hat kloof," said Hans, "I don't think my spoor could be seen; for I
merely walked once a part of the way down it; at the top, however, they
may find my footprints; at least, if they can read them on the grass."

It occupied the enemy fully half an hour to ascend the kloof and reach
the summit, where Hans and Victor had a distinct view of them; they
halted on reaching the top of the kloof, and examined the ground in all
directions, and scanned the various ridges and rocks.

"They do not seem to think there is an enemy here, Victor," said Hans:
"I believe they would take more care of themselves if they did. They
stand quite unconcerned, though they might be made targets of at once.
This I don't think they would do if they suspected us of being concealed
hereabouts. We must not fire a shot as long as there is a chance of our
escaping detection, for it may be better far to escape being seen, than
even to kill all these men."

"We will not fire, Hans, unless a man comes across the little causeway
there leading to this table-land; then it would be better to make sure
of our foe. See, Hans," whispered Victor; "they have discovered your
footprints, and are coming on rapidly: we shall find fighting a
necessity now."

"They bring it on their own heads, then," said Hans, as he tapped his
gun to secure the powder being up in each nipple: "you fire first,
Victor, and take two in a line if you can, whilst I wait for the next
shot."

The Matabili had undoubtedly discovered the footmarks of Hans, as they
ran rapidly along the pathway which he had trodden the day previously;
but they seemed to entirely underrate their enemy, as they took no
precautions for concealment. As they approached the caves the men
jostled each other in their eagerness to get first, and grasping their
spears, they waved them in the air as though they already felt them
penetrating the white men's flesh. In a very short time they had
reached the ridge leading to the caves, and upon the first men arriving
at this point they saw the caves and the means adopted by Hans to make
these secure from wind and rain; the Matabili at once recognised this as
the work of men, and with a yell of pleasure they dashed forward.

"Now," whispered Hans; and Victor, whose gun was at his shoulder,
pressed the trigger, and the loud report of the heavy gun (for it was an
eight to the pound that Victor used) for a moment deafened all other
sounds. Hans and Victor stooped low to