f how matters stood, and, after a hard and refreshing ride,
in the early dawn he was able to see the enemy. There they were on the
opposite bank of the Umgusa river, their fires crackling merrily, and
they themselves apparently as happy as bean-feasters in Epping Forest.
Not long after he had caught sight of these fires and the Matabele
going backwards and forwards from the water, Baden-Powell was at the
head of two hundred and fifty men riding towards the Umgusa. Under the
impression, conveyed to them by their sorry old humbug of an oracle,
that the waters of the Umgusa would open its jaws and swallow up the
wicked white man, the Matebele allowed Baden-Powell to get his force
across the stream without firing a shot; but when they found that not
only did the waters fail to overwhelm their enemies, but that these
same enemies were riding hard towards them, the Matabele took to their
heels in order to find cover in some thicker bush. Then the air began
to scream and whistle. Bullets flew by the ears of the charging
English with a _phit, phit!_ and, when they ricocheted off the ground,
with a _wh-e-e-e-w!_ Up and down bobbed the black heads in the long
rank grass, and _bang, bang, bang_ went the guns. Some of
Baden-Powell's force wanted to dismount and return the fire, but
B.-P., without a sword among his men, sang out, "Make a cavalry fight
of it. Forward! Gallop!" Then, as the horses raced snorting forward,
and the English gave a shout of battle, the Matabele, 1200 against
250, poured an irregular volley into their enemies. The next minute
the horses were in among them, flashing by with the lather on their
necks, while their riders' revolvers barked angrily in every quarter
of the field. The Matabele ran. As hard as they could lick, they
bolted like rabbits to their holes, but faster behind them came the
avenging English with the velvet glove flung aside and the iron hand
visible to their terror-stricken eyes. In the general rout, the mere
act of punishment, there were many instances of coolness and bravery.
One man got detached from the rest, and suddenly found himself
confronted by eight of the enemy. In an instant his horse was shot
under him, but almost in the same instant he was standing in front of
the eight with his rifle to his shoulder. Before they could close on
him with their knobkerries and assegais, or before they could shoot
him down, he had used his magazine fire with such deadly effect that
four of his ene