e fire of Buller's men from above drove the Zulus from their
hiding-places. But Colonel Wood, finding it impossible to make his way
up at this point, moved round at the foot of the rocks, to try and find
the point at which Buller had ascended the cliff. Before doing so,
however, the bodies of Captain Campbell and Lieutenant Lloyd were
carried down the hill, and buried in a hastily-made grave. As, carrying
their wounded men, the little party made their way to the foot of the
cliff, Untongo, who had been reconnoitring the rocks on both sides, ran
down to him and began to talk rapidly, pointing over towards the plain.

Colonel Wood did not understand Kaffir, but Dick, who was standing by,
said--

"He says, sir, that there is a great Zulu army marching below."

Colonel Wood mounted a fresh horse, and making his way with great
difficulty across some broken ground reached a point where he could see
the plain. There, in five continuous columns, the Zulu army from
Ulundi, 20,000 strong, was sweeping along at its usual rapid pace. It
was evident at once that only by a speedy retreat could any of the force
hope to escape. Colonel Wood despatched a message at once to Colonel
Russell, who had with his force by this time commenced the ascent at the
extreme westerly point, to retrace his steps instantly, and to cover as
far as possible the retreat of the native allies with the cattle.

Colonel Buller above had also seen the coming danger. So far he had
accomplished his work admirably. The Zulu position had been
triumphantly stormed, and a large number of cattle taken and driven off.

Had Colonel Wood's force and Wetherby's troop arrived on the scene of
action immediately after Buller had ascended to the plateau, the retreat
could have been made in time, and the expedition would have been
successful at all points. The unfortunate incident of their losing the
track, the delay caused thereby, and their inability to rejoin him had
given time for the Ulundi army to come up.

Colonel Buller found that it was impossible now to descend to the plain
by the path by which he had ascended. Not only would he have to fight
his way back through the whole force of Umbelleni, but his retreat by
that route would be cut off by the Ulundi men. Consequently, pursued by
a great body of exulting Zulus, he made his way along the plateau to the
steep path at its extremity.

The scene here was terrible. The Zulus blocked the way in front and