iH. BATTLE 
MOGA KILLED. 199 
yards of the zareba. But the Boran had made a great 
mistake; for instead of waiting until their whole force 
had assembled, and they could make a united attack upon 
us, those youths who had never before killed a man, and 
were impatient to get their trophies, rushed recklessly to 
the front. They were now obliged to retreat to the main 
body of their comrades, and there was a cessation of hos- 
tilities for a few minutes. But plucking up their courage 
again, the whole army of Boran, ez masse, soon made a 
wild rush upon our camp, brandishing their spears, and 
dancing as they charged. 
“Fortunately they came from one direction, and I could 
concentrate my boys to the best advantage at that part of 
the zareba at which the charge was aimed. The punish- 
ment the natives received was terrible; but still they came 
on, regardless of those that were falling about them, and of 
the din of the musketry. The smoke soon became so thick 
we could hardly distinguish our enemy, when suddenly 
their long thrusting-spears loomed up among us. Several 
of them were actually pulling up the bushes from our 
zareba. Uhe crisis had arrived. Was this to be our 
last moment upon earth,—or was that reinforcement of 
riflemen I had just ordered from the other side of the 
camp going to turn the tide against our enemies? But 
now, — one more roll of musketry, and the noise ceased. 
“As the smoke cleared away, only backs were to be seen. 
Frantic to get away, the poor savages, who had now fox 
the first time realized that a bullet will pierce a shield and 
kill a horse hundreds of yards away, were taking them- 
selves off as fast as their legs could carry them. What 
has happened? My boy Moga killed! This is sad 
news, as Moga was one of the best boys I had. The 
cattle, mules, and camels gone, probably not to be seen 
again! This is also a loss we cannot well bear; the 
