CHAP. IX. 
THE WAK OF THE AXE. 
69 
During all this time the fighting in the rear continued, 
Lieutenant Butler, 7th Dragoon Guards, with his men 
dismounted, holding the banks of the river below the 
Drift; while Lieutenant Ougan, with the 91st Foot, held 
it above. 
The ammunition of the rear-guard becoming ex¬ 
pended, volunteers were called for from the cavalry, 
when both the 7th Dragoon Guards men and Cape 
Mounted Biflemen stepped to the front and proceeded 
on foot to replace the rear-guard. 
One wagon had to be abandoned between the 
Conical Hill and the ford, owing to the oxen having 
been shot. This happened to be the hospital store 
wagon, and the Kafirs at once fell to plundering it, 
and not a few of them died on the spot from drinking 
bottles of poison. One Kafir was shot with a quantity 
of blister ointment in and about his mouth, their notion 
being that English medicine makes you strong. 
To make a long story short, I may conclude by 
saying that the wagons were at last got over, the 
Kafirs beaten back, and a camp formed at Block Drift, 
taking advantage of the missionary buildings. 
