usket shot.

Percy had pointed out to Captain Broderick where the main body were
encamped. Taking the telescope, he looked through it in that direction.

"They have heard the firing, and are marching down towards the river,"
he observed. "They little expect to find the farm so well garrisoned.
Percy, you have acted admirably; for I believe, had our assailants not
been led to suppose that a large number of men were posted round the
walls to give them a warm reception, they would have come on much more
boldly. It would be as well now to get rid of the dummies, lest their
keen eyes should discover how they have been deceived, and they should
then fancy that we have even fewer men than is really the case."

"I don't like so summarily dismissing my garrison, but of course you are
right, father," said Percy; and he and Rupert went round and began to
throw the dummy warriors off the platform, two of the pumpkins
splitting, however, in falling.

"I say, we must lower them more gently," observed Percy, "for we may
want them again, and it won't do to place them in position with cracked
skulls."

They accordingly fastened them to the rope by which the swivels had been
hoisted up, and let them all quietly down, one by one.

"Sure, cap'in, ye don't want me to go down," cried Biddy. "Whether they
take me for a gineral or an old woman, it won't much matter, for they'll
find that an old woman can fight as well as many a gineral. Let thim
come on as fierce as they may, I'll not be after showin' the white
feather."

"We mustn't tell my sisters what you say, Biddy, or they'll think you
are throwing reflections on them," said Percy. "However, after the way
in which you have handled a musket, I'm sure you will prove an able
defender of our farm, should the Zulus venture again to attack it."

Besides Captain Broderick, his three sons and Crawford, the garrison
consisted of Vermack and Matyana, and six Kaffir and Hottentot servants.
They were but few in number to oppose the host of warriors threatening
them. Mangaleesu seeing this, begged that he and Kalinda might be
allowed to come up on the ramparts to assist in the defence.

"If the white chief thinks we shall be recognised, we can soon so
disguise ourselves that the enemy will not know us," he said.

"Of course you can fight, as you desire it; but unless your wife
insists, as Biddy does, in joining in the defence, I don't wish to
expose her to danger, answered the captai