gain to the uncongenial task of
finishing the report due for headquarters before he left. The drum ceased;
began again and was answered by another drum seemingly nearer at hand.

Five or ten minutes elapsed. As zu Pfeiffer took up a fresh sheet of paper
a shot rang out followed instantly by yells. Zu Pfeiffer with an oath
sprang to his feet, snatched at the revolver hanging above his camp bed
and rushed out as a fusillade of shots mingled with wilder cries. The
gruff coughs of the corporal in charge of the guard competed with the
sharp barks of Sergeant Schultz. Zu Pfeiffer, bawling for a sergeant, ran
to the great gate where the pom-pom was stationed. On the opposite hill
red flashes of rifle fire darted downwards. Came another outburst of
yelling. Forms of askaris scurrying to their places round the fence
brushed by him on every side.

"Sergeant Schultz!" shouted zu Pfeiffer.

A figure in white appeared beside him in the darkness.

"Excellence!"

"Put the gun on them! Quick!"

At the bark of the sergeant the gun crew, already at their post, deftly
manipulated the machine which coughed angry red bursts of flame into the
darkness. The cries and howls ceased as suddenly as they had begun.

"Cease fire!" commanded zu Pfeiffer.

In the resulting stillness muttered shouts and cries from somewhere in the
village below were punctuated by odd shots from the other hill.

"Sergeant Ludwig!" yelled zu Pfeiffer.

"Excellence!"

"Report!" snapped zu Pfeiffer.

"An unknown body of natives attacked and killed the sentry on the eastern
gate, Excellence," came Sergeant Ludwig's voice from the gloom. "They
entered and were repulsed according to instructions. That is all,
Excellence."

"Losses?"

"None other, Excellence."

"What about the lower guards?"

"I do not know, Excellence."

"Take a platoon and investigate. We will cover you with the gun."

"Excellence."

The mutter of his orders was drowned in the excited jabber of the askaris.

"Didimalla!" came the dreaded voice of the Eater-of-Men. Instantly there
was silence. "Report!" commanded zu Pfeiffer to Sergeant Schultz.

"A body of natives attacked upon the western gate, Excellence. They were
repulsed."

"Losses?"

"Two men killed and three wounded."

"Ugm! Where's the interpreter?"

"Bwana!"

Cloth creaked as the man saluted in the dark.

"Where is Sakamata?" demanded zu Pfeiffer in Kiswahili.

"Here, Excellence," replied Sergeant Schultz. "He