tom exchanged a glance. They
stood quiet until it was evident that the English at-
tack would be pushed home; then, as the men of the
90th, led by Lysons, dashed at the entrance of the
cavern, the boys seized two assegais and each pinned
one of the crouching Zulus to the ground. Before
the others could turn round upon them Lysons and
his men were among them.
The fire of Buller's men from above drove the
Zulus from their hiding-places. But Colonel Wood,
finding it impossible to make his way up at this point,
moved round at the foot of the rocks, to try and find
the point at which Buller had ascended the cliff.
Before doing so, however, the bodies of Captain
Campbell and Lieutenant Lloyd were carried down
the hill, and buried in a hastily-made grave. As,
carrying their wounded men, the little party made
their way to the foot of the cliff, Untongo, who had


92 The Young Colonists.
been reconnoitring the rocks on both sides, ran down
to him and began to talk rapidly, pointing over
towards the plain.
Colonel Wood did not understand Kaffir, but Dick,
who was standing by, said,—
"He says, sir, that there is a great Zulu army
marching below."
Colonel Wood mounted a fresh horse, and making
his way with great difficulty across some broken
ground reached a point where he could see
the plain. There, in five continuous columns, the
Zulu army from Ulundi, 20,000 strong, was sweeping
along at its usual rapid pace. It was evident at
once that only by a speedy retreat could any of the
force hope to escape. Colonel Wood despatched a
message at once to Colonel Russell, who had with his
force by this time commenced the ascent at the
extreme westerly point, to retrace his steps instantly,
and to cover as far as possible the retreat of the
native allies with the cattle.
Colonel Buller above had also seen the coming
danger. So far he had accomplished his work ad-
mirably. The Zulu position had been triumphantly
stormed, and a large number of cattle taken and
driven off.
Had Colonel Wood's force and Wetherby's troop
arrived on the scene of action immediately after
Buller had ascended to the plateau, the retreat could
have been made in time, and the expedition would
have been successful at all points. The unfortunate


The Young Colonists.
93
incident of their losing the track, the delay caused
thereby, and their inability to rejoin him had given
time for the Ulundi army to come up.
Colonel Buller found that it was impossible now to
descend to the plain by the path by which he had
ascended. Not only would he have to fight his way
back through the whole force of Umbelleni, but his
retreat by that route would be cut off by the Ulundi
men. Consequently, pursued by a great body of
exulting Zulus, he made his way along the plateau
to the steep path at its extremity.
The scene here was terrible. The Zulus blocked
the way in front and lined both sides. Buller himself,
with Piet-Uys, defended the rear, assisting the
wounded, and often charging desperately into the
ranks of the Zulus pressing upon him. The path was
slippery with blood and strewn with dead. As the
last of his troop made their way down it, Piet-Uys, a
most gallant Dutchman, fell dead across the body of
his horse, with six Zulus, whom he had shot with
his revolver, around him.
Wetherby's troop was surrounded, and forty-five
out of his eighty men killed. The colonel himself
and his boy both fell, the latter refusing to leave his
father, although the latter urged him to gallop off and
join the column, which appeared to be making its
way through the Zulus. Colonel Russell's command
got through without so much opposition ; but Buller's
horse, Piet-Uys' troop, and Wetherby's command
suffered terribly.


94
The Young Colonists.
Fortunately the Ulundi army did not follow the
retreat; first, because the tremendous three days'
march which they had made had in a great measure
exhausted the men, who had started in such haste
that they had brought no provisions with them, and
secondly, on account of the steady attitude and
resolute bearing of Russell's command.
Buller's force reached Kambula camp at half-past
seven at night. It had set in stormy, and torrents of
rain were falling. Although he had been in the saddle
for forty-eight hours, Colonel Buller, on hearing that
a small party of the survivors had taken refuge in
hiding ten miles away, collected a party of volun-
teers, and, taking led horses, set out to rescue them.
This was effected; the fugitives were found to be seven
in number, and returned with their rescuers safely to
camp.
The boys had both escaped, two of Wetherby's
men, who accompanied Colonel Wood, taking them
on their saddles behind them. The total loss was
ten officers and seventy-eight men.
For the night the boys were handed over to the
charge of one of the officers of the staff, but in the
morning Colonel Wood sent for them, and they then
told him the story of their adventures since the battle
of Isandula, with which he was greatly interested.
He said that he would at once have sent them to
Utrecht, but that the camp would probably be attacked
during the day.
The troops had been on the alert all night, expect-


The Young Colonists. 95
ing an attack. Before daylight Captain Raaf was sent
out with twenty-five men to reconnoitre, and returned
with one of Oham's natives. This man had joined
the Zulu army as it advanced, and was, fortunately
for himself, not recognized by them as being one of
Oham's people. In the night he had slipped away.
He reported the Zulus 20,000 strong, a great por-
tion of them being armed with rifles.
Fortunately little preparation was necessary at
Kambula. Nothing had been left to chance here, and
there was therefore no fear of a repetition of the
Isandula disaster. Each corps, each subdivision,
each section, and each man had his place allotted to
him, and had been told to be in that place at the
sound of the bugle.
The little fort was in a strong position, laid out
upon an elevated narrow reach of table-land. A
precipice, inaccessible to a white man, guarded the
right flank ; on the left a succession of steep terraces
had been utilized and carefully intrenched, each
successive line commanding that below it. At one
end there was a narrow slip of land swept by two
7-pounders. Immediately in the rear, upon an
eminence 120 feet higher than the fort, was a
small work, armed with two guns. The camp con-
sisted of an outer defence of 100 waggons, and an
inner one of fifty—the whole protected by earth-
works and ditches.


96
The Young Colonists.
CHAPTER VII.
KAMBULA.
Immediately Oham's Zulu had made his report,
the bugle sounded, and the garrison quietly and
quickly took up the places assigned to them. Mes-
sengers went out to order a fatigue-party, which
had gone out wood-cutting, to return at once.
These men reported that they had seen the Zulus
scouting, about five miles to the west. The tents
were struck, the men lined the shelter-trenches, and
ammunition was served out by fatigue-parties told off
for this duty. The white conductors and commis-
sariat men, most of whom were old settlers and
good shots, were told off to the different faces of the
laager. A small party were provided with stretchers,
in order to carry the wounded to the hospital in the
centre.
Dick and Tom, having no duty and being without
arms, thought that they might as well make them-
selves useful at this work, and therefore, taking a
stretcher, they proceeded to one of the outer shelter-
trenches.
It was nearly eleven o'clock when the Zulus were
seen approaching, and halted just out of musket-range.
Here apparently a council of war was held, and
it was more than an hour before any forward move-


The Young Colonists.
97
ment was made. Then a body of them, about 7000
strong, ran at a tremendous pace along a ledge
situated at the edge of the cultivated land. The
troops were ordered not to fire, as it was thought
better to wait until the Zulus came on in earnest.
At half-past one a cloud of skirmishers advanced
from the Zulu army, and fed by supports began to scale
the north front of the English position. Here, behind
the outermost line of intrenchments, some of Buller
and Russell's dismounted men, and a portion of the
band of the gallant Piet-Uys were stationed, and
these opened fire upon the Zulus. Scarcely one of
them but was a dead-shot, and no sooner did a
head or a shield appear above rock or boulder or
tuft of grass than the deadly rifle rang out, and
in most cases there was an enemy the less to
encounter.
The Boers particularly distinguished themselves at
this work. Most of these men are certain shots, being
trained from childhood in the use of their large single-
barrelled guns, carrying an enormous bullet, and suited
for the destruction of big game. Animated by a hatred
of the Zulus, and a longing for vengeance for the ,
death of their late leader, the Boers picked off their
foes with unerring aim. The enemy's skirmishers now
retired, and a more solid line took their place, sup-
ported by a dense column in its rear. The cavalry
remounted and fell slowly back, and Major Russell,
, with twenty of his men, made a brilliant charge on a
party of Zulus who were running to take possession
H


98
The Young Colonists.
of a sheltering ledge of rocks, and, after cutting down
a great many, retreated without the loss of a man.
Buller and Russell now retired slowly within the
laager, their retreat being covered by Colonel Gilbert
and four companies of the 13th, who were posted at
this face of the works. One company of the 13th,
under Captain Cox, held the cattle-laager, which was
situated outside the line, and so were able to take the
enemy in flank, as they attacked the main work. This
little garrison and Colonel Gilbert's men poured a
tremendous fire upon the Zulus, who still, however,
pushed forward.
Major Hackett was now ordered to take a couple
of companies of the 90th, and to advance up the slope,
round the rear of the cattle-laager. Taking post here,
they opened a deliberate and deadly fire upon the
enemy, and then advancing drove back the Zulus with
great loss. The Zulu general, however, led a party
of his best marksmen round to his right, and opened
a heavy fire upon the 90th, as they fell back upon
their intrenchments. Lieutenant Bright fell mortally
wounded, and in running forward to pick him up
Major Hackett was struck by a ball sideways, which
passed through both eyes and destroyed his sight for
ever. Meanwhile, from the works on the heights,
Captain Nicholson was doing great execution with his
two 7-pounders. The Zulu main body had now come
within range, and grape and canister were poured into
their heavy masses. As Nicholson was standing on
the parapet, field-glass in hand, directing the pointing


The Young Colonists. 99
of two guns, a bullet struck him on the temple and
he fell dead. He was seen from the laager to fall, and
Major Vaughan was sent to take his place. Major
Tremlett, R.A., now took the four guns, hitherto held
in reserve, to a small piece of rising ground outside
the laager, and opened fire upon the masses of the
enemy with immense execution. From time to time
Buller and Russell, as they saw openings for a charge,
swept down and drove the enemy's skirmishers back
on to their main body; the Zulus, altogether unac-
customed to cavalry, always falling back precipi-
tately at these assaults.
At three o'clock a hot cross-fire was opened upon a
company commanded by Captain Woodgate, which
was stationed half-way between the laager and the
upper fort, keeping open a communication between
them, the enemy's fire from a height commanding
this line being particularly galling. Two of Trem-
lett's guns were brought to bear on the point, and the
enemy's fire speedily slackened. For another hour
and a half the troops continued to be hotly engaged,
for the enemy, when driven back from one flank, swept
round in most perfect order and attacked another.
At half-past four the Zulus, concentrating again,
attacked the northern side, and made some desperate
rushes up to the muzzles of the English rifles, and the
fighting for a time was almost hand to hand.
The boys had worked round with their stretchers
wherever the fire was hardest, and had carried many
wounded men into hospital. They were at the north
II 2


ioo The Young Colonists.
face when the Zulus swarmed up towards it, and
Woodgate's men fell back into the shelter of the
laager. As they came in, a young lieutenant, who
was commanding the rear, fell, apparently dead. Being
in the rear of the company his fall was unnoticed
by the men. Dick, who was peering over the intrench-
ment, saw him fall, and saw too that he moved slightly.
"Quick, Tom!" he exclaimed; and, carrying the
stretcher, the boys scrambled over the breastwork and
ran towards the officer. He had fallen some twenty
yards outside, and the Zulus, rushing on, were but
eighty yards away.
On reaching the side of the young officer, the boys
laid their stretcher on the ground, rolled him upon it,
and, lifting it, turned towards the camp. A ringing
cheer from the men had greeted this action, mingled
with shouts of "Run! run!" for by this time the
Zulus were but twenty yards behind.
A stream of fire broke out from the top of the
breastworks; an assegai whizzed over Dick's shoulder,
and another grazed Tom's arm, but they hurried on
until they reached the ditch, and then threw themselves
and their burden down. There for five or six minutes
they lay, while the fight raged above them. Then the
British cheer rose, and the boys knew that the Zulus
had fallen back.
A minute later a dozen men leapt from the in-
trenchment into the ditch outside, and lifted the
wounded lieutenant over it into the arms of those
behind.


The Young Colonists.
101
"Bravo! boys, bravo!" a hundred voices shouted,
as the boys scrambled back into the works, while the
men crowded round to pat them on the shoulder and
shake their hands.
It was evident now that the Zulu fire was slacken-
ing, and three companies of the 13th went out, and,
taking posts by the edge of the slope of the cattle-
laager, opened fire upon them, as they retired. Every
gun was brought to bear upon them, and as, disheart-
ened and beaten, they fell back, Buller and Russell,
with every mounted man in camp, sallied out and fell
upon them, and, burning with the desire to wipe out
their misfortune of the preceding day, chased them
for seven miles, like a flock of sheep, cutting down
immense numbers.
It was ascertained afterwards from prisoners that
the Zulu force which attacked was composed of 25,000
men. It was commanded by Tyangwaiyo, with Um-
belleni as his second. Many of the leading chiefs
of Zululand and 3000 of the king's bravest and best
troops fell in the attack on Kambula, and this battle
was by far the hottest and best-contested which took
place during the war.
Upon our side two officers and twenty-one men
were killed. The difference between the result of
the action at Kambula and that at Isandula was due
entirely to the fact that in one case every precaution
was taken, every means of defence utilized ; while in the
other no more attention was paid to any of these points
than if the troops had been encamped at Aldershot.


102
The Young Colonists.
Upon the day following the battle Colonel Wood
set his men to work to erect further defences at the
points which the recent action had shown to be weak,
and never ceased work until the place had been made
almost impregnable against an assault of savages,
however brave.
The messenger who carried to Natal the news of
the victory of Kambula also took letters from the
boys to their parents, acquainting them of their safety;
and with the first convoy of wounded on the following
day the boys started for home, Colonel Wood having
given to each a flattering testimonial as to their gallant
conduct in the action, and having presented them
with two horses belonging to men of Buller's corps
who had fallen in the action, ordering that the horses
should be entered as bought for the Queen's service,
and the value paid to the relatives of their late
owners.
Three days' march took the convoy to Utrecht, and
the next morning the boys rode home, the distance
from there to Newcastle being about forty miles. They
were received as if they had risen from the dead, for
their letters had not arrived before them, and their
parents had of course assumed that they had been
killed at Isandula. Both the mothers were in mourn-
ing, and their joy at the restoration of their sons was
unbounded.
Mrs. Jackson fainted from surprise and delight, as
Tom rode up ; but Dick, remembering the effect which
the news of his being alive in the snow had produced


The Young Colonists.
103
upon his mother, was careful to save her the shock.
Accordingly, instead of riding direct to the house, he
made a detour and rode across the farm until he met
Bill Harrison. The man was delighted at the sight of
his young master, and could hardly believe his eyes,
as he saw him riding towards him.
After the first warm greeting was over, Dick learned
that his mother had been seriously ill, and was now
recovering, and that his father had been much shaken.
Dick told Harrison to go to the house, and, under the
excuse of some question about his work, to call
Mr. Humphreys out, and to tell him of his return,
leaving it to him to break the news to his wife.
This Mr. Humphreys, after recovering from his own
emotion at the joyful intelligence, did so gradually
and quietly, that the tale produced no injurious effect
upon the mother.
He began by saying that he had heard that a
rumour was afloat that some of those that were
supposed to have been killed at Isandula had been
kept captives by the Zulus.
Mrs. Humphreys for a time doubted the news, but,
upon her husband's assurance that the intelligence
was well founded, a faint feeling of hope began to
spring up; then gradually, step by step, he told her
that it was reported that these captives consisted chiefly
of non-combatants, men who had taken refuge among
the rocks and bushes when the fight was seen to be go-
ing against the troops. This still further raised Mrs.
Humphreys' hopes; for, from the presence of mind and


The Young Colonists. 105
panied the column, there was of course no difficulty
in proving the loss, and both Mr. Jackson and myself
received orders on the public treasury for their value
last week. You see more transports were required, and
there was such a panic after Isandula, that if govern-
ment had not promptly paid for their losses there, they
would have got no more waggons from farmers for
their work. We have already four more building for
us at Newcastle."
"I suppose there was a great fright in the colony
after the defeat?"
"Terrible!" Mr. Humphreys answered. "Everyone
imagined that the Zulus would at once cross the fron-
tier, and carry fire and sword throughout the colony.
The rest of the 4th Regiment instantly went forward
to Colonel Glyn's column, and this restored it to some-
thing like its strength before the fight. The rivers
were high, which may have accounted partly for the
Zulus not taking the offensive. Probably too the great
loss which they themselves must have suffered had
some effect; while they might not have liked to have
advanced in force across the frontier, being, as they
were, threatened on the one side by the column of
Colonel Wood at Kambula, and on the other by that
of Colonel Pearson at Ekowe."
"I have not heard about that column, father.
What are they doing?"
"I will tell you about it this evening, Dick, as it is
rather a long story."
After the Jacksons had driven off in the evening,


io6
The Young Colonists.
Dick again asked his father about the doings of
Colonel Pearson's column.
"Well, my boy, they have neither suffered a great
defeat, like that under Lord Chelmsford, nor obtained
a decisive victory, like the column of Colonel Wood;
they have beaten the enemy in a fight, and are at
present besieged in a place called Ekowe, or, as it is
sometimes spelt, Etckowi. The column consisted of
eight companies of the 3rd Buffs under Colonel Parnell;
six companies of the 99th, under Colonel Welman;
one company of Royal Engineers and two 7-pounder
guns; they had, besides a naval brigade consisting of
270 blue-jackets and marines of her Majesty's ships
Active and Tenedos, with three gatling-guns, 200
mounted infantry; 200 colonial mounted riflemen
also formed part of the-column, with about 2000 men
of the native contingent. They had great difficulty in
crossing the Tugela, which was nearly 400 yards wide.
But, thanks to the exertions of the sailors, a flying
bridge was constructed—that is, a boat with ropes
attached to both shores, so that it can be pulled back-
wards and forwards, or, as is sometimes done, taken
backwards and forwards by the force of the stream itself.
"It was the 13th before the crossing was effected.
The enemy were in considerable force near the river.
A small earthwork, called Fort Tenedos, was thrown
up on the Zulu bank of the river. On the 18th the
leading division started on its march into the enemy's
country, followed the next day by the second division,
a small detachment being left to garrison the fort.


The Young Colonists.
107
Every precaution was taken in the advance, and the
cavalry scouted the country in front of the column.
At the end of the first day's march the Inyoni, a
small stream ten miles north of the Tugela, was
reached.
"The second day they encamped on the Umsin-
dusi. The third day's march brought the column to
the Amatikulu; beyond this the country became
covered with bush, and great care was then taken, as
it was known that a large force was marching from
Ulundi to oppose their farther advance. Early on
the morning of the 22nd, the day which proved so
fatal to Colonel Glyn's column, the first division had
just crossed the Inyezane River and was halted for
breakfast, when they were attacked by a large force
of the enemy, who, having chosen this position, were
lying in wait for them. The ground chosen for the
halt was not a favourable one, as it was surrounded
by bush. But as no other place could be found by
Major Barrow, who commanded the horse, near water,
the halt had been made here. Scarcely had they begun
theirpreparations for breakfast,when Captain Hart, who
was out scouting in front with the advance company of
the native contingent, discovered the enemy advanc-
ing rapidly over the ridge in his front and attempting
to gain the bush on both flanks of the halting-place.
The Zulus at once opened a heavy fire upon the
native contingent, and of these one officer and four
non-commissioned officers and three men fell almost
immediately.


io8
The Young Colonists.
"The native contingent was called in, and the
naval brigade and two guns, under Lieutenant Lloyd,
and two companies of the Buffs were ordered to take
up a position upon a knoll close to the road, on which
they were halted. The sailors at once opened fire on
the enemy with two 7-pounders and two 24-pounder
rocket-tubes, while the Buffs poured a heavy fire with
their rifles upon them. The waggons were still com-
ing up, and these were parked as they reached the
ground; and two companies of the Buffs, who were
guarding them on the march, being now free to act,
were ordered to move out in skirmishing order,
and draw the enemy out of the bush, when, as they
retired, they were exposed to the fire from the knoll.
"The engineers and mounted troops moved forward,
with the infantry skirmishers, supported by a half-
company of the Buffs and a half-company of
the 99th. The enemy tried to outflank their left,
and Captain Campbell with a portion of the naval
brigade and some of the native contingent went out
and drove them from a kraal of which they had taken
possession. A still farther advance was now made,
and the Zulus took to flight, leaving 300 dead upon
the ground. The attacking party were 5000 strong,
and against these some 500 or 600 of our troops were
engaged. We had only eight Europeans killed and
four natives, and about twenty wounded. The next
day Colonel Pearson reached Ekowe. The position
was a strong one, as theplace stood upon rising ground;
it had been a missionary station, and there was a


The Young Colonists.
1C9
church which could at the worst be converted into a
citadel.
"Colonel Pearson at once set to work to fortify the
position. The same evening the news arrived of the
disaster at Isandula. After a consultation with his
officers Colonel Pearson decided to hold the spot at
which he now was, convinced that, without further
supplies of reinforcements, he could hold the place
for two months. In order to economize food, the
mounted men and most of the natives were sent back,
and there remained 1200 British troops.
"Colonel Pearson at once commenced his pre-
parations for a siege. Three moderate-sized brick
erections were turned into store-houses, and the
church into a hospital, the tower making a capital
look-out; from this a splendid view was obtained, the
hill by the Tugela being clearly visible. The men
set to work to fortify the place. The intrenchments
were of a six-sided form, about sixty yards across,
with a ditch outside them eighteen feet deep and
twelve feet wide. Assegais were planted in the
bottom. Added to the south side was a kraal for
cattle and horses, also defended by a small wall,
Outside the fort were entanglements of rows of felled
trees and bushes. The supply of water was obtained
from a good well, outside the walls, but covered by
the fire of the fort. The guns were placed in position,
and the garrison was ready for any attack that might
be made upon them. All these details we learned
in the early days of the siege by occasional messen-


no The Young Colonists.
gers, who managed to find their way through, but
these had been few and far between; of twelve messen-
gers sent out the first week of February, only one got
through. The garrison had made several sorties, and
had destroyed Dabulamanzi's kraal. They also went
out and cut off a large convoy of cattle on its way to
Ulundi."
"But how have they found out what is being done
at Ekowe, if the first week only one messenger got
through out of twelve ?" Dick said.
"By a very ingenious plan, Dick. For three weeks
we knew nothing of what was going on, and then it
struck an engineer that communication might be
established by flashing signals."
"What are flashing signals, father?"
"Well, my boy, as a general rule they are made by
showing a light either for a long or short period. Thus,
one long and one short might be A; one short and
one long, B; two short and one long, C; and so on
all through the Alphabet. The distance was so great
that ordinary lights would not have answered, but it
struck one of the engineers that with a looking-glass
the sunlight might be reflected. You know at what a
distance the sun's reflection on a window can be made
out. Well, it was tried in vain for a whole week by
Lieutenant Haynes, of the Royal Engineers, but at the
end of that time he was delighted at seeing answering
flashes from the hill on which Ekowe stands. Since
that time news, has been regularly received every day
by this means of what is passing in the fort.


The Young Colonists. 111
"In the meantime preparations were being made for
the relief of the garrison. The news of the defeat at
Isandula was sent home by a swift ship, by which the
particulars were telegraphed from St. Vincent. The
people at home did not lose an hour. The Shah,
which was on her way home, heard the news at
St. Helena, and Captain Bradshaw, who commanded
her, at once, on his own responsibility, turned his
ship's head south, and steered for Durban, bringing
with him the garrison of the island. Some draughts
from the 4th, 88th, and 99th Regiments were brought
down from the Cape; the Boadicea also arrived, and
every man who could be spared from her and the
Shah was landed and sent up to the Tugela.
"In the second week in March the 57th and 91st
Regiments arrived from England. One hundred and
sixty men were brought over from the garrison of
Mauritius, and a few days later the 3rd battalion of the
60th Regiment also arrived. These assembled on the
Tugela on the 27th, and that day set out. The van-
guard was composed of the seamen and marines of the
Shah and Tenedos—640 men and two gatlings, the
91st regiment of 900 men, 400 men of the 99th, 180
men of the 3rd Buffs, 150 mounted infantry, 200 of
the mounted native contingent, and 1600 men of
the native infantry contingent. The second division
consisted of 200 men of the Boadicea with gatlings,
the 37th Regiment, and the 3rd battalion of the 60th,
900 men, and two troops of mounted natives. That
is all I can tell you, my boy. The news only arrived


I I 2
The Young Colonists.
here yesterday that they had started. In the course
of three or four more days I hope that we shall hear
that they have given the Zulus a thorough licking.
It is a strong force, and as there are about 3300
white troops among them, and there is no fear of their
being taken by surprise this time, we need not have
any anxiety about the result. I understand that, in
accordance with the advice which Colonel Pearson
has flashed from Ekowe, they are not going to follow
the road he took, but to keep along on the lower
ground near the sea."
"And do you think, father, that they will push on
for Ulundi when they have rescued the garrison of
Ekowe?"
"No, Dick; I think they are quite strong enough
to do so, but as there are at least half a dozen more
regiments on their way out from England, including
some regiments of cavalry, it will be more prudent to
stop until our whole fighting force is here, when we
ought to be enabled to make short work of them, and
to do the work completely and effectually. And now,
Dick, I am thoroughly sleepy—the sooner we are in
bed the better."


ii4 The Young Colonists.
-v
in splendid order with a sort of dancing step. Their
white and coloured shields, their crests of leopard
skins and feathers, and the long ox-tails dangling
from their necks gave them a wild and strange
appearance. Every ten or fifteen yards the first line
would halt, a shot would be fired, then a loud yell
burst forth, and they again advanced with a humming
sound, in time to which their dancing movement was
kept up. The 6oth, who lay opposite to the point
against which they advanced, withheld their fire until
the first line of skirmishers came to within 300 yards.
Then a deadly sheet of flame flashed along the ridge of
the shelter-trench, and a number of the Zulu warriors
fell.
The main body now rushed forward, and although a
tremendous fusilade was kept up on them, the Zulu
advance pressed on, ever fed by those in the rear,
which deployed in excellent order as they reinforced
the first line. For twenty minutes the fire of the 60th
never ceased. Again and again the Zulus pressed
forward, but their leading ranks were swept away by
the storm of bullets.
At half-past six the Zulu masses, without the
smallest confusion, faced to their right, ran round
in columns, and fell upon the face of the laager held
by the 57th and 91st. Here they were as hotly
received as they had been by the 60th. Notwith-
standing the deadly fire, the Zulus pressed forward
with noble courage. They had ceased to shout now,
and seemed only anxious to reach the square. Four


The Young Colonists.
"5
times they rushed forward; each time they fell back
with terrible loss. The fire of the soldiers was assisted
by that of the native contingent, who, posted in the
waggons behind, added their fire to that of the 91st
and 57th.
The last attack was led by Dabulamanzi in per-
son, and arrived within five yards of the muzzles
of the men's rifles; indeed one or two of the chiefs
actually seized the hot barrels with one hand, while
they stabbed at the men with their shortened
assegais.
This was their final repulse, and they now began to
fall back. The moment that they did so, the cavalry
dashed out in pursuit, and chased them far across the
plain. The gatlings and 9-pounders added in no
slight degree to the effect of the rifles. The entire
English loss was but two officers and four privates
killed, and three officers and thirty-four privates
wounded ; while the Zulu loss exceeded 1000. The
force under Dabulamanzi was about 11,000, and a
similar force was close at hand, but fortunately had
not joined that of Dabulamanzi before he attacked the
British.
On the following day the 57th, 60th, and 91st,
together with the mounted men and several of the
mounted brigade, taking with them three days' provi-
sions, marched for Ekowe. Major Barrow scouted the
ground, and reported that everywhere assegais, shields,
feathers, ear and head ornaments, skins, furs, blankets,
and even guns were lying about in confusion,
1 2


116 The Young Colonists.
evidently cast away in their headlong flight by the
Zulus, but that none of these had been seen.
The column, however, advanced with every precau-
tion, as it was possible that Dabulamanzi might pro-
cure reinforcements. No enemy, however, was met
with, and the column continued its march until they
were met by Colonel Pearson with 500 men, coming
out to lend a hand to them in case they should be
attacked. The united column then marched into
Ekowe. The health of the garrison had suffered
much from exposure to the sun and rain, and from
the want of vegetables and useful medicine. Beef
they had plenty of, as it was considered advisable
to kill and consume the waggon-oxen rather than see
them die from want of forage.
The great event of the siege had been the discovery
of certain strange flashes of light on the white walls
of the church-tower; these, after puzzling many of the
officers and soldiers, were at length brought under
the notice of an officer of the naval brigade, who had
been trained in the use of the heliograph, and he was
able at once to explain the mystery. They were
three days before they could contrive an apparatus,
which could be worked, to reply. Fortunately an old
mirror was found, and communication was opened.
The effect of their renewed intercourse with the outer
world, and of learning the preparations which were
being made for their relief, acted more beneficially on
the health of the imprisoned garrison than all the
tonics the hospital could afford. Nevertheless between


The Young Colonists.
117
the commencement of the siege and the arrival of the
relief thirty deaths had occurred.
To the great regret of the garrison they found that
it had been determined by the general to abandon the
fort which they had held so long, as the whole force
was required in Natal for operations in the field
in conjunction with the reinforcements on their way
out. Before leaving, however, it was determined to
strike another blow at Dabulamanzi, whose private
residence had escaped at the time that his kraal
was burnt. A small party of about 200 men there-
fore went out and fired the place without resistance.
Ekowe was evacuated, and, having left a garrison
at Ginghilovo, Lord Chelmsford retired with his force
across the Tugela.
Every day for the next fortnight news reached
Newcastle of the arrival of one or more transports
with reinforcements, and in a month from the date of
the arrival of the first from England, seventeen
transports came in, bringing more than 9000 soldiers
and 2000 horses. The force consisted of two regi-
ments of cavalry, 1250 sabres, two batteries of artil-
lery with 540 men, 190 men of the Royal Engineers,
six regiments of infantry, 5320 bayonets, draughts
of the regiments already in the colony and Army
Service Corps' men, 1200. Most of the regiments
brought their equipments complete and ready for the
field—tents, waterproof-sheets, cooking utensils, and
camp stores. The Army Service Corps brought with
them 100 light but strongly-built waggons.


The Young Colonists. 119
Having thus decided, Mr. Humphreys and his friend
succeeded in obtaining their wives' consent to the
boys accompanying the waggons, and in high glee
they started for Durban on the 20th of April.
The campaign was arranged on a new plan.
The numerous columns in which the strength of the
force had been frittered away were abolished, and the
following was adopted as the designation of the forces
in the field, under the lieutenant-general commanding,
viz.:—1st Division South African Field-forces, Major-
General Crealock, C.B., commanding, consisting of all
troops on the left bank of the Lower Tugela; 2nd
Division South African Field-forces, Major-General
Newdigate commanding, consisting of all troops in
the Utrecht district other than those attached to the
Flying Column under Brigadier-General Wood, V.C.,
C.B., which was designated as "Brigadier-General
Wood's Flying Column." Major-General Marshall
assumed command of the cavalry brigade, and Major-
General the Hon. H. H. Clifford, C.B., V.C., took
up the command of the base of operations and
superintendence of the lines of communication.
The forces were divided as follows :—
First Division (General Crealock's),
Lower Tugela Command.
Naval Brigade 800
M. Battery, 6th Brigade, Royal
Artillery 90
Detachment, 11-7th Royal Artillery. 25
2.3rd Regiment 836


120
The Young Colonists.
57th Regiment 830
3-6oth , 880
88th „ 640
91st „ 850
99th „ 870
Mounted Infantry, 2nd Squadron . 70
Army Service Corps .... 50
Army Hospital Corps . . 20
Royal Engineers . . . .150
8-7th Royal Artillery ... 80
0-6th „ .... SO
Lonsdale's Horse .... 84
Cooke's Horse 78
Colonial Volunteers .... 105
Native Contingent:—
Foot 2556
Mounted 151
Total strength, effective and non-
effective 9215
Second Division (General Newdigate's.)
1st Dragoon-Guards \ attached to . 650
17th Lancers j 2nd Division . 626
N-5th Royal Artillery ... 76
N-6th „ .... 80
io-7th „ .... 70
io-6th „ .... 30
Royal Engineers .... 60
2-4th Regiment 790
Detachment, i-i3th Regiment . . 63
2-21st (two companies at Maritzburg) 820


The Young Colonists. 121
i-24th Regiment ....
530
2-24th „
586
58th (one company at Durban).
906
80th (several companies in the Trans-
300
94th (one company at Grey Town) .
870
Army Service Corps ....
60
Army Hospital Corps
30
Grey Town District Colonial Volun-
139
Natal Mounted Police
75
Natal Carabineers .
27
Newcastle Mounted Rifles
18
Buffalo Mounted Guard
20
Native Contingent:—
4i
3128
Natives (mounted).
243
Total strength, effective and non-
10,238
General Wood's Flying Column.
11-7th Royal Artillery
87
Royal Engineers ,
13
1-13r.l1 Regiment .
721
90th „ .
823
1st Squadron, Mounted Infantry
103
Army Service Corps .
9
Army Hospital Corps
13
Frontier, Light Horse
173


122 The Young Colonists.
Baker's Horse 179
Transvaal Rangers .... 141
1st Battalion, Wood's Irregulars:—
Europeans . . . . . 14
Natives 377
2nd Battalion, Wood's Irregulars :—
Europeans 5
Natives 355
Natal Native Horse :—
Europeans 4
Natives 75
Total strength, effective and non-
effective 3092
Grand Total.
1st Division ;9215
2nd „ 10,238
General Wood's Flying Column . 3092
Total, effective and non-effective : namely,
Europeans, 15,660, and natives,
6885 22,545
Out of this grand total there were about 400 sick
and non-effective with the lit Division, 300 with the
2nd Division, and 600 (including some of Wood's
Irregulars, absent and not accounted for since the
28th of March) with Wood's Flying Column. So that
altogether, deducting, say, 1500, Lord Chelmsford
had at his disposal, from the middle of April, a total
of 21,000 troops, of which over 15,000 were European.
Colonels Pearson and Wood were made brigadier-
generals, and the former was to command No. I


The Young Colonists.
123
Brigade, 1st Division, and Colonel Pemberton, 3-6oth,
the other. They both, however, had to give up their
commands through sickness, and Colonels Rowland,
V.C., C.B., and Clark, 57th Regiment, succeeded them.
Major-General Clifford, V.C., C.B., had the following
staff for the management of the base of the opera-
tions and the maintenance of the lines of communi-
cation between Zululand and Natal:—
Lieutenant Westmacott, 77th Foot, aide-de-camp;
Major W. J. Butler, C.B., assistant-adjutant and quar-
termaster-general, stationed at Durban; and Captain
W. R. Fox, Royal Artillery, deputy assistant-adjutant
and quartermaster-general.
On the arrival of the boys with the waggons at
Pieter-Maritzburg, they reported themselves at the
headquarters of the transport corps, and were told
that they were not to go down to Durban, but were to
load up at once and accompany the Dragoon-Guards,
who were to march the next morning for the front.
This time the lads were mounted, as their fathers
thought that they would gain more benefit from their
experience if they were able to move about instead
of being confined to the sides of their waggons, and it
was a satisfaction to their mothers that, in case of
any untoward event again happening, they would be
in a better position for making their escape.
General Newdigate's columns were encamped at
Landmann's Drift; the cavalry, under General
Marshall, was also there. The march was altogether
without incident.
Some days passed quietly, when a small party of


124
The Young Colonists.
horse made an expedition to Isandula ; they reported
that nearly a hundred waggons were still standing upon
the field of battle. On the 17th of May, three days
later, the rumour ran through the camp that the
cavalry were to start on the 19th, to bury the dead
and bring away the waggons. The Army Service
Corps and waggons were to accompany the party,
which was to consist of the Dragoon-Guards
and Lancers, with a party of native mounted
scouts.
In the afternoon of the 18th the two boys went to
Colonel Marshall's tent; they waited patiently until
he came out, accompanied by two or three other
officers.
"We have come to ask, sir, if you will allow us to
go with your column. We are in charge of waggons
here, but they are not going. We were at the battle,
and saw the whole thing, and were taken prisoners
afterwards and carried to Umbelleni's kraal, where we
were liberated when Colonel Wood's cavalry attacked
the Zlobani hill. We are well mounted, sir, and are
good shots; so, if you will let us go, we could keep
with the scouts and not be in your way."
"How did you see the fight?" General Marshall
asked.
"We had gone up to the top of the hill, sir, before
it began, and fortunately the natives did not notice
us."
"Oh, yes, you can go," the general said. "Pro-
bably you can give us a better account of the action
than any one else, as others who escaped were occupied


The Young Colonists.
125
by their own business, and could not mark the general
progress of the battle. So you were taken prisoners!
Well, I am going out now, but if you will call in this
evening at about half-past eight, I shall be glad to have
a talk with you."
In the evening the boys called upon the general,
one of the most popular and dashing officers in the
service. Three or four of his staff were there, and all
listened with great interest to the boys' account of
their adventures.
"You seem to have plenty of pluck and coolness,
youngsters," the general said, when they had finished.
"In future you need not trouble to ask for permission
to accompany me whenever the cavalry go out, provid-
ing we have natives mounted with us ; you must go as
recruits, and can either keep with them or ride with my
orderlies."
Much pleased with the permission given, the lads
returned to the waggons, and the next morning they
started on their way.
The column bivouacked that night at Dill's Town,
and reached Rorke's Drift between three and four
o'clock in the morning, and were there joined by the
Natal Carabineers and Colonel Harness, R.A., with
guns.
At daybreak on the 20th the reconnoitring force
crossed the river. No signs of the enemy were
seen until they neared Isandula; then signal-fires
blazed up on the hills to the right, and spread quickly
from hill to hill far into the interior. Pushing
steadily on, the plain of Isandula was reached by ten


126 The Young Colonists.
o'clock. The whole scene of the conflict was overgrown
with long grass, thickly intermixed with growing crops
of oats and Indian corn. Lying thickly here, and scat-
tered over a wide area, lay the corpses of the soldiers,
The site of the camp itself was marked by the
remains of the tents, intermingled with a mass of
broken trunks, boxes, meat-tins, papers, books, and
letters in wild disorder. The sole visible objects, however, rising above the grass, were the waggons, all
more or less broken up.
The scouts were placed in all directions to give
warning of the approach of any enemies. The
Army Service Corps set to work to harness the
seventy pairs of led horses they had brought
with them to the best of the waggons, and the
troops wandered over the scene of the engagement,
and searched for and buried all the bodies they
found, with the exception of those of the 24th Regi-
ment, as these, Colonel Glyn had asked, should be left
to be buried by their comrades. The bodies of the
officers of Colonel Durnford's corps were all found
together, showing that when all hope of escape was
gone they had formed in a group and defended them-
selves to the last. The men of the Royal Artillery
buried all the bodies of their slain comrades who
could be found, but the shortness of the time and the
extent of the ground over which the fight had extended
rendered anything like a thorough search impossible.
The object of the expedition was not to fight, and
as at any moment the Zulus might appear in force


The Young Colonists. 127
upon the field, a start was made as soon as the
waggons were ready. Forty of the best waggons
were brought out, with some water-carts, a gun-
limber and a rocket-battery cart. Twenty waggons
in a disabled condition were left behind. Some
seventy waggons were missing, these having been
carried off by the Zulus, filled either with stores
or with their own wounded. Having accomplished
this work the cavalry rejoined headquarters at Land-
mann's Drift.
On the 27th of May the column advanced, New-
digate's division leading the way. By two o'clock in
the afternoon the men had crossed the Buffalo and
marched to Kopje-allein through a bare and tree-
less country. One of the most popular figures in the
camp was the Prince Imperial of France, who, having
received a military education at Woolwich, and being
anxious to see service, had applied for and obtained
leave to accompany the expedition. The young prince
had been extremely popular at Woolwich, and was
indeed an immense favourite with all who knew him
—high-spirited and full of life, and yet singularly
gentle and courteous in manner. He was by nature
adapted to win the hearts of all who came in contact
with him. His abilities too were of the very highest
order, as was proved by the fact that, although suf-
fering under the disadvantage of being a foreigner,
he yet came out so high in the final examination at
Woolwich as to be entitled to a commission in the
Royal Engineers. When it is considered how keen


128
The Young Colonists.
is the competition to enter Woolwich, and that all
the students there, having won their places by com-
petitive examinations, may be said to be considerably
above the average of ability, it will be seen that, for
one who had previously gone through an entirely
. different course of education, and had now to study
in a language that was not his own, to take rank
among the foremost of these was a proof both of
exceptional ability and industry.
A splendid career was open for the young prince, for
there is little doubt that, had he lived, he would sooner
or later have mounted the throne of his father, and
there are few pages of history more sad than those
which relate to his death in a paltry skirmish in a
corner of Africa. To Englishmen the page is all the
more sad, inasmuch as, had the men accompanying
him acted with the coolness and calmness generally
shown by Englishmen in a moment of danger,
instead of being carried away by a cowardly panic,
the Prince Imperial might yet be alive.
At Kopje-allein Newdigate's column was joined
by that of General Wood. Three days were spent in
carefully exploring the country, and on the 1st of
June the division, as nearly as possible 20,000 strong,
with a baggage-train of 400 native waggons, moved
forward and encamped near the Itelezi River. The
flying column of General Wood went on one march
ahead, and the country was carefully scouted by
Buller's horse for twenty miles round, and no Zulus
were found.


The Young Colonists.
129
CHAPTER IX.
ULUNDI.
On Sunday, the 1st of June, General Wood with a
small escort was out reconnoitring in advance of his
column, which was about five miles in front of the
force of General Newdigate. The morning was clear
and fresh, the ridges of the hills on either side were
dotted with Buller's horsemen. They crossed the
river by a ford, and having ridden about another
mile forward they observed some of the vedettes on
the high ground signalling that horsemen were ap-
proaching.
Riding on to see who they could be, they were
joined by Colonel Buller and a dozen of his men,
and together they rode forward to meet the five
men who were seen approaching. In a few seconds
Lieutenant Carey and four troopers of Bettington's
Horse rode up, and when they had told their story
English soldiers had the shame and humiliation of
knowing that an English officer and four English
troopers had escaped unwounded from a Zulu
ambush, in which they had left a gallant young
prince, the guest of England and the hope of France,
to be barbarously slain.
Early in the morning the prince had learnt that a
K


The Young Colonists.
Without any search being made they sat down to
make coffee, although it was clear, from the burnt
embers, bones, and other debris, that the place had
been but recently occupied.
The Zulu was the first to see the enemy in the
long grass, and the horses were at once saddled. The
escort stood ready by them, and just as the prince
gave the word, " Prepare to mount," the Zulus' war-cry
burst out, and some guns were fired from the grass.
The horses started at the outburst, and some broke
away. Never were a body of troops in an enemy's
country so unprepared for the attack. Not a carbine
was loaded! not a sentry placed! Each of the
troopers, including the officer, was seized with a wild
panic, and thought only of flight,—one indeed had
fallen at the first shot. The prince's horse was ill-
tempered and badly broken, and, frightened by the
firing and yells, he was so restive that the prince was
unable to mount. Had one of those men stood for
an instant at'his head the prince might have gained
his saddle, but all had galloped away, leaving him
alone. Running by his horse, he in vain endeavoured
to mount; he had not had time to tighten the girth,
the saddle slipped round, and the horse galloped
away. Unfortunately the prince's revolvers were in
the holsters, so he was unarmed, save with his sword,
and with this he stood bravely at bay, and died nobly
facing his foes, who pierced him with assegais at a
distance.
According to Zulu accounts afterwards obtained,
K 2


132
The Young Colonists.
there were but five or six men engaged in the attack,
and had the Englishmen accompanying the prince, nay
even had one of them, possessed but the smallest
amount of presence of mind and courage, the Prince
Imperial might have been saved. There is no blacker
page in the annals of English- military history.
The feeling of indignation, shame, and regret in the
English camp, when this shameful episode was
known, was indescribable. Of all the party the friendly
Zulu was the only one who came out with honour; he
had gone towards the river to fetch water when he
discovered the enemy, and might have instantly taken
flight. He returned, however, and gave warning
that the Zulus were lurking round. Even then it does
not appear that he attempted to fly, but fought the
foe until overcome by numbers. His body was
afterwards discovered not far from that of the prince,
riddled with wounds, together with a number of his
own assegais broken, but stained with the blood of
his assailants.
The next morning the cavalry rode out to find and
bring in the prince's body. When it was discovered, it
was tenderly brought into camp. It was afterwards
taken over to England, and laid by the remains of his
father atChislehurst. A court-martial was held on Lieu-
tenant Carey. The sentence was kept secret, but it
was generally understood that he was dismissed from
the service with ignominy. He was sent home under
arrest, but on his arrival there the proceedings of the
court-martial were declared null and void on account of


The Young Colonists.
133
some technical irregularity, and he was ordered to
resume his duties. It was reported that this extra-
ordinary leniency was shown by the special desire of
the Empress, who made a personal request to the
Queen that nothing should be done in the matter.
Early in June some messengers arrived in Lord
Chelmsford's camp from Cetewayo. Lord Chelmsford
told them that before any negotiations could be entered
into, the whole of the spoil taken at Isandula,
especially the two captured 7-pounder guns, must
be restored.
Considerable delays now took place, and for three
weeks a force of Englishmen sufficient to march
through and through Zululand in every direction was
kept doing nothing at a distance of three days' march
from the enemy's capital. So extraordinary and un-
accountable was the delay that the English govern-
ment appointed Sir Garnet Wolseley to go out to
supersede Lord Chelmsford. Upon the receipt of this
news preparations for an advance were at last made.
On the 21st General Newdigate's column reached the
right bank of the Umlatoosi. General Crealock, who
commanded the division which was operating by the
sea, also moved forward about this time, but met with
such difficulties, owing to the sickness which attacked
his transport-train, that he was unable to co-operate
with the first division, although his force did service
by occupying a large number of the enemy, who
would otherwise have been free to act against the
main column.


*34
The Young Colonists.
Between the 24th and 26th General Newdigate's and
Wood's columns advanced but six miles. But Buller
with his horse scouted ahead, and cut up a number
of Zulus who were engaged in burning the grass, to
hinder the advance of the horses and cattle. On the
26th Colonel Drury-Lowe, with the light cavalry,
450 of Buller's men and two guns, went out and
attacked and burnt five large military kraals. On the
27th the column advanced five miles towards Ulundi,
leaving their tents behind them, and taking only
200 ammunition-waggons and ten days' rations; 500
infantry were left to guard the stores.
On the afternoon of that day some messengers came
in from Cetewayo, bringing 150 of the cattle captured
at Isandula, together with a pair of elephant's tusks,
and a letter written in English by a trader captured
at Isandula. The letter said that the king could
not comply with all Lord Chelmsford's commands,
as the arms taken from us at Isandula were not
brought to him, and that it was beyond his power
as a king to order or compel any of his regiments to
lay down their arms. He said the cannons should
be sent in, and on the receipt of the cattle and these
weapons the English must retire from Zululand. The
trader had written in a corner of the letter, in pencil, a
few words of warning, and an intimation that Cete-
wayo had with him at Ulundi a picked force of
20,000 men.
Lord Chelmsford refused to receive the tusks, and
told the messengers to inform Cetewayo, that before
he should think of retiring, all the conditions must be


The Young Colonists. 135
complied with, and the Zulu regiments lay down their
arms. Late in the evening several large bodies of
the enemy, amounting to some thousands, were
noticed moving from the direction of Ulundi, passing
by their left flank.
The next morning General Wood moved forward
as far as the left bank of the White Umvolosi, and New-
digate's column followed in the afternoon. Wood's
division bivouacked on the farther side of the river,
Newdigate's halted on the right. The most vigilant
watch was kept, with pickets in every direction, and
patrols of cavalry beyond these.
At daybreak on the 27th the main body crossed
the river, and joined Wood on the left bank. They
were now but fifteen miles from Ulundi, and the king's
five kraals were visible to the naked eye. Three days
were given to Cetewayo to comply with the conditions,
but the original terms were altered so far, that Lord
Chelmsford consented to receive 1000 captured rifles
instead of insisting upon the regiments laying down
their arms. While waiting, the army remained on the
Umvolosi, having retired to the right side, pending the
decision of peace or war.
During these three days the Zulus had made many
hostile demonstrations against us. On the first and
second they kept up a scattered fire at distant
ranges at our men, and on the third, growing bolder,
pushed their skirmishers down to the rocks on the
opposite side of the river, and fired upon the men, as
they were watering their horses in the stream. One
horse was killed and several men wounded.


136
The Young Colonists.
Buller therefore asked and obtained permission to
make a raid on the other side. A couple of guns
were brought into requisition to defend his crossing,
and two or three rounds of shrapnel sent a crowd of
Zulus, who had approached the opposite heights,
straggling in all directions. Buller's horse, the mounted
infantry, and Baker's horse dashed over the river
at once. At full speed they raced across the country;
Baker's men, guided by their leader, inclined to the
left front, by Buller's orders, to carry and hold a
hillock which commanded the ford.
Colonel Raaf, with a portion of Buller's horse, was
halted near the kraal of Unodwingo to act as a reserve,
and Buller, with 100 of his best mounted men, pushed
on with the intention of exploring the ground as far as
possible towards Ulundi. He knew that the bulk of
the king's army was awayupon Lord Chelmsford's right
flank, and thought therefore that he might push on to
Ulundi without opposition. The country consisted of a
plain, across which ran some stony undulations, and at
one point were two hollows, united at a right angle.
The Zulu general disposed his men in shelter, and as
Buller with his little band of horsemen rode up they
rose and poured a very heavy fire into the ranks of
the horsemen. Sudden and unexpected as was this
attack, Buller's men were too well used to native
fighting to evince the slightest confusion. In the most
perfect order they began to fall back in alternate ranks,
keeping up a steady fire upon the enemy, who were
eagerly advancing. Raaf and his men rode up to the


The Young Colonists.
137
assistance of the hotly-pressed party, and Baker's
horse, upon their hillock, opened a steady fire upon
the Zulus. Gradually and steadily the cavalry fell back
towards the river, the two guns on the opposite bank
aiding them by their fire of grape and shrapnel upon
the Zulus, who pressed forward with extreme bravery. Many gallant deeds were done. Lord William
Beresford, who had accompanied the party as a vo-
lunteer, distinguished himself by his bravery and cool-
ness. Seeing upon the ground a dismounted and
wounded trooper, surrounded by a dozen Zulus, he
wheeled his horse and dashed down among them,
knocking over three with the rush of his horse, and
cutting down two with right and left strokes of his
sabre; in another moment he had the wounded
man on his horse behind him, and carried him off
in safety.
Commander D'Arcy, also seeing a wounded man
on the ground, tried to carry him off, but his horse,
being restive, reared and fell back upon him, so that
the unfortunate trooper was overtaken and assegaied;
while D'Arcy, who was severely bruised by falling on
his revolver, was able to get back safely, but was
unable to take part in the next day's fight.
A little before daybreak Wood with his flying
column crossed the river, followed by the main
army. The whole of the baggage was left in
charge of the 24th, and nothing was taken, save the
ammunition and water-carts, each man carrying
four days' supply of biscuits and preserved meat in


138
The Young Colonists.
his havresack. The crossing of the river was made
without any opposition, but the movements of the
troops were watched by a party of Zulus from a
hillock on the left.
As soon as favourable ground had been reached,
Wood was signalled to halt and wait for the main body,
and when the junction was effected the order was given
to form a large hollow square. Inside this square were
two companies of engineers, together with the ammu-
nition-carts, water-carts, and ambulance waggons,
carts with intrenching tools, stretchers and bearers,
together with two gatling-guns in a reserve. The
front face of the square was formed by the 8oth
Regiment, with two gatling-guns in their centre and
two 7-pounders on their right. The right face of
the square was formed of seven companies of the 13th
Regiment. Next to these came two 7-pounder and
one 9-pounder guns; four companies of the 58th
completed the line on this side. The rear face was
composed of two companies of the 21st, and three
companies of the 94th, with a 9-pounder gun. On
the left or west flank were three companies of the 94th,
two 7-pounder guns, eight companies of the 90th,
and two 9-pounders. Buller's cavalry were away,
scouring the country on the flanks. Colonel Drury-
Lowe, with two squadrons of the 17th Lancers and
Captain Shepstone's Basutos, formed the rear-guard.
The square moved forward for a few miles, when they
began to near the smaller kraals. Towards the left
front the Zulu columns could now be seen across the
plain, with the sun glancing down upon their long lines


The Young Colonists.
139
of white shields. Upon reaching the first kraal the
square was halted while it was fired. The next kraal
was a very large one, called Unodwingo. This was also
fired; but, as it was found that the smoke drifted across
the plain so as to act as a screen to the Zulus, Lord
Chelmsford ordered its extinction. Strong columns of
the enemy could now be seen moving out in good order
from Ulundi, and the square halted on some slightly-
rising ground.
The Zulus soon opened a dropping fire on the right
front, and from a strong force operating on some
broken ground near Unodwingo on the left. By nine
o'clock the Zulu attack was fairly developed. Buller's
men then made a strong demonstration on the left,
driving the Zulus from the hollow where they were
sheltered back to the Unodwingo kraal. This move-
ment was well supported by Shepstone and the
Basutos.
The Zulus now brought up a strong reinforcement
from the right, so as to assist those engaged with
the cavalry. Buller's men fought in the Dutch fashion,
in two ranks ; the first mounted and ready to dash in a
moment upon any weak point in the enemy's line, the
second on foot, using their saddles as a rest for their
rifles. As soon as the front rank became too hardly
pressed, they cantered to the rear and dismounted and
opened fire, while the second rank mounted in readiness
to charge. Gradually Buller and Shepstone fell back,
the Zulu column pressing upon them until well
within reach of the gatlings and Martinis. The cavalry
then took refuge in the square, and over the ridges


140
The Young Colonists.
of the front and left the Zulu column with loud shouts
swept down upon the square. The British infantry now
opened fire. Gatlings and rifles poured in their deadly
hail of fire, while the guns swept the Zulu ranks with
shrapnel and grape. Terrible as the fire was, the
Zulus pressed bravely forward, filling up the gaps made
in their ranks, their wild war-cry rising even above
the roll of the rifle-fire. The fiercest attack came
from the Unodwingo kraal. Forming under cover of
the kraal, a large body, led by a chief on a white
horse, and formed in a hollow square, dashed at the
right rear angle of the British formation. Tremen-
dous as the fire was, they pressed forward until it
seemed as if they would come to close quarters with the
column ; but, brave as the Zulus were, it was impossible
to withstand the fire which the 21st, 94th, 58th,
and Royal Engineers poured into them. The square
was broken up, and after a moment's pause the Zulus
turned and sought shelter from the leaden hail.
While the fight was raging here, another Zulu
column had attacked the front; but here the assault
was speedily repulsed, the cool and steady fire of the
80th having so deadly an effect that the Zulus never
attempted to make a rush upon them. It was now
a quarter to ten—but a quarter of an hour from the
firing of the first shot, but the combat was virtually
at an end. The Zulus, astounded at the storm of fire
by which they had been received, were everywhere
wavering; Lord Chelmsford gave the order, and the
two squadrons of lancers burst from the square,






The flying Zulus were cut down in scores.


The Young Colonists. 141
greeted with a loud cheer from the infantry, and with
their pennons fluttering in the breeze, and their long
lances in rest they dashed upon the flying Zulus, and
drove them headlong into a little ravine. But flanking
this, and hidden by the long grass, half a Zulu regiment
had been posted to cover the retreat, and as the
squadrons of lancers came on a volley was poured in,
which emptied several saddles and killed Lieutenant
Wyatt-Edgell, who was leading his men. In another
moment the line of lancers dashed down upon the
Zulu ranks, and before the level line of lances the
enemy went down like grass. Shattered and broken
in an instant, the Zulus fought in stubborn knots,
stabbing at the horses, throwing themselves on the
men, and trying to dismount them.
In a melie like this the lance was useless, and the
troopers drew their swords and fought hand to hand
with the foe; and now a troop of the King's Dragoon-
Guards and Buller's horse took up the charge, and
the flying Zulus were cut down in scores before they
could gain the crest of the hill. The Zulus here
fought with far less determination than they had ex-
hibited at Kambula. There for four hours they had
striven in vain to carry General Wood's strongly-
intrenched position; here they made one great effort,
and then all was over. Their force was estimated at
23,000, and of these they lost only about 1500, of
whom at least one-third were killed in the retreat.
The battle over, the remaining kraals were burnt.
Most unfortunately, the day after the battle of


The Young Colonists.
143
war; a great portion of the troops were sent home;
the Zulu chiefs came in and surrendered with their
followers, almost to a man. Cetewayo succeeded in
concealing himself for some time, but after a long
chase he was captured by Major Marter and Lord
Gifford, and was sent a prisoner to the Cape.


The Young Colonists.
145
roads have proved heavier than I had expected, and I
have done a very long day's journey."
Mr. Humphreys at once invited the speaker to enter.
Mr. Harvey was a trader, one of those who are
in the habit of taking long expeditions far into the
interior, with his waggons laden with cotton, beads,
tower-muskets, powder, lead, and toys prized by
the natives, returning laden with ivory, ostrich
feathers, and skins. He was now about to start
upon such a journey, having stocked his waggons at
Durban.
After supper was over, the trader told many stories
of his adventures among the natives, and the profits
which were gained by such journeys.
"Generally," he said, " I go with six waggons, but
I was very unlucky last time; the tzetze-fly attacked
my animals, most of which died, and the natives took
advantage of my position to make an attack upon me.
I beat them off, but was finally obliged to pack all my
most valuable goods in one waggon, to make my way
back with it, and abandon everything else to the
natives. Now, Humphreys, why don't you join me?
You have got a waggon, and you can buy stores at
Newcastle, not of course as cheap as at the seaside,
but still cheap enough to leave a large marginal
profit on the trip."
"I cannot leave the farm," Mr. Humphreys said.
"Nor can his wife spare him, Mr. Harvey," Mrs.
Humphreys put in.
"Well, why don't you send your son, here, with the
L


146
The Young Colonists.
waggon ?" Mr. Harvey asked. "The man who gene-
rally travels with me as partner broke his leg the other
day, down at Durban, and I should be very glad of one
or two white companions. Two or three white men
together can do anything with the natives, but if there
is only one, and he happens to knock up, it goes very
hard with him."
"Well, I don't know," Mr. Humphreys said, as
Dick looked eagerly towards him; "it is a sort of
thing that wants thinking over."
"Oh ! father," Dick exclaimed excitedly, "it would
be a glorious trip, especially if Tom Jackson would go
too. I heard Mr. Jackson only yesterday say that his
draught-oxen are eating their heads off, and that he
must put them on the road to do some freighting. You
see, if Mr. Jackson did not care about going in for the
trading himself—and I know, from what he said the
other day, that his money is all employed on the farm
—you might hire his waggon for the trip. In fact
that and your own—"
"That sounds easy and satisfactory enough, Dick,"
Mr. Humphreys said, laughing; "but one does not
jump into these things in a moment. There, you
go off to bed, and I will talk the matter further over
with Mr. Harvey."
Dick went to bed in high glee. When his father
once said that he would talk a thing over, Dick felt
that the chances were very strong that he would give
in to his wishes. Mr. Humphreys was less influ-
enced by the idea of making a good trading specu-


148 The Young Colonists.
time had dressed himself, and, having saddled his
horse, was dashing at full speed across the veldt. Early
as the hour was when he arrived, Mr. Jackson was
already out in his fields. Dick soon found him, and
handed him the letter, and while he was reading it
explained in low, excited words to Tom the mission
on which he had come.
"Well, I don't know," Mr. Jackson said, when he
had finished the letter; "your father makes me a very
liberal offer, Dick, for my waggon and team for six
months, on the condition that I allow Tom to accom-
pany them, and he points out that in his opinion a
journey of this kind will be likely to develop the
boy's character and teach him many things that may
some day be of use to him. It comes upon me
suddenly, and it seems he wants the waggon and
team to be at Newcastle this evening, ready for a start
in the morning. He himself is going to ride over
there to purchase goods to freight it directly he
receives my reply. I must go in and consult with
mother before I come to any decided conclusion."
So saying he strode off towards the house.
Dick, leading his pony, walked after, by the
side of Tom, to whom he explained all he knew of
the character of the proposed journey.
"Mr. Harvey says, Tom, that of course he goes to
trade, but that at the same time he does a lot of shoot-
ing, both for the sake of the skins and for the meat for
the men. He says that he often meets with lions,
hippopotami, and sometimes elephants—sometimes
they meet with hostile natives."


The Young Colonists. 149
Altogether the expedition promised an immense
variety of adventure. The boys remained chatting out-
side the house until Mr. Jackson came to the door and
called them in.
"So you are not contented to stop at home, Dick,"
Mrs. Jackson said, "and you want to take Tom
rambling away with you again? Of course I can-
not say no, when my husband is inclined to let him
go, but I shall be terribly anxious until he is back
again."
"I wont let him get into any scrapes, Mrs. Jack-
son," Dick said confidently.
"I have no faith whatever," Mrs. Jackson said,
smiling, "in your keeping him out of scrapes, but I
do think it possible that you may get him out of
them after he is once in them. Do be careful, my boys,
for the sakes of your fathers and mothers! I know
Mr. Harvey has been making these journeys for a good
many years and has always got back safely, and I have
great faith in his experience and knowledge,—but
there, Dick, I must not keep you. Here is my husband
with an answer to your father's letter, and as you will
have lots to do, and your father will be waiting for
this letter before he starts for Newcastle, you had
better ride off at once. Good-bye, my boy, for I
shan't see you again before you start. I trust that
you will come back safe and well."
Two minutes later Dick was again galloping
across the country, arriving home in time for break-
fast.
Mrs. Humphreys was in better spirits than Dick


The Young Colonists.
had feared he should find her; but her health had
improved immensely since her arrival in the colony,
and she was more active and energetic than Dick
ever remembered her to have been. She was able
therefore to take a far more cheerful view of the pro-
posed expedition than she could have done the year
before, and her husband had had comparatively little
difficulty in obtaining her consent to Dick's accom-
panying Mr. Harvey.
"Your father thinks that it will be for your good,
my boy," she said, "and I have no doubt that you
will enjoy yourself greatly,—but be sure to be
careful, and don't let your high spirits get you
into scrapes;—remember how valuable your life is
to us!"
"While you are away, Dick," his father said, " you
will remember that you are absolutely under Mr.
Harvey's orders. Asthe head of the expedition he
stands in the positi on of the master, and he must receive
ready and explicit obedience from all. He is not a
man unnecessarily to curb or check you, and you may
be sure that he will not restrain you unless for the
good of the expedition. You must beware how far
you stray from the caravan; the country you are
going to is very different from this. Here, go where
you will, you are sure in a short time to come upon
some farmhouse, where you may get directions as to
your way. There, once lost, it is upon yourself alone
you must depend to recover the track. The beasts of
prey are formidable opponents, and a lion or an


The Young Colonists.
elephant wounded, but not killed, could rend you into
pieces in a moment; therefore you must be prudent
as well as brave, obedient as well as enterprising.
You have already shown that you have plenty of
presence of mind, as well as of courage, and in nine
cases out of ten the former quality is even the more
necessary in a country such as that you are now
going to. Courage will not avail you when a
wounded leopard is charging down upon you, and
your rifle is already discharged, but presence of mind
may point out some means of escape from the danger.
And now, if you have finished breakfast, you had
better ride over with me to Newcastle—I have a very
large number of goods to buy. Mr. Harvey, who went
on the first thing, will meet me there and show me
the kind of goods most likely to take with the natives;
it will be well that you should not only know the price
of each article, but that you should see everything
packed, so as to know the contents of each bale by its
shape and markings—a matter which may save you
much trouble when you begin to trade."
The shopping did not take up so long a time as
Mr. Humphreys had anticipated; the large store-
keepers all kept precisely the kind of goods required,
as they were in the habit of selling to the Boers for
barter with the natives.
In the afternoon the waggon was sent away, and
an hour before daybreak next morning Dick, having
bade farewell to his mother, started with Mr.
Humphreys.


The Young Colonists. 153
dying, a baby of only a few months old. Among
savage people infants who are in any way deformed
are generally deserted and left to perish, and this
was the fate evidently intended for the child when the
mother became convinced he would not grow up tall
and straight, like other men. Mr. Harvey had picked
it up, fed and cared for it, and it grew up full of a
passionate attachment for him, following him every-
where, and ready at any moment to give his life for
him. He was called Tony, and spoke English as
fluently as the native language.
The third of the hunters was a tall, slight figure,
a man of about five and thirty, with muscles like
whipcord, who could, if it were needed, go for 100 miles
without a halt, and tire out the swiftest horse. In
addition to these were ten natives, who assisted with
the cattle, pitched the tent, cooked and skinned the
game, and did other odd jobs.
The road was fairly good, and two days after leav-
ing Newcastle they arrived at Standerton, a rising
place, inhabited principally by English traders and
shopkeepers. Here three roads branched: the one
led to Utrecht on the east; another to Pretoria, the
capital, to the north-west; while the third, a track
much less used than the others, led due north. This
was the one followed by the caravan.
As they proceeded, the Dutch farmhouses became
more sparsely sprinkled over the country, and several
large native kraals were passed. Over the wide
plains large herds of deer roamed almost unmolested,


154 The Young Colonists,
and the lads had no difficulty in keeping the caravan
well supplied with provisions. One or two of the
Kaffirs generally accompanied them, to carry in the
game; but Mr. Harvey and the three hunters, accus-
tomed to more exciting sport, kept along with the
caravan, the former well content that the lads
should amuse themselves with furnishing food for the
party.
At Newcastle Mr. Humphreys had purchased a
couple of small pocket-compasses, one for each of the
boys, and the possession of these gave them great
confidence, as, with their guidance, they were always
enabled to strike the trail of the caravan.
The road had now altogether ceased, and they were
travelling across a bare, undulating country, dotted
occasionally by herds and flocks of Dutch settlers,
and by the herds of wandering deer, but unbroken
by a tree of any size, and for the most part covered
with tall grass. The deer met with were for the
most part antelopes of one or other of three kinds,
all of which abound on the higher plains. These are
known as the "wilde-beest," the " bless-buck," and
the " spring-buck."
The venison which these creatures afforded was
occasionally varied by the flesh of the "stump-pig,"
which abounded in considerable numbers, and, as
they ran at a great speed, afforded the boys many a
good chase.
Generally the caravan halted for the night—while
they were still in a country occupied here and there by


156
The Young Colonists.
such splendid marksmen that, while riding at full
speed, they can, with almost absolute certainty,
bring down an antelope at a distance of 150
yards.
But the abodes of the Boers, and their manner of
living, impressed the boys far less favourably. How-
ever extensive the possessions and numerous the
herds of a Boer, he lives in the same primitive style
as his poorest neighbour. The houses seldom contain
more than two, or at most three, rooms. The dress
of the farmer, wife, and family is no better than that
of labourers; whole families sleep in one room ; books
are almost unknown in their houses, and they are
ignorant and prejudiced to an extreme degree. Upon
his horse and his gun the Boer will spend money
freely, but for all other purposes he is thrifty and
close-fisted in the extreme. Water is regarded as
useful for drinking purposes, but its utility for
matters of personal cleanliness is generally altogether
ignored. Almost all sleep in their clothes, and a
shake and a stretch suffice for the morning toilet.
The power of a Boer over his sons and daughters
is most unlimited, and he is the hardest and cruellest
of masters to the unfortunate natives whom he keeps
in slavery under the title of indentured apprentices, and
whose lives he regards as of no more importance than
those of his sheep, and as of infinitely less consequence
than those of his horses or even of his dogs. To the
unhappy natives the taking over of the Transvaal
by England had been a blessing of the highest kind.


The Young Colonists.
157
For the first time the shooting of them in cold blood
had come to be considered a crime, and ordinances
had been issued against slavery, which, although
generally evaded by the Boers, still promised a happy
state of things in the future.
At the native kraals the travellers were always
welcomed when it was known that they were English.
The natives looked to Queen Victoria as a sort of
guardian angel, and not a thought entered their heads
that they would ere long be cruelly and basely aban-
doned to the mercies of the Dutch by the govern-
ment of England.
Slowly and without incident the caravan made
its way north, and at last encamped upon the banks
of the great river Limpopo, the northern boundary of
the Transvaal. This river was too wide and deep to
be forded, but at the spot where they had struck it,
there was a large native kraal. Here Mr. Harvey,
who had many times before followed the same route
to this spot, was warmly welcomed, and preparations
were made for effecting a crossing. The oxen were
first taken across; these were steered by ropes
attached to their horns and fastened to a canoe, which
paddled ahead of them. The beasts were delighted
to enter the water after their long dusty journey, and
most of them, after reaching the opposite bank, lay
down for a long time in the shallow water at the
edge. Most of the stores were carried across in
canoes. Inflated skins were then fastened to the
waggons, and these also were towed across the stream


158
The Young Colonists.
by canoes. The passage had commenced at early
morning, and by nightfall the whole of the caravan
and its contents were safely across the stream.
"We are now," Mr. Harvey said, "in the Matabele
country; the natives are for the most part friendly,
as they know the advantage they derive from the
coming of English traders, but there are portions of
the tribe altogether hostile to us, and the greatest
caution and care have to be exercised in passing
through some portions of the country. To the east
lies a land said to be very rich in gold, and there
can be little doubt that it is so, for we frequently find
natives who have traded with that country in posses-
sion of gold-dust, but they allow no white men to
pass their frontier on any pretext whatever. They
have become aware in some way how great is the
value of gold in the eyes of Europeans, and fear that if
the wealth of the country in that metal were but known
a vast emigration of Europeans would take place, which
would assuredly sooner or later end in the driving
out or extirpation of the present inhabitants of the
land."
The news which they had learned at the village
where they had crossed, of the state of affairs among
the tribes of the north, was not encouraging. The
natives said that there had been much fighting. Not
only had eruptions taken place with tribes still further
north, but the Matabele had also been quarrelling
among themselves.
"This is bad news indeed," Mr. Harvey said ; " these


The Young Colonists.
159
tribal wars make journeying very difficult; for,
although none of the tribes may be hostile to Euro-
peans at ordinary times, they view them with distrust
when coming from a tribe with whom they are at war.
In peace-time, too, when each section of the tribe is
under some sort of control by the head chief, each
will hesitate to rob or attack an European caravan,
because the whole would consider themselves aggrieved
and injured by such a proceeding. In war-time, on
the other hand, each thinks,' If we do not rob this rich
caravan some one else is sure to do so; we may as
well have the plunder as another.' War is injurious to
us in other ways; instead of the tribes spending
their time in hunting, they remain at home to guard
their villages and women, and we shall find but little
ivory and few ostrich feathers gathered to trade for
our goods. I had not intended to have encumbered
myself with a larger following, but I think, after what
I have heard, it will be wise to strengthen our party
before going further. I will therefore hire twenty
men from the village here to accompany us; they
will be useful in hunting, and will cost but little ; their
wages are nominal, and we shall have no difficulty
in providing them with food with our rifles. In one
respect they are more useful than men hired from
time to time from among the people farther north for
the purpose of driving game, for, as you see, many of
them carry guns, while beyond the river they arc
armed only with bows and arrows."
"I am surprised to see so many guns," Dick said;


16o The Young Colonists.
"where could these people have got the money to buy
them?"
"It is the result of a very bad system," Mr. Harvey
replied. "The Cape authorities, in spite of all the repre-
sentations which have been made to them, of the ex-
treme danger of allowing the natives to possess firearms,
allow their importation and sale to them, simply on
account of the revenue which they derive from it, as a
duty of a pound is charged on each gun imported into
the colony. From all parts of South Africa the natives,
Pondos, Basutos, Zulus, and other Kaffirs, go to the
diamond-fields and work there for months; when
their earnings suffice to enable them to buy a gun,
a stock of ammunition, and a blanket, they return
to their homes. All these fellows you see carrying
guns have served their six or eight months in the
diamond-mines; a dozen of them would be a strong
reinforcement to our fighting power, in case of an
attack."
There was no difficulty in engaging the required
number of men. Each was to be paid on the con-
clusion of the journey with a certain quantity of
powder and lead, a few yards of cotton, some beads
and other cheap trinkets, and was to be fed on the
journey. Thus reinforced the caravan proceeded on
its way.


The Young Colonists.
161
CHAPTER XI.
A TROOP OF LIONS.
THE country across which the waggons now made
their way differed somewhat from that over which
they had previously passed; it was not so undulating,
and the herbage was shorter and more scanty; the
soil was for the most part sandy; trees were much
more abundant, and sometimes there were thick
growths of jungle. Even before leaving the Transvaal
they had at night often heard the roar of lions, but
these had not approached the camp.
"We must look out for lions to-night," Mr. Harvey
said, when the caravan encamped near a large pool
which in the wet season formed part of a river, and was
now for the most part dry. "We must laager our
waggons, and get as many cattle inside as we can,
and must keep the rest close together, with fires in
readiness to light in case of an attack."
"But surely the lions would never venture to attack
so large a party ?" Dick said in surprise.
"They will indeed," Mr. Harvey answered. "These
brutes often hunt together, as many as twenty or
thirty; they are nothing like such powerful beasts as
the North African lions, but they are formidable
enough, and the less we see of them the better. But
there are numerous prints on the sand near the water,
M


162 The Young Colonists.
and probably large numbers of them are in the habit
of coming to this pool to drink, I expect therefore
that we shall have a stirring night."
As soon as the oxen were unyoked, they were
driven a short distance out to pasture. Five or six of
the natives looked after them, while the remainder set
to work to gather sticks and dried wood for the fires.
"I think," Tom said, "that I will go and have a
bathe in the pool."
"You will do no such thing," Mr. Harvey remarked;
"the chances are that there are half a dozen alligators
in that pool—it is just the sort of place in which they
lurk, for they find no difficulty in occasionally taking
a deer or a wild hog, as he comes down to quench his
thirst. There! don't you see something projecting
above the water on the other side of the pool?"
"I see a bit of rough wood, that looks as if it were
the top of a log underneath the water."
"Well, just watch it," Mr. Harvey said, as he took
aim with his rifle.
He fired ; the water instantly heaved and whirled at
the spot the boy was watching; the supposed log rose
higher out of the water, and then plunged down again;
five or six feet of a long tail lashed the water and
then disappeared, but the eddies on the surface
showed that there was a violent agitation going on
underneath it.
"What do you think of your log now ?" Mr. Harvey
asked, smiling.
"Why, it was an alligator," Tom said. "Who would


The Young Colonists.
165
By ten o'clock the roaring had approached so
closely that Mr. Harvey thought that it was time to
prepare for the defence; he took post at one side of
the square, and placed the boys and Jumbo at the
other three; Tony and the other hunter were to
keep outside the cattle, and walk round and round.
The armed natives were scattered round the square.
The drivers and cattle-men were to move about
among the animals, and do their best to pacify
them, for already a perfect panic had seized upon
the draught-cattle, and with starting eyes and coats
ruffled by fear they were tugging and straining at
their ropes.
"Quiet, you silly beasts," Dick said, leaning out of
the waggon in which he had taken his place; "youare
safer where you are than you would be anywhere else.
If you got away and bolted out into the plain, as
you want to do, you would be pulled down and killed
in no time."
The fires were now blazing brightly, throwing a
wide circle of light round the camp and making visible
every object within fifty yards.
It had been arranged that so long as the lions kept
at a distance and only approached singly the
defenders of the various faces of the square should
retain their positions; but that, should a formidable
attack be made upon any one side, the white men
with two of the natives with them should hasten to
the point attacked.
Several times, as Dick stood in the waggon, rifle in


166 The Young Colonists.
hand, straining his eyes at the darkness, he fancied he
saw indistinct shadowy forms moving at the edge of
the circle of light. Two or three times he raised his
rifle to take aim, but the objects were so indistinct
that he doubted whether his fancy had not deceived
him.
Presently the crack of Mr. Harvey's rifle was heard,
followed by a roar of a sharper and more angry nature
than thosewhichhad preceded it. As if a signalhadbeen
given, three or four creatures came with great bounds
out of the darkness towards the side where Dick was
posted. Taking a steady aim, he fired. Tony, who was
outside with the cattle on that side of the square, did the
same. The other natives had been ordered to retain
their fire until the lions were close enough to ensure each
shot telling. The lion at which Dick had aimed paused
for a moment with a terrific roar, and then bounded
forward again. When he came within twenty yards of
the oxen, the four natives posted by Dick's side fired.
The lion for a moment fell; then, gathering itself
together, it sprang on to the back of a bullock, just
in front of where Dick was standing. The lad had a
second rifle in readiness, and leaning forward he
placed the muzzle within two yards of the lion's
head and fired. The animal rolled off the back of the
bullock, who, with the one standing next to him, at
once began to kick at it, endeavouring to get their
heads round to gore it with their horns. The lion,
however, lay unmoved; Dick's last shot had been
fatal.


The Young Colonists. 167
The other lions on this side had bounded back
into the darkness. From the other sides of the square
the sound of firing proclaimed that similar attacks
had been made; but, as there was no summons for
aid, Dick supposed that the attacks were isolated ones,
and so, after recharging his rifles, he remained quietly
at his post.
For some hours the attack was not renewed, though
the continuous roaring showed that the lions were
still close at hand. Mr. Harvey went round and
advised the boys to lie down at their posts and get a
little sleep, as the natives would keep watch.
"I don't think we have done with them yet," he
said; "we have killed three, but I think, by the roar-
ing, the number has considerably increased within
the last hour. It is probable that an attack will be
made an hour or so before daybreak, and I expect it
will be in earnest next time."
Dick accordingly lay down to sleep, but he was too
excited to close his eyes.
After a long time it seemed to him that the roaring
was dying away, and a drowsiness was stealing over
him, when suddenly Mr. Harvey's rifle was heard,
and he shouted,—
"To this side—quick! they are upon us."
Dick,Tom,andJumbo,with the six natives,leaptfrom
the waggons, and, running across the little enclosure,
scrambled up into those on the other side. There was
a momentary silence here, the whole of the defendants
having discharged their pieces, and a number of lions


The Young Colonists.
bounding across the open were already close to the
cattle.
The new-comers at once opened fire. Two or three
of the lions sprang among the cattle; but the rest,
intimidated by the noise and flash of the guns, and
by the yelling and shouting of the natives, turned and
made off again. Those among the cattle were soon
disposed of, but not before they had killed three of
the draught-oxen and seriously torn two others.
The roaring continued until daybreak, gradually, however, growing fainter and more distant, and it was
evident that the attack had ceased.
"Are their skins worth anything?" Dick asked.
"Yes, they are worth a few dollars apiece, except
in the case of old lions, who are apt to become mangy,
and these are not worth skinning. We have killed
eight of them, but their skins will not be worth any-
thing like so much as the cattle they have killed ; how-
ever, it is well that it is no worse. An attack by these
troops of lions is no joke; they are by far the most
formidable animals of South Africa. I don't say that
an attack by a herd of wild elephants would not be
more serious, but I never heard of such a thing
taking place. They are timid creatures, and easily
scared, and except in the case of wounded animals or
of solitary bulls they can scarcely be considered as
dangerous."
When day broke, the natives set to work to skin
the lions, with the exception of one whose skin was
valueless. As soon as the operation was completed,



The new comers at once opened fire.





The Young Colonists. 169
the skins were packed in the waggons, the oxen were
inspanned, and the caravan proceeded on its way, all
being glad to leave so dangerous a locality.
The next evening they encamped upon a river, and
the night passed without interruption. The following
morning, just as they were about to start, Tony, who
with the other hunters had gone out at daybreak,
returned with the news that he had found the spoor
of elephants, and that he believed a herd had passed
along only a few hours before.
Mr. Harvey at once decided to halt where he was
for another day. The oxen were again unyoked, and
six of the armed natives having been left to guard
the camp, under the direction of Jumbo, the whole of
the rest, with the white men, set off in pursuit of the
elephants.
The spoor was quite distinct, and even had this
failed, there would have been no difficulty in following
the track, for there were scattered here and there trees,
and the elephants in passing had broken off many
boughs, which, stripped of their leaves, lay upon the
ground they had traversed.
Tony and the other hunter, whose name was
Blacking, a sobriquet gained from the extreme
swarthiness of his skin, scouted ahead, and pre-
sently held up their hands to those following them
to advance quietly. The trees were very thick here,
and Mr. Harvey and the boys dismounted and
led their horses to the spot where the hunters had
halted. They were standing at the edge of a large


I/O
The Young Colonists.
circular clearing, three quarters of a mile in diameter;
it had probably at one time been the site of a native
village, for there were signs of cultivation, and a num-
ber of scattered heads of maize rose here and there, the
descendants of a bygone mealy plantation. Feeding
upon these were a herd of some twenty elephants; of
these the greater portion were females or young ones,
but there were three fine males—one, a beast of
unusual size.
"That is the master of the herd," Mr. Harvey said,
"a savage-looking old customer; he has a splendid
pair of tusks, although the tip of one," he added,
gazing at the elephant through his field-glass, "is
broken off. I think that for the present we will leave
him alone, and direct our attention to the other two
males. I will take Tom and Jumbo with me; you,
Dick, shall have Tony and Blacking. Three of the
natives shall go with each party, but you must not
rely upon them much; and, remember, the one
fatal spot is the forehead. Fasten your horses up
here, and leave two of the natives in charge. Let
the other six go round to the opposite side of
the clearing and advance slowly from that direc-
tion, showing themselves occasionally, so as to draw
the attention of the herd towards them. The ele-
phants will probably move leisurely in this direction.
Take your station behind trees, moving your position
carefully as they approach, so as to place yourselves
as near as possible in the line of the elephant you
have fixed on. We will take up our station a hundred


The Young Colonists. 171
yards to the right of where we are standing; do you
go as far to the left. The natives will take the horses
into a thicket some distance in the rear. Which-
ever of the two young male elephants comes nearest
to you is your mark, ours is the other. If they keep
near each other, we shall probably meet again here."
The two parties moved off to the places assigned
to them, and the natives whose duty it was to drive
the elephants started to their positions. Keeping
some little distance back among the trees, so that
they could observe the movements of the elephants,
while themselves unseen, Dick and his party moved
to the spot indicated, and then sat down.
For three quarters of an hour the elephants con-
tinued to feed upon the heads of maize; then the
big male suddenly wheeled round, extended his great
cars, lifted his trunk, and trumpeted. At this signal
the others all gathered together, and stood gazing in
the direction from which danger threatened. Again
the old bull gave an angry scream. The others
moved slowly away from the danger, but he ad-
vanced in the direction in which he had seen the
natives.
"Very bad elephant that," Tony whispered to
Dick; "he give heaps of trouble; you see him
charge."
A minute or two later the elephant, catching sight
of his enemies, quickened his pace, and with his
little tail switching angrily, uplifted trunk, and wide-
spread ears, he charged down upon them at a pace of


172 The Young Colonists.
which Dick had not supposed so cumbersome a beast
would be capable.
In a moment the distant natives were seen to rise
from the grass and to run at full speed back towards the
wood. The elephant pursued them until he reached
the trees; here he halted, and gazed for some time into
the wood. Then seeing no signs of the natives—
for these knew better than to provoke so vicious a
beast by firing at him—he trumpeted defiantly, and
slowly retraced his steps towards the rest of the
herd. These, led by the two males, were already
approaching the trees behind which Dick and his
party were lying concealed. Before they had arrived
there Mr. Harvey and his party came up.
Dick and Tom were both carrying heavy smooth-bore
guns, similar to those used by the Boers. These their
fathers had purchased at Newcastle on the day of
their start; they were old weapons, but very strong and
serviceable; they carried a heavy charge of powder
and a large ball, of a mixture of lead and tin, specially
made for elephant-shooting.
"Dick fire first," Blacking whispered in his ear;
"if he not kill him, then the rest of us fire."
Dick was lying down behind the trunk of a tree,
his rifle steadied against it; when the elephant was
within a distance of twenty yards he fired, taking
steady aim at the vital point. The recoil of the piece
was tremendous, and the roar of its report almost
stunned him; he gave, however, a shout of delight,
for the elephant stood for half a minute swaying


The Young Colonists.
'73
from side to side, and then fell heavily upon the
ground.
Mr. Harvey had given Tom the first shot at the
other elephant; but, just at the moment when the lad
was about to fire, the elephant gave a sudden start at
the report of Dick's rifle, and Tom's shot struck it at
the side of the head and glancing off passed through
its ear. Throwing up its trunk, the elephant instantly
charged. Mr. Harvey fired, but the uplifted trunk
prevented his getting an accurate aim at the vital
spot. The bullet passed through the trunk, and then
glanced off the forehead. The elephant swerved
and showed its side, at which a general volley was
fired by all the guns still loaded. The great beast stood
still for an instant, stumbled forward a few strides, and
then its legs seemed to bend beneath it, and it sank
down quietly to the ground.
Just at this moment, as the affrighted cows were
turning to fly across the plain, there was a thundering
rush, and the great elephant charged through them, and
passing between the dead males dashed into the wood.
Its rush was so sudden and headlong that it carried
the elephant past the men standing behind the trees;
but it speedily checked itself, and turning round made
a rush upon them. There was an instant stampede.
Most of the natives at once threw away their guns;
some climbed hastily up into the trees against which
they were standing; others took to the bushes. The
elephant charged in after these, but seeing no
signs of them he speedily came out again and looked


174
The Young Colonists.
round for a fresh foe. His eye fell upon Dick, who
had just recharged his rifle.
"Run, Dick! run !" shouted Mr. Harvey.
But Dick saw that the elephant was upon him,
while the tree near which he was standing was too
thick to climb. The elephant was holding his head
so high that Dick could not aim at the spot on the
forehead, but, waiting until the animal was within
ten yards of him, he fired into its open mouth, and
then leapt behind the tree. With a scream of pain
the elephant rushed on, but being unable to check
himself he came full butt with tremendous force
against the tree, which quivered under the blow,
and Dick, thinking that it was going to fall upon
him, sprang back a pace. Three or four more shots
were fired before the elephant could turn, and then
wheeling round it charged upon its new assailants.
Tom was one of those nearest to him; the boy had
just discharged his rifle and advanced a few feet from
the tree behind which he had been standing. Before
he could regain it he felt something pass round him,
there was a tremendous squeeze, which stopped
his breath and seemed to press his life out of him,
then he felt himself flying high into the air, and
became insensible.
Apparently satisfied with what he had done, the
elephant continued his rapid pace into the open
again, and followed the retreating herd across the
plain.
Dick had given a cry of horror, as he saw the ele-


The Young Colonists. 175
phant seize his friend, and his heart seemed to
stand still when he saw him whirled high in the air.
Tom fell into a thick and bushy tree, and there, break-
ing through the light foliage at the top, remained
suspended in the upper boughs.
In an instant Jumbo climbed the tree, and making
his way to the lad lifted him from the fork in which
he was wedged, placed him on his shoulder as easily
as if he had been a child, and descending the tree
laid him on the ground by the side of Mr. Harvey.
The latter at once knelt beside him.
"Thank God, he is breathing!" he exclaimed at
once, "Lift his head, Dick; open his shirt, Black-
ing; and give me some water out of your gourd.
I trust he is only stunned; that brute was in such a
hurry that he had not time tc squeeze him fairly, and
the tree has broken his fall. If he had come down
to the ground from that height, it must have killed
him."
He sprinkled some water upon the lad's face and
chest, and to his and Dick's delight Tom presently
opened his eyes. He looked round in a surprised
and half-stupid way, and then made an effort to rise,
but a cry broke from him as he did so.
"Lie still, Tom," Mr. Harvey said ; "you are hurt,
but, I hope, not severely. Cut his shirt off, Dick; I
expect some of his ribs are broken."
Upon Mr. Harvey carefully feeling Tom's ribs, he
found, as he had expected, that five of them were
broken—three on one side and two on the other.


The Young Colonists.
177
CHAPTER XII.
AN ATTACK BY ELEPHANTS.
A LITTER was speedily constructed from some
boughs of trees, and Tom being placed in it was at
once carried back to the camp, escorted by his friend.
The hunters remained behind to cut out the tusks of
the two elephants that had fallen. A portion of the
trunks and feet, which are considered the most delicate
portions of the elephant, was laid aside for the use of
the white men, and a large quantity of meat was
brought back to camp for the natives.
The sound of firing had brought up some people
from a small village two or three miles away, and
these to their immense joy were allowed to carry off
enough meat to enable them to feast to the utmost
extent of their ability for a week to come.
Mr. Harvey had in the course of his wanderings
frequently had occasion to dress wounds and bandage
broken bones; he was therefore able to apply the
necessary bandages to Tom, and the lad was soon
lying in comparative ease on a bed formed of rags.
Generally the boys slept in hammocks, but Mr. Harvey
insisted that Tom must lie perfectly straight on his
back until the bones had begun to set again.
"We made a sad mess with that old bull to-day,
Dick," he said. "It is humiliating to think that he
N


i ;8
The Young Colonists.
should have charged us all, injured Tom, and got
away almost unscathed."
"You see, sir," Dick said, "he attacked us un-
expectedly; our guns were all discharged, and he
came on with such a rush that there was no getting
a steady shot at him. The whole affair lasted little
more than a minute, I should say."
"I shall go out to-morrow morning," Mr. Harvey
said," and take up the track again, and see if I cannot
get even with the beast. There is time enough to-day,
for it is still early, but the herd will be so restless and
suspicious that there will be no getting near them,
and I should not care to face that old bull unless I
had a fair chance of killing him at the first shot. He
has a magnificent pair of tusks, and ivory sells so high
that they would be worth a good deal of trouble and
some risk to get."
"Shall I go with you, sir?"
"No, Dick, I would rather you did not. The
business will be more dangerous than usual, and I
should not like the responsibility of having you with
me. Tom had as narrow a shave yesterday as ever I
saw, and I certainly do not want two of you on my
hands."
Dick was not sorry at Mr. Harvey's decision, for
after the charge of the bull-elephant he felt just at
present he should not care about encountering an-
other. The next morning Mr. Harvey, accompanied
by the three native hunters and the greater portion of
the others, started in pursuit of the elephants.


The Young Colonists.
179
Dick, after sitting for some time with Tom, took his
gun and wandered round near the camp, shooting
birds. As the sun got high, and the heat became fiercer
and fiercer, he returned to camp, and had just
taken off his coat and sat down by the side of
Tom when he heard shouts of terror outside the
tent.
Running out to see what was the matter, he saw the
natives in a state of wild terror. They pointed across
the plain, and Dick, to his astonishment and alarm,
saw a great elephant approaching at a rapid trot, with
his trunk in the air and his ears extended to the
fullest. He recognized at once the bull which had
charged them on the previous day. The natives were
now flying in all directions. Dick shouted to them to
stand and get their muskets, but his words were un-
heeded; he ran to the tent, seized the long-bore gun
which he had carried the day before and also that
of Tom, and charged them both hastily, but coolly.
"What on earth is it all about ?" Tom asked.
"It is the elephant again, Tom; lie quiet, whatever
you do; you cannot run away, so lie just as you
are."
Then with a gun in each hand Dick ran out of the
tent again. The elephant was now but a hundred yards
away. Dick climbed into a waggon standing in the
line on which he was coming, knelt down in the bottom
and rested the muzzle on the side, standing up and
waving his arm before he did so, so as to attract the
attention of the elephant. The great beast saw him,
N 2


180 , The Young Colonists.
and trumpeting loudly came straight down at him;
Dick knelt, as steady as a rock, with the sight of the
gun upon the elephant's forehead.
When he was within twenty yards Dick drew the
trigger, and, without waiting to see the result, snatched
up and levelled the second gun. The elephant had
staggered as he was hit, and then, as with a great effort,
he pulled himself together and again moved forward,
but with a stumbling and hesitating step; taking
steady aim again, Dick fired when the elephant's trunk
was within a yard of the muzzle of his gun, and then
springing to his feet, leapt on the opposite side of the
waggon and took to his heels.
After running a few steps, he glanced back over
his shoulder, and then ceased running; the elephant
was no longer in sight above the waggon, but had
fallen an inert mass by its side.
"All right, Tom!" Dick shouted loudly; "I have
done for him."
Before going to look at the fallen elephant Dick
went to the spot where stood the piled muskets of the
natives who had fled; dropping a ramrod into
them, he found that two were loaded, and taking
these in his hands he advanced towards the elephant.
The precaution was needless; the great beast lay
dead; the two heavy balls had struck within an inch
or two of each other, and penetrated the brain. The
first would have been fatal, and the elephant
was about to fall when Dick had fired the second
time.


The Young Colonists. 181
Gradually the drivers and other natives returned to
camp with shouts of triumph. These, however, Dick
speedily silenced by a volley of abuse for their
cowardice in running away and leaving Tom to his
fate. A few minutes later Mr. Harvey galloped in
at full speed, closely followed by the swift-footed
Blacking.
"Thank God.you are safe, my boys,"Mr. Harvey said,
as heleapt from his horse. "I have had a terrible fright.
We followed the spoor to the point where they had
passed the night; here the trackers were much puzzled
by the fact that the great elephant, whose tracks were
easily distinguished from the others, seemed to have
passed the night in rushing furiously about. Numbers
of young trees had been torn up by the roots, and
great branches twisted off the larger trees. They
concluded that he must have received some wound
which had maddened him with pain. We took
up the track where the herd had moved on, but
soon found that he had separated himself from
it, and had gone off at full speed by himself. We
set off in pursuit, observing a good deal of caution,
for if he had turned, as was likely enough, and had
come upon us while in such a frantic state, we should
have had to bolt for our lives. I was thinking only of
this when I saw the hunters talking together and
gesticulating. I soon found out what was the matter.
They told me that if the elephant kept on in the line he
was taking, it would assuredly bring him in sight of the
camp, if not straight upon it. As I had no doubt


The Young Colonists.
In a week Tom was convalescent; he was still, how-
ever, very stiff and sore. A hammock was therefore
slung under the tilt of one of the waggons, the sides
were drawn up to allow of a free passage of air, and
the caravan then went forward on its journey.
For the next fortnight nothing of importance
happened; sometimes the journeys were short, some-
times extremely long, being regulated entirely by the
occurrence of water. At many of the halting-places
a good deal of trade was done, as the news of the
coming of the caravan spread far ahead of it, and
the natives for a considerable distance on each side
of the line of route came down to trade with it. They
brought with them skins of beasts and birds, small
packets of gold-dust, ostrich feathers, and occasion-
ally ivory. Mr. Harvey was well content with his
success so far.
For some time past, owing to the disturbed state of
the country and the demand for waggons occasioned
by the war, the number of traders who had made their
way north had been very small, and the natives con-
sequently were eager to buy cotton and cloth, and to get
rid of the articles which they had been accumulating
for the purpose of barter with the whites. Never
before, Mr. Harvey said, had he done so good a trade
in so short a time.
At the end of the fortnight after starting Tom was
again able to take his seat in the saddle and ride
quietly along by the side of the caravan, Mr. Harvey
warning him on no account to go above a walking


The Young Colonists.
pace at present, as a jerk or a jar might break the
newly-knit bones, and undo all the work that had
been effected.
In the meantime Dick, accompanied by one or
other of the hunters, always rode out from the line of
march, and had no difficulty in providing an ample
supply of game. He was careful, however, not to
shoot more than was required, for both he and Mr.
Harvey viewed with abhorrence the taking of life
unnecessarily, merely for the purpose of sport. He
was able, nevertheless, to kill a great many deer with-
out feeling that their flesh was wasted; for not only
were the number of mouths in the caravan large, and
their powers of eating wonderful, but the natives
who came in to trade were always glad to eat up
any surplus that remained—and indeed Mr. Harvey
found the liberal distribution of meat opened their
hearts and much facilitated trade.
Two or three days after they had left the scene of
the elephant-hunt some objects were seen far out on
the plain, which the hunters at once pronounced to be
ostriches. Dick would have started in pursuit, but
Mr. Harvey checked him.
"They can run," he said, " faster than a horse can
gallop. They can indeed be ridden down, as they
almost always run in a great circle, and the pursuit
can be taken up with fresh horses, but this is a long
business. We will send the hunters out first, to get
on the other side of them, and when they are posted
we will ride out. Going quite slowly the attention of


The Young Colonists.
the birds will be directed to us; this will give the
hunters an opportunity of creeping up on the other
side and shooting or lassoing them. If I am not
mistaken they have a good many young ones with
them—this is about the time of year when this is
usually the case. If we could catch a dozen of them,
they would be prizes, for they fetch a good sum down
in the colony, where ostrich-farming is carried on on a
large scale. They are very easily tamed, and would
soon keep with the caravan and give no trouble."
After remaining quiet for some little time, to give
the hunters time to make a wide circuit, Mr. Harvey
and Dick rode quietly forward towards the birds, who
stood on a slight swell of ground at a distance of
about half a mile, evidently watching the caravan with
great interest.
By Mr. Harvey's instructions Dick unrolled the
blanket which he always carried on his saddle, and
taking an end in each hand held it out at arm's length
on a level with the top of his head, Mr. Harvey doing
the same.
"They are silly birds," Mr. Harvey said, " and their
attention is easily caught by anything they don't
understand. Like all other wild creatures they are
afraid of man; but by holding the blankets out like
sails they do not see our outline, and cannot make out
what the strange creatures advancing towards them
can be."
At a foot-pace they advanced towards the ostriches;
these made no signs of retreat until the horsemen


The Young Colonists.
187
approached to within about seventy yards. Then
from the brow behind the birds the three hunters
suddenly rose up, and whirling the balls of their
lassoes round their heads launched them among the
ostriches. Three birds fell with the cords twisted
round their legs, and two more were shot as the startled
flock dashed off at full speed across the plain. Mr.
Harvey and Dick dropped their blankets, and started
at full gallop.
"Bring down an old bird if you can, Dick, and then
let the rest go, and give your attention to cutting off
the young ones."
Dick fired at one of the old birds, but missed; Mr.
Harvey brought one to the ground. The young
ostriches, which were but a few weeks old, soon began
to tail off in the race, and after ten minutes' riding
Mr. Harvey and Dick had the satisfaction of getting
ahead of them and turning them. A little more
driving brought the frightened creatures to a stand-
still, and most of them dropped in a squatting posi-
tion to the ground, huddled together like frightened
chickens. They were sixteen in number, but one
which had fallen and broken its leg was at once shot.
The legs of the young ostrich are extremely brittle,
and one of the troubles of the farmers who rear them
is that they so frequently break their bones and have
to be killed.
Blacking was sent off at his best speed to overtake
the caravan and bring back a dozen men with him.
The ostriches which had been lassoed had been at


The Young Colonists.
once killed by the hunters, and the feathers of the five
killed by them and of that shot by Mr. Harvey were
pulled out. Three out of the six were in splendid
plumage.
"How much are each of those feathers worth?"
Dick asked.
"Those fine white ones will fetch from i/. to i/. $s.
apiece out here—some as high as 30J. A perfect
ostrich feather, fit for a court-plume, will sell in Eng-
land for 3/. to 5/. The small, dark-coloured feathers
are worth from sixpence to one shilling apiece."
The young birds, after their wings had been tied to
their sides, were lifted and carried away, Dick being
unable to help laughing at their long legs sticking out
in front of the bearers, and at their long necks and
beaks, with which from time to time they inflicted
sharp pecks on the men who were carrying them.
When the caravan was overtaken, the birds were
placed in a waggon, and in the evening were liberated
inside the laager formed by the waggons. Some
grain was thrown to them, and they soon began to
pick this up. After this their expression was rather
one of curiosity than fear, and they exhibited no alarm
whatever when Dick, scattering some more corn, came
in and moved quietly among them. For the first few
days they were carried in a waggon, but at the end of
that time they were completely domesticated. After
the camp was formed they walked about, like barn-
door fowls, picking up any scraps of food that were
thrown to them, and indeed getting so bold as some-


The Young Colonists. 189
times to attempt to snatch it from the men's hands.
When on the march, they stalked gravely along by the
side of the waggons.
"What is the value of an ostrich ?" Dick asked Mr.
Harvey one day.
"An ostrich of about three or four months old,"
Mr. Harvey replied, "is worth from 30/. to Sol. A
full-grown cock and two hens, the stock with which
most small settlers begin ostrich-farming, are worth
from 200/. to 400/. Each hen will lay about fifty
eggs in a year, so that if only half are reared and
sold at the rate of 20/. apiece, which is a low price, at
three weeks old, there is a good profit upon them.
The young birds increase in value at the rate of about
3/. per month. The feathers are generally sold by
weight; fine plumes go from seventy to ninety to the
pound, and fetch from 40/. to 50/. The feathers of the
wild birds are worth a third more than those of the tame
ones, as they are stronger. The quantity of feathers
sold is astonishing. One firm in Port Elizabeth often
buys 10,000 pounds' weight of ostrich feathers per
week. Of course these are not all first-class plumes,
and the prices range down as low as 3/. or 50J. for the
poorest kind."
"Where do they get water out here in the desert?"
"They have no difficulty here," Mr. Harvey replied,
"for an ostrich thinks nothing of going twenty or
thirty miles; but they require to drink very seldom."
"How many feathers can be plucked from each
bird a year?"


190 The Young Colonists.
"About three quarters of a pound of first-class
feathers, besides the inferior sorts. There are now
such quantities of ostriches in the colony, that the
price of feathers has gone down materially, and
is now not so high as the figures I have given you.
The highest class feathers, however, still maintain
their price, and are likely to do so, for the demand
for feathers in Europe increases at as rapid a rate
as does the production."
"I suppose they could not be kept in England?"
Dick asked; "for there must be a splendid profit on
such farming."
"No," Mr. Harvey replied; "they want above all
things a dry climate. Warmth is of course important,
but even this is less essential than dryness. They
may be reared in England under artificial con-
ditions, but they would never grow up strong and
healthy in this way, and would no doubt be liable to
disease—besides, as even in their native country you
see that the feathers deteriorate in strength and
diminish in value in domesticated birds, there would
probably be so great a falling off in the yield and
value of feathers in birds kept under artificial con-
ditions in England that the speculation would not be
likely to pay."
"Do the hens sit on their eggs, as ordinary
hens?"
"Just the same," Mr. Harvey answered, "and very
funny they look with their long legs sticking out.
Not only does the hen sit, but the cock takes his turn


The Young Colonists.
191
at keeping the eggs warm when the mother goes out
to feed."
"I shall ask father," Dick said, "when we get back,
to arrange to take these fifteen ostriches as part of his
share of the venture; it would be great fun to see
them stalking about."
"Ah! we have not got them home yet," Mr. Harvey
replied, smiling; "we must not be too sanguine. We
have certainly begun capitally, but there is no saying
what adventures are before us yet. We have been
particularly fortunate in seeing nothing of the tzetze
fly. As you know, we have made several considerable
devours to avoid tracts of country where they are
known to prevail, still, occasionally they are met with
in unexpected places, and I have seldom made a trip
without losing some of my horses and cattle from
them."
"How is it that a fly can kill a horse? They are
not larger than our blue-bottles at home, for I saw one
in a naturalist's window in Pieter-Maritzburg."
"It is a mystery, Dick, which has not yet been
solved; there are flies in other parts of the world,
whose bite is sufficiently poisonous to raise bumps
underneath the skins of animals, but nothing ap-
proaching the tzetze in virulence. It certainly ap-
pears unaccountable that the venom of so small a
creature should be able to kill a great animal like a
horse or an ox."
"Is it found only in the south of Africa?"
"No, Dick, it extends more or less over the whole


192
The Young Colonists.
of the plateau-lands of Africa, and is almost as great
a scourge in the highlands of Egypt as it is here."
"I wonder," Dick said thoughtfully, "why the
tzetze was created; most insects are useful as sca-
vengers, or to furnish food for birds, but I cannot see
the use of a fly which is so terribly destructive as
this."
"I can't tell you, my boy," Mr. Harvey said. "That
everything, even the tzetze has a good purpose, you
may be sure, even though it is hidden from us.
Possibly, for example, it may be discovered some day
that the tzetze is an invaluable medicine for some
disease to which man is subject, just as blistering
powder is obtained from the crest-body of the
cantharides beetle. However, we must be content
to take it on trust. We must leave our descendants
something to discover, you know, Dick; for if we go
on inventing and discovering as we are doing, it is
clear that they must look out for fresh channels for
research."


194
The Young Colonists.
trees; it was not until he was close to them that he
saw three giraffes, two old ones and a young one.
They started off, as he approached, at a pace which
seemed to Dick to be slow, as well as extraordinarily
clumsy. The two old ones kept themselves between
their offspring and the pursuer, as if to shield it from
a shot. Dick, however, had no idea of firing; he only
wished to gallop up close, so as to get a nearer view
of these singular beasts, but to his astonishment
he found that, although his horse was going at its
best speed, the apparently slow-moving giraffes were
steadily gaining upon him. He could hardly at first
believe his eyes. But he was gradually tailed off, and
at last, reining in his horse, he sat in the saddle and
enjoyed a good laugh at the strange trio in front of
him, with their long, straggling legs and necks.
When he rejoined the caravan Mr. Harvey, who
had watched the pursuit, asked him laughingly if he
managed to catch the giraffe.
"I might as soon have tried to catch an express
train; they went right away from me,—and Tommy
can gallop too; but he hadn't a chance with them,
although he did his best."
"They do move along at a tremendous pace in their
clumsy fashion. They take such immense strides
with those odd long legs of theirs, that one has no
idea of their speed until one chases them. I never
knew a new hand who tried it, but he was sure to come
back with a crestfallen face."
Three weeks after leaving what they called the


The Young Colonists.
195
elephant-camp the caravan halted for two days.
They had now arrived at the spot where their troubles
with the natives might be expected to begin; they
were at the border of the Matabele country, and here
Mr. Harvey intended to turn west, and after keeping
along for some time to bend to the south and re-enter
the colony north of Kimberley, and to journey down
to Port Elizabeth, which is the principal mart for
goods from the interior. Between the Matabele and
the tribes on their border hostilities had for some time
prevailed, and while they halted Mr. Harvey sent
forward Blacking with a few presents to the chief of
the next tribe, saying that he was coming through his
country to trade, and asking for a promise that he
should not be interfered with in his passage.
At the end of the second day the messenger
returned.
"The chief says come; he says he has been a
long time without trade. But before he answered he
talked with his chiefs, and I don't know whether he
means honestly. The tribe has a bad name; they are
thieves and robbers."
"Well, we will go on," Mr. Harvey said, "neverthe-
less; we have got the chiefs word, and he will not after
that venture to attack us openly, for if he did he knows
very well that no more traders would visit his country.
His people may make attacks upon us, but we are
strong enough to hold our own. We muster about
thirty guns, and in our laager would be able to beat
off his whole tribe, did they attack us; we will, how-
O 2


196 The Young Colonists.
ever, while travelling through his country, be more
careful than hitherto. The waggons shall, when it is
possible, travel two abreast, so that the line will not
be so long to guard, and you must not wander away
to shoot. Fortunately we have a store of dried meat,
which will last us for some time."
On the following morning the caravans set out, and
after travelling twelve miles halted on the bank of a
stream. Soon after they had formed their camp five
or six natives came in; they brought a few bunches of
ostrich plumes and some otter skins; these they
bartered for cotton, and having concluded their
bargains wandered about in the camp, as was the
custom of the natives, peeping into the waggons,
examining the bullocks, and looking at all the
arrangements with childish curiosity.
"I expect these fellows have come as spies rather
than traders," Mr. Harvey said to the lads. *' As a
general thing the natives come in with their wives and
children; but, you see, these are all men. I observed
too that they have particularly examined the pile of
muskets, as if reckoning up our means of defence. In
future, instead of merely a couple of men to look after
the cattle and keep off any marauders, I will put
six every night on guard; they shall be relieved
twice during the night, and one of the hunters shall
be in charge of each watch,—if there are signs of
trouble, we will ourselves take it by turns."
Two or three times that night the sentries perceived
moving objects near the camp, and challenged; in each


The Young Colonists.
197
case the objects at once disappeared; whether they
were hyenas or crawling men could not be dis-
cerned.
At the halt next day a much larger number of
natives came in, and a satisfactory amount of trade
was done. Their demeanour, however, was insolent
and overbearing, and some of them went away with
their goods, declining to accept the exchange offered.
After they had left the camp several small articles
were missed.
The next day they passed across a plain abounding
in game, and Mr. Harvey said that the boys and the
three hunters might go out and kill some fresh meat;
but he warned Dick and Tom not to allow their ardour
in the chase to carry them away from the hunters, but
to keep as much as possible together. When they
had killed as many animals as could be carried on
their horses and the hunters' shoulders, they were to
return at once.
It was the first time that Tom had been out hunt-
ing since his accident; his bones had all set well, and
beyond a little stiffness and occasional pain he was
quite himself again.
"I am glad to be riding out again with you, Dick,"
he said; " it has been awfully slow work jogging along
by the side of the caravan."
In addition to the three hunters they took as usual
a native with them, to hold the horses should it be
necessary to dismount and stalk the game, instead
of chasing it and shooting it from the saddles, an


rg8
The Young Colonists.
exercise in which by this time the boys were efficient.
They found more difficulty in getting up to the game
than they had expected, and the hunters said con-
fidently that the animals must have been chased or
disturbed within a few hours. They had accordingly
to go four or five miles across the plain before they
could get a shot; but at last they saw a herd feeding
in a valley. After the experience they had had that
morning of the futility of attempting to get near
the deer on horseback, they determined that the
hunters should make a circuit, and come down
upon the herd from different points. Tom and
Dick were to stay on the brow where they were
then standing, keeping well back, so as to be out
of sight from the valley, until they heard the report
of the first gun, when they were to mount and
endeavour to cut off and head the deer back upon
the others. The hunters then started—Jumbo and
Blacking going to the right, Tony and the other to
the left.
After an hour's walking they reached their places
at points about equidistant from each other, forming
with Tom and Dick a complete circle round the deer.
They were enabled to keep each other in sight,
although hidden from the herd in the hollow. When
each had gained his station they lay down and began
to crawl towards the deer, and until they were within
150 yards of the herd the latter continued grazing
quietly. Then an old buck gave a short, sharp cry, and
struck the ground violently with his hoofs; the others








The Young Colonists.
199
all ceased feeding, and gazed with startled eyes to
windward, and were about to dash off in a body when
the four men fired almost simultaneously, and as many
stags fell. The rest darted off at full speed in the
direction in which Tom and Dick were posted, that
being the only side open to them. An instant later
Tom and Dick appeared on horseback on the brow,
and dashed down towards the herd ; these, alarmed at
the appearance of a fresh enemy, broke into two
bodies, scattering right and left, giving both lads
an opportunity for a good shot. Both succeeded in
bringing down their mark. They then dismounted,
and giving their horses to the native joined the
hunters. They had bagged six deer, and the hunters
at once proceeded to disembowel them; one was to
be slung behind each of the saddles, and the others
would be carried by the hunters and native.
While they were so engaged they were startled by
a shout, and saw the native running down towards
them, leading the horses and gesticulating wildly.
"We are attacked," Blacking said, and almost at
the same moment three or four arrows fell among
them.
They had collected the dead deer at one spot, and
were standing in a group; looking round they saw a
large number of natives crowning the low hills allround
them, and saw that while they had been stalking the
deer they themselves had been stalked by the natives.
Without a moment's hesitation the hunters disposed
the bodies of the deer in a circle; seizing the two


200
The Young Colonists.
horses they threw them beside the deer, fastening their
limbs with the lassoes which they carried, so that they
could not move; then the six men threw them-
selves down in the circle.
All this had been done in a couple of minutes.
The arrows were falling fast among them, but none had
been hit, and as soon as the preparations were com-
plete they opened a steady fire at the enemy. With
the exception of the man who had come out with
the horses all were good shots, and their steady fire
at once checked the advance of the natives, whose
triumphant yelling ceased, as man after man went
down, and they speedily followed the example of
their opponents, and, throwing themselves down on
the grass, kept up a fire with their arrows in a circle
of seventy or eighty yards round the hunters.
Gradually, however, their fire ceased, for to use
their bows they were obliged to show their heads
above the grass, and whenever one did so the sharp
crack of a rifle was heard; and so often did the bullets
fly true to their aim that the natives soon grew chary
of exposing themselves.
"What will they do now ?" Dick asked, as the firing
ceased.
"They are cowards," Jumbo said contemptuously.
"If they had been Zulus, or Swazis, or Matabele, they
would have rushed in upon us, and finished it at
once."
"Well, I am very glad they are not," Dick said;
"but what is to be done?"
"They will wait for night," Tony answered ; "then,


The Young Colonists,
201
when we cannot see them, they will creep up close and
charge."
"In that case," Dick said, "the best thing will be
for us to keep in a body, and fight our way through
them, and make for the camp."
Jumbo shook his head.
"They quiet now because they think they got us
safe; if we try to get away, they rush down upon us;
we shoot many, but we all get killed."
"Then," Dick said, "the best thing will be for me to
jump on my horse and ride straight through them; if I
get off alive, I will make for the caravan and bring back
Mr. Harvey and the rest to your assistance."
"No good," Blacking said; "your horse would be
stuck full of arrows before you get away; he drop
dead; they kill you. I go."
"But it would be just as dangerous for you as for
me, Blacking."
"No," the hunter said ; "directly you stand up to
get on horse they see you and get ready to shoot; the
horse fall dead before he reach them. I will crawl
through the grass; they will not see me till I get to
them—perhaps I get through without them seeing at
all; if not, I jump up sudden and run; they all sur-
prised, no shoot straight; once through line they
never catch me."
Jumbo and Tony assented with a grunt, and Dick,
seeing that no better plan could be suggested, offered
no opposition to the young hunter undertaking the
task.
Leaving his gun and ammunition behind him, the


202
The Young Colonists.
black at once without a word crawled out between
the carcases of the deer, making his way, like a snake,
perfectly flat on his stomach, and soon it was only by
a very slight movement of the grass, which was nearly
two feet high, that Dick could follow his progress.
But he could not do this for long, an arrow whizzing
close to his head warned him that he was exposing
himself, and he lay down behind his stag and listened
with intense eagerness for the outcry which would
arise when Blacking was discovered.
It seemed a long time, so slow and cautious
was the black's advance. At last there was a
sudden yell, and the little party, sure that the
attention of their assailants would for the moment
be diverted, raised their heads from the shelter
and looked out. They saw Blacking bounding
at full speed up the slope; a score of natives had
sprung to their feet, and were discharging their arrows
in the direction of the fugitive, who zigzagged, as he
ran with rapid bounds, to unsteady and divert their
aim. One arrow struck him in the side; they saw
him break off the feather-head, pull it through the
wound, and throw it away without a moment's pause
in his flight.
"Is it a serious wound?" Tom asked eagerly.
Jumbo shook his head.
"Not kill him," he said; "too near skin."
By this time Blacking's pursuers had thrown their
bows across their shoulders, and grasping their assegais
had started in pursuit.


The Young Colonists.
203
"They no catch him,"Tony said confidently; "Black-
ing clever man; he not run too fast; let them keep
close behind him; they think they catch him, and
keep on running all the way to camp. People here
watch, not tink to attack us; then they wait again for
the oders to come back; half of dem gone, a good
many killed, they not like to attack us now."
"What do you say, Tony ?—shall we get up and
follow in a body slowly?"
"That would be good plan," Tony said, "if sure
no more black men come; but if others come and
join dem, dey attack us out on plain, we got no stags
to lie behind. Dey fight hard 'caus they know that
Blacking have got away, and that help come; make
bad affair of it; better stop here."
Presently two or three of the natives were seen
coming back over the brow, having given up the pur-
suit. Dick's rifle was a good one, and the brow was not
more than 400 yards away; he took a steady aim
and fired, and one of the natives fell. A yell of
astonishment broke from the others, and they threw
themselves instantly on the grass. This, however,
although long enough to shelter them in the bottom,
was shorter and scantier on the slope. The inclined
position too enabled Dick to see them, and he again
fired. He could not see where the ball struck, but it
must have been close to the two natives, for these leapt
to their feet and bounded back again over the brow.
"That was a capital shot of yours, Dick," Tom said.
"I will try next time. Our rifles will carry easily


204
The Young Colonists.
enough as far as that, although the hunters' won't. If
we can but prevent any of these fellows who have
gone after Blacking from coming down and rejoining
those round us, we are safe enough, for if they did
not dare to make a rush when there were about sixty
of them they will not try now when there are not half
that number."
An hour later a party of some ten or twelve natives
appeared again on the brow. Dick and Tom at once
fired. One of them fell, and the rest again retired
behind the brow, shouting something to those below,
which Tony at once translated that Blacking had got
away. The news, added to the effect of the fall of their
comrades on the height, dispirited the natives below,
and one or two were to be seen stealing up the
slopes.
Dick and Tom were on the alert, and one of the
natives fell with a broken leg; this completed the
uneasiness of the party below. Creeping away from
the deadly rifles to the foot of the slopes, they suddenly
rose and bounded up it. A general volley was fired
by the beleaguered party, and two more natives fell;
the rest dashed up the slope, two of them on the way
lifting and carrying off their wounded comrades.
"We all right now," Jumbo said; " dey no attack us
here any more ; like enough dey wait and lie in ambush
in grass, in case we move away; but we not do that;
we sit here quietly till the caravan arrive."
"Do you think Mr. Harvey will bring the whole
caravan?"


The Young Colonists. 205
"Sure to do dat," Jumbo said. "He no able to
leave party to protect the waggons and to send party
here to us; he bring the caravan all along together.
If he attacked, he make laager; but me no tink dey
attack. The people ready to cut off little party; den
the chief say he not responsible, but if his people
attack the caravan dat different thing."
The hours passed slowly; the heat in the bottom,
as the sun, almost overhead, poured its rays down
into it, was very great. As the hours passed on the
heat became less oppressive, but it was with intense
pleasure that the boys saw Mr. Harvey suddenly
appear on the brow, and checking his horse gaze into
the valley.
They leapt to their feet and gave a shout, which
was answered by Mr. Harvey.
"Are they round you still ?" he shouted.
"No; they have all gone," Dick replied; and Mr.
Harvey at once rode down.
By the time he reached them the hunters had freed
the legs of the horses, and these struggled to their feet.
"You have given me a nice fright," Mr. Harvey
said, as he rode up.
"We have had a pretty good fright ourselves," Dick
replied. "If it had not been for Blacking pluckily get-
ting through them to take you the news, I don't think
we should have seen daylight. Is he much hurt, sir?"
"He has got a nasty wound," Mr. Harvey replied.
"An arrow has gone between his ribs. He fell down
from loss of blood when he reached us, and had we


The Young Colonists. 207
lads and the hunters into the valley. Except that
here and there were deep blood-stains, no signs of the
conflict remained, the natives having carried off their
dead in the course of the night. The hunters, after
examining the ground, declared that fifteen of the
enemy had fallen, including those shot on the slopes.
The journey was now resumed.
At the next halt the natives came in to trade as
usual, and when questioned professed entire ignorance
of the attack on the hunters.
Three days later, without further adventure, they
arrived at the kraal of the principal chief. It was a
large village, and a great number of cattle were grazing
in the neighbourhood. The natives had a sullen appear-
ance, but exhibited no active hostility. Mr. Harvey
formed his waggons in a laager a few hundred yards
outside the village, and then, accompanied by the boys,
proceeded to the chief's abode. They were at once
conducted to his presence. He was seated in a hut of
bee-hive form, rather larger than those which sur-
rounded it. When the white men crawled in through
the door, which like all in native structures was not
more than three feet high, they were at first unable
to see, so dark was the interior. The chief uttered the
usual words of welcome.
"I have a complaint to make, chief," Mr. Harvey
said, "against some of your people. They attacked
my two friends and some of my followers when out
hunting. Fortunately they were repulsed, with the
loss of some fifteen of their number, but that does


2t3 'Jf'.e JitterC^kwt.ii}.-
nbt' make tlw tt?4ck i:<hj« them anu/j lass .:iaKx-
c^^uah^-.\*'
"Tl.nt i-3 Loci,1' t!v?£hi<?f taid i '"how'coos «w.7:^aud^,
thewhitetrader, know that they v.^r-* my. meej *''
''"try 'w*r4: inside /pur' territory. anyj*.ouvu>' ML-. 1 tAtvy ■ "It •.\,a<? upon the third cay ^c'cir:! Ihad.i
U'fttfi*; M %tah»»ki."
"'It irt«st have Ix.'Gfi a party of MatAbeto;'"tfca chhif:
said ;; "'th<*y.' often' cwfi« irtto my, t&rriricr. :i> st&aLl
cHfih;: they are bad rften^-^rfty. peof»e att- vwyy
"I cHft*t pj»ove that' theyrwere yvw :«coue>"''Mij-.
lifatvey sakl," whatever'I-rftay. think; -but I wa*n' ypuy.
chief,' that-if there is af>yreri«tUiortof the a«taefc while,
we ;rfe irt yotw: courttry: yjo» will liaw rtonxwectrasters.-'
here. iVxe who ait&eked us have-' ltswrwd. thiaitwee
can defend owfielvcs, afMllth^'.th^a4-e.rHWe.iilici};.ttx.)
death than' plunder out of: the-attempts'.'" 


2 IO
The Young Colonists.
of the Limpopo, and therefore will not be taken as a
sign of suspicion of their good faith. A fair index to
us of their disposition will be the amount of trade. If
they bring their goods freely, we may assume that
there is no fixed intention of attacking us; for if
they are determined to seize our goods, those who
have articles to trade would not care to part with
them, when they would hope to obtain a share of our
goods for nothing."
The next morning Mr. Harvey spread out a few of
his goods, but hardly any of the natives came forward
with articles for barter. In the afternoon Mr. Harvey
went across to the chief.
"How is it," he asked, "that your people do not
bring in their goods for sale? Among the tribes
through which I have passed I have done much
trade; they see that I give good bargains—your
people bring nothing. If they do not wish to trade
with the white men, let them say so, and I will tell my
brethren that it is of no use to bring their waggons
so far."
"My people are very poor," the chief said; "they
have been at war with their neighbours, and have
had no time to hunt the ostrich or to get skins."
"They cannot have been fighting all the time,"
Mr. Harvey rejoined; "they must have taken furs and
skins—it is clear that they do not wish to trade. To-
morrow morning I will go on my way ; there are many
other tribes who will be glad at the coming of the
white trader."


The Young Colonists.
211
After Mr. Harvey's return to the waggons, it was
evident that orders had been issued that some trade
should be done, for several parcels of inferior kinds of
ostrich feathers and skins were brought in. As it
was clear, however, that no genuine trade was to be
done, at daybreak the oxen were inspanned, and the
caravan continued its journey.
For the next two days the track lay across an
open country, and no signs of molestation were met
with.
"We are now coming," Mr. Harvey said, "to the
very worst part of our journey. The hills we have
seen in front of us for the last two days have to be
crossed. To-morrow we ascend the lower slopes, which
are tolerably easy; but the next day we have to pass
through a very wild gorge. The road, which is the
bed of a stream, mounts rapidly; but the ravine is
nearly ten miles in length. Once at its head we are
near the highest point of the shoulder over which we
have to cross, and the descent on the other side is com-
paratively easy. If I could avoid this spot, I would do
so; but I know of no other road by which waggons
could cross the range for a very long distance either
way; this is the one always used by traders. In the wet
season it is altogether impassable, for in some places
the ravine narrows to fifteen yards, with perpendicular
cliffs on either side, and at these points the river,
when in flood, rushes down twenty or thirty feet deep.
Even putting aside the danger of attack in going
through it, I would gladly avoid it if I could, for


The Young Colonists. 213
trader having passed along this way. I have spoken
of it as a day's journey, but it is only under the most
favourable circumstances that it has ever been accom-
plished in that time, and sometimes traders have been
three or four days in getting through."
Directly the caravan halted Blacking and Jumbo
started to examine the defile; it was already growing
dusk, and they were only able to get two miles up
before it was so dark that they could make their way
no further. They returned, saying that the first por-
tion of the defile, which was usually one of the most
difficult, was in a bad condition; that many enor-
mous boulders were lying in the bottom; but that it
appeared to be practicable, although in some places
the waggons would have to be unloaded.
At daybreak the oxen were inspanned, and in a
quarter of an hour the leading waggon approached
the entrance of the gorge; it seemed cut through a
perpendicular cliff, 200 feet high, the gorge through
which the river issued appearing a mere narrow crack
rent by some convulsion of nature.
"It would be a fearful place to be attacked in,"
Dick said, " and a few men with rocks up above could
destroy us."
"Yes," Mr. Harvey said; "but you see up there?"
Dick looked up, and on one side of the passage saw
some tiny figures.
"The three hunters and ten of our men with
muskets are up there; they started three hours ago,
as they would have to go, Jumbo said, five miles along


214
The Young Colonists.
the face of the cliff before they reached a point where
they could make an ascent so as to gain the edge of
the ravine. They will keep along parallel with us,
and their fire would clear both sides; it is not usual to
take any precaution of this sort, but after our attack
of the other day, and the attitude of the chief and
his people, we cannot be too cautious. After passing
through the first three miles of the defile, the ravine
widens into a valley a hundred yards wide; here
they will come down and join us. There are two other
ravines, similar to the first, to be passed through, but
the country there is so wild and broken that it would
be impossible for them to keep along on the heights,
and I doubt whether even the natives could find a
point from which to attack us."
They had now fairly entered the ravine. For thirty
or forty feet up the walls were smooth and polished
by the action of the winter torrents; above, jagged
rocks overhung the path, and at some points the cliffs
nearly met overhead. Although it was now almost
broad daylight, in the depths of this ravine the light
was dim and obscure.
The boys at first were awestruck at the scene, but
their attention was soon called to the difficulties of
the pass. The bed of the stream was covered with
rocks of all sizes; sometimes great boulders, as big as
a good-sized cottage, almost entirely blocked the way,
and would have done so altogether had not the small
boulders round them formed slopes on either side. The
depths of the ravine echoed and re-echoed, with a


The Young Colonists.
215
noise like thunder, the shout of the driver and the
crack of the whip, as the oxen struggled on. The
waggons bumped and lurched along over the stones;
the natives and whites all worked their hardest,
clearing away the blocks as far as possible from the
track required for the waggons. Armed with long
wooden levers four or six together prized away
the heavy boulders, or, when these were too massive
to be moved by their strength, and when no other
path could be chosen, piled a number of smaller
blocks, so as to make a sort of ascent up which
the wheels could travel. The waggons moved
but one at a time, the united efforts of the whole
party being required to enable them to get along.
When the leading waggon had moved forward a
hundred yards, the next in succession would be
brought up, and so on until the six waggons were
again in line; then all hands would set to work ahead,
and prepare the path for another hundred yards.
In two places, however, no efforts sufficed to clear
the way; the blocks rose in such jagged masses that it
was absolutely impossible for the oxen to pull across
them,—indeed it was with the greatest difficulty that
when unyoked they were one by one got over; then
tackles were fastened from the top of the rock to the
waggons below—ropes and blocks being generally
carried by travellers for such emergencies,—the
oxen fastened to the ends of the ropes, and with
the purchase so obtained the waggons were dragged
bodily one by one over the obstacles.


2 l6
The Young Colonists.
It was not until late in the afternoon that the party
passed safely through the defile and reached the valley
beyond, men and animals worn out by the exertions
they had undergone.
The day had not passed without excitement, for
when they were engaged at the most difficult point of
the journey the crack of rifles was heard far overhead,
and for half an hour a steady fire was kept up there.
Those below were of course wholly ignorant of what
was passing there, and for some time they suffered
considerable anxiety; for if their guard above had
been overpowered they must have been destroyed by
rocks cast down by their foes.
At the end of half an hour the firing ceased; but it
was not until they camped for the night in the valley
beyond the gorge that they learned from the hunters,
who joined them there, what had happened. There
were, Jumbo explained, three or four hundred
natives, but fortunately these approached from the
opposite side of the gorge; consequently the little
party of defenders was in no danger of attack. The
enemy had been disconcerted when they first opened
fire, but had then pressed forward to get to the edge
of the ravine. The superior weapons of the defenders
had, however, checked them, and finding that there
was no possibility of coming to close quarters with
the little band, they had, after losing several of their
number, abandoned the attempt and fallen back.
Soon after nightfall they were startled by a
heavy crashing sound, and great rocks came bounding


The Young Colonists.
219
attack, and the rifles of the whites and the three
hunters opened fire upon them and checked those
on the bare sides of the hill. Many, however, went
farther down, and descending into the valley crept up
under the shelter of the stones and boulders, and as
soon as they came within range opened fire with their
bows and arrows. By this time, however, the waggons
were entering the ravine which, although at its
entrance less abrupt and perpendicular than that
below, soon assumed a precisely similar character.
Once well within its shelter Mr. Harvey posted
Dick with the three hunters and four of the other
natives to defend the rear. This was a matter of
little difficulty. Two or three hundred yards up the
ravine a barrier, similar to those met with on the
previous day, was encountered, and the waggons had
to be dragged up by ropes, an operation which took
upwards of three hours.
While the passage was being effected, Dick with his
party had remained near the mouth of the ravine, and
had been busy with the enemy who pressed them; but
after the last waggon had safely crossed the barrier
they took their station at this point, which they could
have held against any number of enemies.
The caravan proceeded on its way, men and animals
labouring to the utmost; when, at a point where the
sides of rock seemed nearly to close above them, a nar-
row line of sky only being visible, a great rock came
crushing and leaping down, bounding from side to side
with a tremendous uproar, and bringing down with it


220
The Young Colonists.
a shower of smaller rocks, which it had dislodged in
its course. The bottom of the ravine was here about
twelve yards wide, and happened to be unusually
level. The great rock, which must have weighed half
a ton, fell on one side of the leading waggon and burst
into fragments which flew in all directions. For-
tunately no one was hurt, but a scream of dismay
broke from the natives.
"Steady!" Mr. Harvey shouted; "push on ahead;
but each man keep to his work—the first who attempts
to run and desert the waggons I will shoot through
the head."
"Tom, go on a hundred yards in front, and keep
that distance ahead of the leading waggon. Shoot
down at once any one who attempts to pass you."
Rock followed rock in quick succession ; there was,
however, fortunately a bulge in the cliff on the right-
hand side, projecting some twenty feet out, and as the
blocks struck this they were hurled off to the left
side of the path. Seeing this Mr. Harvey kept the
waggons close along on the right, and although several
of the oxen and three or four of the men were struck
by detached fragments from above, or by splinters
from the stones as they fell, none were seriously injured.
Long after the caravan had passed the point the
rocks continued to thunder down, showing Mr. Harvey
that those above were unable to see to the bottom of
the gorge, but that they were discharging their missiles
at random. A short distance farther a cross ravine, a
mere cleft in the rock, some five feet wide at the


The Young Colonists. 221
bottom, was passed, and Mr. Harvey congratulated
himself at the certainty that this would bar the pro-
gress of their foes above, and prevent the attack being
renewed from any point farther on.
At this point so formidable an obstacle was met
with in a massive rock, some thirty feet high, jammed
in the narrowest part of the ravine, that the waggons
had to be emptied and hauled by ropes up the
almost perpendicular rock, the oxen being taken
through a passage, which with immense labour the men
managed to clear of stones, under one of the angles
of the rock. It was not until after dark that they
reached the spot where the ravine again widened
out into a valley, having spent sixteen hours in accom-
plishing a distance of only three miles. However,
all congratulated themselves that two-thirds of their
labour was over, and that but one more defile had to
be surmounted.
The rear-guard remained encamped at the opening
of the defile, but the night passed without interrup-
tion, the natives being doubtless disheartened by the
failure to destroy the caravan by rocks from above.
"Do you think there is any chance of their
attacking us to-night, down the slopes, as they did
this morning?" Tom asked Mr. Harvey.
"None whatever," the latter replied, "as you will
see in the morning. This valley does not resemble the
last; the rocks rise almost perpendicularly on both
sides, and it would not be possible for them to make
their way down, even if they wanted to do so."








The Young Colonists.
225
Dick presently arrived, and was much impressed
with the formidable nature of the obstacle.
"We might creep forward," he said, "among the
stones and soon drive those fellows off the edge, but
they would only lie down behind, and could easily
destroy us, as we climbed one by one to the top.
Each one, as he got up, would be riddled with
assegais. What are you thinking of doing, sir?"
"I don't know what is best, Dick. I quite agree
with you, it is a tremendous position to storm, but
on the other hand it would be almost as bad to
retreat."
Ten minutes later Jumbo arrived at a run ; without
a word he threw himself down by the side of Mr.
Harvey, and for two or three minutes gazed silently
at the obstacle ahead; then, to Mr. Harvey's surprise,
he turned over on to his back, and lay there with his
eyes open.
"What on earth are you doing, Jumbo?"
"Look there, sir," the native said, pointing to a
glistening spot, the size of a crown-piece, on his
stomach.
"Well, what of that?" Mr. Harvey said ; "that's a
drop of rain—there's another fallen on my hat. What
do you think of that place ahead?"
"Me no think nothing about him, sir; that place, sir,
no consequence one way or de other. You hear him,
sir?"
As he spoke a louder crash of thunder burst over-
head. Mr. Harvey looked up now. That portion of
Q


226
The Young Colonists.
the sky which could be seen was inky black. Great
drops of rain were falling with a pattering sound on
the rock.
"Storm come, sir; very bad storm, I see him
coming, and say to Massa Tom, 'Two or tree hour
fight over; now you see someting like a mountain-
storm. In tree hours water come down twenty feet
deep."'
"You are right, Jumbo. It is lucky the storm has
begun so early; if we had got far into the defile we
should have been caught. Now, all we have got to do
is to wait. Go back, Dick, and send up every man with
fire-arms; we must at once engage those fellows in
front and occupy their attention. If they once per-
ceive their danger they will make a desperate rush
down here, and it will go hard with us then. When
you have sent the fighting-men up, see that the
teamsters move all the waggons to the highest piece
of ground you can find in the valley. Let them
arrange the waggons there as closely as they will pack,
and keep the animals well round them. A flood will
destroy our enemy, but I am not sure that it may not
destroy us too. Now hurry away, and tell the fighting-
men to run up as quick as they can. When you
have seen everything in readiness, join Tom, and warn
him to be ready to fall back to the waggons as soon
as the flood comes."
Dick ran down the ravine. It was not until he
issued from it that he was aware how tremendously
the rain was pouring down. In the defile he had been


The Young Colonists. 227
conscious only of a slight mist, with an occasional drop
of heavy rain, for very few of the rain-drops which
entered the gap far above descended to the bottom,
almost all striking against the sides. In the compara-
tively open valley, however, the rain was coming down
in a perfect cataract. Dick at once sent all the
fighting-men to the front, and three minutes later the
report of musketry told that they were engaged with
the enemy.
Dick now set to work with ten of the natives to
select the spot on which to place the waggons. The
bottom of the valley was very flat, and the sand
between the boulders showed that when the water was
high the whole was covered. He, however, found a
spot on the left-hand side, about midway between the
two denies, which was some feet higher than the rest.
The hill-side behind at this point rose somewhat less
abruptly than elsewhere, and it was probable that the
rise in the bottom was formed by a slip which had
taken place at some past period. Here the waggons
were arranged side by side in two rows, the wheels
of the three inner waggons close against the slope
above them. The cattle were gathered closely
round.
Dick then joined Tom, whom he found in high
spirits, the hunters having already told him that the
flood would very soon come to their relief. The
party was hotly engaged. About thirty or forty
yards intervened between them and their enemy,
who, crouching behind rocks, were shooting their
Q 2


The Young Colonists.
229
gorges. Jumbo is listening; it will come with a roar
like thunder. He has just told me I had better
send most of the men back at once, keeping only
four or five to continue firing to the last moment.
You see the enemy, who are there on a sort of plat-
form, will not notice the water that is making its
way down. See how fast it rises; it is ankle-deep
already—and, I tell you, we shall have to run when the
time comes."
All the natives, with the exception of Jumbo and
two other men, were sent back.
"I don't see anything to fire at," Dick said.
"No," Mr. Harvey agreed; "it is a pure waste of
ammunition, except that it occupies their attention.
They can hardly be conscious yet how tremendously
it is raining. If they were they would not remain
where they are, but would make a rush upon us, how-
ever great the risk."
"Listen !" Jumbo exclaimed suddenly.
They listened and were conscious of a dull, heavy,
roaring sound. Jumbo leapt to his feet.
"Come !" he said; "run for your lives." They started up and took to their heels. A terrible
yell was heard behind them, and, glancing over his
shoulder, as he turned the corner, Dick saw the natives
climbing down from their defence, and even leaping
from the top in their terror. Fast as Dick was
running, the roar behind rose louder and louder.
"Quick, Dick," Mr. Harvey shouted, "or you will
be too late."


230
The Young Colonists.
Dick hurried to the utmost, but the stream was
already rising rapidly, and was running knee-deep
between the stones. Stumbling and slipping, and cut-
ting himself against the rocks, Dick struggled on. The
mighty roar was now close behind him, and seemed
to him like that of a heavy train at full speed. He
reached the mouth of the ravine; the water was
already up to his waist. Mr. Harvey and Jumbo
dashed in, seized him by the arms, and dragged him
out.
"Run !" they said.
They were not fifty yards from the mouth, when
Dick, looking round, saw a mighty wall of water,
fifteen feet high, leap from it, pouring as from huge
sluice-gates into the valley. He did not stop running
until he joined the rest gathered by the waggons.
Tom and his party were already there, for the
rising water had soon warned their assailants of
the danger, and the fire had suddenly ceased.
Already the greater part of the valley was covered with
water, down the centre of which a foaming torrent
was flowing. Here and there could be seen numerous
dark objects, which, he knew, were the bodies of the
Indians who had defended the upper defile, caught
before they could reach its mouth by the wall of
water from above. They had instantly been dashed
lifeless against the rocks and boulders, and not one
could be seen to make towards the comparatively
still waters on either side of the centre stream.
Driven back again by the narrow entrance to the


The Young Colonists.
233
"It has not risen at all since I came here!"
The teamsters had taken their station on the outside
waggons, and continued to talk and shout to the oxen,
exhorting these to be patient and quiet, as if the
animals were capable of understanding every word
they said.
For three hours there was no change in the situation.
Then all thought that there was a slight decrease in
the height of the torrent of water pouring from the
defile, and half an hour later a slight but distinct sub-
sidence in the level of the water could be perceived.
In another hour it had fallen a foot, and after that
the fall was rapid and steady. The deep roar
caused by the rushing torrent and the rumbling of
the huge boulders and rocks swept along in the narrow
defile, gradually subsided, and soon the bullocks
were again standing on their feet.
The natives set to work to wash away the thick sedi-
ment which the flood had left on the floor of the waggons,
and before nightfall the goods were all repacked. But
few signs of the recent flood nowremained in the valley.
A stream still rushed through the centre. Trunks and
branches of trees lay here and there, as the water had
left them, and the bodies of some twenty or thirty
natives were lying amongst the rocks. In some
places shallow pools remained; in others were sheets
of glistening mud.
"We shall have no more trouble with the natives,"
Mr. Harvey said; "the fighting-men of that tribe must
have been nearly annihilated."


234
The Young Colonists.
"Do you think that those below were caught, as
well as those above?"
"Certainly," Mr. Harvey answered; "the water
went down with the speed of a race-horse; they had
only a few minutes' start, and would have been over-
taken before they could have even gained the lower
bed of the gorge. We can journey on peacefully
now. We have been fortunate indeed; we have only
lost one man, and the three who were hit with stones
are all likely to do well. We have not lost a single
bullock, nor a bale of goods."
"We shall have hard work to get the waggons
up that place where the natives made the stand to-
morrow."
"It is quite likely," Mr. Harvey said, "that the
obstacle there no longer exists. A flood like that of
to-day would carry away anything. Look at those
great blocks, some of which must weigh more than
a hundred tons. Likely enough some of them have
formed part of that great pile. I have already sent
Tony and Blacking up the defile to see how the flood
has left it, and in an hour they will be back to report."
The hunters on returning brought the good news
that the great block had been removed, and so far as
they had explored no other of any importance had been
found. They said indeed that the defile was now more
open than either of the two gorges they had already
passed through.
This was very satisfactory, for all had had enough of
lifting and heaving rocks. Their hands were all cut


The Young Colonists.
235
and wounded, and every limb ached with the strains
which they had undergone.
The next morning at daybreak the caravan started.
The hunters' report of the state of the roads was
fairly borne out, and although some difficulties were
met with it was unnecessary to unyoke the oxen,
although of course many boulders had to be cleared
away to allow them to pass. On emerging at the upper
end of the defile they found they were in a valley
which opened out to a great width, and rose in gradual
slopes at its head to the crest of the hills. As the only
egress at the lower end was by the defile, it was clear
that the whole rainfall must make its way by this exit,
which fully accounted for the tremendous torrent they
had witnessed.
Two days' travelling brought them to the foot of the
slopes on the other side of the range of hills, and they
were soon engaged in carrying on a considerable trade
with the natives there.
For another three months they travelled slowly
through the country, by the end of which time they
had disposed of all their goods, and the waggons were
filled to the tilts with skins and bales of ostrich feathers.
They now turned their faces to the south. After
journeying for a fortnight they perceived one day,
far across the country, the white tilts of another
caravan. The three whites at once started at full
gallop, eager to hear news of what had taken place in
the colony during their absence. As they neared
the caravan two white men rode out to meet them;


The Young Colonists.
both were known to Mr. Harvey, and hearty greetings
were exchanged.
The new-comers were halting for the day, and Mr.
Harvey and the boys were soon seated in tents, with
three bottles of beer in front of them, a luxury which
they heartily enjoyed, having been many months
without tasting it.
"And now what is the news in the colony ?" Mr.
Harvey asked, after having replied to their questions
as to the state of trade, and the route which they had
followed, as the new-comers would of course take
another line, so as not to pass over the same ground.
"Things don't look well," they answered; "the Boers
are growing so insolent that there is no getting on
with them. Several English have been shot down in
various places, without the smallest cause. They
openly declare their intention of recovering their
independence. The English stores are for the most
part tabooed, and things altogether look very
threatening. There is a mere handful of British
troops in the Transvaal, and only a regiment or so in
Natal. Those wretched duffers at home hurried
every soldier out of the country the instant the
fighting was over, and if the Boers really mean
business we shall have no end of trouble. You see,
we have crushed their two enemies, the Zulus and
Secoceni, and now that we have done the work for
them they want to get rid of us."
"I thought we should have trouble with them,"
Mr. Harvey said ; "they are an obstinate, pig-headed


The Young Colonists.
239
decision it would be a different matter altogether.
There are a considerable number of English and
Scotch settlers already here, and the natives would rise
against the Dutch to a man, if called upon to do so; and
if a couple of dozen of their ringleaders were promptly
seized and shot, there would be an end to the whole
matter. But I know what it will be : the natives will
not be encouraged or even allowed to rise, our
soldiers, who can hardly hit a haystack at a hundred
yards, will be shot down at a distance by the Boers,
and, likely enough, we shall meet with a serious
disaster, and then the English government will get
frightened and make any terms these fellows demand.


240
The Young Colonists.
CHAPTER XVI.
A FIGHT WITH THE BOERS.
FOR some time they continued their journey, meeting
everywhere with the grossest incivility on the part of
the Boers; in many places they were refused water at
the farms, and warned at once off the land, and Mr.
Harvey had the greatest difficulty in keeping his
own temper and restraining the boys from resenting
the language of the Boers.
One day, as they were riding along, two Boers on
horseback halted on an eminence near the road and
addressed taunting remarks to them; they made no
answer, but continued their way. They had not gone a
hundred yards when one of the Boers deliberately took
aim and fired at them ; the ball passed between Dick
and Mr. Harvey and struck one of the natives walking
just in front of them, killing him upon the spot.
This was too much. Mr. Harvey and the lads wheeled
their horses, unslung their rifles, and fired at the Boers,
who were galloping away. One of them at once
dropped from his saddle, shot through the head; the
other reeled, but, retaining his seat, galloped off at full
speed.
"This is a bad business, boys," Mr. Harvey said;
"we could not help it, but it will bring trouble upon us.
Now let us branch off from the road we are following,


The Young Colonists.
243
a hundred yards from the laager, a shot was fired, the
bullet burying itself with a thud in one of the bales of
skins; almost instantly from every point in a circle round
other shots were fired, and the splintering of wood and
the dull sounds, as the shots struck the barricade,
told how accurate was their aim.
Mr. Harvey's orders had been, " Don't throw away a
shot. When you see the flash of a rifle, aim steadily at
that point; the next time a head is lifted to take aim,
hit it." The natives were ordered on no account to fire,
unless the Boers attempted to close, but to lie quietly <
under shelter of the defences. In consequence of these
orders not a shot replied to the first volley of the
Boers ; but when the second round commenced, puffs of
smoke darted from beneath the waggons. Dick and
Tom knew that their shots had been successful, for the
heads at which they had aimed lay clearly in view,
and no discharge came from the rifles pointed towards
them. The other shots must have passed near their
marks, and after this first exhibition of the shooting
powers of the defenders, the Boers became much
more careful, firing only at intervals, and shifting their
ground each time, before they raised their heads to
take aim. So the whole day passed, a dropping fire
being kept up on both sides. The defenders were con-
vinced by the end of the day that seven or eight of
the Boers had fallen, but their places had been more
than filled by new-comers who had been seen galloping
across the plain towards the scene of conflict. On the
side of the defenders no casualties had occurred.


246
The Young Colonists.
If everything had gone straight, I calculated that we
might be at home by Christmas-eve. Now, goodness
only knows when we shall arrive; for, as likely as not,
we may be kept here for days over this row with the
Boers."
The moment they arrived at Leydenberg Mr. Har-
vey, accompanied by the two lads and the three native
hunters, went to the house of the magistrate. That
gentleman had just finished his dinner; but on being
told that his visitors' business was urgent he asked
them to be shown in. The hunters remained outside,
and the lads followed Mr. Harvey into the house.
"I have come to make a complaint against some
Boers," the trader said.
"Then I can tell you beforehand," the magistrate
put in, "that your mission is a vain one. Outside
this town I have not at present the slightest authority.
Complaints reach me on all sides of outrages perpe-
trated by the Boers upon English settlers and traders.
Strong armed parties are moving about the country;
and although I will of course hear anything that you
have got to say, with a view of obtaining redress when
things settle down again, I cannot hold out any hope
of being able to take action at present."
"I have scarcely come to you, sir, with the idea of
obtaining redress, but rather of stating my case,
in case the Boers should bring a complaint against
me."
The trader then proceeded to relate the circum-
stances which had occurred: the wanton attack upon


The Young Colonists.
leave,"remember,theworcl for the night is, 'Newcastle.'
You will probably be challenged several times by
sentries before you get to your waggons, for, although
there is no absolute insurrection at present, there is
no saying when the Boers may break out. They will
hardly think of attacking a body of troops marching
peaceably along; still, it is as well to neglect no pre-
cautions. If you are challenged,' Who comes there?'
you will reply, ' Friends.' The sentry will then say,
'Advance and give the word.' You walk forward and
say, ' Newcastle,' and you will pass all right."
The march was continued for four days. At the
end of this time they arrived at the spot where the
direct road for Pieter-Maritzburg through Utrecht left
that which they were following.
"Look here, lads," Mr. Harvey said ; " this road will
take you considerably out of your way. If you like
you can follow the column for another couple of days.
You will then cross the south road, and can there leave
them and gallop on by yourselves to Standerton in
one day, and home the next. That will take you back
by the 23rd; whereas, if you go on with me, you
will not be back by New Year's Day. We are
getting now to a part of the colony where the English
element is pretty strong, and the Boers are not likely
to be troublesome; so I shall have no difficulty in
passing down with the waggons. You can tell your
fathers that we have had a most satisfactory trip, and
I expect when I have sold our goods at Durban they
will have good reason to be content."


The Young Colonists. 2 51
The lads gladly accepted the offer; they were
longing to be at home again, and especially wished to
be back by Christmas.
The colonel on hearing of the arrangement heartily
invited the lads to mess with the regiment for the
time that they continued with them, and offered to
have a spare tent pitched for their accommodation.


252
The Young Colonists.
CHAPTER XVII.
A TERRIBLE JOURNEY.
That evening Mr. Harvey and the lads were again
invited to dine at mess, and after dinner the colonel
asked Mr. Harvey if he would be good enough to tell
them some of his adventures in the interior.
"I have had so many," the trader said, "that I
hardly know which would be most interesting. I have
been many times attacked by the natives, but I do
not know that any of these affairs were so interesting
as the fight we had in the defile the other day. Some
of the worst adventures which we have to go through
are those occasioned by want of water. I have had
several of these, but the worst was one which befell
me on one of my earliest trips up the country. On
this occasion I did not as usual accompany my father,
but went with a trader named MacGregor, a Scotch-
man, as my father was ill at the time. He considered
me too young to go by myself, and when he proposed
to MacGregor that I should join him with the usual
number of waggons he sent up, MacGregor objected,
saying,—I have no doubt with justice,—that the double
amount of goods would be more than could be
disposed of. He added, however, that he should be
glad if I would accompany him with a couple of
waggons. It was, as it turned out, a very good thing


The Young Colonists.
253
for my father that his venture was such a small one.
MacGregor was a keen trader; he understood the
native character well, and was generally very suc-
cessful in his ventures. His failing was that he was
an obstinate, pig-headed man, very positive in his
own opinions, and distrusting all advice given him.
"Our trip had been a successful one. We pene-
trated very far in the interior, and disposed of all our
goods. When we had done so, we started to strike
down to Kimberley across a little-known and very
sandy district. The natives among whom we were, en-
deavoured to dissuade MacGregor from making the
attempt, saying that the season was a very dry one,
that many of the pools were empty, and that there
would be the greatest difficulty in obtaining water.
MacGregor disregarded the advice. By taking the
direct route south he would save some hundreds of
miles. He said that other caravans had at different
times taken this route in safety, and at the same time
of the year. He insisted that the season had not
been a particularly dry one, and that he was not
going to be frightened by old women's tales. The
natives were always croaking about something, but
he did not mean to lose a month of his time for
nothing.
"Accordingly we started. The really bad part of our
journey was about 150 miles across a sandy country,
with low scrub. The bullocks, when driven to it,
would eat the leaves of this scrub, so that we did not
anticipate any difficulty in the way of forage. In the


256
The Young Colonists.
until daybreak ; then the sun rose, and poured down
upon us. It was a terrible day. No one spoke, and
the creaking of the wheels of the waggons was the only
sound to be heard. Every mile we went the numbers
lessened, as the bullocks lay down to die by the way.
My tongue seemed to cleave to the roof of my mouth,
and the sun to scorch up my brain. I hardly took
notice of what was going on around me, but let
the reins hang loose on my horse's neck. Several
times he stumbled, and at last fell heavily. I picked
myself up from the sands, and saw that he was dying.
The waggons had come to a standstill now, and I had,
I saw, for the last quarter of a mile gone on alone. I
looked at my watch ; it was four o'clock, and I turned
and walked slowly back to the waggons. The drivers
had unroped the oxen, but most of them lay where
they had halted, incapable of rising to their feet;
others had tottered to the shade cast by the waggons,
and had thrown themselves down there. The drivers
were lying among them. As I came up MacGregor
staggered towards me; he was chewing a handful of
leaves. 'I have been wrong, Harvey,' he said, in a
hoarse voice, 'and it has cost us all our lives. Say
you forgive me, my boy.' 'I forgive you heartily,'
I said; 'you thought it was for the best.' I don't
remember much more. I lay down and wondered
vaguely what had become of my man, whom I had
not seen since we started on the previous even-
ing.
"The next thing I remember was that it was night


The Young Colonists.
257
I got up on my feet and staggered to a bullock that I
heard faintly groaning; I cut a vein in his neck and
sucked the blood, and then started to walk; fortunately,
as it turned out, I had not gone a hundred yards when a
dizziness came over me, and I fell again to the ground.
I must have lain there for some hours; when I became
conscious, water was being poured between my lips. I
soon recovered sufficiently to sit up, and found that it
was my faithful man. When the caravan started from
the last halting-place, he had seen that it was impos-
sible for it to reach its journey's end, and although,
like the rest, he was exhausted and worn out, he
had started at full speed alone, and by morning
reached water, having travelled fifty miles in the
night. It was midday before he succeeded in finding
a native kraal; then by promise of a large reward he
induced forty men, each laden with a heavy skin of
water, to start with him, and at three in the morning
reached the camp; fortunately he stumbled across me
just before he got there.
"The assistance arrived in time. Two of the drivers
were found to be dead, but MacGregor and the other
hands, sixteen in number, were all brought round. -
The supply carried by the natives was sufficient to
give an ample drink to the eighteen oxen which were
still alive. A feed of maize was then given to each, but
as they were too weak to drag even one of the waggons
they were driven on ahead, and most of them got over
the twenty-five miles which still separated them from
water. We halted there a week, to allow the animals
S


258 The Young Colonists.
to recover; then, carrying skins of water for their supply
on the way, they went back and brought in the two
waggons, one at a time. With these I came down to
the colony. MacGregor remained behind, and directly
the rain set in went up with native cattle and brought
down the other waggons, all the valuable contents of
which, however, had in the intervening time been
carried off by natives. It was a near squeak, wasn't
it? MacGregor was never the same man again, and
shortly after his return to Natal he sold off his wag-
gons and went back to Scotland. Being young and
strong I soon recovered from my privation."
"Lions are very abundant in some parts of the
interior, are they not, Mr. Harvey?" one of the
officers asked, after they had thanked the trader for
his story.
"Extraordinarily so," Mr. Harvey replied; "in fact
it has long been a puzzle among us how such vast
quantities could find food—in no other country in the
world could they do so; but here the abundance of deer
is so great that the lions are able to kill vast numbers,
without making any great impression upon them."
"But I should not have thought," an officer said,
"that a lion could run down a deer!"
"He cannot," Mr. Harvey said, "except for short
distances. The South African lion is a lighter and more
active beast than the northern lion, and can for the
first hundred yards run with prodigious swiftness, tak-
ing long bounds like a cat. Stealing through the long
grass, and keeping to leeward of the herd, he will


The Young Colonists. 261
I sprang to my feet and climbed up into the tree, just
as two more lions arrived upon the spot. My ser-
vant had not uttered a cry, and was, I have no doubt,
struck dead at once. The horses ceased to struggle
by the time I gained my tree. At least twenty lions
gathered round, and growled and quarrelled over the
carcases of the horses. When they had finished these,
they walked round and round the tree, roaring hor-
ridly; some of them reared themselves against the
trunk, as if they would try to climb it, but the lion is
not a tree-climber, and I had not much fear that they
would make the attempt. I hoped that in the morn-
ing they would move off; but they had clearly no in-
tention of doing so, for, as it became daylight, they
retired a short distance and then either lay down or
sat upon their haunches in a semicircle fifty yards
distant, watching me.
"So the whole day passed; I had only the four shots
left in my revolver, for my spare ammunition was in
the holster of my saddle, and even had I had a
dozen revolvers I could have done nothing against
them. At night they again came up to the tree, and
in hopes of frightening them off I descended to the
lower branches, and fired my remaining shots at
brutes rearing up against it. As I aimed in each
case at the eye, and the muzzle of my pistol was
within four feet of their heads, the shots were fatal;
but the only result was that the lions withdrew for
a short distance, and renewed their guard round the
tree.


The Young Colonists.
267
wounded; and as the rest could not be got together
to charge up the slope under the deadly fire of the
Boers, the colonel, who was himself wounded, sur-
rendered with the survivors to the Boers. Two or
three mounted officers only succeeded in getting
through.
When the fire opened, Dick and Tom at once
threw themselves off their horses, and, unslinging
their rifles, opened fire. When they saw the bewil-
derment and confusion, and how fast the men were
dropping under the fire of the Boers, Dick said to his
friend,—
"It is all up, Tom; it is simply a massacre. We
will wait for a minute or two, and then mount and
make a dash for it."
Their horses were both lying down beside them,
for the lads had taught them to do this at the word
of command, as it enabled them often, when out hunt-
ing, to conceal themselves in a slight depression from
the sight of an approaching herd of deer. Thus
they, as well as their masters, remained untouched by
the storm of bullets. The Boers almost concealed
from view, steadily picked off the men.
"It is of no use, Tom; let us mount and make a
bolt for it. They must surrender in a few minutes, or
not a man will be left alive."
They gave the word to their horses, and these
leaped to their feet, and, as was their habit in the
chase, dashed off at full speed the instant their masters
were in the saddle. Bending low on the necks of their


268
The Young Colonists.
horses, the lads rode at the top of their speed. Several
bullets came very close to them, but keeping closely
side by side, to lessen the mark they presented to the
enemy, they dashed on untouched. Looking round,
when they had proceeded some little distance, they
saw that four Boers had mounted and were in hot
pursuit. Their horses were good ones, in capital
condition, and had done easy work for the last few
days. The Boers also were well mounted, and for
three or four miles the chase continued, the Dutch
from time to time firing; but the lads were a good
four hundred yards ahead, a distance beyond that at
which the Boers are accustomed to shoot, or which
their guns will carry with any accuracy.
"We must stop this," Dick said, as they breasted
an ascent. "If they should happen to hit one of our
horses, it would be all up with us. Dismount, Tom,
as soon as you are over the rise."
As soon as they were out of sight of their pursuers,
they reined up their horses and dismounted. They
again made the animals lie down, and, throwing them-
selves behind them, rested their rifles upon them.
The Boers, they had noticed, were not all together
—two of them being about fifty yards ahead of the
others. At full speed the leading pursuers dashed for
the rise; as they came fairly in view, they were but
fifty yards distant. The lads and their horses were
almost hidden in the long grass, and the Boers did not
for a moment notice them. When they did, they
instantly reined in their horses, but it was too late.


The Young Colonists.
269
The lads had their rifles fixed upon them, the two
shots rang out together, both the Boers fell lifeless
from the saddle, and the Dutch horses dashed back
along the track by which they had come.
The lads instantly reloaded; but they waited in vain
for the coming of the other pursuers; these on seeing
the horses galloping towards them after the shots
had been fired had at once turned and rode off.
After waiting for a little time to be sure that they
were not going to be attacked, the friends mounted
and rode on. They did not retrace their steps to
see what had become of the other pursuers, as it
was possible that these had imitated their own tactics,
and were lying down by their horses, waiting to get
a shot at them, should they ride back. They now
continued their journey at an easy canter, and
late in the evening entered the little town of Stan-
derton.
Standerton presented a scene of unusual excitement;
teams of waggons filled its streets, armed men moved
about and talked excitedly, numbers of cattle and
horses under the charge of Kaffirs occupied every
spare place near the town—it was an exodus. The
loyal Boers, who were at that time in an absolute
majority throughout the colony, were many of them
moving across the frontier, to escape the conflict which
they saw approaching.
The more enlightened among these people had
been fully conscious of the short-comings of their own
government, prior to the annexation to England.


270 The Young Colonists.
Short as had been the period that had elapsed since
that event, the benefits which had accrued to the
country had been immense. The value of land had
risen fourfold; English traders had opened establish-
ments in every village, and the Dutch obtained far
higher prices than before for their produce, with a
corresponding reduction in that of the articles which
they had to purchase. Peaceable men were no longer
harassed by being summoned to take part in com-
mandos or levies for expeditions against the natives.
The feeling of insecurity from the threatening attitude
of the Zulus and other warlike neighbours was at an
end, as was the danger of a general rising among the
natives in the colony, who outnumbered the Boers
by ten to one.
Thus the wiser heads among the Boers bitterly
regretted the movement which had commenced for
the renewed independence of the country. They
did not believe that it would be successful, because
they could not suppose that England, having, by the
repeated assertions of its representatives that the
annexation was final and absolute, induced thousands
of Englishmen to purchase land, erect trading esta-
blishments, and embark their capital in the country,
could ever desert and ruin them. They foresaw, more-
over, that even should the rebellion be successful it
would throw the country back a century, the rising trade
would be nipped in the bud, the English colonists
would leave the country, the price of land would again
fall to a nominal sum, the old difficulties of raising taxes


The Young Colonists. 271
to carry on the government would recur, and restless
spirits would again be carryingout lawless raids upon the
natives, and involving them in difficulties and dangers.
Farther north the loyal portion of the Dutch re-
mained quiet during the trouble; but around Stan-
derton, Utrecht, and other places near the frontier
large numbers of them crossed into Natal, with their
wives and families, their cattle and horses, and there
remained until the end of the war. The English settlers,
almost to a man, abandoned their farms, and either re-
tired into Natal or assembled in the towns and formed
themselves with the traders there into corps for their
defence. The manner in which throughout the war
these little bodies uniformly succeeded in repulsing
every attempt of the Boers to capture the towns
showed how easily the latter could have been defeated,
had the British government acted with energy when
a sufficient force had been collected on the frontier,
instead of losing heart and surrendering at discretion.
It is not too much to say that, had the British govern-
ment stood altogether aloof, the colony of Natal, with
the English settlers and loyal Boers,could single-handed
have put down the insurrection in the Transvaal.
The news which the lads brought to Standerton of
the unprovoked attack upon, and massacre of, the
94th caused a wild feeling of excitement. A crowd
rapidly gathered round the lads, and so great was
the anxiety to hear what had taken place that Dick
was obliged to mount on a waggon, and to relate the
whole circumstances to the crowd.


272
The Young Colonists.
Englishmen living at home in the happy conviction
that their own is the greatest of nations can form little
idea of the feelings of men in a colony like the Cape,
where our rule is but half-consolidated, and where
a Dutch population, equal in numbers, are sullenly
hostile, or openly insolent. The love of the old flag
and the pride of nationality are there very different
feelings from the dull and languid sentiment at
home; and the news of this bloody massacre, at
a time when hostilities had not commenced on either
side, and when no overt act of rebellion had taken
place, caused every eye to flash, and the blood to run
hotly in men's veins.
Those who had hitherto counselled that the English
settlers should remain neutral in the contest were
now as eager as the rest in their demands that the
place should be defended. There was but one com-
pany of British troops in the town; but within an
hour of the story of the massacre being known 150 men
had put down their names to form a corps; officers
were chosen, and these at once waited upon the
captain in command of the troops, and placed them-
selves under his orders.
The next morning scores of men set to work
throwing up a breastwork round the place, cutting
holes in the walls and houses for musketry, and
preparing to defend the little town to the last against
any attack of the Boers.
The moment that he had heard from the lads of the
disaster to the 94th, the officer in command despatched


274
The Young Colonists.in that portion of Natal; here large numbers of Dutch
were settled, and the colonists were consequently
divided into hostile camps. Large numbers of British
colonists sent in their names as ready to serve against
the Boers; but the English military authorities un-
fortunately declined to avail themselves of their ser-
vices, on the ground that they did not wish to in-
volve the colonists in a struggle which was purely
an imperial one. For, were they to do so, the
Dutch throughout the colony and in the Orange Free
State might also join in the struggle, and the whole of
South Africa be involved in a civil war.
There was much in this view of the case; but had
a strong corps of colonists been attached to the force
of General Colley, it is pretty certain that it would
have escaped the disaster which subsequently befell
it; for, being for the most part excellent shots and
accustomed to the chase, they would have met the
Boers with their own tactics, and thus, as the English
settlers in the garrisons in the Transvaal showed
themselves far better fighters than their Dutch
antagonists, so Natal, where large numbers of young
colonists had served against the Zulus, Secoceni,
Moirosi, and in other native troubles, could, if
permitted, have furnished a contingent which
would have entirely altered the complexion of the
struggle.
Upon the very day after the return of their sons,
Mr. Humphreys and his friend Jackson, furious at the
two attacks which had been made by the Boers upon


276
The Young Colonists.
mince-pies were equal to the best at home, and no
pains were spared to recall home customs on the
occasion.
At one o'clock there had been an equally good
dinner given to the labourers and their families
belonging to the farms of Mr. Humphreys and his
guests, and in the evening all assembled in the
great kitchen, and to the tunes of a violin, played by
one of the young colonists, a merry dance was kept up
for some hours. The next morning Harrison started
with the remaining waggon and several carts for
Pieter-Maritzburg, and the lads were supposed to re-
sume regular work on the farms.


2/8
The Young Colonists.
the Pretoria Horse; 100 mounted volunteers,known as
Norris's Horse, and the Pretoria Rifles, an infantry
volunteer corps, 500 strong. For the reception of the
women and children intrenchments were thrown up,
connecting the jail and loretto convent, and the
defence of this point was intrusted to six companies
of the Pretoria Rifles, under Major Le Mesurier. The
camp was distant about a third of a mile from the
jail and convent, and the approaches were commanded
by three little forts erected on eminences around.
Several skirmishes took place in the last fortnight
in December, but the first sharp engagement occurred
on the 6th of January. Colonel Gildea took out a force
of twenty officers, 450 men, a gun, and fifteen waggons
to bring in some forage and attack a Boer position
at Pienness River, about twelve miles off. Norris's
Horse scouted in front, and the Pretoria Pioneers
were detached to cut off the retreat of the Boers.
The Boers were easily turned out of their position.
Their defence was feeble; but several English were
killed, owing to the Boers treacherously hoisting a flag
of truce, upon which the English skirmishers, who were
creeping forward, stood up, thinking that the Boers
surrendered; they then fired, and several of our men
were killed or wounded. The Boers being largely
reinforced came forward to the attack, but were
smartly repulsed. Our loss was four men killed and
one officer (Captain Sampson); fourteen men were
wounded. On the 15th another force started to
attack a Boer laager, but found the enemy in such





282
The Young Colonists.
had been attained, but still no water was met with.
A reward of St. was offered to the first party who
struck water, and the soldiers off duty commenced
digging in several places. At last, to the intense
relief of the garrison, a party of Royal Artillerymen
found water at a depth of nine feet. The well
soon filled, and yielded plenty of water during the
remainder of the siege.
A desultory fire was kept up until the 1st of
January, when, the Boers being strongly reinforced,
2000 men surrounded the fort at a distance of 500
yards, and opened a heavy fire upon it. They did
not, however, venture to attack the little garrison.
On the 5th they occupied the cemetery, 300 yards
from the fort, but Lieutenant Lindsell with a party of
volunteers went out by moonlight and drove them
out. The Boers then commenced making trenches,
gradually approaching the fort; but on the 22nd
Lieutenant Dalrymple Hay went out, carried the
position from which the Boers had been most trouble-
some, and captured four prisoners, some guns, ammu-
nition, and trenching-tools. From that time, although
the Boers continued to throw up trenches, they con-
tented themselves with a desultory fire.
The siege continued for three months and five
days; at the end of that time the whole of the pro-
visions were exhausted. Fever, dysentery, and scurvy
had broken out, and many of the garrison had died.
Out of 213 men eighty-three had been killed,
wounded, or taken prisoners. In fact an armistice


284
The Young Colonists.
The centre point of defence was a building known as
Fort Alice, 800 yards from the town, and a military
camp was formed on a height one mile and a quarter
from this point. Preparations were made to blow up
some of the buildings, should the Boers carry the
town, mines being dug and laid to the fort. A good
store of provisions was collected.
On the 29th a scout on a hill signalled a large number
of Boers were approaching Erasmus Farm, three miles
distant from Standerton. Captain Cassell, with six-
teen mounted volunteers, went out to reconnoitre.
Two or three scouts were thrown out, and these arrived
within 600 yards of the farm; suddenly a number of
Boers made their appearance, and Mr. G. B. Hall, one
of the mounted volunteers, gallantly tried to cross their
line to warn his comrades of the coming danger.
Galloping in front of the Boers, his horse was shot
under him; taking shelter behind it, he opened fire on
the enemy, and so attracted the attention of his
party. One man could not long resist 300, and Hall
was soon killed. The alarm, however, had been given
in time, and the mounted men fell back on the camp,
exchanging shots with the enemy. The Boers now
took up a position 600 yards from the camp, and kept
up a heavy fire. Skirmishes occurred daily, and the
enemy harassing the garrison from a height called
Standerton Kop, Major Montague caused a dummy-
gun, mounted on two waggon-wheels, to be placed in
the intrenchments; the sight of this frightened the
Boers off Standerton Kop.


The Young Colonists.
285
On the 7th of January a Swazi, named Infofa, who
had greatly distinguished himself by his bravery in
the Secoceni War, but was now undergoing a term of
penal servitude for culpable homicide, performed an
act of singular bravery. The Boers had during the
night erected a small earthwork on the outside of the
Vaal River; 400 yards nearer the town stood a house,
and fearing that this might be occupied by the Dutch,
it was determined to destroy it. Infofa with a party
of Kaffirs volunteered for the duty; he crossed the
river with his party, and the Kaffirs began to pull
down the house. Infofa, however, took his gun, and
marched boldly away to the Boer earthwork, 400
yards distant, to the astonishment of the lookers-on.
It happened that at the moment no Boers were pre-
sent in the works, and the man reached it without a
shot being fired at him; inside he found some tools,
and with these he deliberately set to work and
levelled the breastwork; this accomplished, he re-
turned to the party.
Until the end of the war the Boers were unable to
make any impression upon Standerton, and whenever
they approached too closely the garrison sallied out
and drove them off.
At Leydenberg fifty men of the 94th, under
Lieutenant Long, had been left, when the four com-
panies under Colonel Anstruther had marched away.
The people of the town, when the news of the rising
arrived, offered to defend themselves with the troops
against attacks; but Lieutenant Long declined to ac-


The Young Colonists. 287
terms of the treaty, and the surrender to the Boers,
that he resigned his commission in the army.
Marabadstadt, though called a village, consists of
only seven or eight houses. Sixty men of the 94th,
under Captain Brook, formed the garrison which
was stationed there to keep order after the Secoceni
War, as no less than 500,000 natives inhabit the sur-
rounding district. Fortunately the races were being
held at the time when the news of the massacre of
the 94th arrived, and the English inhabitants of the
neighbourhood, who were present, at once responded
to the call of Captain Brook to aid in the defence,
and thirty white men and fifty half-castes enrolled
themselves as volunteers. The Boers attacked in
considerable force, having with them two cannons;
but the fort held out until the end of the war,
the garrison making many sorties when the Boers
brought up their guns too close. At Rustenberg and
Wackerstroom a successful defence was also main-
tained throughout the war by the British and loyalists;
but no incidents of importance marked the siege of
those places.


The Young Colonists.
289
on himself, and they would hang round a column
like this, pick the men off at long distances, and fall
upon them in hollows and bushes; while, whenever
our fellows tried to take the offensive, they would
mount their horses and ride away, only to return and
renew the attack as soon as the troops fell back to
the waggons. Besides, with such a train of waggons
we can only crawl along, and the Boers will have time
to fortify every position. I wonder, at any rate, that
General Colley does not push forward in light march-
ing-order and drive the Boers at once out of Natal,
and cross the river into the Transvaal; then he would
have a flat, open country before him, and could bring
the waggons up afterwards."
"What you say seems right enough, Dick," his
father answered; "but General Colley has the repu-
tation of being an excellent officer."
"I have no doubt that he is an excellent officer,
father; but he has had no experience whatever in
the Boers' style of fighting; he knows that they have
often been defeated by natives, and I fancy he does
not value them highly enough. They cannot stand a
quick, sudden attack, and that's how the natives some-
times defeat them, but at their own game of shoot-
ing from behind rocks I believe that they are more
than a match for regular troops. However, we shall
see. As I am not going as a combatant I shall be
able to look on quietly, and fortunately the Boers are
not like Zulus, and there is no fear of non-combatants
and prisoners being massacred. If there were, I tell
U


The Young Colonists.
291
by them that he had started along the line of road
to the west of Newcastle, they moved their whole
force to oppose him, and took post on a position
known as Laing's Neck, at a spot where the road
had to cross over a steep and difficult ridge. Here
they set to work to throw up intrenchments, and the
leisurely, and indeed dilatory, advance of the British
gave them ample time for this. Although the dis-
tance from Newcastle to Laing's Neck was but twenty-
five miles, and the column, unimpeded by baggage,
could by a forced march have seized the position on the
very day of their leaving Newcastle, and long before
the Boers could have moved their army to reinforce
the little body who occupied the position as corps of
observation, no less than six days elapsed before Sir
George Colley's force arrived before Laing's Neck.
This time was spent in frequent halts, in im-
proving the roads, bridging the streams, and other
similar operations, all useful enough in their way,
but fatal to the success of a flying column, whose
object was to strike a sudden blow at the enemy, and
to secure the road and passes as far as the frontier, in
order to facilitate the march of the main column of
invasion, which was on its way up from the coast.
Dick and Tom chafed under the long delays,
and twice rode home and spent a day with their
parents.
At last, however, the column was in front of the
enemy's position. The Boers, who were some 3000
strong, held a strong position on the line of the crest
U 2


The Young Colonists.
293
Bailey were killed, and no less than 180 of the little
force were killed, wounded, or taken prisoners. Few
even of the survivors would have escaped, had not the
mounted infantry, who had ascended the spur at a
point farther to the right, made a gallant charge along
the crest of the hill and checked the pursuit. The
main body of the British advanced a short distance to
make a demonstration, and prevent the Boers from
following up their success. The whole column then
fell back four miles, to the ground which they had
occupied the night before. The gallantry displayed by
the 58th and mounted infantry was the sole redeem-
ing feature in the discreditable affair of Laing's Neck,
where defeat had been rendered almost certain by
the previous hesitation and delays, and was ensured
by the folly of sending a mere handful of men to
attack such a position. As the British fell back, the
Boers advanced, and at nightfall placed themselves
on the road between the camp and Newcastle, entirely
cutting the force off from its base, and threatening
both them and the town of Newcastle.
Several days passed, the attitude of the Boers be-
came more and more threatening, and General Colley
determined at all hazards to open the way back to
Newcastle. On the morning of the 8th of February
he moved out with five companies of the 60th rifles,
two field and two mountain guns, and a detachment
of mounted infantry; Dick and Tom obtained leave
to ride back with the mounted detachment. At a
commanding post near the River Ingogo Sir George


294
The Young Colonists.
Colley left two mountain-guns and a company of
rifles as a garrison, and moved forward with the rest
of the column. The River Ingogo runs at the bottom
of a deep ravine. Crossing this the English force
mounted to the top of the opposite crest, but they
had gone but a short distance farther when they were
attacked on all sides by the Boers. The troops were
ordered at once to take shelter among the boulders
and bushes, while the two guns from the top of
the eminence opened fire with shell upon the
enemy.
Dick and Tom sought shelter with the rest,
making their horses lie down beside them, and were
soon as hotly engaged as the Rifles around them in
answering the heavy fire of the Boers. The fight
began at twelve o'clock, and raged without intermission
for six hours; sometimes the Boers attacked on one
side of the position, sometimes upon another. The
ground was broken and thickly strewn with boulders
and bushes, and favoured by these the Boers crept
up sometimes close to the position held by the
English. So accurate was their shooting that none
of the defenders could show his head above shelter
for a moment, and it was as much as they could do
to prevent the enemy from carrying the position at a
rush. The 6oth fought with the greatest coolness
and steadiness, and, numerous as were the enemy,
they could not muster up courage for the rush
which would have assuredly overwhelmed the little
party that they were attacking. The two English


The Young Colonists.
295
guns could render but small service, the men being
shot down as fast as they stood up to load, and every
officer, driver, gunner, and horse was killed or
wounded within half an hour after the action com-
menced. So incessant indeed was the rain of balls
that the guns after the action were spotted with bullet-
marks so thickly that it would have been difficult
to place the tip of the finger upon a place unstruck
by a ball.
When darkness put a stop to the fight 160 men
—more than two-thirds of the force—were killed
or wounded. Among the former were Captain
MacGregor of the staff, Captain Green of the Royal
Artillery, and Lieutenants Green and O'Connell of
the 60th; while Lieutenants Pixney, Parsons, Twistle-
waite and Haworth, all of the 60th, were wounded.
Had the Boers taken advantage of the cover of dark-
ness to steal forward, they must have annihilated the
little force; but they believed that they had them
in their power, for the rain had fallen heavily, the
Ingogo had risen, and was, they thought, unfordable.
General Colley ascertained, however, that it was still possible to cross, and with the greatest silence the
survivors moved off from their position, the storm
helping to conceal the movement from the Boers.
Very quietly they moved down to the stream, and
with the greatest difficulty succeeded in crossing;
then picking up on their way the company and guns
which had been left on the eminence beyond, the
column reached camp in safety.


296
The Young Colonists.
In the meantime reinforcements had been pushing
forward from the sea as fast as possible, and on the
17th the column under Sir Evelyn Wood arrived at
Newcastle, to the great joy of its inhabitants. For days
an attack by the Boers had been expected, intrench-
ments had been thrown up round the great convoy
which had been collected to advance with the force,
and all the inhabitants who could bear arms, and
many settlers from the surrounding country, had
come in to aid in the defence, should the Boers at-
tack it.
The arrival of the relieving column ensured the safety
of the town, and the Boers between Newcastle and
General Colley's little camp at once fell back to their
old position on Laing's Neck, leaving the road open.
General Colley and his staff rode in from Prospect
Hill, the name of the camp, and had a consultation
with General Wood. The 92nd Regiment marched
out and reinforced General Colley's column.
The Boers' position at Laing's Neck was commanded
by a lofty and rugged mountain, called Majuba Hill, on
its right, and the occupation of this hill by the British
would render the position untenable. It would have
been an admirable military movement to seize this
hill when the whole force was collected at the camp
in readiness to advance, as, with their flank turned
and a force advancing for a direct attack, the Boers
must at once have retreated, but General Colley most
unfortunately desired to retrieve the two defeats he
had suffered, by compelling the Boers to fall back,


The Young Colonists.
out towards the hill, which during the day they used
as a post of observation; as they approached the out-
lying pickets fired upon them. As the sound of the
guns was heard by the Boers below, a scene of the
greatest confusion and excitement was observed from
the height to prevail. Swarms of men were seen rush-
ing hither and thither; some to their arms, some to
their horses, others to their waggons, to which the oxen
were at once harnessed, ready for a retreat in case of
necessity. Then a great portion of the Boers moved
forward towards the hill, with the evident intention of
attacking it.
At seven o'clock the enemy opened fire, and the
bullets whistled up thickly round the edge of the
plateau. The main body of the troops remained in the
centre of the plateau, out of fire, small bodies being
posted near the edge to answer the fire of the Boers
and prevent their approaching the accessible points.
For five hours the musketry duel continued. So far
its effect had been trifling, a few men only being
wounded. The position appeared perfectly safe.
The Boers were indeed between the garrison of the
hill and the camp, but the former had three days'
provisions with them, and could therefore hold out
until Sir Evelyn Wood arrived with the main body
for a direct attack upon the Boers' position.
Between twelve and one o'clock the Boers' fire
slackened, and the besieged force thought that their
assailants were drawing off; this, however, was not the
case. Under cover of the shrubs and rocks the Boers


The Young Colonists.
299
were creeping quietly up, and at one o'clock a terrific
fire suddenlybrokeout, andthe enemyin great numbers
rushed up the short interveningdistance between them-
selves and the scanty line of defenders on the edge of
the plateau; these, seized by panic, at once fled, and
the exulting Boers poured up on to the plateau and
opened a destructive fire upon the troops.
The scene which ensued was one of the most dis-
creditable in the annals of the British army. Although
armed with breech-loaders, and fully as numerous as
the assailants who had gained the crest of the hill, the
resistance offered was feeble in the extreme; had the
troops charged the Boers, the advantages of discipline
and of their vastly superior weapons would have been
irresistible, and they could have cleared the plateau as
speedily as it had been occupied. The great majority,
however, were seized with a wild panic, and, in spite
of the efforts of the officers, thought of nothing but
seeking safety in flight. A few stood and fired, but
how few these were can be judged from the fact that
only one Boer was killed, one severely wounded, and
four slightly so; while half the British force were
killed, wounded, or taken prisoners, the remainder
managing to escape down the sides of the hill, and
to join the force left at its foot, or to hide in the
bushes until night. Among the killed were General
Colley, Captain the Hon. C. Maude, Surgeon-
Major H. Cornish, Surgeon A. Landon, and Lieu-
tenant Trower of the naval brigade; eight officers
were killed, and seven taken prisoners; eighty-six men


30o
The Young Colonists.
were killed, 125 wounded, fifty-one taken prisoners,
and two missing. The fight, such as it was, lasted
five minutes. The force which had been left at the
bottom of the hill, under Captain Robertson, was also
attacked; but, being admirably led by that officer,
fought its way back to the camp with but small
loss, the guns there assisting to cover its retreat.
The boys had not accompanied the expedition, and
from the camp had watched the line of smoke round
the hill, and had joined in the laughter of the officers
at the idea of the Boers attacking so tremendously
strong a position. Intense was the astonishment in
camp when a wreath of smoke suddenly rose from the
summit, and when this cleared away, and all was quiet,
and it became evident that the Boers had carried the
position, it was difficult to say whether the feeling of
dismay or humiliation most prevailed.
With the defeat of Majuba Hill the war in the
Transvaal virtually terminated. When the news
reached England, the government declared that the
honour of the British flag should be vindicated, and
great numbers of troops were sent out to Natal;
these marched up the country, and were in readiness
to assault the Boers' position, when the English
government suddenly gave way, and granted to the
Boers all that they demanded, the sole provision
insisted upon being a purely nominal sovereignty on
the part of the queen, and an equally nominal pro-
tection for the natives—a clause in the treaty which,
from that time to this, no attempt whatever has been


The Young Colonists. 301
made to enforce. Not only were the natives
practically abandoned to the mercy of the Boers, to
be shot down or enslaved at their will, as in former
times, but the English settlers, who had for months
made such a noble defence in every town in the
Transvaal, were abandoned, and the greater portion
of them, ruined and plundered, have long since left
the country where, relying upon the empty promises
and vain guarantee of England, they had embarked
their fortunes. A more disgraceful and humiliating
chapter in English history than the war in the
Transvaal, and the treaty which concluded it, is not
to be found.
After the battle of Majuba Hill Dick and Tom
returned to their farms, resolved to have nothing
farther to do with the business; there they have re-
mained steadily since that time. Mr. Humphreys'
plantation of trees now covers a great extent of
ground, and promises fully to answer his expecta-
tions of eventual profit. Those first planted are at-
taining large size, and the thinning brings in a
considerable annual income. His waggons are fully
employed in taking down fruit to Pieter-Maritzburg.
In another ten years Mr. Humphreys expects that
he will be a very wealthy man; he is thinking next
year of paying a visit, with his wife and two sons, to
England, where John will be left to finish his education
and pass through college, with a view of eventually
entering the Church. Dick is quite contented with
his life; he has taken no farther part in trading


The Young Colonists. 303
treaty with the British government. If the day should
come when the natives at last rise and avenge upon
the Boers the accumulated injuries of many years,
neither Dick Humphreys nor Tom Jackson will be
inclined to lift a hand to save the Boers from their
well-merited fate. The example of the successful
resistance offered by the Basutos to the whole power
of the Cape government has had an immense effect
among the native tribes of South Africa, and
sooner or later the colonists there will have a very
serious crisis to pass through. Dick hopes that this
crisis will not occur in his time, for Mr. Humphreys
intends in another fifteen years, if he live so long,
when his first-planted trees will have gained maturity,
to divide his great forest into lots, to sell off, and to
return to his native land. Dick quite agrees in
the plan, and hopes some day to be settled with an
abundant competency in Old England.
THE END.


LONDON:
GILBERT AND RIVINGTON, LIMITED,
ST. JOHN'S SQUARE.


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