CHAPTER III

THE RESCUE

The second Quabie advance did not begin till about half-past seven.  Even savages love their lives and appreciate the fact that wounds hurt very much, and these were no exception to the rule.  Their first rush had taught them a bitter lesson, of which the fruit was evident in the crippled or dying men who rolled to and fro baked in the hot sun within a few yards of the stoep, not to speak of those who would never stir again.  Now, the space around the house being quite open and bare of cover, it was obvious that it could not be stormed without further heavy losses.  In order to avoid such losses a civilised people would have advanced by means of trenches, but of these the Quabies knew nothing; moreover, digging tools were lacking to them.

So it came about that they hit upon another, and in the circumstances a not inefficient expedient.  The cattle kraal was built of rough, unmortared stones.  Those stones they took, each man carrying two or three, which, rushing forward, they piled up into scattered rough defences of about eighteen inches or two feet high.  These defences were instantly occupied by as many warriors as could take shelter behind them, lying one on top of the other.  Of course, those savages who carried the first stones were exposed to our fire, with the result that many of them fell, but there were always plenty more behind.  As they were being built at a dozen different points, and we had but seven guns, before we could reload, a particular schanz, of which perhaps the first builders had fallen, would be raised so high that our slugs could no longer hurt those who lay behind it.  Also, our supply of ammunition was limited, and the constant expenditure wasted it so much that at length only about six charges per man remained.  At last, indeed, I was obliged to order the firing to cease, so that we might reserve ourselves for the great rush which could not now be much delayed.

Finding that they were no longer harassed by our bullets, the Quabies advanced more rapidly, directing their attack upon the south end of the house, where there was but one window, and thus avoiding the fire that might be poured upon them from the various openings under the veranda.  At first I wondered why they selected this end, till Marie reminded me that this part of the dwelling was thatched with reeds, whereas the rest of the building, which had been erected more recently, was slated.

Their object was to fire the roof.  So soon as their last wall was near enough (that is, about half-past ten of the clock) they began to throw into the thatch assegais to which were attached bunches of burning grass.  Many of these went out, but at length, as we gathered from their shouts, one caught.  Within ten minutes this part of the house was burning.

Now our state became desperate.  We retreated across the central passage, fearing lest the blazing rafters should fall upon our natives, who were losing heart and would no longer stay beneath them.  But the Quabies, more bold, clambered in through the south window, and attacked us in the doorway of the larger sitting-room.