THE SIEGE OS- THE MAGISTRACY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 70

THE SIEGE OS- THE MAGISTRACY.

(Wide World Magazine.)

The , enemy numbered from eighty to a hundred ; the defenders, only three men and a faint-hearted girl, Avith old Sarili, who was too loyal to desert her "Missi." Terrible odds to encounter indeed, but still the courage of the defenders never for a moment faltered. After some respite, during Avhich the enemy held a palaver, they stormed the stout door, but finding it securer than they expected, they rounded the corner of the hut to the largest window, only to be met by another and much ruder rebuff. Smith, irom the darkne&s of his position, &aAv them as they doubled round from the front of the "fort"' and picked them oS as quickly as he could, Avhile Mr Marmion strengthened him from the rear by receiving the empty revolver and handing back his oAvn, charged in every chamber. White had no game to play just then, and judging that his companions were hard pressed from the reports of firing he heard, hs Avas about to go to their assistance, Avhen Gladys suddenly appeared with nerves unstrung, and engaged his attentions for some tims. Umoixunately it Avas the moment he Avas needed most, for the Kaffirs, badly repulsed at the verandah, now made for the only other position, and two of the yelling saA'ases were actually inside the apartment before he had disengaged his u.'n> from supporting his sweetheart. Certainly, it was an unseemly time for philandering. Gently pushing her behind him, he boldly faced the intruders, whenone of them suddenly ; poised and threAv an assegai that found lodgment in his left arm. Raising the other,, however, he rushed forward, and knowing from experience that attack ' on the head of a Kaffir Aras useless, he dealt the nearer savage a terrible blow in the stomach — the only vital "place in a Kaffir's anatomy. The blow sent him reeling against his accomplice, and grasping the revolver that lay on a ioAV table, young White dispatched the other before he hac 1 rscoA'ered himself, and then sprang into position once more at the small window. The enemy, now in siraits, drew off, ar.d the small company of defenders had time to rest for a little Avhile, Smith, making good use of the respite to offer Avavering apologies for the trouble he had brought on the house' of the representative of law and order. Four of the dusky crew lay dead or dying on the floor of the rude portico ; two others Avere breathing their last in Gladys's bedroom.

Suddenly Mr Marmion heard snatches of conversation carried on in Kaffir tongue, and he cautiously broke to his companions the purport of Avhat Avas said. The neAv plan Avas to .set fire to the grass roof, and throAV down the burning rafters and thatch on the heads of the brave defenders. The sad little, disheartened band shuddered at the thought of being scorched in their den in this Avay ; and White, casting a hurried glance at the pale face of his SAveetheart, determined to give himself up unconditionally to the attackers, if he might persuade them to promise the others no further danger ; but before the defenders Avere constrained +0 consent the magistrate with a suppressed . sigh 1 ejaculated, " Thank God!" ... The enemy were now all congregated under the farther end of the hut, so that escape Avas just possible by the windoV on to the verandah, and then through the back of that reed structure to the cover of the small plantation. The fugitiA'es might then proceed under Sariii's direction doAvn a narroAv krantz or defile by the Rebels' Kloof to Gobenca, the nearest set-

tlement. . . . The moon's light Avas noAv feeble, but she at least lent her aid in concealing the fugitives, though the dim light made the path more difficult. With a final Avhispered adieu the three figures sped silently out into the night. Fortunately, no one barred tLe way or harassed the flight. Once through the avcocl they picked their Avay as Avell as they could, ■skirting the hill for some distance ; and by daybreak they had reached the entrance to .Rebels' Kloof, which they imeAV to be a place of safety, as feAV Kaffirs cared to enter the gorge where, during the previous rising, three 7/ears before, they Avere trapped, disarmed, and taken prisoners by the riflemen.

On the Avay, Sarili and White had often to assist the girl ; but White's burden felt so light that he almost forgot the -peril in AvLich he left his comrades in the newfound joy of having his sweetheart left entirely to his care., When the sun at length gave his warmth Gladys fell into an uneasy sleep under a mimosa bush ; and after making a pilloAV with his coat and sending the native woman to find assistance, her guardian sat down to Avatcb by her. Sarili made her way SAviftly doAvn the gorge, and then turning her light garments round her waist she started off on her fleet limbs across the veldt to the Residency at G-o-benca. The magistrate there without delay gathered together the most friendly natives of his district and hurried to the relief of his friend and neighbour. I regret to say relief came too, late..

By whom, or by what means, Mr Marmion was killed Avas never known. At any rate, on the arrival of the relief party he Avas found dead on the floor of Gladys's room, Avith an ugly gash' in his head ; but there Aras evidence of a fearful struggle. The hut Avas almost -wholly unroofed, and the apartments littered with round stones taken from the kraal dyke ; and possibly, one of these, or a kerrie, dealt the first blow and fractured the poor magistrate's skull. Smith lay prostrate on a- bed suffering from a deep assegai wound. The Aveapon had penetrated the left lung, and he Avas almost unconscious from loss of blood. His last words Avere, " Tell Robert my orders are that he is to take care of Gladys." Thsv may have referred to the flight down the krantz ; but, anyhow, Mr White has solemnly promised to care for that lady until either he or she goes to tLank Mr Marmion for losing his life to save theirs..