ediately thereafter clouds began to
gather and to thicken in the blue of Heaven, and within two hours rain
fell in torrents, so that every one could drink his fill, and the spring
being replenished at its sources, flowed again strongly.

After the rain came cold and moaning winds, and after the wind a great
gloom and thunder.

Now, taking advantage of the shadow, the regiments of Hafela renewed
their attack, and this time they carried the first of the three walls,
for its defenders grew feeble and few in number. There they paused a
while, and save for the cries of the wounded and of frightened women,
the silence was great.

"Let your hearts be filled up!" cried the voice of Hokosa through the
silence; "for the sunlight shines upon the plain of the Great Place
yonder, and in it I see the sheen of spears. The _impi_ travels to your
aid, O children of Nodwengo."

Now, at this tidings the people of the king shouted for joy; but
Hafela called to his regiments to make an end of them, and they hurled
themselves upon the second wall, fighting desperately. Again and again
they were beaten back, and again and again they came on, till at
length they carried this wall also, driving its defenders, or those who
remained alive of them, into the third entrenchment, and paused to rest
awhile.

"Pray for us, O Prophet who are set on high!" cried a voice from the
camp, "for if succour do not reach us speedily, we are sped."

Before the echoes of the voice had died away, a flash of lightning
flared through the gloom, and in the light of it Hokosa saw that the
king's _impi_ was rushing up the gorge.

"Fight on! Fight on!" he called in answer. "I have prayed to Heaven, and
your succour is at hand."

Then, with a howl of rage, Hafela's regiments hurled themselves upon
the third and last entrenchment, attacking it at once in front and rear.
Twice they nearly carried it, but each time the wild scream of Hokosa
on high was heard above the din, conjuring its defenders to fight on and
fear not, for Heaven had sent them help. They fought as men have seldom
fought before, and with them fought the women and even the children.
They were few and the foe was still many, but they listened to the
urging of him whom they believed to be inspired in his death-agony upon
the cross above them, and still they held their own. Twice portions of
the wall were torn down, but they filled the breach with the corpses of
the dead, ay! and with the bodies of t