bed to the rocks above the
plateau: they had then loosened some large stones, and were preparing to
cast these down on the two Dutchmen, when the latter, attracted by the
noise, turned and saw their danger.

The rocks above the plateau on which were the white men rather overhung
than receded from the perpendicular, so that it required the man who
hurled the stone to lean forward in order to cast it on the right spot:
had it fallen attracted by gravity alone, the stones would have passed
clear of the plateau, and would have descended into the ravine below.
The ground above the slight ridge on which the Matabili had taken up
their position was nearly perpendicular, and being bare of underwood,
offered no cover to the men who had to descend it, a single false step
would have resulted in the fall of the man into the ravine below, where
he would be undoubtedly dashed to pieces. Thus it was a most daring
proceeding to descend to the ridge above the plateau. This position,
however, entirely commanded the Dutchmen's defences, and had not the
Matabili made a slight noise, the white men might have remained ignorant
of the position of their enemies, until the fall of heavy stones on or
near them warned them of their danger.

Immediately Hans saw the Matabili preparing to cast these heavy stones
on him, he called to Victor to keep close to the rocks. "They cannot
touch us here," said Hans; "but we must use some bullets on them, or
they may drop stones on us as we are resisting the men who venture to
climb up. Yes," he continued, "that is their plan, and it is clever.
These men above hope to keep us back whilst the others obtain a footing
on our rock, then it would be all over with us; but we will just teach
them a lesson. Now, Victor, we must be quicker than those stones; we
must run out and back so rapidly that we shall get the men to hurl their
rocks down, but we must avoid them; then instantly, before they have
another rock ready, we must shoot them down. They are not sixty yards
above us, and we can each drop a running ourebi at that distance. Are
you ready now?"

"Yes," replied Victor, and the two men ran out into an exposed position,
and, waiting an instant, sprang back under cover of the rock. They were
only just in time to avoid two heavy masses of stone that were hurled at
them by the Matabili above them; whilst those below shouted defiantly,
and instantly commenced again to ascend to their enemies.

"Now for o