pleaded with
those to whom mercy was unknown. The sharp assegais of Cetchwayo's
warriors did their death work rapidly and surely. His victorious bands
pressed forward, closing in on their victims.

Hendricks stood observing the battle through his telescope, which he
occasionally handed to Crawford and Denis. The scene enacted on the
ground near the foot of the hill could be clearly observed with the
naked eye, but through the glass alone could be distinguished what was
taking place in the distance.

One path leading towards the river alone remained open, and towards it a
few who had been posted in that direction were seen endeavouring to make
their escape. The greater number were pursued and overtaken; but one
warrior, who had exhibited wonderful activity, kept those chasing him at
bay, and hurling his assegais with unerring aim, brought one after the
other to the ground; then once more resuming his flight, he gained the
river, and, plunging in, was no more seen.

"Well, I'm glad that poor fellow got off," exclaimed Denis, who had been
watching him anxiously. "I hope he'll make his escape; for he must be
very brave, or he would not have turned round and fought his enemies in
the way he did. It is dreadful to see what is going on below us."

The battle-field had now become a scene of indiscriminate slaughter.
Here and there a few groups could be discerned standing amidst their
fallen comrades, supporting one of their chiefs, and hurling back the
assegais aimed at them, which they had caught on their shields, and
which had fallen at their sides; but the numbers in these groups were
rapidly diminishing: first one man fell, then another, then another,
until several were seen to fall together, and at last their enemies,
rushing on with triumphant shrieks, and hurling their assegais, brought
the remainder to the ground, finishing those who had fallen with
repeated thrusts of their sharp weapons. At length but one group
remained in the midst of the corpse-strewn field. They gazed fiercely
round them, well knowing that ere long they must be like those lying
dead at their feet. Still they fought on, keeping their assailants at
bay. In their midst was a chief, known by his tall plume and stalwart
figure, a very Ajax in appearance. Cetchwayo, seeing the determined
resistance offered, and that numbers of his men were falling, summoned a
company of his own regiment, and led them on to the attack. The
struggle was fi