134 
SPORT AND WAR. 
CHAP. XVII. 
been seen in the immediate neighbourhood, although 
the tops of all the hills and mountains were crowded 
when we commenced to enter the defile. Each trooper 
had to dismount and lead his horse in the narrow 
parts of the pass, thus dangerously lengthening out 
the column for some miles. 
After passing over the far horn or ledge of the pre¬ 
cipice the footpath crossed a ravine and then passed 
up a bushy slope to the left and on to a small open 
plateau. The Kafir police had halted upon this open, 
and a portion of the Cape Mounted Kifles had also 
reached it, but the rear of the mounted men had 
scarcely left the pass itself, when all at once first one 
shot and then a continuous discharge of musketry rang 
from the centre of the pass. 
Colonel Mackinnon was at first loath to believe that 
the Kafirs had attacked the infantry, but was soon 
convinced of the fact; and I at once volunteered to 
go back and take command of the infantry column. 
I was impelled to do this from knowing by experience 
more of Kafir warfare than any person present; and 
Colonel Mackinnon instantly sanctioned and directed 
me to do so. 
I called to my mounted orderly and made my way 
back through the bush by the narrow path, with diffi¬ 
culty getting past the mounted men I met on the road. 
As soon, however, as I had got through the ravine 
