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entrenchment。
By the time that all was ready and every man had been given to drink
from the great jars of water which stood along the walls； the massive
wooden doors began to burn through； though this did not happen for
quite half an hour after the enemy had begun to attempt to fire them。
They fell at length beneath the battering of poles； leaving only the
mound of earth and stones which we had piled up in the gateway after
the closing of the doors。 This the Black Kendah； who had raked out the
burning embers； set themselves to dig away with hands and sticks and
spears； a task that was made very difficult to them by about a score
of our people who stabbed at them with their long lances or dashed
them down with stones； killing and disabling many。 But always the dead
and wounded were dragged off while others took their places； so that
at last the gateway was practically cleared。 Then I called back the
spearmen who passed into the ranks behind us； and made ready to play
my part。
I had not long to wait。 With a rush and a roar a great company of the
Black Kendah charged the gateway。 Just as they began to emerge into
the court I gave the word to fire； sending fifty Snider bullets
tearing into them from a distance of a few yards。 They fell in a heap；
they fell like corn before the scythe； not a man won through。 Quickly
we reloaded and waited for the next rush。 In due course it came and
the dreadful scene repeated itself。 Now the gateway and the tunnel
beyond were so choked with fallen men that the enemy must drag these
out before they could charge any more。 It was done under the fire of
myself； Hans and a few picked shotssomehow it was done。
Once more they charged； and once more were mown down。 So it went on
till our last cartridge was spent； for never did I see more
magnificent courage than was shown by those Black Kendah in the face
of terrific loss。 Then my people threw aside their useless rifles and
arming themselves with spears and swords fell back to rest； leaving
Har？t and his company to take their place。 For half an hour or more
raged that awful struggle； since the spot being so narrow； charge as
they would； the Black Kendah could not win through the spears of
despairing warriors defending their lives and the sanctuary of their
god。 Nor； the encircling cliffs being so sheer； could they get round
any other way。
At length the enemy drew back as though defeated； giving us time to
drag aside our dead and wounded and drink more water； for the heat in
the place was now overwhelming。 We hoped against hope that they had
given up the attack。 But this was far from the case； they were but
making a new plan。
Suddenly in the gateway there appeared the huge bulk of the elephant
Jana； rushing forward at speed and being urged on by men who pricked
it with spears behind。 It swept through the defenders as though they
were but dry grass； battering those in front of it with its great
trunk from which swung the iron balls that crushed all on whom they
fell； and paying no more heed to the lance thrusts than it might have
done to the bites of gnats。 On it came； trumpeting and trampling； and
after it in a flood flowed the Black Kendah； upon whom our spearmen
flung themselves from either side。
At the time I； followed by Hans； was just returning from speaking with
Ragnall at the gate of the second court。 A little before I had retired
exhausted from the fierce and fearful fighting； whereon he took my
place and repelled several of the Black Kendah charges； including the
last。 In this fray he received a further injury； a knock on the head
from a stick or stone which stunned him for a few minutes； whereon
some of our people had carried him off and set him on the ground with
his back against one of the pillars of the second gate。 Being told
that he was hurt I ran to see what was the matter。 Finding to my joy
that it was nothing very serious； I was hurrying to the front again
when I looked up and saw that devil Jana charging straight towards me；
the throng of armed men parting on each side of him； as rough water
does before the leaping prow of a storm…driven ship。
To tell the truth； although I was never fond of unnecessary risks； I
rejoiced at the sight。 Not even all the excitement of that hideous and
prolonged battle had obliterated from my mind the burning sense of
shame at the exhibition which I had made of myself by missing this
beast with four barrels at forty yards。
Now； thought I to myself with a kind of exultant thrill； now； Jana； I
will wipe out both my disgrace and you。 This time there shall be no
mistake； or if there is； let it be my last。
On thundered Jana； whirling the iron balls among the soldiers； who
fled to right and left leaving a clear path between me and him。 To
make quite sure of things； for I was trembling a little with fatigue
and somewhat sick from the continuous sight of bloodshed； I knelt down
upon my right knee； using the other as a prop for my left elbow； and
since I could not make certain of a head shot because of the continual
whirling of the huge trunk； got the sight of my big…game rifle dead on
to the beast where the throat joins the chest。 I hoped that the heavy
conical bullet would either pierce through to the spine or cut one of
the large arteries in the neck； or at least that the tremendous shock
of its impact would bring him down。
At about twenty paces I fired and hitnot Jana but the lame priest
who was fulfilling the office of mahout； perched upon his shoulders
many feet above the point at which I had aimed。 Yes！ I hit him in the
head； which was shattered like an eggshell； so that he fell lifeless
to the ground。
In perfect desperation again I aimed； and fired when Jana was not more
than thirty feet away。 This time the bullet must have gone wide to the
left； for I saw a chip fly from the end of the animal's broken and
deformed tusk； which stuck out in that direction several feet clear of
its side。
Then I gave up all hope。 There was no time to gain my feet and escape；
indeed I did not wish to do so； who felt that there are some failures
which can only be absolved by death。 I just knelt there； waiting for
the end。
In an instant the giant creature was almost over me。 I remember
looking up at it and thinking in a queer sort of a wayperhaps it was
some ancestral memorythat I was a little ape…like child about to be
slain by a primordial elephant； thrice as big as any that now inhabit
the earth。 Then something appeared to happen which I only repeat to
show how at such moments absurd and impossible things seem real to us。
The reader may remember the strange dream which Hans had related to me
that morning。
One incident of this phantasy was that he had met the spirit of the
Zulu lady Mameena； whom I knew in bygone years； and that she bade him
tell me she would be with me in the battle and that I was to look for
her when death drew near to me and 〃Jana thund