“Come on, Dick,” shouted Archie, slinging his empty Maynard on his back and drawing his pistols from their holsters.
“Lewis, you and Bob stay where you are,” commanded Uncle Dick. “You’re safe there, and in a few minutes we shall be in a position to help you.”
The boys, led by Uncle Dick, at once put their horses into a full gallop. Walter, who was seated on the driver’s box, springing up behind his brother, and Frank bringing up the rear, carrying a revolver in each hand, and banging away every time he saw a head to fire at. The oxen, frightened by the shouting and the noise of the firearms, tried to follow, but three of them had already been killed in the yoke, and the leaders turning back upon those in the rear, the team became mixed up in the greatest confusion.
Frank was astonished at the force with which the Zulus threw their spears. They did not throw them very accurately, for the reason that they were so very much afraid of the bullets which rattled about among the rocks, that they did not spend an instant in poising their weapons before they launched them; but they sent them through the air with great speed, and those which struck the oxen and horses made wounds that were almost instantly fatal. Presently Frank was given further proof that they were terrible weapons in the hands of those who knew how to use them. Archie, who was galloping along in front of him, mounted on the splendid animal which he had paraded before his cousin when the latter drew the ungainly beast he was then riding, suddenly came to the ground all in a heap. Frank drew up on the instant, and the utmost horror was depicted on his countenance as he threw himself from his saddle and kneeled by his cousin’s side. As he did so a spear whistled through the air and buried itself in the sand beside him, but he paid no attention to it. His thoughts were wholly wrapped up in his cousin, who set his fears at rest by saying, cheerfully,
“I’m all right, but I’ve lost my horse at last. Did you see that spear go through his neck? He has fallen on my leg, and I—Oh, Frank!”
The latter, who had seized his cousin by the shoulders, and was exerting all his strength to pull him to his feet, suddenly released his hold and fell by Archie’s side. At the same time there was a whistling sound in the air, and Archie looked up to see the shaft of a spear quivering in the air above his cousin’s side, the point being out of sight. It looked as though it was buried in Frank’s body, but fortunately it was not. It had passed through the haversack in which he carried the cartridges for his Maynard, and was thrown with sufficient force to carry him to the ground. The next moment the grim warrior who launched the weapon came tumbling heels over head down the bank, while a triumphant shout from Dick Lewis told the cousins who it was that sent him there.
“It is hot about here, Frank. You had better take care of yourself,” said Archie.
The only notice Frank took of this friendly advice was to jump to his feet and renew his efforts to release his cousin. This time he was successful, but when he lifted him to his feet Archie found that he could not stand alone. That, however, was a matter of small moment seeing that Frank had a horse close by. The animal had remained motionless where his rider left him, and it was the work of but a few seconds for Frank to jump into the saddle and pull his cousin up after him. This done, he put the animal to the top of his speed, and the two were carried safely down the ravine and into the midst of their friends, who having reached the hill of which Uncle Dick had spoken, were in a position to drive the Zulus from the field. Having a cross-fire upon them they had complete command of their position, and one volley was all that was needed to send them flying up the hill on each side of the ravine.
As soon as the Zulus were out of sight the trappers arose from their concealments, and having removed the saddles and bridles from their dead steeds and thrown them into the wagon, they proceeded to put the train in motion, Uncle Dick and his party keeping up a steady fire all the while to prevent the return of the savages. While Bob cut the dead oxen loose from the yokes, Dick forced the leaders back into their places, and when the animals had been made to understand what was required of them, they brought the wagon up the hill in safety. It was a lucky fight taken altogether. The Zulus must have suffered severely; the trappers said they had seen a dozen or more of them tumble into the ravine, while all the travellers lost were three oxen and as many horses. Frank had had a very narrow escape. The weapon which had so nearly ended his existence was packed carefully away in the wagon with the haversack still fast to it. He intended that these articles should some day occupy a prominent place among the curiosities in his room at the cottage.
The misfortunes which had thus far followed the travellers seemed to end with that fight. From that time forward things worked as smoothly as could be desired. Fortune first smiled upon them the next morning when the Griquas, who had been engaged to accompany them to the coast, entered the camp. The Zulus having been whipped and driven out of the country, they were no longer afraid to fulfil their contract. Walter was glad to see them, for he was tired of acting as driver, and so were the rest of the boys, for they were relieved of the task of inspanning. They passed back through the Boer settlement, and here another surprise awaited them. The Dutchmen having had time to recover their good-nature were in the humor for trading, and at every farm they visited some of the goods, which they thought they would have to carry back to Grahamstown with them, were exchanged for fat cattle. Long before they reached the coast their stock was exhausted, there was a drove of eighty oxen following behind the wagon, and those of the party who had lost their horses were remounted on animals purchased from the Boers. Everything was disposed of at a fair profit, so that the expedition, which at first threatened to end in failure, turned out much better than they had ever hoped it would.