rty of them," he said, "but they've got no guns--
only knobkerries and some axes. On the face of the latest news I
believe they mean mischief. Now, chaps, we'll startle 'em some. They
won't know there's a whole crowd of you here. They'll think there's
only me and Selwyn to deal with. Who've got guns?"

Seven answered in the affirmative.

"All right. Now then. You, Carbutt and Harris, get to that front
window in t'other room--don't let 'em see you, though. I'll go out in
front and _indaba_ them. Selwyn 'll stand in the doorway lighting his
pipe--and when I sing out, `Let go,' blaze away into the foremost of
them. I shall want some men to go outside at the back of the house,
though."

All volunteered.

"No. You three'll do"--indicating the policeman and two others.
"Directly you hear the first shot fired, whip round to the front and
blaze into them for all you're worth. See the plan?"

"Rather, and an A1 plan it is," said Moseley, who was one of the
rearguard, slipping a couple of heavy buckshot cartridges into his
shot-gun.

Those for behind scrambled through the back windows--the other two were
already in position, one armed with a Winchester, the other with a
Lee-Metford. Hardly had they done so than the natives emerged from the
sparse bush in front.

There was nothing warlike in their aspect; indeed, to all appearance,
they might have been a gang of boys travelling round to look for work in
the mines. They halted about fifty yards from the house, and Jekyll, in
pursuance of his plan, strolled about a dozen to meet them. Then he
called for a couple of them to come up.

Who were they, he asked, and where going? They were looking for work,
the spokesman answered. Could the _'Nkose_ take any of them on? Jekyll
observed that perhaps he could do with two or three. Selwyn, the
English assistant, was standing in the doorway, carelessly lighting his
pipe. Others now began stealing up towards the two spokesmen. The
savages little knew into what a trap their treachery was leading them.
Then a shout arose from among them:--

"_Tyay' Amakiwa_!" [Strike down the whites.]

But, simultaneously with the rush made upon Jekyll, and for which the
words were the signal, the rifles of the two men at the window crashed
forth in one report. The two foremost Matabele dropped dead, while the
three men stationed behind the house were in position at once, and
simply raked the whole crowd. Again and again the