“I’m all right, but I’ve lost my horse at last. Did you see that spear go through his neck? He has fallen on my leg, and I—Oh, Frank!”
The latter, who had seized his cousin by the shoulders, and was exerting all his strength to pull him to his feet, suddenly released his hold and fell by Archie’s side. At the same time there was a whistling sound in the air, and Archie looked up to see the shaft of a spear quivering in the air above his cousin’s side, the point being out of sight. It looked as though it was buried in Frank’s body, but fortunately it was not. It had passed through the haversack in which he carried the cartridges for his Maynard, and was thrown with sufficient force to carry him to the ground. The next moment the grim warrior who launched the weapon came tumbling heels over head down the bank, while a triumphant shout from Dick Lewis told the cousins who it was that sent him there.
“It is hot about here, Frank. You had better take care of yourself,” said Archie.
The only notice Frank took of this friendly advice was to jump to his feet and renew his efforts to release his cousin. This time he was successful, but when he lifted him to his feet Archie found that he could not stand alone. That, however, was a matter of small moment seeing that Frank had a horse close by. The animal had remained motionless where his rider left him, and it was the work of but a few seconds for Frank to jump into the saddle and pull his cousin up after him. This done, he put the animal to the top of his speed, and the two were carried safely down the ravine and into the midst of their friends, who having reached the hill of which Uncle Dick had spoken, were in a position to drive the Zulus from the field. Having a cross-fire upon them they had complete command of their position, and one volley was all that was needed to send them flying up the hill on each side of the ravine.
As soon as the Zulus were out of sight the trappers arose from their concealments, and having removed the saddles and bridles from their dead steeds and thrown them into the wagon, they proceeded to put the train in motion, Uncle Dick and his party keeping up a steady fire all the while to prevent the return of the savages. While Bob cut the dead oxen loose from the yokes, Dick forced the leaders back into their places, and when the animals had been made to understand what was required of them, they brought the wagon up the hill in safety. It was a lucky fight taken altogether. The Zulus must have suffered severely; the trappers said they had seen a dozen or more of them tumble into the ravine, while all the travellers lost were three oxen and as many horses. Frank had had a very narrow escape. The weapon which had so nearly ended his existence was packed carefully away in the wagon with the haversack still fast to it. He intended that these articles should some day occupy a prominent place among the curiosities in his room at the cottage.
