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first regiment charged in three solid ranks。 We fired a volley point
blank into them and； as it was hopeless for fifty men to withstand
such an onslaught； bolted during the temporary confusion that ensued；
taking refuge； as it had been arranged that we should do； at a point
of vantage farther down the line of fortifications； whence we
maintained our galling fire。
Now it was that the main body of the White Kendah came into action
under the leadership of Ragnall and Har？t。 The enemy scrambled over
the first wall； which we had just vacated； to find themselves in a
network of other walls held by our spearmen in a narrow place where
numbers gave no great advantage。
Here the fighting was terrible and the loss of the attackers great；
for always as they carried one entrenchment they found another a few
yards in front of them； out of which the defenders could only be
driven at much cost of life。
Two hours or more the battle went on thus。 In spite of the desperate
resistance which we offered； the multitude of the Black Kendah； who I
must say fought magnificently； stormed wall after wall； leaving
hundreds of dead and wounded to mark their difficult progress。
Meanwhile I and my riflemen rained bullets on them from certain
positions which we had selected beforehand； until at length our
ammunition began to run low。
At half…past eight in the morning we were driven back over the open
ground to our last entrenchment； a very strong one just outside of the
eastern gate of the temple which； it will be remembered； was set in a
tunnel pierced through the natural lava rock。 Thrice did the Black
Kendah come on and thrice we beat them off； till the ditch in front of
the wall was almost full of fallen。 As fast as they climbed to the top
of it the White Kendah thrust them through with their long spears； or
we shot them with our rifles； the nature of the ground being such that
only a direct frontal attack was possible。
In the end they drew back sullenly； having； as we hoped； given up the
assault。 As it turned out； this was not so。 They were only resting and
waiting for the arrival of their reserve。 It came up shouting and
singing a war…song； two thousand strong or more； and presently once
more they charged like a flood of water。 We beat them back。 They
reformed and charged a second time and we beat them back。
Then they took another counsel。 Standing among the dead and dying at
the base of the wall； which was built of loose stones and earth； where
we could not easily get at them because of the showers of spears which
were rained at anyone who showed himself； they began to undermine it；
levering out the bottom stones with stakes and battering them with
poles。
In five minutes a breach appeared； through which they poured
tumultuously。 It was hopeless to withstand that onslaught of so vast a
number。 Fighting desperately； we were driven down the tunnel and
through the doors that were opened to us； into the first court of the
temple。 By furious efforts we managed to close these doors and block
them with stones and earth。 But this did not avail us long； for；
bringing brushwood and dry grass； they built a fire against them that
soon caught the thick cedar wood of which they were made。
While they burned we consulted together。 Further retreat seemed
impossible； since the second court of the temple； save for a narrow
passage； was filled with corn which allowed no room for fighting；
while behind it were gathered all the women and children； more than
two thousand of them。 Here； or nowhere； we must make our stand and
conquer or die。 Up to this time； compared with what which we had
inflicted upon the Black Kendah； of whom a couple of thousand or more
had fallen； our loss was comparatively slight； say two hundred killed
and as many more wounded。 Most of such of the latter as could not walk
we had managed to carry into the first court of the temple； laying
them close against the cloister walls； whence they watched us in a
grisly ring。
This left us about sixteen hundred able…bodied men or many more than
we could employ with effect in that narrow place。 Therefore we
determined to act upon a plan which we had already designed in case
such an emergency as ours should arise。 About three hundred and fifty
of the best men were to remain to defend the temple till all were
slain。 The rest； to the number of over a thousand； were to withdraw
through the second court and the gates beyond to the camp of the women
and children。 These they were to conduct by secret paths that were
known to them to where the camels were kraaled； and mounting as many
as possible of them on the camels to fly whither they could。 Our hope
was that the victorious Black Kendah would be too exhausted to follow
them across the plain to the distant mountains。 It was a dreadful
determination； but we had no choice。
〃What of my wife？〃 Ragnall asked hoarsely。
〃While the temple stands she must remain in the temple；〃 replied
Har？t。 〃But when all is lost； if I have fallen； do you； White Lord； go
to the sanctuary with those who remain and take her and the Ivory
Child and flee after the others。 Only I lay this charge on you under
pain of the curse of Heaven； that you do not suffer the Ivory Child to
fall into the hands of the Black Kendah。 First must you burn it with
fire or grind it to dust with stones。 Moreover； I give this command to
all in case of the priests in charge of it should fail me； that they
set flame to the brushwood that is built up with the stacks of corn；
so that； after all； those of our enemies who escape may die of
famine。〃
Instantly and without murmuring； for never did I see more perfect
discipline than that which prevailed among these poor people； the
orders given by Har？t； who in addition to his office as head priest
was a kind of president of what was in fact a republic； were put in
the way of execution。 Company by company the men appointed to escort
the women and children departed through the gateway of the second
court； each company turning in the gateway to salute us who remained；
by raising their spears； till all were gone。 Then we； the three
hundred and fifty who were left； marshalled ourselves as the Greeks
may have done in the Pass of Thermopyl？。
First stood I and my riflemen； to whom all the remaining ammunition
was served out； it amounted to eight rounds per man。 Then； ranged
across the court in four lines； came the spearmen armed with lances
and swords under the immediate command of Har？t。 Behind these； near
the gate of the second court so that at the last they might attempt
the rescue of the priestess； were fifty picked men； captained by
Ragnall； who； I forgot to say； was wounded in two places； though not
badly； having received a spear thrust in the left shoulder and a sword
cut to the left thigh during his desperate defence of the
entrenchment。
By the time that all was ready and every man had been given to drink
from the great jars of water which stood along the walls； the massive
wooden doors began to burn through； though this did not happen for
quite half an hour after the enemy had begun to attempt to fire them。
They fell at length beneath the battering of poles； leaving only the
mound of earth and stones which we had piled up in the gateway after
the closing of the doors。 This the Black Kendah； who had raked out the
burning embers； set themselves to dig away with hands and sticks and
spears； a task that was made very difficult to them by about a score
of our people who stabbed at them with their long lances or dashed
them down with stones； killing and disabling many。 But always the dead
and wounded were dragged off while others took their places； so that
at last the gateway was practically cleared。 Then I called back the
spearmen who passed into the ranks behind us； and made ready to play
my part。
I had not long to wait。 With a rush and a roar a great company of the
Black Kendah charged the gateway。 Just as they began to emerge into
the court I gave the word to fire； sending fifty Snider bullets
tearing into them from a distance of a few yards。 They fell in a heap；
they fell like corn before the scythe； not a man won through。 Quickly
we reloaded and waited for the next rush。 In due course it came and
the dreadful scene repeated itself。 Now the gateway and the tunnel
beyond were so choked with fallen men that the enemy must drag these
out before they could charge any more。 It was done under the fire of
myself； Hans and a few picked shotssomehow it was done。
Once more they charged； and once more were mown down。 So it went on
till our last cartridge was spent； for never did I see more
magnificent courage than was shown by those Black Kendah in the face
of terrific loss。 Then my people threw aside their useless rifles and
arming themselves with spears and swords fell back to rest； leaving
Har？t and his company to take their plac