The Zulus, throwing down their guns, rose to their feet and holding their little fighting shields which had been carried in their mats, in the left hand, wielded their axes with the right.

Umslopogaas, who stood in the centre of them, however, had no shield and swung his great axe with both arms.

This was the first time that I had seen him fight and the spectacle was in a way magnificent.

Again and again the axe crashed down and every time it fell it left one dead beneath the stroke, till at length those Amahagger shrank back out of his reach.
Meanwhile Robertson, Hans and I, standing on some stones at the back, kept up a continual fire upon them, shooting over the heads of the Zulus, who were playing their part like men.

Yes, they shrank back, leaving many dead behind them.