ly used by them. But
so it was, possibly because of some old law or prejudice which forbade
their introduction into the country, or mayhap of the difficulty of
procuring powder and lead, or for the reason that they had none to teach
them the use of such new-fangled weapons.

Now it will be remembered that, on the chance of their proving useful,
Ragnall, in addition to our own sporting rifles, had brought with him to
Africa fifty Snider rifles with an ample supply of ammunition, the same
that I had trouble in passing through the Customs at Durban, all of
which had arrived safely at the Town of the Child. Clearly our first
duty was to make the best possible use of this invaluable store. To
that end I asked Harut to select seventy-five of the boldest and most
intelligent young men among his people, and to hand them over to me and
Hans for instruction in musketry. We had only fifty rifles but I drilled
seventy-five men, or fifty per cent. more, that some might be ready to
replace any who fell.

From dawn to dark each day Hans and I worked at trying to convert
these Kendah into sharpshooters. It was no easy task with men, however
willing, who till then had never held a gun, especially as I must be
very sparing of the ammunition necessary to practice, of which of course
our supply was limited. Still we taught them how to take cover, how to
fire and to cease from firing at a word of command, also to hold the
rifles low and waste no shot. To make marksmen of them was more than I
could hope to do under the circumstances.

With the exception of these men nearly the entire male population
were working day and night to get in the harvest. This proved a very
difficult business, both because some of the crops were scarcely fit and
because all the grain had to be carried on camels to be stored in and at
the back of the second court of the temple, the only place where it was
likely to be safe. Indeed in the end a great deal was left unreaped.
Then the herds of cattle and breeding camels which grazed on the farther
sides of the Holy Mount must be brought into places of safety, glens in
the forest on its slope, and forage stacked to feed them. Also it was
necessary to provide scouts to keep watch along the river.

Lastly, the fortifications in the mountain pass required unceasing
labour and attention. This was the task of Ragnall, who fortunately in
his youth, before he succeeded unexpectedly to the title, was for
some years an offic