den of the station and the bush surrounding it,
from all of which the fire, though badly directed, was so continuous
that at length the little garrison of white men were forced back into
their inner entrenchment of biscuit boxes. Creeping up under cover of
the bush, the Zulus now delivered assault after assault upon the wall.
Each of these fierce rushes was repelled with the bayonets wielded by
the brave white men on its further side. The assegais clashed against
the rifle barrels, everywhere the musketry rang and rolled, the savage
war-cries and the cheers of the Englishmen rose together through the
din, while British soldier and Zulu warrior thrust and shot and tore at
each other across the narrow wall, that wall which all the Undi could
not climb.

Now it grew dark, for the night was closing in; the spears flashed
dimly, and in place of smoke long tongues of flame shot from the rifle
barrels, illumining the stern faces of those who held them as lightning
does. But soon there was to be light. If any had leisure to observe,
they may have seen flakes of fire flying upwards from the dim bush, and
wondered what they were. They were bunches of burning grass being thrown
on spears to fall in the thatch of the hospital roof. Presently
something could be seen on this roof that shone like a star. It grew
dim, then suddenly began to brighten and to increase till the star-like
spot was a flame, and a hoarse cry passed from man to man of: 'O God!
the hospital is on fire!'

The hospital was on fire, and in it were sick men, some of whom could
not move. It was defended by a garrison, a handful of men, and at one
and the same time these must bear away the sick to the store building,
and hold the burning place against the Zulus, who now were upon them.
They did it, but not all of it, for this was beyond the power of mortal
bravery and devotion. When the thatch blazed above them, room after room
did Privates Williams and Hook, R. and W. Jones, and some few others
hold with the white arm--for their ammunition was spent--against the
assegais of the Zulus, while their disabled comrades were borne away to
the store building beneath the shelter of the connecting wall. One of
them lost his life here, others were grievously wounded, but, dead or
alive, their names should always be remembered among their countrymen,
ay! and always will. Yet they could not save them every one; the fire
scorched overhead and the assegais bit deep in front, and