was very simple. At the summit, however, the brow of the cliff hung over
and was pierced by a single narrow path cut through it by water, in such
fashion that a single boulder rolled into it at the top would make the
cliff quite impassable to men without ropes.

"At this moment Wambe's soldiers were about a thousand yards from us, so
it was evident that we had no time to lose. I at once ordered the men
to commence the ascent, the girl Maiwa, who was familiar with the pass,
going first to show them the way. Accordingly they began to mount with
alacrity, pushing and lifting their loads in front of them. When the
first of them, led by Maiwa, reached the projecting angle, they put
down their loads upon a ledge of rock and clambered over. Once there, by
lying on their stomachs upon a boulder, they could reach the loads which
were held to them by the men beneath, and in this way drag them over the
awkward place, whence they were carried easily to the top.

"But all of this took time, and meanwhile the soldiers were coming up
fast, screaming and brandishing their big spears. They were now within
about four hundred yards, and several loads, together with all the
tusks, had yet to be got over the rock. I was still standing at the
bottom of the cliff, shouting directions to the men above, but it
occurred to me that it would soon be time to move. Before doing so,
however, I thought that it might be well to try and produce a moral
effect upon the advancing enemy. In my hand I held a Winchester
repeating carbine, but the distance was too great for me to use it with
effect, so I turned to Gobo, who was shivering with terror at my side,
and handing him the carbine, took my express from him.

"The enemy was now about three hundred and fifty yards away, and the
express was only sighted to three hundred. Still I knew that it could be