ehind the waggon, sitting his horse as if uninjured. The Zulus could
also be seen, with their assegais poised, eager to hurl them at him; but
he still kept ahead of them. The pursuers, excited by the ardour of the
chase, at length got within musket range of the west angle of the fort,
from whence a warm fire was opened upon them. They appeared not to be
aware of their danger until the bullets came flying about their ears,
when turning tail they ran off as fast as they had before been going in
an opposite direction, and Vermack drove his panting steeds up to the
drawbridge. They were quickly over, bringing in a considerable load of
grass.

Captain Broderick descended to thank Crawford for the service he had
rendered.

"I should have been caught, however, had I not heard your signal guns,"
he answered; "for the Zulus were creeping up so noiselessly, that they
were almost upon us before the men had time to jump into the waggon; and
even though Vermack lashed on his horses, we had great difficulty in
keeping ahead of them."

It is needless to say that Crawford received a further reward from the
way he was greeted by Helen, who had been more anxious, probably, than
any one else during his absence.

The supply of grass thus brought in was of great assistance in feeding
the cattle, but it had to be husbanded to the utmost, as the Zulus were
certain not to let the waggon go out again without making an attempt to
capture it.

Another and another day passed as the first had done. The Zulus kept
carefully out of sight. The scouts, who went cautiously out, reported
that they had fallen in with the enemy's scouts in the neighbourhood,
evidently keeping a strict watch on the fort, so that no one would be
able to leave it without a risk of being cut off.

The fodder was now running very short. There was scarcely enough for
the animals for another day. They might, to be sure, yet live a day or
two without food, although they would suffer in consequence; but that
was better than allowing them to fall into the enemy's hands.

Two days more passed. Every particle of food was gone. It was
determined as a last resource to turn out the cattle at night. Two of
the Hottentots bravely volunteered to drive them towards the mountains;
but Vermack expressed his opinion that that was more than they could do,
as the poor animals, having been so long starved, were certain to remain
feeding on the first pasture land they came to. "