50 THE MONKEYFOLK OF SOUTH AFRICA 



and stones. Advancing steadily on we paid no heed, ex- 

 pecting them to rush off and lock themselves in the house. 

 When v^e were about twenty yards distant, and all in a 

 dense mass, fearing nothing, we saw the human womenfolk 

 suddenly drop to their knees, and before we could turn and 

 flee, a volley was poured into our ranks. The weapons 

 were big muzzle-loading roers, which had been loaded with 

 loopers and slugs. Snatching up a second supply of guns, 

 another volley raked us as we turned to run. Dashing 

 off in frantic haste, tumbling over each other in wildest 

 panic, two men sprang from a brushwood-covered pit, and 

 fired amongst us. Again they raked us with a second dis- 

 charge. 



THE RESULT 



I shudder with horror, and cold icy feelings circulate 

 through my marrow, and my skin feels cold and clammy 

 when I think of the awfulness of that experience. Turning 

 to look as I fled, I saw the humanfolk ramming fresh charges 

 down their guns. They then advanced, and, pursuing 

 those of our folk who had been badly wounded and were 

 hobbling off, shot them dead. I saw our old leader pain- 

 fully hobbling away, with a leg dragging helplessly, and 

 blood streaming from his face and neck. Seeing a Boer 

 overtaking him, he faced about, and with a fierce bark 

 shuffled toward him. The Dutchman fired, but just as 

 he pulled the trigger, our chief stumbled and fell, and the 

 charge of slugs swept over him, except one or two which 

 tore great rents along his back, for I saw the blood spurt 

 out. With a roar of rage, he was up and at his foe. The 

 Boer was taken by surprise, for, when our chief fell, he 

 thought he was dead. However, the Boer people are 

 strong and brave. He clubbed his gun and dealt our 

 chief a smashing blow. We saw them close in a deadly 



