enemy, thrown into
confusion, when apparently all was going well with the attack. An
arrow struck on the rock, then another.

"The tree," he said, pointing into a great tree-top. "Let one chief
fire into the tree and the other at the white spot."

"I see the white spot," said Compton; and again he emptied his
magazine, while Venning riddled the tree-top, out of which at the
discharge men dropped in haste.

"Cease firing," came the command from below. "Now, my children,
forward once more. They run."

"They run!" shouted Muata's men, as they swept out from the defile
after Mr. Hume.

"At the white spot," said the Zulu, gripping Compton by the arm.
"Fire; ye will not hurt our men. There are men with guns where the
white is; and, see, others join them. Quick! Shoot, white men, or
they slay our friends."

A flame spurted out from the gloom down where the white specks
gathered, and the Lee-Metfords were not idle. The little bullets
rang into the place where those white-robed Arabs were waiting with
their rifles, and before they could play their part, the beaten van
of their assaulting party broke upon them in their flight. The
battle was over! Muata, returning from the killing of the men he had
decoyed into the valley, raised the shout of victory, and the two
boys went down into the gorge to join in the throng of exultant and
excited warriors.

"Way for the chief's white men!" cried the Angoni Zulu, staggering
from his hurts.

"Bayate! to the white men," shouted the warriors, rattling their
spears.

"We are no chiefs men," said Compton, proudly.

"Ohe!" said Muata, overhearing the words. "Lion's cub, I hear. Ye
shall have the chief's feather; and the great one, where is he?"

Out of the darkness beyond came the chant of deep voices--the song
of the men who had held the gate, "The great one," "Lion-throated,"
"He whose roar filled the valley," and so on, until they recognized
the form of their chief, when very wisely they directed their praise
to his deeds.

Mr. Hume, bare-armed, reeking of battle, hoarse from shouting,
stepped up and gripped hands with the boys.

"We go to our house on the hill, chief," he said.

"There will be feasting to-night, my brothers, and your places will
be beside the chief," said Muata.

"'Sot for us. Feast well; but watch well also, for Hassan has not
had his fill. Come, lads."

They left Muata giving directions for guarding the gate, and went
back through the gorge into th