Captain Broderick possessed but a small garrison to defend such
extensive fortifications as those of Falls Farm against the numerous
horde of savages now threatening to assault it. But he could trust
thoroughly to the vigilance and courage of most of his men, and old
Vermack was a host in himself, while his sons and Crawford had already
shown the stuff they were made of. As to Biddy, he was very sure she
would fight to the last, but he had to charge her not to expose herself,
as she showed an inclination to do.
He possessed sufficient firearms to furnish each man, including Biddy,
with a couple of rifles or muskets, besides the two swivels, but he had
reason to fear, should the siege be protracted, that, his ammunition
might run short. He had therefore warned his men not to throw a shot
away.
Percy, ever fertile in resources, proposed that they should carry up to
the platform a quantity of stones, a large heap of which had been
collected to erect a storehouse which might be impervious to the attacks
of ants. No sooner did the idea occur to him, than he told his sisters
what he wanted. Wheelbarrows had been introduced on the farm, and a
couple were standing ready. Getting three or four big baskets with
strong handles, the young ladies, glad to find occupation, at once set
to work, as did their mother, and exerting more strength than they
fancied they possessed, they quickly filled the baskets, and brought
them under the platform, when they were speedily hoisted up, each man
being soon supplied with a heap. This was done before the Zulus had
recommenced their advance.
When Captain Broderick saw the enemy coming, he directed his wife and
daughters to retire into the house.
"If the fellows venture to come near enough, they may hurl their
assegais over the wall, and you will run the risk of being hurt," he
shouted. "Remember we are fighting for you, and it would be a poor
satisfaction to drive off the enemy, and find that you had been injured.
We will call you if you are wanted, but I enjoin you to keep under
shelter until then."
Mrs Broderick and the young ladies obeyed the captain's orders.
Although they were not allowed to fight, they could pray for the safety
of those they loved.
Captain Broderick had the satisfaction of feeling that he had not
provoked the attack by any unjust act on his part. It might possibly
have been avoided, had he ungratefully refused to afford protection to
Mangaleesu and his wife, who had been of essential service to Percy and
Denis, but not for a moment did he regret having performed the duty he
had taken on himself.
On and on came the Zulus, confident in their numbers, evidently
believing that the fortifications of Falls Farm would afford no greater
resistance than the stockades of their kraals. Captain Broderick would
even now thankfully have avoided bloodshed, if the savages would have
given him the opportunity. He had hitherto lived at peace with his
neighbours, and had proved the result of judicious kindness to a large
number of Kaffirs, not further advanced in civilisation than those now
arrayed in arms against him. He ordered his men not to fire a shot
until he should give the command. As soon as the enemy got within hail,
he shouted, at the top of his voice--
"Why do you thus come to attack me? Beware before it is too late! I am
prepared to receive you, and make you repent that you come as enemies
instead of as friends."
He was well aware that the principal object of the Zulu chiefs was the
destruction of the farm, they having become jealous of its existence so
close to their own borders, for they considered that it afforded
protection to others besides Mangaleesu who desired to escape from their
tyranny, and who, from being kindly treated, became firm friends to the
English.
As soon as they understood the tenor of Captain Broderick's address they
began shouting and clashing their shields to drown his voice.
"Their blood be upon their own heads," he cried out to his own men.
"Remember to pick off the fellows with tall plumes. If we kill the
chiefs, their followers will quickly take to flight."
"We will see to that," answered Vermack with a grin, as he tapped the
lock of his rifle.
The other men, in various tones, responded to the same effect.
Although the Zulus shouted and shrieked, and rushed on as if resolved
that nothing should stop their progress until they were inside the
stockade, the resolute front exhibited by Captain Broderick and his men
evidently damped their ardour as they approached. Had the guns been
fired while they were at a distance, when the shot would have produced
comparatively little effect, they would have come on more boldly, but
the perfect silence maintained by the defenders puzzled them. They
observed also that there were fewer men on the walls than they had
before seen, and they began to fancy that an ambuscade had been formed,
by which they might suddenly be attacked on the flank. So Captain
Broderick suspected. He remarked that the rear ranks were not coming on
at the same speed as those in front, while many of the men were looking
uneasily over their left shoulders. He still waited, however, until the
front rank, led by the most daring of their chiefs, had got within
half-musket range.
The discharge of one of the swivels was the signal for opening fire.
Captain Broderick pulled the trigger, and the next instant his men were
blazing away as fast as they could fire and reload.
When the smoke had cleared off, the whole Zulu force was seen hastily
retreating, dragging off several of their number killed or wounded.
Biddy, as she saw them scampering off, gave vent to a truly Irish shout
of triumph, which was taken up by Percy, and echoed by most of the
defenders of the fort.
"All very well," observed Vermack, in his usual dry way; "but, friends,
don't be trusting those fellows. They have found us better prepared
than they expected, but they're not beaten yet. They'll bide their
time, and wait till they can see a chance of getting in with less risk
to themselves."
"Vermack gives you good advice, my lads," said Captain Broderick. "I
agree with him entirely: we must not relax our vigilance, but keep on
the watch day and night."
"For my part, I wish that they had come on again and let us finish the
business off hand," exclaimed Percy. "What do you say, father, to our
sallying out and pursuing them? I should like to do it, for the chances
are they would take to flight, and not stop until we had driven them
across the river."
"No, no; we must not despise them too much," answered Captain Broderick.
"If they saw a small force coming, they would to a certainty turn, and
probably surround and cut us off. We are secure within our stockade as
long as we keep a watch to prevent surprise, and here we must remain
until our enemies grow tired and give up the attempt to destroy us, or
until the authorities at Natal hear of the position in which we are
placed, and send a sufficient force to our relief. But as the messenger
I despatched cannot yet have got to Maritzburg, I fear it will be many a
long day before we can rely on assistance from that quarter."
The movements of the Zulus were watched with considerable anxiety. They
continued to retreat until they were completely out of sight, but
whether or not they had recrossed the river it was impossible to
ascertain without sending out scouts. This Captain Broderick was
unwilling to do, as they would run a great risk of being cut off by the
enemy, who would, to a certainty, be on the watch for them, and good men
could ill be spared from the garrison.
The hours went by. Night came on. Nothing more had been seen of the
enemy. The captain, as he went his rounds, charged the sentries to keep
a bright look-out. It was arranged that Rupert and Crawford should keep
one watch, while Percy and Lionel, or rather Walter, as his family
called him, kept the other. Biddy was very indignant at being sent back
to the kitchen.
"Sure I've bin a gineral all day, an' fought as well as the best of ye,
and now I'm to be turned back into a cook an' an old woman, when I'd be
watching as sharply as any of the men lest those spalpeens of
black-a-moors should be coming back at night to attack us," she
exclaimed, as she sheathed her sword and doffed the captain's coat and
hat.
The young ladies had long before put off their martial attire. They now
set to work to assist Biddy in preparing supper, of which the garrison
stood greatly in need. Only one portion could partake of it at a time,
so that Biddy and the young ladies had work enough in running backwards
and forwards with the dishes. The fare was ample, there being no lack
of food in the fort; and as soon as the men had supped, they returned,
some to their posts and others to lie down until it was their turn for
duty.
Rupert and Crawford kept the first watch, but no enemies were seen, nor
did even the dogs give warning that any strangers were in the
neighbourhood. They then aroused Percy and Lionel, who sprang from
their couches with all the zeal of young soldiers.
"This reminds me of many a night's watch we have had together when
travelling with Hendricks," said Percy. "I thought when I came to the
farm that I should have had too quiet a life of it, but I like this sort
of thing, and I hope we shall give the Zulus a lesson which will teach
them we are not to be molested with impunity."
"We must keep a very strict watch, then," said Lionel. "I know how
cunning they are, and that their great object will be to throw us off
our guard. I have not the slightest expectation that they will come
to-night or to-morrow night either. They may wait days and weeks until
they think they can catch us unawares, and then they will come down like
a thunder-clap on the farm. They are not aware, however, that our
father has sent to Maritzburg, and my hope is that they will put off the
attack until we get assistance, and they will have to hurry away as fast
as they can run. I have no wish to see the poor savages killed. They
are urged on by their chiefs, and know no better."
Lionel was right in his conjectures that the fort would not be attacked,
for the sun rose once more, and the whole country looked peaceful and
smiling as ever. Not a Zulu was to be seen with the naked eye, and the
only sign of their having been near the fort was the trampled grass,
stained here and there with the blood of their wounded warriors.
Percy took a look through the telescope. He observed that a body of men
remained at their former camping-place at the foot of the hills to the
eastward, and in the distance to the south he made out several black
heads on the move, showing that the Zulus were still waiting for an
opportunity either of attacking the farm to advantage, or of capturing
the fugitives. They were of course not aware of the powerful instrument
which enabled the garrison to watch their movements, while their sharp
eyes could scarcely see even the fort itself.
Percy having taken his observations, called his father, as he had been
desired to do. The captain's first thought was about the cattle. The
fodder stored in the farm was barely sufficient to last more than a
couple of days. It would be necessary to collect a further supply. The
grass, however, in the neighbourhood of the farm had already been cut
for that purpose, or had been trampled down by the Zulus, and the men
must therefore go to a considerable distance to obtain it.
This undertaking would be hazardous; for should they be perceived by the
Zulus, attempts would certainly be made to cut them off.
Crawford, on hearing what was required, at once volunteered to go out in
charge of a party, promising to keep strict watch, and should any
enemies be seen, at once to return.
Captain Broderick accepted his offer. He thought it wiser to go
mounted; and the waggon, with horses harnessed to it, was sent to bring
back the grass.
Vermack went as driver, and four other men accompanied him to cut and
load the waggon. The captain gave Crawford his field glass, to assist
him in keeping a watch on the enemy. Percy promised also to be on the
look-out, and to fire guns as signals, should he observe any movement
among them.
As there was no time to be lost, the party immediately set off. They
were watched anxiously from the fort until they were out of sight.
A couple of hours quickly passed, during which time Percy, accompanied
by Lionel, had kept constant watch from the platform. Suddenly Lionel,
who was looking through the glass, exclaimed--
"I see some of the Zulus moving to the westward. Depend upon it they
have discovered Crawford, and from where he is he cannot see them."