The riflemen on the walls directed their fire now exclusively upon the leaders of the column, the breech loaders doing immense execution, and soon the Dahomans in their efforts to advance had to climb over lines of dead in their front.

For half an hour the struggle continued, and then the Dahomans lost heart and retired, leaving fifteen hundred of their number piled deep in the space between the breach and the stockade.
"This is horrible work," Frank said when he rejoined Mr.Goodenough.
"Horrible, Frank; but there is at least the consolation that by this fearful slaughter of their bravest warriors we are crippling the power of Dahomey as a curse and a scourge to its neighbors.

After this crushing repulse the Abeokutans may hope that many years will elapse before they are again attacked by their savage neighbors, and the lessons which they have now learned in defense will enable them to make as good a stand on another occasion as they have done now." "Do you think the attack will be renewed ?" "I should hardly think so.

The flower of their army must have fallen, and the Amazon guard must have almost ceased to exist.

I told you, Frank, you would soon get over your repugnance to firing at women." "I did not think anything about women," Frank said.