attling
fire of musketry, and the Zulus, who had nearly gained the stockade,
dropped down, almost together, some falling into the water, others
scrambling back by the way they had come. The shouts increased.

"Erin-go-bragh!" cried a voice from below.

"It's Denis, I'm sure of it," exclaimed Percy. "Hurrah! he must have
come with Hendricks, and they have managed to cross the river unseen by
the savages. The Zulus have evidently been seized with a panic. I
daresay they fancy that a larger force has come to our relief, so
thought it wise to bolt without stopping to count heads."

Percy was right in his conjecture.

"Let down the drawbridge!" cried Denis; "the enemy have scampered off
like wild fowl, though only Hendricks, my father, and our men, with
myself, have been peppering them."

The drawbridge was quickly lowered, and Denis was the first to cross,
followed by the hunter and Mr Maloney, together with twenty well-armed
Kaffirs and Hottentots.

"Having arrived soon after nightfall on the opposite side of the river,
and camped, we were aroused by the sound of the firing, and guessing
what was occurring, we managed to push across the stream just in time,
it appears, to render you the assistance which I am delighted to have
afforded," said Hendricks. "We must take care, however, that the enemy
do not attack our waggons, although I don't think they'll have the heart
to do that. We'll bring them across the first thing to-morrow morning;
meantime we must follow up the rascals, and prevent them from rallying.
If any of your men can accompany us, we shall be glad of their aid; but
if not, we are sufficiently strong to do the work ourselves."

"There's one will go with you," exclaimed Vermack, "and that's myself.
Give me some ammunition, and let me get sight of the fellows, and I'll
make every bullet do its work." Four of the garrison only were capable
of accompanying Hendricks, who without loss of time led his party out of
the fort. They pushed forward at a rapid rate; but had not got far
before daylight broke, and the enemy were seen far ahead, evidently
intending to recross the river a considerable way from the farm. He
judged, consequently, that there would be ample time to pass over the
waggons and the rest of his party, before they could make their way up
the east bank to impede the operation.

Few braver or more enterprising men than Hendricks the hunter were to be
found, but at the same time he was ev