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a single man open his lips。 Then； it is true； there went up one
simultaneous and mighty roar of：
〃The Child！ Death to Jana！ The Child！ The Child！〃
But this happened a few minutes later。
As we drew near the enemy I saw that they had massed their footmen in
a dense body； six or eight lines thick。 There they stood to receive
the impact of our charge； or rather they did not all stand； for the
first two ranks were kneeling with long spears stretched out in front
of them。 I imagine that their appearance must have greatly resembled
that of the Greek phalanx； or that of the Swiss prepared to receive
cavalry in the Middle Ages。 On either side of this formidable body；
which by now must have numbered four or five hundred men； and at a
distance perhaps of a quarter of a mile from them； were gathered the
horsemen of the Black Kendah； divided into two bodies of nearly equal
strength； say about a hundred horse in each body。
As we approached； our triangle curved a little； no doubt under the
direction of Har？t。 A minute or so later I saw the reason。 It was that
we might strike the foot…soldiers not full in front but at an angle。
It was an admirable man？uvre； for when presently we did strike； we
caught them swiftly on the flank and crumpled them up。 My word！ we
went through those fellows like a knife through butter； they had as
much chance against the rush of our camels as a brown…paper screen has
against a typhoon。 Over they rolled in heaps while the White Kendah
spitted them with their lances。
〃The Child is top dog！ My money on the Child；〃 reflected I in
irreverent ecstasy。 But that exultation was premature； for those Black
Kendah were by no means all dead。 Presently I saw that scores of them
had appeared among the camels； which they were engaged in stabbing； or
trying to stab； in the stomach with their spears。 Also I had forgotten
the horsemen。 As our charge slackened owing to the complication in
front； these arrived on our flanks like two thunderbolts。 We faced
about and did our best to meet the onslaught； of which the net result
was that both our left and right lines were pierced through about
fifty yards behind the baggage camels。 Luckily for us the very
impetuosity of the Black Kendah rush deprived it of most of the fruits
of victory； since the two squadrons； being unable to check their
horses； ended by charging into each other and becoming mixed in
inextricable confusion。 Then； I do not know who gave the order； we
wheeled our camels in and fell upon them； a struggling； stationary
mass； with the result that many of them were speared； or overthrown
and trampled。
〃I have said we； but that is not quite correct； at any rate so far as
Mar？t； Hans； I and about fifteen camelmen were concerned。 How it
happened I could not tell in that dust and confusion； but we were cut
off from the main body and presently found ourselves fighting
desperately in a group at which Black Kendah horsemen were charging
again and again。 We made the best stand we could。 By degrees the
bewildered camels sank under the repeated spear…thrusts of the enemy；
all except one； oddly enough that ridden by Hans； which by some
strange chance was never touched。 The rest of us were thrown or
tumbled off the camels and continued the fight from behind their
struggling bodies。
That is where I came in。 Up to this time I had not fired a single
shot； partly because I do not like missing； which it is so easy to do
from the back of a swaying camel； and still more for the reason that I
had not the slightest desire to kill any of these savage men unless I
was obliged to do so in self…defence。 Now； however； the thing was
different； as I was fighting for my life。 Leaning against my camel；
which was dying and beating its head upon the ground； groaning
horribly the while； I emptied the five cartridges of the repeater into
those Black Kendah； pausing between each shot to take aim； with the
result that presently five riderless horses were galloping loose about
the veld。
The effect was electrical； since our attackers had never seen anything
of the kind before。 For a while they all drew off； which gave me time
to reload。 Then they came on again and I repeated the process。 For a
second time they retreated and after consultation which lasted for a
minute or more； made a third attack。 Once more I saluted them to the
best of my ability； though on this occasion only three men and a horse
fell。 The fifth shot was a clean miss because they came on in such a
scattered formation that I had to turn from side to side to fire。
Now at last the game was up； for the simple reason that I had no more
cartridges save two in my double…barrelled pistol。 It may be asked
why。 The answer is； want of foresight。 Too many cartridges in one's
pocket are apt to chafe on camel…back and so is a belt full of them。
In those days also the engagements were few in which a man fired over
fifteen。 I had forty or fifty more in a bag； which bag Savage with his
usual politeness had taken and hung upon his saddle without saying a
word to me。 At the beginning of the action I found this out； but could
not then get them from him as he was separated from me。 Hans； always
careless in small matters； was really to blame as he ought to have
seen that I had the cartridges； or at any rate to have carried them
himself。 In short； it was one of those accidents that will happen。
There is nothing more to be said。
After a still longer consultation our enemies advanced on us for the
fourth time； but very slowly。 Meanwhile I had been taking stock of the
position。 The camel corps； or what was left of it； oblivious of our
plight which the dust of conflict had hidden from them； was travelling
on to the north； more or less victorious。 That is to say； it had cut
its way through the Black Kendah and was escaping unpursued； huddled
up in a mob with the baggage animals safe in its centre。 The Black
Kendah themselves were engaged in killing our wounded and succouring
their own； also in collecting the bodies of the dead。 In short； quite
unintentionally； we were deserted。 Probably； if anybody thought about
us at all in the turmoil of desperate battle； they concluded that we
were among the slain。
Mar？t came up to me； unhurt； still smiling and waving a bloody spear。
〃Lord Macumazana；〃 he said； 〃the end is at hand。 The Child has saved
the others； or most of them； but us it has abandoned。 Now what will
you do？ Kill yourself； or if that does not please you； suffer me to
kill you？ Or shoot on until you must surrender？〃
〃I have nothing to shoot with any more；〃 I answered。 〃But if we
surrender； what will happen to us？〃
〃We shall be taken to Simba's town and there sacrificed to the devil
JanaI have not time to tell you how。 Therefore I propose to kill
myself。〃
〃Then I think you are foolish； Mar？t； since once we are dead； we are
dead； but while we are alive it is always possible that we may escape
from