NOMA SETS A SNARE Thus ended the first night's battle, since for this time the enemy had fought enough.

Nodwengo and his men had also had enough, for out of the five thousand of them some eleven hundred were killed or wounded.

Yet they might not rest, for all that night, assisted by the women, they laboured, building stone walls across the narrowest parts of the valley.
Also the cattle, women and children were moved along the gorge, which in shape may be compared to a bottle with two necks, one at either end, and encamped in the opening of the second neck, where was the spring of water.

This spot was chosen both because here alone water could be obtained, without which they could not hold out more than a single day, and because the koppie whereon grew the strange-looking euphorbia known as the Tree of Doom afforded a natural rampart against attack.
Shortly after dawn, while the soldiers were resting and eating of such food as could be procured--for the most part strips of raw or half-cooked meat cut from hastily killed cattle--the onslaught was renewed with vigour, Hafela directing his efforts to the forcing of the natural archway.

But, strive as he would, this he could not do, for it was choked with stones and thorns and guarded by brave men.
"You do but waste your labour, Hafela," said Noma, who stood by him watching the assault.
"What then is to be done ?" he asked, "for unless we come at them we cannot kill them.