ers were about a thousand yards from us, so
it was evident that we had no time to lose. I at once ordered the men
to commence the ascent, the girl Maiwa, who was familiar with the pass,
going first to show them the way. Accordingly they began to mount with
alacrity, pushing and lifting their loads in front of them. When the
first of them, led by Maiwa, reached the projecting angle, they put
down their loads upon a ledge of rock and clambered over. Once there, by
lying on their stomachs upon a boulder, they could reach the loads which
were held to them by the men beneath, and in this way drag them over the
awkward place, whence they were carried easily to the top.

"But all of this took time, and meanwhile the soldiers were coming up
fast, screaming and brandishing their big spears. They were now within
about four hundred yards, and several loads, together with all the
tusks, had yet to be got over the rock. I was still standing at the
bottom of the cliff, shouting directions to the men above, but it
occurred to me that it would soon be time to move. Before doing so,
however, I thought that it might be well to try and produce a moral
effect upon the advancing enemy. In my hand I held a Winchester
repeating carbine, but the distance was too great for me to use it with
effect, so I turned to Gobo, who was shivering with terror at my side,
and handing him the carbine, took my express from him.

"The enemy was now about three hundred and fifty yards away, and the
express was only sighted to three hundred. Still I knew that it could be
trusted for the extra fifty yards. Running in front of Wambe's soldiers
were two men--captains, I suppose--one of them very tall. I put up the
three hundred yard flap, and sitting down with my back against the rock,
I drew a long breath to steady myself, and covered the tall man, giving
him a full sight. Feeling that I was on him, I pulled, and before the
sound of the striking bullet could reach my ears, I saw the man throw up
his arms and pitch forward on to his head. His companion stopped dead,
giving me a fair chance. I rapidly covered him, and fired the left
barrel. He turned round once, and then sank down in a heap. This caused
the enemy to hesitate--they had never seen men killed at such a
distance before, and thought that there was something uncanny about the
performance. Taking advantage of the lull, I gave the express back to
Gobo, and slinging the Winchester repeater over my back I be