the garrison of the town, which consisted of 450 European
soldiers and a small body of mounted Hottentots, weakened to the extent
of 100 men.

On that same April morning Colonel Wilshire was quietly inspecting a
detachment of the mounted Cape Corps, when the Hottentot Captain Boezac,
chief of a band of buffalo-hunters, informed him that he had just
received information of Makana's advance. The Colonel, mounted on a
fleet charger, at once rode off with an escort of ten men to
reconnoitre. He came unexpectedly on the enemy in a ravine not far from
the town. They were taking a rest before rushing to the assault, and so
sure were these poor savages of their irresistible power, that thousands
of their wives and children followed them with their mats, pots, and
cooking-jars ready to take possession of the place!

Colonel Wilshire retreated instantly, and there was need for haste. The
Kafirs pursued him so closely that he reached his troops only a few
minutes before them.

The small band of defenders more than made up for the difference in
numbers, by the deadly precision of their fire. The Kafirs came on in a
dense sable mass, led by their various chiefs, and generalled by the
Lynx, who had impressed his followers with the belief that the muskets
of the foe were charged only with "hot water!"

The field pieces of the troops were loaded with shrapnel shells, which
at the first discharge mowed long lanes in the advancing masses, while
musketry was discharged with deadly effect. But Kafirs are stern and
brave warriors. On they came with wild cries, sending a shower of short
spears, (assagais), before them, which, however, fell short. Regardless
of the havoc in their ranks, they still came on, and the foremost men
were seen to break short their assagais, with the evident intention of
using them more effectively as daggers in hand-to-hand conflict. This
was deliberately done by Makana's orders, and showed his wisdom, for,
with the great bodily strength, size, and agility of the Kafirs, and
their overwhelming numbers, the attack, if promptly and boldly made at
close quarters, could not have failed of success.

At this moment the Hottentot Captain Boezac created a diversion. He
rushed with his band of a hundred and thirty men to meet the foe. These
buffalo-hunters had among them some of the coolest and best marksmen in
the country. Singling out the boldest of those who advanced, and were
encouraging their followers