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histrionic powers of Har？t。
I must add； however； that being without doubt a keen observer of the
weather conditions of the neighbourhood； he was quite right about the
rain upon the mountains； which by the way never extended to the
territory of the People of the Child。 As we heard afterwards； the
flood came down just as the envoys reached the river； indeed； one of
them was drowned in attempting its crossing； and for fourteen days
after this it remained impassable to an army。
That very evening we began our preparations to meet an attack which
was now inevitable。 Putting aside the supposed rival powers of the
tribal divinities worshipped under the names of the Child and Jana；
which； while they added a kind of Homeric interest to the contest；
could； we felt； scarcely affect an issue that must be decided with
cold steel and other mortal weapons； the position of the White Kendah
was serious indeed。 As I think I have said； in all they did not number
more than about two thousand men between the ages of twenty and fifty…
five； or； including lads between fourteen and twenty and old men still
able…bodied between fifty…five and seventy； say two thousand seven
hundred capable of some sort of martial service。 To these might be
added something under two thousand women； since among this dwindling
folk； oddly enough； from causes that I never ascertained； the males
out…numbered the females； which accounted for their marriage customs
that were； by comparison with those of most African peoples；
monogamous。 At any rate only the rich among them had more than one
wife； while the poor or otherwise ineligible often had none at all；
since inter…marriage with other races and above all with the Black
Kendah dwelling beyond the river was so strictly taboo that it was
punishable with death or expulsion。
Against this little band the Black Kendah could bring up twenty
thousand men； besides boys and aged persons who with the women would
probably be left to defend their own country； that is； not less than
ten to one。 Moreover； all of these enemies would be fighting with the
courage of despair； since quite three…fourths of their crops with many
of their cattle and sheep had been destroyed by the terrific hail…
burst that I have described。 Therefore； since no other corn was
available in the surrounding land； where they dwelt alone encircled by
deserts； either they must capture that of the White Kendah； or suffer
terribly from starvation until a year later when another harvest
ripened。
The only points I could see in favour of the People of the Child were
that they would fight on the vantage ground of their mountain
stronghold； a formidable position if properly defended。 Also they
would have the benefit of the skill and knowledge of Ragnall and
myself。 Lastly； the enemy must face our rifles。 Neither the White nor
the Black Kendah； I should say； possessed any guns； except a few
antiquated flintlock weapons that the former had captured from some
nomadic tribe and kept as curiosities。 Why this was the case I do not
know； since undoubtedly at times the White Kendah traded in camels and
corn with Arabs who wandered as far as the Sudan； or Egypt； nomadic
tribes to whom even then firearms were known； although perhaps rarely
used by them。 But so it was； possibly because of some old law or
prejudice which forbade their introduction into the country； or mayhap
of the difficulty of procuring powder and lead； or for the reason that
they had none to teach them the use of such new…fangled weapons。
Now it will be remembered that； on the chance of their proving useful；
Ragnall； in addition to our own sporting rifles； had brought with him
to Africa fifty Snider rifles with an ample supply of ammunition； the
same that I had trouble in passing through the Customs at Durban； all
of which had arrived safely at the Town of the Child。 Clearly our
first duty was to make the best possible use of this invaluable store。
To that end I asked Har？t to select seventy…five of the boldest and
most intelligent young men among his people； and to hand them over to
me and Hans for instruction in musketry。 We had only fifty rifles but
I drilled seventy…five men； or fifty per cent。 more； that some might
be ready to replace any who fell。
From dawn to dark each day Hans and I worked at trying to convert
these Kendah into sharpshooters。 It was no easy task with men； however
willing； who till then had never held a gun； especially as I must be
very sparing of the ammunition necessary to practice； of which of
course our supply was limited。 Still we taught them how to take cover；
how to fire and to cease from firing at a word of command； also to
hold the rifles low and waste no shot。 To make marksmen of them was
more than I could hope to do under the circumstances。
With the exception of these men nearly the entire male population were
working day and night to get in the harvest。 This proved a very
difficult business； both because some of the crops were scarcely fit
and because all the grain had to be carried on camels to be stored in
and at the back of the second court of the temple； the only place
where it was likely to be safe。 Indeed in the end a great deal was
left unreaped。 Then the herds of cattle and breeding camels which
grazed on the farther sides of the Holy Mount must be brought into
places of safety； glens in the forest on its slope； and forage stacked
to feed them。 Also it was necessary to provide scouts to keep watch
along the river。
Lastly； the fortifications in the mountain pass required unceasing
labour and attention。 This was the task of Ragnall； who fortunately in
his youth； before he succeeded unexpectedly to the title； was for some
years an officer in the Royal Engineers and therefore thoroughly
understood that business。 Indeed he understood it rather too well；
since the result of his somewhat complicated and scientific scheme of
defence was a little confusing to the simple native mind。 However；
with the assistance of all the priests and of all the women and
children who were not engaged in provisioning the Mount； he built wall
after wall and redoubt after redoubt； if that is the right word； to
say nothing of the shelter trenches he dug and many pitfalls；
furnished at the bottom with sharp stakes； which he hollowed out
wherever the soil could be easily moved； to discomfit a charging
enemy。
Indeed； when I saw the amount of work he had concluded in ten days；
which was not until I joined him on the mountain； I was quite
astonished。
About this time a dispute arose as to whether we should attempt to
prevent the Black Kendah from crossing the river which was now running
down； a plan that some of the elders favoured。 At last the controversy
was referred to me as head general and I decided against anything of
the sort。 It seemed to me that our force was too small； and that if I
took the rifle…men a great deal of ammunition might be expende