Onrai understood that shout, although he had never heard it before as a shout of consent, he had heard it frequently as one of approbation, when he or others of the land would perform some particularly hard feat in athletics, or show great heroism in the hunt. It simply meant that they were pleased with what he said, and they were anxious to get at the fray.
“I will give you orders at first,” said Onrai, “but you must obey those of my companions when they give them. They have had invaders in their land and have learned to repulse them, and drive them back. Do as they command you and we will be victorious. Are you ready?”
Again that shout.
“Then get the pack animals to the rear quickly.”
Without a word the elephants were driven to the rear, and the men awaited further orders.
“Mr. Bruce,” said Mr. Graham, “we think you are better capable of handling these men and we will act as your subordinates.”
“I accept the commission,” replied Mr. Bruce, “not because I feel myself superior to yourself or Harry, but because some one must act at once. We will divide our men into three battalions and march in line of battle. Harry, you will take the right. Mr. Graham, you will take the left and I will take the centre. If the negroes, as I expect them to do, charge straight for the centre, you will each close in on their flanks; but if you see the centre giving way, rush for that point at once for we must hold the position. Now we will divide our men.”
They divided the men into three battalions and formed them into the line of battle, explaining to them, in the meantime, that they must hold fast together, and not allow the negroes to break their line. The men went about the different manœuvres like old soldiers, when they once saw through them.
The line now drew up and Mr. Graham, Mr. Bruce and Harry, each in front of his battalion, mounted on elephants, with Onrai riding next to Mr. Bruce in the centre, they marched slowly toward the negroes. Every man had his cross-bow in position and arrows ready for use. The formidable hatchet and daggers were in the belts handy, and where they could be gotten at the most easily. The negroes’ faces had lost the grin, and the yells had ceased for the moment as they saw the array of giants advancing. They had never before, in all their many wars, stood before such a formidable body of men, and their courage was failing them. But they had a chief, a wild, barbarous fellow, who knew not what fear was, and seeing that cowardly look stealing over the faces of his men, he jumped before them and racing up and down in front of the line, halloed and yelled, pounding his spear on the shield, and in this way worked the men into such a state of bravery, which was only equaled by his own.
Then again facing the army, which was moving silently toward them, he gave a few words of command, and with a yell and a rush, they came tearing toward the Onians.