e made a movement
toward the patch of scrub and trees which had concealed the blacks, when
the raid was made upon the flour.

"Baal go along," he cried. "Hah!"

He threw himself into an attitude as if about to hurl a spear, for just
then, a couple of hundred yards away, a black figure was seen to dart
from behind a solitary patch of bushes to run to the bigger one in
front. As he reached the broader shelter another followed him, and
another, and another, Shanter counting them as they ran.

"Kimmeroi--bulla-bulla, kimmeroi-bulla, bulla--bulla, bulla, kimmeroi."

"Five," said Norman, excitedly.

"Yohi," cried the black, nodding. "Marmi baal go along?"

"No," said the captain, quietly. "We had better retire to the house. I
think we can give them a warm reception there."

"Shoot! Bang, bang!" cried Shanter, grinning. "Ow--ow--ow!"

He held his bands to his head after dropping his weapons as he yelled,
ran round in a circle, staggered, fell, kicked a little, and lay quite
still for a few moments as if dead. Then leaping up, he secured his
weapons, shook them threateningly at the little grove, and urged all to
go up to the house.

"We shall have to trust him," said the captain. "Come along, Jack.--
Now, boys, I'm afraid this is war in earnest, and the siege has begun."

"Plenty black fellow," shouted Shanter, excitedly, as he pointed in a
fresh direction, where three or four heads were seen for a minute before
they disappeared among the trees.

"And no time to be lost," cried the captain.--"German, while we can, go
up and begin filling what tubs you can with water in case the enemy
tries to cut off our supply. We will cover you."

"Right, sir," said the gardener, and he ran up to the house with his
fork over his shoulder, while the others followed more leisurely,
keeping a sharp look-out.

"Come along," cried Shanter, as they reached the house. "Shut fass.
Black fellow baal come along. Big white Mary gib mine damper now."

Five minutes later he was eating some bread with a contented smile on
his countenance, while Tim and Norman kept watch, and the others busied
themselves closing the shutters and carrying in blocks and slabs of
wood, reserved for such an emergency, and now used as barricades for
windows and loop-holed doors.

All worked vigorously, provisions were rolled in from the storehouse,
though that was so near that its door could be commanded if a fresh
supply was required. Fence gates