hest. At the same
moment a native from behind a boulder fired at that officer at ten
paces' distance; the bullet missed him and Lieutenant Lloyd rode at the
man, but fell, shot through the head. Colonel Wood and Captain Ronald
Campbell rode forward to cover his body. Two more Zulus fired at the
same instant and the colonel's horse fell dead. Colonel Wetherby's men
were hotly engaged at close quarters with the Zulus, and were unable to
join the colonel. Captain Campbell, Lieutenant Lysons, and the eight
90th men of the escort rushed at the opening. Captain Campbell fell,
shot through the head, but the rest dashed forward.

There was a movement in the cave and a sudden shout in English of "Come
on!" and as the little band dashed in and fell upon the Zulus they saw,
to their astonishment, two English boys, armed with assegais, attacking
these in the rear. In another minute the Zulus were all cut down, and
the party returned to Colonel Wood.

On the previous afternoon Zulu scouts had arrived at Zlobani with the
news that an English column was on its way towards it. Messengers were
despatched to Umbelleni's kraal, and at night his force there came to
the assistance of those at Zlobani. Early in the morning the boys
proceeded with a number of Zulus to the edge of the plateau, and were
placed with eight of their guards in a cave. From its mouth they
watched anxiously the events of the day.

Colonel Buller's party had struck upon the right road, and after hard
fighting gained the summit of the cliff. Here a great quantity of
cattle were collected, and these were sent off in charge of a body of
friendly natives, which accompanied the force. This column in the
advance had not passed near the cave in which the boys were placed.
Their hearts beat high as they saw Colonel Wood's column suddenly turn
off from the line which Buller had followed, and make straight for it.
Their excitement grew higher and higher as the conflict increased in
vigour.

Soon the Zulus in the cave were at work. When Captain Campbell charged
forward with his handful of men, Dick and Tom exchanged a glance. They
stood quiet until it was evident that the English attack would be pushed
home; then, as the men of the 90th, led by Lysons, dashed at the
entrance of the cavern, the boys seized two assegais and each pinned one
of the crouching Zulus to the ground. Before the others could turn
round upon them Lysons and his men were among them.

Th