be attacked on the flank. So Captain
Broderick suspected. He remarked that the rear ranks were not coming on
at the same speed as those in front, while many of the men were looking
uneasily over their left shoulders. He still waited, however, until the
front rank, led by the most daring of their chiefs, had got within
half-musket range.

The discharge of one of the swivels was the signal for opening fire.
Captain Broderick pulled the trigger, and the next instant his men were
blazing away as fast as they could fire and reload.

When the smoke had cleared off, the whole Zulu force was seen hastily
retreating, dragging off several of their number killed or wounded.
Biddy, as she saw them scampering off, gave vent to a truly Irish shout
of triumph, which was taken up by Percy, and echoed by most of the
defenders of the fort.

"All very well," observed Vermack, in his usual dry way; "but, friends,
don't be trusting those fellows. They have found us better prepared
than they expected, but they're not beaten yet. They'll bide their
time, and wait till they can see a chance of getting in with less risk
to themselves."

"Vermack gives you good advice, my lads," said Captain Broderick. "I
agree with him entirely: we must not relax our vigilance, but keep on
the watch day and night."

"For my part, I wish that they had come on again and let us finish the
business off hand," exclaimed Percy. "What do you say, father, to our
sallying out and pursuing them? I should like to do it, for the chances
are they would take to flight, and not stop until we had driven them
across the river."

"No, no; we must not despise them too much," answered Captain Broderick.
"If they saw a small force coming, they would to a certainty turn, and
probably surround and cut us off. We are secure within our stockade as
long as we keep a watch to prevent surprise, and here we must remain
until our enemies grow tired and give up the attempt to destroy us, or
until the authorities at Natal hear of the position in which we are
placed, and send a sufficient force to our relief. But as the messenger
I despatched cannot yet have got to Maritzburg, I fear it will be many a
long day before we can rely on assistance from that quarter."

The movements of the Zulus were watched with considerable anxiety. They
continued to retreat until they were completely out of sight, but
whether or not they had recrossed the river it was impossible to
ascertain w