Klaas sprang for the heavy weapon; and Hume stood on an ant-hill to take a look at the foe. They appeared halting about three hundred yards off, with their shields before them, and their waving plumes nodding above, while their assegai blades threw off the sunlight in sparks.
“They have not moved,” said Miss Anstrade, “since I fired.”
But Klaas knew differently, and his keen eyes had seen a few men glide into the long grass, to show themselves momentarily at lessening intervals, and when he judged they were too near to be pleasant he cried out:
“There, baas! there, my good baas, by the round bush!” indicating a spot about one hundred yards away.
As Hume raised his Express a bullet struck the ant-hill beneath him, while a cloud of smoke drifted away from a rock to the right of the bush. At this there was a shout from the main body, and the enemy dashed forward.
The Express covered the bush, and as the leaves shook it cracked, then, swinging his gun round, he covered one of the advancing troop and fired again.
“Hit!” said Webster.
“To the laager!” shouted Hume; and the little party clambered into the enclosure.
“Lie down, Laura, there, under the waggon.”
“Will they get in?” she asked.