it in two; and half the
party facing about, prevented those who had passed from retreating,
whilst those who had been stopped found themselves unable to advance.
With a shout that could be heard for miles, 5,000 of our warriors rushed
out from their concealment and closed with the Zulus in the open. In
spite of their discipline and training, the Zulus, thus overmatched,
were soon broken and their slain covered the ground. The loss on our
side in this encounter was small, though several men were wounded. In
the meantime the fight in the bush-path was severe: not more than four
or five men could stand abreast, so the numbers on the side of the Zulus
were no great advantage. Our object was to prevent those behind from
helping the party we had cut off in front. In a battle it is impossible
for one person to describe what takes place in all parts of the field,
so I will now confine my description to what occurred to my own party.

I believed that the Zulus were not acquainted with the fact that we had
any firearms with us; and, consequently, that they would be much
surprised when they heard the report of our guns, and saw the effect of
our shot. I believed that, instead of beginning to fire at the early
part of the battle, it would produce more effect if I waited until some
critical period, and when, perhaps, our own side might require some
special assistance. I had not very long to wait for such an event, as a
large party of the Zulus had worked their way through the bush, and had
formed up so as to attack our forces in rear, and at the time when they
were broken and scattered after their victory over the two thousand
Zulus. Seeing this party assembled, I called on my men to follow me,
and ran down to within about two assagies'-cast from them. They awaited
my coming, looking surprised to see so small a party attempt so daring a
proceeding as to approach so close to them. Suddenly giving the word to
my men, we turned and ran towards our island in the marsh, as though we
were afraid. The result was just what I expected--the Zulus came full
speed after us. All my men were splendid runners, so we reached our
causeway and were on the island before a single Zulu had arrived at the
edge of the marsh. The Zulus were not aware how soft and deep the mud
was, nor did they know that the narrow causeway we had made was the only
means of reaching the island; consequently several hundreds rushed into
the vlei and were complet