"I'm afraid we shall have to give up the cattle, lads, and fight our way out," said Shelton, as he took in the full strength of the advancing Kafirs. "Those chaps mean business, and there are too many of them and too few of us." "We'll make it hot for 'em, all the same," said Carhayes, with a scowl. "I have just put two more nicks on my gun-stock--not sure I oughtn't to have had four or five, but am only certain of two--Hallo! That's near." It was. A bullet had swept his hat off, whirling it away a dozen yards. At the same time puffs of smoke began to issue from the hillside, and the twigs of the bushes beyond were sadly cut about as the enemy's missiles hummed overhead--but always overhead--pretty thickly. At first, the said enemy was rather chary of showing himself, although they could see groups of red figures flitting from bush to bush, and the whigge of bullets and potlegs became more and more unpleasantly near, while from the slope above jets of smoke and flame kept bursting forth at all points. The plan of the whites was to make a running fight of it. While one-half of the patrol drove on the cattle, the other half was to fight on foot, covering their comrades' retreat, but always keeping near enough to close up, if necessary. "Now, boys--let 'em have it!" cried Shelton, as a strong body of the enemy made a sudden rush upon their left flank to draw their attention, while another party, with a chorus of shouts and deafening whistles, and waving their assegais and karosses, darted in between the cattle and their captors, with the object of separating and driving off the former. A volley was discharged--with deadly effect, as testified by the number who fell, wounded, maimed, or stone dead. The rest rushed on, gliding in among the fleeing cattle--whistling and yelling in a frenzy of excitement. "Keep cool, boys, and fire low," cried Carhayes--who was in command of the dismounted party--as a crowd of Kafirs suddenly started up on their rear, and, with assegais uplifted, threatened a determined charge. "Now!" Again there was a roar, as the whole fire was poured into the advancing mass. Even the horses, steady, trained steeds as they were, began to show restiveness, terrified by the continuous crash of firing and the fierce yells of the savages. Then, without pausing to reload, every man discharged his revolver into the very thick of the leaping, ochre-smeared warriors. It was too much. The latter wavered, then dropped into cover.