st of which were the hunters. These
warriors did not leave the white men long in doubt as to their
intentions; but beating their shields, and waving their assagies, they
rushed in towards their supposed victims.

With that readiness of expedient which a long training in such hunting
expeditions as those we have described is likely to produce, the
Dutchmen saw their only chance for escape. They turned their horses,
and firing a destructive volley at the Matabili who blocked the path in
their rear, spurred their horses, and charged at the opening which their
bullets and slugs had cleared. Each man retained a charge in one
barrel; and as each neared the enemy he fired from the saddle, and
mostly killed or disabled his foe. So sudden had been the attack, and
so rapid the retreat, that in five minutes from the first alarm the
hunters found themselves clear of the bush, and with no further loss
than two horses severely gashed by the assagies of their enemies, who
fortunately possessed no fire-arms.

"The men belong to the old villain Moselekatse," said Hans; "we must
fight them in the open and not spare a man, or our waggon and oxen will
be captured; let us halt and try to draw them out into this open bush.
Are you all loaded, men?" inquired Hans, who, though nearly the youngest
of the party, seemed at once to assume the position of leader.

"Yes, we are all, I think," replied several... "And here come the
Matabili, thinking to close with us. Now, for not wasting a single
charge, give them the bullet in the distance, buckshot when nearer, the
treacherous villains;" as he finished speaking he fired, and a dozen
bullets were discharged; immediately afterwards, the dull thud of the
bullets and the falling bodies of the enemy indicating the accuracy of
the aims. The party were waiting for the Matabili to approach within
range of buckshot and slugs; but Victor, luckily looking round, saw that
two detachments had been sent round on the flanks in an endeavour to
surround the horsemen, so that an immediate retreat was necessary.
Every one of the hunters was, however, able to load his weapon whilst
proceeding at full gallop; so that, having retreated far enough to
escape being surrounded, the Boers halted, faced about, and again
discharged their deadly weapons at the foe.

The leader of the Matabili soon saw that this system of fighting was not
likely to lead to satisfactory results, so he whistled a signal to his
men, who