Between Snow and Fire — page 124: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

2 7 ‘ 4 * ys al Pa ge oe re ae ee iw * ~ ~ ‘> -_ : 4 _ } | CHAPTER XIX, THE LAST CARTRIDGE. THis is what they saw. Over the brow of the high ridge, about a mile in their rear, a dark mass was advancing. It was like a disturbed ants’ nest—on they came, those dark forms, swarming over the hill—and the sun glinted on assegai blades and gun- barrels as the savage host poured down the steep slope, glancing from bush to bush, rapidly and in silence. ‘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 ascowl. “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 over- head—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 drawtheir attention, while another party, with a chorus of shouts and deafening whistles, and waving their 116 GComichoo (e(o)