THE FIGHT FOR LIFE--GRAND ATTACK OF THE MATABILI--HELP ARRIVES--THE
MEETING OF OLD FRIENDS--RETREAT FROM THE STRONGHOLD.
"They may yell, Victor," exclaimed Hans, "but they have not taken us
yet: at least fifty of them will not see to-morrow's sun rise, before
they capture us. If we had only half a dozen more _Mensch_ here, we
would give them a lesson; or if we had an unlimited supply of
ammunition. Now I dare not fire a shot unless I am certain of my man;
so we cannot be as dangerous as we otherwise should be. When these new
arrivals come, they will try to scale our stronghold, and we shall then
have to use our long spears again."
In half an hour the reinforcement had joined their dark brethren, and
there was evidently a consultation going on in the ravine below: there
was much talking audible, whilst the men did not show themselves in the
neighbourhood. After a time there was a sound as if trees were being
felled, and Hans and Victor then knew some plan was going to be put in
practice against them. They were not long left in doubt, for, upon a
loud yell being uttered, five parties of Matabili, each consisting of
above twenty men, rushed towards the rocks, each carrying a slender tree
about forty feet in length. These they had cut, and left a few branches
on, so that they could be easily climbed. The trees were to be placed
against the face of the rock, and in fact were not a bad imitation of a
scaling-ladder.
"Our guns for this, Victor," said Hans; "let us thin them as they come;
then our spears as they come within reach of them."
To men fighting for their lives as were the two Dutchmen, a shot was a
matter of deep importance; and so steady was their aim, that after four
discharges the bearers of two of the trees had suffered so severely that
they retreated precipitately to the cover of the bush. The others,
however, placed theirs upright against the rock, and had they been able
to ascend three or four abreast, the fate of Hans and his party would
soon have been decided; the Matabili, however, would not quit their
shields or spears, and therefore, with only one hand to aid them, and
being able to ascend merely one after the other, Hans and Victor had
time to reload, and before the most active savage could set his foot on
the rock, he was thrust back with the long spears, a second and a third
stabbed in the same manner, whilst, dropping the spear and seizing his
gun, Hans shot two Matabili who were urging on those before them.
Such rapid slaughter caused a panic among those who were exposed to the
deadly aim of the hunters, and they gave up their first attempt of
climbing on the rock, and fled amongst the bushes and trees.
"Now, Hans," said Victor, "let us push these trees down: it will take
them some time to put them up again."
The two men pushed the tops of the trees which reached to their position
on one side, and then by aid of their long bamboos shoved them so much
out of the perpendicular that they fell by their own weight to the
ground.
Having accomplished this, they were able to turn their attention to
their numerous enemies below them, who seemed to be clustering together
for a second rush, and another attempt on their stronghold. The whole
force had now assembled for a determined assault, and were merely
waiting for the signal of the chief who was to direct them. At this
instant Hans heard the voice of Katrine, which was audible amidst the
din of the yelling savages below. Knowing that she would not take off
his attention unless for a special reason, he called out--
"What is it, Katie?"
"Help is near, Hans: I am certain I saw three mounted Mensch ride at a
gallop over the far ridge, and enter the bush. I just looked there, and
as I looked I saw these three an instant before they disappeared."
"Are you certain, Katie? But three men, unless they could come up here
to us, will only be slaughtered if they get into the bush."
"There might have been many more, Hans, and they might have gone out of
sight before I looked up; but they must come here in a very few minutes.
Oh, the fiends, how they yell!" exclaimed Katrine, as the Matabili,
preparing for their rush, shrieked at the top of their voices.
"Don't let us waste a shot, Victor: we must hold on another half-hour,
and we may get aid. Rate has seen white men near."
"The Matabili are very numerous, Hans: I hope there will be plenty of
aid, if it does come."
"Look, Victor! look! what are they doing?" exclaimed Hans, as the
Matabili, suddenly ceasing their yells, turned from the rock, and ran
rapidly into the bush.
The two besieged men were not long left in uncertainty as to the change
in the Matabili's proceedings, for from the bush below there came the
loud report of a gun, followed by a second, and then half a dozen at a
time. The threatening yells of the Matabili were changed into shrieks
of agony, as they felt the deadly effects of the double-barrelled guns
of nearly thirty experienced hunters. For a few minutes the black
warriors stood their ground, and even attempted a charge; but their
ox-hide shields offering no resistance to the bullets of their
opponents, the boldest among them were soon shot, and the remainder fled
in disorder, staying not until they had reached the more open plain, or
when exhausted and out of breath they could run no more.
The hunters were not yet aware whether their friends and connexions were
all safe, but they determined to revenge themselves on their savage
foes; so, signalling for their horses, which had been left concealed in
the ravines below, and in charge of five of their party, about twenty
hunters mounted their steeds, and galloping after their retreating
enemies, shot them down without mercy. Out of that yelling and exulting
band, which an hour before had been threatening Hans' party with instant
death, not half a dozen men remained to sneak by night over the plain,
and to report to their chief the disasters that had occurred to them.
Bernhard's anxiety was so great to ascertain the fate of Katrine's
sister and the others of the party, that he no sooner found the Matabili
in retreat than he came back to the rock from which he had heard the
firing, and there recognised Hans and Victor, who with Katrine and her
sister were watching their enemies driven rapidly before their friends
and brethren.
Upon recognising Bernhard, Hans threw his cap in the air and shouted for
joy.
"Come up, Bernhard," he exclaimed. "Come and see our strong kraal; two
hundred Matabili could not take it from us. Come up, that we may
welcome you."
Guided by the numbers of slain to what he supposed must be the place for
the ascent, Bernhard, with considerable difficulty, managed to climb up
the rock; but he would not have been able to secure a footing on it had
it not been for the aid of his two friends, who pulled him up when no
other means of ascent existed. Bernhard's welcome was a hearty one. No
formalities or rules laid down by cold-hearted reasoners checked the
natural affection of these people: Katrine threw her arms round him, and
amidst her tears and kisses thanked him as the preserver of her sister
and Hans. The two men, though less demonstrative, were not less sincere
in their welcome, and for a few minutes they could think of nothing but
gratitude to their preserver, and thankfulness for their escape.
"How did you manage to return so soon, Bernhard?" inquired Hans: "we
feared you could not return under a week."
"I luckily came across all our people as they were out on a patrol.
They expected some Matabili might be coming near them to spy, and so
they came out in a large body, both to hunt and to look out for an
enemy. We are not safe any where from Moselekatse, and unless we give
him a lesson, we shall be eaten up by him. What weapon is this?"
exclaimed Bernhard, as he saw the long lance which Hans had made with
the blade of the Matabili's assagy and the bamboo stick.
Hans explained how he had made it, and how effective it had proved
against their assailants, whilst he led Bernhard round the small rock,
and showed him the method he had adopted to make his retreat secure.
All his expedients were fully appreciated by Bernhard, who listened
attentively to Hans' description of the Bushmen's death, the attempt of
the Matabili to cast rocks upon him, and their last endeavour to climb
the rock by aid of trees.
"The rock is not easy to ascend even when friends help you," said
Bernhard; "and when you are to be rewarded with a thrust from that lance
the instant you reach the summit, it is no wonder the Matabili did not
get up. You could not have slept much, Hans, during the last three
nights, nor have you had very good dinners. When the men all come back
from finishing those rascals, we will have a good feast; and you must
tell the Mensch all your adventures. We have been lucky, Hans: few men
go through such scenes as we have, and live to tell it. Poor Katie
looks worn out, and no wonder; and her sister too is ill. But we have
horses for them to ride home, and they shall sleep in peace to-night,
for there will be plenty to watch."
The hunters who had followed the Matabili returned slowly from the
pursuit, but at length all of them assembled around or on the rock.
Much interest and curiosity were manifested by them all to examine the
means which had enabled Hans to hold out against such overwhelming odds.
Each hunter appreciated the strength of the place after he had climbed
up the rock; and so formidable was this ascent, that several declined to
attempt it: by raising one of the trees against the rock, and securing
this there, they were all enabled to ascend.
The means taken by Hans to cut off his communication with the
neighbouring ground, by destroying the narrow causeway that had joined
the two, was approved of by the most experienced men, whilst Hans' long
spear delighted the hunters.
Firewood having been collected in the ravine below, a fire was soon
made, and some dozen or more tin pannikins were brewing coffee, whilst
large eland steaks were being broiled, and the victorious hunters and
their rescued relatives enjoyed a hearty meal.
Being aware of the strength and cunning of their enemy, the leader of
the party decided to lose no time in escaping beyond where it was likely
he would be followed; so, as the horses were now refreshed, as well as
their riders, the steeds were saddled, and the whole party rode forward,
towards the country in which their main body had taken up their
residence. Fearing no immediate attack from the Matabili, though aware
of the necessity of watchfulness, hunting was carried on only to a
sufficient extent to supply the bivouac with food. Eland beef,
therefore, was plentiful, and other varieties of game not wanting; so
that but little hardship was encountered even by Katrine and her sister
during the four days that they took to ride to the lager of their
relatives.