KNOCKED DOWN. 129 



returned to the boys' fire to see if my orders had 

 been obeyed. 



The fachees were filled and slung in their places, 

 but the flesh-pots were lying around the fire or in 

 use, exactly as they had been previous to my orders. 

 On asking for explanation of this dereliction of duty, 

 I received in answer, first prevarication, next abuse, 

 so I seized Master Cookey by the collar of his coat 

 with the right hand, with the left foot sent his 

 legs from under him, and with an effort threw 

 him upon his back among those who appeared to 

 be his supporters. In an instant three of these 

 were upon their feet, and showed that they were 

 prepared to avenge the insult to their leader, but 

 they wisely hesitated when they observed " Chummy " 

 at my elbow. He was a good six-footer, very un- 

 demonstrative, but when called upon he was " all 

 there." But, in spite of this, these misguided men 

 did not learn wisdom during their pause, but came 

 on with a rush, led by a stalwart Zulu a sulky 

 clog of a fellow, who had often previously been 

 suspected of inciting to mutiny but down he went 

 as if shot ; and his supporters, thinking better of 

 the matter, fled into the bush. One of the late 



K 



