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Kendah all night。
These were sleeping not more than half a mile away； in an open place
on the slope of the hill with pickets thrown out round them； intending
to advance upon us； it was said； as soon as the sun rose； since
because of their number they feared lest to march at night should
throw them into confusion and； in case of their falling into an
ambush； bring about a disaster。 Such at least was the story of two
spies whom our people had captured。
There had been some question as to whether we should not attempt a
night attack upon their camp； of which I was rather in favour。 After
full debate； however； the idea had been abandoned； owing to the
fewness of our numbers； the dislike which the White Kendah shared with
the Black of attempting to operate in the dark； and the well chosen
position of our enemy； whom it would be impossible to rush before we
were discovered by their outposts。 What I hoped in my heart was that
they might try to rush us； notwithstanding the story of the two
captured spies； and in the gloom； after the moon had sunk low and
before the dawn came； become entangled in our pitfalls and outlying
entrenchments； where we should be able to destroy a great number of
them。 Only on the previous afternoon that cunning old fellow； Hans；
had pointed out to me how advantageous such an event would be to our
cause and； while agreeing with him； I suggested that probably the
Black Kendah knew this as well as we did； as the prisoners had told
us。
Yet that very thing happened； and through Hans himself。 Thus： Old
Har？t had come to me just one hour before the dawn to inform me that
all our people were awake and at their stations； and to make some last
arrangements as to the course of the defence； also about our final
concentration behind the last line of walls and in the first court of
the temple； if we should be driven from the outer entrenchments。 He
was telling me that the Oracle of the Child had uttered words at the
ceremony that night which he and all the priests considered were of
the most favourable import； news to which I listened with some
impatience； feeling as I did that this business had passed out of the
range of the Child and its Oracle。 As he spoke； suddenly through the
silence that precedes the dawn； there floated to our ears the
unmistakable sound of a rifle。 Yes； a rifle shot； half a mile or so
away； followed by the roaring murmur of a great camp unexpectedly
alarmed at night。
〃Who can have fired that？〃 I asked。 〃The Black Kendah have no guns。〃
He replied that he did not know； unless some of my fifty men had left
their posts。
While we were investigating the matter； scouts rushed in with the
intelligence that the Black Kendah； thinking apparently that they were
being attacked； had broken camp and were advancing towards us。 We
passed a warning all down the lines and stood to arms。 Five minutes
later； as I stood listening to that approaching roar； filled with
every kind of fear and melancholy foreboding such as the hour and the
occasion might well have evoked； through the gloom； which was dense；
the moon being hidden behind the hill； I thought I caught sight of
something running towards me like a crouching man。 I lifted my rifle
to fire but； reflecting that it might be no more than a hyena and
fearing to provoke a fusilade from my half…trained company； did not do
so。
Next instant I was glad indeed； for immediately on the other side of
the wall behind which I was standing I heard a well…known voice gasp
out：
〃Don't shoot； Baas； it is I。〃
〃What have you been doing； Hans？〃 I said as he scrambled over the wall
to my side； limping a little as I fancied。
〃Baas；〃 he puffed； 〃I have been paying the Black Kendah a visit。 I
crept down between their stupid outposts； who are as blind in the dark
as a bat in daytime； hoping to find Jana and put a bullet into his leg
or trunk。 I didn't find him； Baas； although I heard him。 But one of
their captains stood up in front of a watchfire； giving a good shot。
My bullet found /him/； Baas； for he tumbled back into the fire making
the sparks fly this way and that。 Then I ran and； as you see； got here
quite safely。〃
〃Why did you play that fool's trick？〃 I asked； 〃seeing that it ought
to have cost you your life？〃
〃I shall die just when I have to die； not before； Baas；〃 he replied in
the intervals of reloading the little rifle。 〃Also it was the trick of
a wise man； not of a fool； seeing that it has made the Black Kendah
think that we were attacking them and caused them to hurry on to
attack /us/ in the dark over ground that they do not know。 Listen to
them coming！〃
As he spoke a roar of sound told us that the great charge had swept
round a turn there was in the pass and was heading towards us up the
straight。 Ivory horns brayed； captains shouted orders； the very
mountains shook beneath the beating of thousands of feet of men and
horses； while in one great yell that echoed from the cliffs and
forests went up the battle…cry of 〃/Jana！ Jana！/〃a mixed tumult of
noise which contrasted very strangely with the utter silence in our
ranks。
〃They will be among the pitfalls presently；〃 sniggered Hans； shifting
his weight nervously from one leg on to the other。 〃Hark！ they are
going into them。〃
It was true。 Screams of fear and pain told me that the front ranks had
begun to fall； horse and foot together； into the cunningly devised
snares of which with so much labour we had dug many； concealing them
with earth spread over thin wickerwork； or rather interlaced boughs。
Into them went the forerunners； to be pierced by the sharp； fire…
hardened stakes set at the bottom of each pit。 Vainly did those who
were near enough to understand their danger call to the ranks behind
to stop。 They could not or would not comprehend； and had no room to
extend their front。 Forward surged the human torrent； thrusting all in
front of it to death by wounds or suffocation in those deadly holes；
till one by one they were filled level with the ground by struggling
men and horses； over whom the army still rushed on。
How many perished there I do not know； but after the battle was over
we found scarcely a pit that was not crowded to the brim with dead。
Truly this device of Ragnall's； for if I had conceived the idea； which
was unfamiliar to the Kendah； it was he who had carried it out in so
masterly a fashion； had served us well。
Still the enemy surged on； since the pits were only large enough to
hold a tithe of them； till at length； horsemen and footmen mixed up
together in inextricable confusion； their mighty mass became faintly
visible quite close to us； a blacker blot upon the gloom。
Then my turn came。 When they were not more than fifty yards away from
the first wall； I shouted an order to my riflemen to fire； aiming low；
and set the example by loosing both barrels of an elephant gun at the
thickest of the mob。 At that distance even