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wheels even being filled in with bags and boxes, and as we drew near they were still busy driving in their cattle and horses, for some of their herds had sighted us from afar. Yet even then they were obliged to leave much of their cattle outside. But to this we gave no heed, for we counted all these as ours already, and such as were scattered about the land we could collect at our leisure. With a roar and a rush our _impi_ went at the waggon forts, spreading out in "horns" so as to enwrap the whole in a wall of living leaping men. But the long guns from within began to spit forth destruction and death. Pouring into the dense masses of the charging warriors the storm of lead wrought terrible havoc. Those behind, eager to get in among the enemy, bore onward the front ranks, and for these there was no turning back. The air trembled with roars of anguish and of fury, as the lead ploughed through body and limb; and in the death-throes the warriors in the foremost ranks would make one more effort to hurl themselves upon the grim foe who lined the waggons, so resolute, so cool, and yet so prompt to strike hard when opportunity offered. Sudden as our onslaught had been, huge our force, so grimly determined was the resistance of those Amabuna, fighting for their lives and for their cattle and women, that they actually beat back one side of the attack. Now we, _izinduna_, as the Zulu custom had then become, were taking no active part in the battle, but from our station on a neighbouring rise were directing the movement of our people, by signal or by runner. But seeing one side of the _impi_ falling into confusion we could sit still no longer. Tambusa's eyes were like those of a hungry lion, and for long my broad assegai--Umzilikazi's gift--had seemed to burn within my grasp. We sprang to our feet. "Now, Untuswa!" cried Silwane, "you and I will fight side by side, even as once we fought against each other." Down we rushed. We were here--there--everywhere. Under the influence of our presence, the encouragement of our voices, the wavering side of the _impi_ rallied, and hurled itself--a solid black wave--upon the waggon barricade once more. _Hau_! I seemed to see nothing clearly then. All was red about me. Our warriors, baring their teeth, howled like beasts, making furious leaps in their attempts to reach these determined and terrible enemies; but ever to be met by those fierce, shaggy countenances, smoke-b
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