A Field Day. 317 



wiry horses in first-rate condition, scoured the bush 

 at a gallop, to detect the j^resence of an enemy re- 

 jDorted to be advancing from the north. Flying 

 across the country in open order, they yet in 

 obedience to bugle calls from time to time with 

 marvellous rapidity contracted their line of 

 advance. A small infantry detachment, drao-o-inn- 

 with it a Gatling or a jMaxini gun, hurried along- 

 after the mounted men at their best speed over 

 very rough ground. At length from an eminence 

 the foe was descried. The men dismounting, fire 

 repeated volleys, the ]\Iaxim and Gatling pour out 

 a destructive torrent of projectiles, and now comes 

 up at a gallop a 7 lbs. field-piece drawn by six 

 horses, which quickly unlimbered looses ofi" round 

 after round of shell and shrapnell. The targets 

 which represent the foe afterwards examined betray 

 the skill and accuracy of riflemen and gunners 

 alike. I doubted not, after witnessing this per- 

 formance, that should Lobengula take it into his 

 head to make a raid into the Protectorate, he 

 will encounter from the Bechuanaland Border 

 Police an uncomfortably "svarm rece^^tion. We 

 were sorry to say good-bye to our hospitable 

 hosts of the Bechuanaland Border Police at 

 Macloutsie ; but having still OA'cr four hundred 

 miles before us, we were compelled to hurry on. 

 Major Gould Adams most kindly lent me six 

 fresh mules, which replaced three horses and three 

 mules which I was obliged to leave here. Two of 

 these horses so left, died of horse sickness almost 

 immediately after our departure. I never heard 



