I exclaimed: "the blacks are upon us--there is not a moment
to lose if we intend to save our lives."

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Bracewell. "You've seen a big `boomer,' or the
stump of a tree, which you have mistaken for a black fellow."

I loudly protested that I was not mistaken, and advised them to load
their rifles with ball.

While I was speaking, a spear quivered in the tree close to where they
were sitting. They jumped to their feet in an instant.

"If we don't take care, we shall have the horses wounded," I exclaimed,
and I ran to where they were feeding, leaving Guy and Bracewell to keep
watch for the appearance of our enemies.

Just as I had brought the horses up, and was tethering them behind the
clump of trees, the mob of blacks came in sight, shrieking and dancing
and brandishing their spears.

Bracewell, on this, exclaimed, "We'll show them that we're not to be
trifled with; or they will become bolder, and make a rush upon us with
their waddies. Guy, do you pick off that fellow on the right; I'll take
the fellow in the centre who is nourishing his weapon--he intends to
hurl it at us as soon as he gets near enough. Maurice, you must keep
them in check while we are reloading, but don't fire unless they
advance."

As he spoke, he and Guy pulled their triggers. As the smoke cleared off
I saw two blacks on the ground--my companions were rapidly reloading
while I kept my rifle pointed at the advancing mob. I had my eye upon
one of them, who appeared to be leader. We were tolerably well
sheltered by the roots of the trees, so that we could take aim without
exposing ourselves.

The determined front we exhibited did not however deter the blacks from
advancing, and as they did so, they sent a whole shower of spears, which
stuck quivering in the trunk of the tree forming our chief protection.
Several, however, passed and fell into the ground close to the horses,
fortunately none of which were injured.

I fired and brought down the man at whom I had aimed; I then sprang
behind shelter and reloaded, while my brother and Bracewell knocked over
two more.

It was dreadful work, having thus to kill our fellow-creatures; but at
that moment all we thought about was that they intended to kill us, and
that it was our business to defend our lives. Whether or not we should
do so successfully seemed very doubtful; for as far as we could judge,
while they flitted in and out among the trees, there were a hundred or