Mr. Goodenough with two of the
Houssas took his place on the wall on one side of the gap, Frank
with the other two faced him across the chasm. A large number of
the Abeokuta warriors also lined the walls, while the rest gathered
on the stockade.
With the usual tumult of drumming and yells the Dahomans rushed
to the assault. The fire from the walls did not check the onset in
the slightest, and with yells of anticipated victory they swarmed
over the breach. A cry of astonishment broke from them as they saw
the formidable defense within, the fire of whose defenders was
concentrated upon them. Then, with scarce a pause, they leaped
down and strove to remove the obstructions. Regardless of the fire
poured upon them they hewed away at the sharp stakes, or strove to
pull them up with their hands. 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.
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