The Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer WarsHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
History
The Young Colonists: A Story of the Zulu and Boer Wars
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
Transvaal (South Africa) -- History -- War of 1880-1881 -- Juvenile fiction; Zulu War, 1879 -- Juvenile fiction
Presently two or three of the natives were seen coming back over the
brow, having given up the pursuit. 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 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?"
"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.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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