d
lighted it. The oxen were about twice that distance from him--rendered
frantic by the yells and whistling of the savages urging them on behind.
The flame roared up the soaked sacking, and as he waved this about, on
a level with the eyes of the animals, Hyland fired off a series of
appalling yells worthy of the savages themselves. Would his plan
succeed? Those watching it seemed turned to stone. The oxen were
almost upon him--they could not stop. Then, as he charged them with the
flaming ball, they were suddenly seen to split off into two sections,
and in wild mad career to dash through those who would have turned them
back, galloping away into distance. Almost before the enemy, coming on
behind, could take in this feat its daring perpetrator was back within
the defences again. A ringing cheer broke forth. It was answered from
the other side.

_Usutu_! _'Sutu_!

The roar of the terrible black wave as it rolled forward. It was full
daylight now, and the tossing shields, and broad blades gripped in each
right hand were clearly discernible. The war-shout of the late King
told that these were largely made up of those from beyond the river.
The defenders had to meet the dreaded Zulu charge.

Would it never be turned? The guns of the defenders grew hot, with the
rapidity of the fire. Assegais came whizzing over the breastwork--one,
striking a man between the shoulders as he lay at his post, literally
pinned him to the earth--but no one had time to notice this. That awful
raking of the front ranks, combined with a wholesome dread of the barbed
wire, whose disastrous effects they had witnessed, had brought the
savages to a halt. Assegais, however were hurled in showers, killing
another man and wounding several. For a moment the fate of the day hung
by a hair, but the terrible incessant fire, and that from guns that
seemed to need no reloading, was too much. The line wavered, then
dropping to the ground, the assailants crawled away among the grass and
bushes as before.

A sigh of relief that was almost a murmur, escaped the defenders. Grim,
haggard-eyed, they looked furtively at each other, and each, in the face
of his fellow, saw the reflection of his own. Each and all had been
within the Valley of the Shadow. It had seemed not within their power
to turn that last charge, but--they had done it. An odd shot or two was
fired at long range after the retreating army, and then men found
speech, but even the