68 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. IX. 
however, overtake Corporal Telemacus, and nothing 
more was then heard of Captain Sandes and his orderly. 
They must have fallen an easy prey to the Kafirs. 
Some time afterwards it was known that they were 
killed before they got to the Debe Flats. 
As the column approached Block Drift, General 
Somerset moved on with the advance and took pos¬ 
session of the ford on the Chumie River, moved two of 
the Royal Artillery guns over the water, and taking up 
a good position, brought them into action on the 
masses of Kafirs which were still endeavouring to break 
the line of moving wagons. About two miles from 
Block Drift there is a conical bush-hill, which the 
Kafirs held in great force. As the wagon track 
passed at its base, and thence on to the Chumie ford 
through a 6 thicket ’ of mimosa and other bush, there 
was a good deal of close fighting all along this space; 
and the rear was so hardly pressed that the guns had 
repeatedly to be brought into action and the Kafirs 
driven back by canister and shell. Two men of the 
91st were shot close to the road while defending the 
wagons; and the Kafirs were so daring that they 
rushed in and were stripping the bodies when they 
were shot down and fell over the dead. 
There was great delay, owing to the banks of the 
river being very steep and slippery, and each wagon 
stuck fast in turn, and had to be assisted out by soldiers. 
