The Kopje Garrison, by George Manville Fenn. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

HOW DREW LENNOX AND BOB DICKENSON WENT A-FISHING. 

They did not look like fishermen, those two young men in khaki, forpeople do not generally go fishing with magazine-rifles instead offishing-rods--certainly not in England. But this was in South Africa, and that makes all the difference. In addition, they were fishing in aSouth African river, where both of them were in profound ignorance as towhat might take their bait first; and they were talking about this whenthey first reached the bank and saw the swift river flowing onward--alovely river whose banks were like cliffs, consequent upon ages of theswift stream cutting its way downward through the soft earth, while hereand there clumps of trees grew luxuriantly green, and refreshed the eyesof the lookers-on after a couple of months spent in riding over the draband dreary veldt. 

"Tackle isn't half strong enough, " said the younger of the two, who wasnearly good-looking; in fact, he would have been handsome if he had notalways worn so stupid an aspect. "Think there are any crocodiles here?"

"Likely enough, Bobby. "

"S'pose one of them takes the bait?"

"Well, suppose he does!" said the other, who resembled his companion, minus the stupid look; for if the keen, dark-grey eyes weretruth-tellers of what was behind them, he was, as the men in his companysaid, sharp as a needle. 

"S'pose he does!" said the young man addressed as Bobby--otherwiseRobert Dickenson, second lieutenant in Her Majesty's --th MountedInfantry. "Well, that's a cool way of talking. Suppose he does! Why, suppose one of the great magnified efts swallows the bait?"

"Suppose he does. What then?"

"Why, he'll be more likely to pull me in than let me pull him out. "

"No doubt about it, if the line doesn't break. "

"What should I do then, Drew, old man?"

"I don't know what you'd do, my little man. I know what I should do. "

"Yes. What?"

"Let go. "

"Ah, I didn't think of that, " said the young officer quite calmly. "Isay, though, if it turned out to be a hippopotamus?"

"I wish it would, Bobby--that is, so long as it was a nice fat calf. I'm so ragingly hungry that I should look upon a steak off one of thoseindia-rubber gentlemen as the greatest delicacy under the sun. "

"Oh, don't talk nonsense. One of those things wouldn't be likely tobite. But I say, Drew, old chap, do you think there are any fish to becaught?"

"I haven't the slightest idea, Bobby. But here's a river; it lookslikely. Fishes live in rivers; why shouldn't they be here?"

"To be sure; why not?" said the other, brightening up and lookingbetter. "Who knows? There may be carp and tench, eels and pike. "

"Not likely, Bobby, my lad; but most probably there are fish of somekind, such as live on this side of the equator. "

"Mahseer, perhaps--eh?"

"Bah! This is Africa, not northern India. Let's get down and make abeginning. We had better get down through that woody rift. "

"I wish I'd got my six-jointed rod, old fellow. "

"But as you haven't, we must try what we can do with a line. "

"I say, it was lucky you thought to bring some hooks. "

"They were meant to try in the sea, old fellow, but I never had achance. Come softly, and be on the lookout. "

"Eh?" cried the young man addressed, bringing the rifle he carried tothe ready. "Boers?"

"Oh no; our fellows are not likely to let any of those gentlemenapproach. I thought we might perhaps put up a deer, antelope, buck, orsomething. "

"Venison roast, hot, juicy! Oh Drew, old man, don't; pray don't! Yougave me such an awful pang. Oh dear! oh dear!"

"Pst! Quiet! Don't build your hopes on anything, because I dare say weshall be disappointed; but still we might. "

"Ah, might!" said the young officer. "Oh dear! I thought we might getwounded, or have a touch of fever, but I never expected that we shouldrun the risk of being starved to death. "

"Then give us a chance of escaping that fate by keeping your tonguequiet. If we don't get a shot at something down there, we may still hitupon a bag of fish. "

"Forward!" whispered the young officer, and together the pair approachedthe wooded gully and cautiously began to descend it to reach the river;but all proved to be silent, and in spite of their caution not a bushrustled, and their patient movements were in vain. 

"I did expect a shot at something, " said the elder officer in adisappointed tone. 

"Venison was too much, " said Bobby. "I expected it would be a sneakingleopard, or one of those doggy-looking monkeys. "

"The baboons? Oh no; they'd be among the rocky hills. But you need notbe surprised, for this is the land of disappointments. "

"Oh, I say, don't talk like that, Drew, old chap, " said the youngerofficer. "Fishermen have bad luck enough always, without yourprophesying ill before we begin. "

"One can't help it out here. Hang it all! we've had nothing butmisfortunes ever since we came. Now then, you sit down on that rock, and I'll sit on this. "

"Why not keep close together?"

"Because if we do we shall be getting our lines tangled. "

"Of course; I forgot that. Here, you'll want some bait. "

The speaker took a small tin canister from his pocket, unscrewed thelid, and made by the help of his pocket-knife a fair division of somenasty, sticky-looking paste, which looked as if it would soon wash offthe hook upon which it was placed; and then the two fishermen separatedand took up their stations about fifty yards apart, the two stonesstanding well out in the rapid current which washed around them andproved advantageous, from the fact that they had only to drop the baitedhook into the water at their feet, when the swift stream bore it outwardand away, the fishers merely having to let out line and wait, watchfuland patient, for a bite. 

It was very calm and beautiful in the bend of the river that they hadchosen. There was a faint breeze, apparently caused by the rush of thestream, whose rippling amongst the stones with which the shore beneaththe cliff-like bank was strewed made pleasant music; and as soon as thewhole of the line was paid out the two young men sat silent andwatchful, waiting for the tug which should tell that there was a fish atwork. But a good ten minutes elapsed, and there was no sign. 

"Humph!" grunted Dickenson, after his patience was exhausted. "Nomistake about there being fish here. "

"How do you know?"

"One of them has taken my bait. "

It was on Drew's lips to say, "Washed off by the stream;" but heremained silent as he softly pulled in his own line, to find nothing butthe bare hook. 

"There! do you see?" he said softly, the sound of his voice passing overthe water so that it was like a whisper at his friend's ear, as hedangled the bare hook. 

"Oh yes, I see: fish nibbled it off. "

"Hope you are right, " said Drew softly, as he rebaited, dropped in thewhite marble of paste, and watched it glide down the stream, drawing outone by one the rings of line which he had carefully coiled up on therock when he drew it out. 

Then stooping and picking a long, heavy, stream-washed, slaty fragmentfrom out of the water by his side, he made the end of his line fast toit and laid it at his feet, so as to have his hands at liberty. Withthese he drew out a cigarette-case and opened it, but his brow puckeredup as he looked disconsolately at its contents. 

"The last two, " he said softly. "Better keep 'em. Be more hungryperhaps by-and-by. "

Closing the case, he replaced it in his breast-pocket. 

"The hardest job I know of, " he muttered, "practising self-denial. "Then aloud, "Well, Bob, do they bite?"

"No: only suck. Lost two more baits; but I shall have a big onedirectly. "

"Glad of it. How will you cook it--roast or boil?"

"Don't chaff. Mind your own line. "

Drew Lennox smiled, glanced down at his line, which the stream had nowdrawn out tight, and, satisfied that the stone to which it was tiedwould give him fair warning if he were fortunate enough to get a bite, he stepped back, picked up his rifle, and taking out his handkerchief, began to give it a rub here and a rub there, to add polish to thewell-cleaned barrel, trigger-guard, and lock. 

He took some time over this, but at last all was to his satisfaction;and laying down the piece on the rock by his side, he once more drew uphis line, glancing up-stream, to see that his companion was similarlyoccupied, both finding the bait gone. 

"I say, isn't it aggravating?" said Dickenson. "I know what they are--sort of mullet-like fish with small mouths. Put on a smaller bait. "

"All right; good plan, " said Lennox. 

"Wish to goodness I'd a few well-scoured English worms. I'd soon letthe fish know!"

"Ah, I suppose they would be useful, " said Lennox, moulding up a pieceof paste and trying to make it as hard as he could. "I say, Bob. "

"Hullo!"

"I've read that you can dig up great fat worms here in South Africa, eighteen inches long. "

"Dig one up, then, and I'll cut it into eighteen inch-long baits. "

"I didn't bring a spade with me, old fellow, " said Drew, smiling. 

"Humph! Why didn't you?"

"Same reason that you didn't bring out some worms in your kit. I say, are you loaded?"

"Of course. You asked me before. "

Drew Lennox said no more, but glanced up-stream and down-stream, afterstarting his bait once again upon its swim. Then, after watching therings uncoil till the line was tight, he swept the edge of the oppositebank some fifty yards away, carefully searching the clumps of trees andbushes, partly in search of a lurking enemy or spying Kaffir, taught nowby experience always to be on the alert, and partly in the faint hope ofcatching a glimpse of something in the shape of game such as would provewelcome in the famine that he and his comrades were experiencing. 

But, as he might have known in connection with game, their coming wouldhave been quite sufficient to scare off the keen eared and eyed wildcreatures; and he glanced down at his line again, thinking in a ratherhopeless way that he and his friend might just as well have stayed incamp at the laager they had fortified with so much care. 

His next act was to open the flap of his belt holster and carefullywithdraw the revolver which now rarely left his side. After a shortexamination of the mechanism, this came in for a good rub and polishfrom the handkerchief before it was replaced. 

"Nearly had one, " cried his companion, after a snatch at the line heheld. 

"Didn't get a bite, did you?"

"Bite? A regular pull; but I was a bit too late. Why don't you attendto your fishing instead of fiddle-faddling with that revolver? Pull upyour line. "

Drew Lennox smiled doubtingly as he drew the leather cover of theholster over the stud before stooping to take hold of the line at hisfeet. 

"I believe that was all fancy, Master Bobby, " he said. "If there havebeen any fish here, the crocodiles have cleared them out, or the Boershave netted them. It will be dry biscuit for us again to-night, or--Myword!"

"Got one?" cried Dickenson, excited in turn, for his brother officer'smanner had suddenly changed from resigned indifference to eager action, as he felt the violent jerk given to his line by something or other thathe had hooked. 

"Got one? Yes; a monster. Look how he pulls. "

"Oh, be careful; be careful old chap!" cried Dickenson wildly, and heleft the stone upon which he was standing to hurry to his friend's side. "That's a fifteen or twenty pound fish, and it means dinner for themess. "

"I believe it's a young crocodile, " said Lennox. "My word, how ittugs!"

"Play it--play it, man! Don't pull, or you'll drag the hook out of itsjaws. Give it line. "

"Can't; he has it all out. "

"Then you'll have to follow it down-stream. "

"What! go into the water? No, thanks. "

"What! shrink from wading when you've got on a fish like that at the endof your line? Here, let me come. "

"No; I'll play the brute and land him myself. But, I say, it's a fineone of some kind; pulls like an eel. Look how it's wagging its headfrom side to side. "

"Better let me come, " said Dickenson, whose face was scarlet fromexcitement. 

"Get out!"

"I'll never forgive you if you lose that fish, Lennox, old man. "

"Not going to lose him. Look; he has turned, and is coming up-stream;"for the line, which a few moments before was being violently jerked, suddenly grew slack. 

"Gone! gone! gone!" cried Dickenson, with something of a sob in histhroat. 

"You be quiet!" said Drew. "I thought, it was only a bit of wood a fewminutes ago. "

"Fish, of course, and the hook's broken away. "

"Think so?" was the cool reply, as foot after foot of the line was drawnin. "I was beginning to be of the opinion that he had given it up as abad job and was swimming right in to surrender. "

"No; I told you so. You've dragged the hook right out the fish's jaws, and--Oh, I'm blessed!"

"With a good opinion of yourself, Bobby, " said Drew, laughing; for aftersoftly hauling in about eight or ten yards of the stout water-cord hefelt the fish again, when it gave one smart tug at the line and dashedup past the stone, running out all that had been recovered in a very fewseconds. 

Directly after there was a check and a jerk at the officer's hand, whilea cry escaped his lips as he let the line go and stooped to pick up hisrifle. 

"That's no good, " began Dickenson. 

"Quick, man! Down with you!--Ah! you've left your rifle. Cover!"

"Oh!" ejaculated Dickenson; and his jaw dropped, and he stoodmotionless, staring across the river at the sight before him on theother bank. 

"Hands up! Surrender! You're surrounded!" shouted a rough voice. "Drop that rifle, or we fire. "

Drew Lennox was bent nearly double in the act of raising it as thesewords were uttered, and he saw before him some twenty or thirty barrels, whose holders had covered him, and apparently only awaited anothermovement on the young officer's part to shoot him down as they wouldhave done a springbok. 

"Oh dear!" groaned Dickenson; "to come to this!" And he was in the actof raising his hands in token of surrender when his comrade's headcaught him full in the chest and drove him back among the bushes whichgrew densely at the mouth of the gully. 

_Crack! crack! crack! crack_! rang out half-a-dozen rifles, and Lennox, who as the consequence of his spring was lying right across his comrade, rolled off him. 

"Hurt?" panted the latter in agonised tones. 

"No. Now then, crawl after me. "

"What are you going to do?"

"Creep up level with your rifle, and cover you while you get it. "

"Is it any use, old fellow? There's about fifty of them over yonder. "

"I don't care if there are five hundred, " growled Lennox through histeeth. "Come along; we must keep it up till help comes from thelaager. "

"Then you mean to fight?" panted Dickenson as he crawled after hisleader; while the Boers from the other side kept up a dropping fireright into and up the gully, evidently under the impression that the twoofficers were making that their line of retreat instead of creepingunder cover of the bushes at the foot of the cliff-like bank, till Drewstopped opposite where the abandoned rifle lay upon the stone Dickensonhad left, so far unseen. 

Where they stopped the bushes were shorter and thinner, and they had agood view of the enemy, who had taken cover close to the edge of theirbank and were keeping up a steady fire, sending their bullets searchingthe dense growth of the ravine, while about a dozen mounted men nowappeared, cantering along towards where there was a ford about a milelower down. 

"That's to surround us, old man, " said Dickenson. "The miserable liars!There isn't a man this side. But oh, my chest! You've knocked in someof my ribs. "

"Hang your ribs! We must get that rifle. "

"Wait till I get my wind back, " panted Dickenson. --"Oh, what a fool Iwas to lay it down!"

"You were, Bobby; you were, " said Drew quietly. "Here, hold mine, andI'll dash out and bring it back. "

"No, you don't!" cried the young officer; and as he crouched there onall fours he bounded out like a bear, seized the rifle from where itlay, and rushed back, followed by the shouts and bullets of four or fiveBoers, who saw him, but not quickly enough to get an effective aim. 

"Now call me a fool again, " panted Dickenson, shuffling himself behind astone. 

It was Drew Lennox's rifle that spoke, not he, as in reply to the firethey had brought upon them he took careful aim and drew trigger, whenone of the Boers sprang up fully into sight, turned half-round, threw uphis rifle, and fell back over the edge of the cliff among the bushessimilar to those which sheltered the young Englishmen. 

"Good shot, lad!"

"Yes. On his own head be it, " said Lennox. "A cowardly ambush. Fireas soon as you can steady yourself. Where are you? I can't see you. "

"Ahint this stone, laddie, " replied Dickenson coolly enough now. "Andyou?"

"Behind this one here. "

"That's right; I was afraid you were only bushed. Ah! myturn, "--_crack_!--"now. Bull's-eye, old man. "

As the words left his lips Lennox fired again, and another Boer who wasbadly hidden sprang up and dropped back. 

"Two less, " said Drew in a husky whisper, while _crack! crack_! went theBoer rifles, and a peculiar shattering echo arose from the far side ofthe river as the bullets flattened upon the rocks or cut the bushes likeknives; while from being few in number they rapidly became more, thoseof the enemy who had been searching the gully down which the young menhad come now concentrating their fire upon the little cluster of rocksand trees behind which they were hidden. 

"Don't waste a cartridge, Bob lad, " said Lennox, whose voice soundedstrange to his companion, "and hold your magazine in case they try arush. "

"Or for those fellows who'll come round by the ford, " replied Dickenson. 

"Never mind them. The firing will bring our lads out, and they'lltackle those gentlemen. "

"All right. --Ah! I've been waiting for you, my friend, " whisperedDickenson, and he fired quickly at one of the enemy who was creepingalong towards a spot from which he probably thought he would be able tocommand the spot where the young Englishmen lay. But he never reachedit. He just exposed himself once for a few moments, crawling like ashort, thick snake. Then his rifle was jerked upwards to the fullextent of the poor wretch's arm and fell back. He made no othermovement, but lay quite still, while the rifles around him cracked andthe bullets pattered faster and faster about where the two young menwere hidden. 

"I say, how queer your voice is!" said Dickenson. "Not hurt, are you?"

"No, and yes. This hurts me, Bob lad. I almost wish I wasn't such agood shot. "

"I don't, " muttered the other. "I want to live. " Then aloud, "Don'ttalk like that, man! It's their lives or ours. Hit every one youcan. --Phew! that was near my skull. I say, I don't call this comingfishing. "

He turned towards his comrade with a comical look of dismay upon hiscountenance after a very narrow escape from death, a bullet havingpassed through his cap, when _whizz! whizz! whirr_! half-a-dozen morebullets passed dangerously near. 

"Mind, for goodness' sake!" shouted Lennox, in a voice full of the agonyhe felt. "Don't you see that you are exposing yourself?"

"What am I to do?" cried the young officer angrily. "If I lean an inchthat way they fire at me, and if I turn this way it's the same. "

"Creep closer to the stone. "

"Then I can't take aim. "

"Then don't try. We've got to shelter till their firing brings help. "

"Oh, it's all very fine to talk, Drew, old chap, but I'm not going tolie here like a target for them to practise at without giving thebeggars tit for tat. --Go it, you ugly Dutch ruffians! There, how do youlike that?"

He fired as he spoke, after taking careful aim at another, who, from apost of vantage, kept on sending his bullets dangerously near. 

"Did you hit?" asked Lennox. 

"I think so, " was the reply. "He has backed away. "

"We must keep on firing at them, " said Lennox; "but keep your shots forthose who are highest up there among the trees. "

He set the example as he spoke, firing, after taking a long and carefulaim, at a big-bearded fellow who had crawled some distance to his rightso as to try and take the pair in the flank. The Boer had reached hisfresh position by making a rush, and his first shot struck the stonesclose to Drew's face, sending one up to inflict a stinging blow on thecheek, while in the ricochet it went whizzing by Dickenson's shoulder, making him start and utter an angry ejaculation, for he had againexposed himself. 

"Wish I could break myself off bad habits, " he muttered, as a littleshower of bullets came whizzing about them, but too late to harm. 

There was a certain amount of annoyance in his tones, for he noted that, while he had started up a little, his companion, in spite of thestinging blow he had received on the cheek, lay perfectly motionlessupon his chest, waiting his time, finger on trigger, and ready to giveit a gentle pressure when he had ceased to aim at one particular spotwhere he had seen the Boer's head for a moment. 

He did not have long to wait; for the moment the Boer had fired heslightly raised his head to try and mark the effect of his shot. 

That was sufficient. Lennox squeezed rather than pulled the trigger, and as the smoke rose the bush which had sheltered the Boer movedviolently for a few moments, and all was still there; while the youngofficer quickly reloaded and waited to see if another man took hisenemy's place. 

CHAPTER TWO. 

WHAT THEY CAUGHT. 

"Serve him right!" Dickenson growled more than spoke. "There's anotherchap creeping away yonder so as to enfilade us from the left. "

"Well, you know what to do, " said Lennox grimly. 

Dickenson uttered a grunt, and, paying no further heed to the bulletsthat kept on spattering about the rocks, every now and then striking upa shower of loose stones, waited, patiently watching a spot that he hadmarked down a couple of hundred yards away up the river to his left. For he had seen one of the most pertinacious of their aggressors drawback, apparently without reason. 

"He couldn't have known that I meant to pick him out for my next shot, "the young officer said to himself, "and he couldn't have been hurt, sohe's up to the same sort of game as that fellow old Lennox broughtdown. "

He turned his head sharply, not on account of a bullet coming too close, but to learn the effect of another shot from his companion. 

"Hit or miss?" he said gruffly. 

"Hit, " was the laconic reply. 

Dickenson had only glanced round, and then fixed his eyes once more uponthe little clump of bushes he had before noted. 

"That's the place he'll show at for certain, " he muttered, and gettingthe wight of his rifle well upon one particular spot where a big greystone reared itself up level with the tops of the bushes, he waited forquite five minutes, which were well dotted with leaden points. 

"Ha! I was right, " said Dickenson to himself, for all at once he caughta glimpse of the barrel of a rifle reared up and then lowered down overthe top of the stone in his direction. 

The distance was great, and the rifle-barrel looked no larger than ametal ramrod, but the clearness of the South African air showed itplainly enough; and hugging himself closer together, the young officerlaid his cheek close to the stock of his piece, closed his left eye, andglanced along the barrel, waiting for the opportunity he felt sure mustcome. 

The excitement of the moment made his heart beat fast, and his eyesglittered as he gazed; but there was nothing to see now save a beautifulgreen clump of thorn bush, with the great grey granite block in itsmidst. 

"I make it two hundred and fifty yards good, " he said to himself, and heraised the sight of his rifle. "I ought to be able to hit a steady markat that distance when cool, and I feel as cool now as a cucumber. They're grand shots these chaps, and if he can make out my face he'llbring me down as sure as a gun; and if he does there's new mourning tobe got at home, and a lot of crying, and the old lady and the girlsbreaking their hearts about stupid old me, so I must have first shot ifI can get it. Very stupid of them at home. They don't know what a foolevery one thinks me out here. Nice, though, all the same, and I like'em--well, love 'em, say--love 'em all too well to let them go breakingtheir hearts about me; so here goes, Mr Boer. But he doesn't go. Hemust be waiting up there, because I saw his gun. What a while he is!Or is it I'm impatient and think the time long? Couldn't have beenmistaken. I'd speak to old Lennox, but if I do it's a chance if theenemy don't show and get first shot. "

Dickenson seemed to cease thinking for a few moments, and lay listeningto the rattle of the Boers' guns across the river and the spatteringecho-like sounds of the bullets striking around. Then he began to thinkagain, with his eyes fixed upon the top of the grey stone in thedistance, and noting now that a clearly-cut shadow from a long strandwas cast right across the top of the stone. 

"That's just in front of where his face ought to be when he takes aim, "thought the young officer. --"Aim at me, to put them at home in mourningand make them go to church the next Sunday and hear our old vicar say akind word for our gallant young friend who died out in the Transvaal. But he sha'n't if I can help it. Nasty, sneaking, cowardly beggar! Inever did him any harm, and I don't want to do him any harm; but as hemeans to shoot me dead, why, common-sense seems to say, `Have first shotat him, Bobby, old chap, if you can, for you're only twenty, and as thedays of man are seventy years all told, he's going to do you out offifty, which would be a dead robbery, of course; and in this case a deadrobbery means murder into the bargain. '"

Bob Dickenson's musings stopped short for a few moments while he lookedin vain for some sign of his enemy. Then he went on again in adesultory way, paying no heed to the bullets flying over and around him, and for the time being forgetting all about his comrade, who kept onfiring whenever he had an opportunity. 

"What a pity it seems!" he mused. "Birds flitting about, bees andbutterflies sipping the honey out of the flowers, which are verybeautiful; so is this gully, with the sparkling water and ferns andthings all a-growing and a-blowing, as they say. Why, I should likenothing better than loafing round here enjoying myself by looking aboutand doing no harm to anything. I wouldn't even catch the fish if Iwasn't so hungry; and yet, here I am with a magazine-rifle trying toshoot a Boer dead. 

"Humph! yes, " he continued after a short pause; "but only so that hesha'n't shoot me dead. This is being a soldier, this is. Why was Isuch a fool as to be one? The uniform and the band and the idea ofbeing brave and all that sort of thing, I suppose. Rather different outhere. No band; no uniform but this dirt-coloured khaki; no bed to sleepon; no cover but the tent; roasting by day, freezing by night: hardly achance to wash one's self, and nothing to eat; and no one to look at youbut the Boers, and when they come to see what the soldiers of the Queenare like they send word they are there with bullets, bless 'em! Well, Isuppose it's all right. We must have soldiers, and I wanted to be one, and now I am one there does seem to be something more than the show indoing one's duty bravely, as they call it. 

"Well, " he muttered at last, "this is getting monotonous, and I'mgrowing tired of it. If they do shoot us both, they'll have had to payfor it. Why, they must have used a couple of hundred cartridges. Notvery good work for such crack shots as they are said to be. If theyspend a hundred cartridges to shoot one buck, it would come cheaper tobuy their meat. 

"All fancy, " he muttered directly after; "that fellow couldn't have beengoing where I thought, and yet it seemed so likely. There's the clumpof trees, and the very stone a fellow would make for to rest his rifleon when he took aim from his snug hiding-place. But there's no onethere. The sun shines right upon it, so that I could see in a moment ifa Boer was there. His face would be just beyond that shadow cast soclearly by what must be a dead bough. Yes, all a fancy of mine. "

"Bob!" cried Lennox. 

"Hullo!"

"I shall want some of your cartridges if help doesn't come soon. "

Bob Dickenson made no further reply, but lay gazing with one eye alongthe barrel of his rifle; for as his comrade spoke it suddenly occurredto him that the top of the grey block of granite looked a littledifferent, but in what way he could not have explained. He noted, too, that there was a tiny flash of light such as might have been thrown offa bright crystal of feldspar, and without pause now he held his riflemore firmly, laid the sight upon the flashing light, and the next momenthe would have pulled the trigger. But ere he could tighten his fingerupon the little curved piece of steel within the guard of his piece, there was a flash, a puff of smoke, and a sensation as if a wasp hadwhizzed by his ear. He did not move, only waited while one might havecounted ten, and then tightened his grasp. 

"Bah!" he ejaculated as the little puff of smoke rose slowly, "how thisrifle kicks! Humph!" as the smoke cleared rapidly as soon as it roseenough for the wind to catch it, "I was right after all. "

"Hit?" asked Lennox. 

"Yes; and just in time, for we should have been in an awkward placedirectly. "

"Yes; and I'm afraid we shall be all the same, " said Lennox. "Try ifyou can do any good at a couple of fellows across yonder. I can't touchthem from where I lie, and if I move I shall shoot no more. "

Dickenson turned from where he was gazing hard at the top of the graniteblock, the appearance of which was now completely changed; for the Boerwho, in accordance with what the young officer had anticipated, had sentso dangerous a bullet whizzing by his ear, had suddenly sprung up, fallen forward, and now lay there with outstretched hands stillclutching his rifle, which rested upon the ground in front. 

"Mind me firing over you?" said the young officer. 

"No; but give me a hint first. "

"All right. I shall have to--Stop a moment, " he growled softly as apuff of smoke spurted up and another bullet came dangerously near. "That's the worst fellow, isn't he?"

"One's as bad as the other. Lie close. "

"Can't lie any closer, old man. Skin seems to be growing to the rock asit is. "

_Crack_!

There was another shot, the puff of smoke rising from close alongsidethe former one which Dickenson had seen. 

"I say, " he cried, "which of us are they firing at?"

"Both, I expect, " said Lennox. "They're sheltered by the same rock; onefires from one side, the other from the second. I can't touch them. Try at once. "

"Don't you hurry me, or I shall muff it, old man, " said Dickensoncoolly. "I want a better chance. There's nothing but a bit ofwideawake to fire at now. --Ha! Lie still. He's reaching out to fire atme, I think. "

Dickenson's rifle spurted, and their enemy's was like an echo; but themuzzle of the Boer's piece was suddenly jerked upward, and the bullethad an opportunity of proving how far a Mauser rifle would carry with ahigh trajectory. 

"Thanks, old fellow, " said Lennox. "That has halved the risk. Perhapsthe other fellow will think it too dangerous to stay. "

"Doesn't seem like it, " said Dickenson, drawing in his breath sharplyand clapping his left hand to his ear. 

"Don't say you're hit, Bob!" cried Lennox in an agonised tone. 

"All right; I won't if you don't want me to. "

"But are you?"

"I suppose so. There's a bit taken out of my left ear, and I can feelsomething trickling down inside my collar. "

"Oh Bob, old fellow!" cried Lennox. 

"Lie still, man! What are you going to do?"

"Bind up the place. "

"You won't if you stir. "

There was pretty good proof of this, for another shot whizzed betweenthem. But he who sent it had been too venturesome in taking aim torevenge his comrade's fall, and the result of Dickenson's return shotwas fatal, for he too sprang up into a kneeling posture, and they sawhim for a few moments trying to rise to his feet, but only to fall overto the left, right in view of the two officers. 

Drew uttered a sigh of relief. 

"If we are to escape, " he said, "we must stop any one from getting intothat position again. "

"Look sharp, then, " said Dickenson, whose keen eyes detected a movementon the other side of the river. "There's a chap creeping among thebushes on all fours. "

"I see him, " cried Drew; and as he followed the enemy's movements andtook aim, Dickenson, who was in the better position for commanding them, followed his example. 

"Missed!" cried Drew angrily as he fired and the Boer raised a hand andwaved it derisively. 

"Hit!" exclaimed Dickenson the next instant. For he too had fired, andwith better aim, the Boer drawing himself together, springing up, andturning to run, but only to stagger the next minute and fall heavilyamong the bushes, which hid him from sight. 

"Now for the next, " continued Dickenson, coolly reloading. "Look out;I'm going to watch the other end. "

He turned sharply as a fresh shower of bullets came scattering aroundthem, and looked keenly at the granite rock and its burden, half-expecting to see a fresh occupant taking aim. But apparently noone seemed disposed to expose himself anew to the rifles of such deadlyshots, and the terrible peril to which the two fishermen had beenexposed ceased for the time being, though the pair waited in momentaryexpectation of its recurrence. 

But the enemy did not slacken their efforts to finish their task byeasier means, and the firing from the front went on more briskly thanever, the young officers contenting themselves with holding theirs anddisplaying no excitement now, their shelter, so long as they lay close, being sufficient, the worst befalling them now being a sharp rap from ascrap of stone struck from the rocks, or the fall of a half-flattenedbullet. 

"That's right; don't fire until we are in an emergency, " said Drew atthe end of a few minutes. 

"In a what?" cried Dickenson. 

"In regular peril. "

"Why, what do you call this?" cried Dickenson, with a laugh. "I made mywill half-an-hour ago--in fancy, of course. "

"Well, it is a hot corner, " said Drew, joining in his companion's grimmirth; "but we haven't got to the worst of it yet. "

"What!" yelled Dickenson. "Oh Drew, old man, you are about the coolestfish in the regiment. It can't be worse than it has been. "

"Can't it? Wait a few minutes, and the party who made for the ford willbe at us. "

"But they can't get their horses down the way we came. "

"No; but they can leave them with a fourth of their fellows to holdwhile they get somewhere within shot, and then we're done. What do yousay to tying a handkerchief to a rifle-barrel and holding it up? We'veheld out well. "

"Nothing! What do you say?"

"Same as you do; but I thought I'd give you the option if you did notfeel as obstinate as I do. "

"Obstinate? I don't call it obstinate to hold out now. I've seen toomany of our poor lads carried to the rear. Here, " continued thespeaker, after feeling, "I haven't used half my cartridges yet. Ask meagain when they're all gone, and then I'll tell you the idea I've got. "

"What is it? Tell me now. "

"Very well. We'll fire the last cartridge at the cowardly brutes--fiftyat least to two--and then give them a surprise. "

"What! walk out and hold up your hands?"

"No; that would be a surprise, of course; but I've got a better. "

"Let's have it. "

"Walk in. "

"What do you mean?"

"Well, crawl, then, into the river. Get quietly in from behind some ofthe overhanging bushes, and float down with the stream. "

"Wouldn't do, Bobby; they wouldn't trust us. They'd see us floating. "

"They'd think we were dead. "

"Not they. The Boers are too slim, as they call it, and would pump afew bullets into us. Besides, I have no fancy for being dragged down bya crocodile or grabbed by a hippo. "

"Think there are any crocs?"

"Plenty in some of the rivers. "

"But the hippos, wouldn't touch us, would they?"

"Very likely. They don't hesitate about seizing a canoe and crunchingit in two. No, your plan won't do, lad. I'd rather die ashore here. "

"Dry?" said Dickenson quietly. "Well, I dare say it would be nicer. But there, we're not quite cornered yet. "

_Crack_ went a bullet overhead, and a report came from a fresh directionalmost simultaneously. 

"Wrong!" said Drew coolly. "We are cornered now. That's the first shotfrom the men who have crossed to our side. "

"All right; I'm ready for them. Let's finish our cartridges. "

"We will, Bob, " said Drew quite calmly, in spite of their extremity. 

"What do you want?" said Dickenson. "You haven't used all yourcartridges?"

"No; only about half. "

"Then why did you hold out your hand?"

"Shake! In case, " said Drew laconically. 

"Sha'n't! I'm not going to look upon the business as having come tothat pitch yet. Look out; we ought to see some of them soon. "

For shots were beginning to come about them to supplement those sentfrom across the river, but so ill directed that it was evident thattheir fresh assailants were guessing at their position below theperpendicular cliff-like bank. 

"This won't hurt us, " said Dickenson coolly. 

"No; but some of them will be having their heads over the edge up theredirectly. "

"They can't while their friends are firing from the other side as theyare. But when they do look down it will be rather awkward for the firsttwo. "

"Here, quick, look out, Bob!" cried Lennox, for the firing from thefarther bank suddenly ceased, and the rustling and cracking of twigssomewhere overhead told that the fresh danger was very near. 

Dickenson's reply to his companion's order was to place himself quicklywith his back to the rocks that had sheltered him, sitting with hisrifle pointing upward. 

Drew took the same position, and none too soon; for, following closelyupon the rustling sound, the makers of which were still invisible, acouple of shots were fired down at them, the bullets striking the stonesjust over their heads. 

No reply was made, for the enemy were quite hidden, and with beatinghearts the two young Englishmen waited in horrible suspense for theirchance--one which never came; for directly after quite a volley wasfired, apparently from some distance back from the edge, and, to Drew'shorror, a big burly Boer seemed to leap down from the top of the cliffto seize them for prisoners. 

That was his first surmise. The next moment he knew the truth, for witha heavy thud the man struck the stones, falling sidewise, and thenturned over upon his face, to lie with his limbs quivering slightly fora few moments before he lay perfectly still. 

"Hurrah!" shouted Dickenson, springing to his feet. 

"Down! down!" roared Drew, snatching at his brother officer's arm. 

But the need for caution was at an end, for volley after volley camerolling down into the river-bed, and proof of help being at hand wasgiven by the rapid firing of the Boers on the other side of the river, aduel on a large scale being kept up for some ten minutes before thefiring on the far side ceased. 

"Whopped!" shouted Dickenson excitedly. "Look! look!" he cried, pointing down the river and across at an open spot where some dozens ofthe enemy were streaming away, galloping as hard as their littleBechuana ponies could go, but not escaping scatheless, four saddlesbeing emptied by the fire from the cliff above the watchers' heads. 

"I wonder whether the other men who crossed have escaped, " said Drewthoughtfully, as he took his whistle from his cross-belt and held itready to blow. 

"Take it for granted they have, my son, " said Dickenson. "They reallyare clever at that sort of thing. I say, I'm glad I didn't go throughthat performance. "

"What performance?" said Drew wonderingly. 

"Hand-shaking in that sentimental way. "

"It wouldn't have done you any harm. "

"Perhaps not; but, I say, don't stand fiddling about with that whistle. Blow, man, blow, and let the lads know where we are. I don't want to beshot now by our own men: too degrading, that. "

Drew placed the whistle to his lips, and the shrill, penetrating, chirruping call rang out, while Dickenson stood looking upward towardsthe top of the bank. 

 Then Robin he put him his horn to his mouth And a blast he did loudly blow, While quick at the call his merry men all Came tripping along in a row!

He half-hummed, half-sang the old lines in a pleasant baritone voice, and then listened. 

"Don't see many _merry men_ tripping--poor, hungry beggars! Blow again, Drew, old man. Why don't they stop firing?"

Drew blew again, and, to the intense satisfaction of both, the whistlewas answered from among the trees above. 

"Ahoy there! Where are you?"

"Here! here!" shouted the young officers together. 

"Cease firing!" came now in a familiar voice, and the shots died out. 

"It's Roby, " said Drew eagerly. 

"Never liked him so well before, " said Dickenson, laughing. "Ahoy!We're coming up. "

"Oh, there you are!" came from above, and a good, manly, sun-tanned facewas thrust over the edge of the cliff. "All right?"

"Yes! Yes!" was the reply. 

"That's better than I expected, lads, " cried the officer. "Does onegood. I thought we were avenging your death. Well, "--the speaker'sface expanded into a broad grin--"it's getting on towards dinner-time. What have you caught?"

"Tartars!" growled Drew shortly. 

"Yes, " said Dickenson; "a regular mess. "

The Kopje Garrison--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER THREE. 

ON THE QUI VIVE. 

"So it seems, " said the officer above. "But hullo, you! You'rewounded. "

"Pooh! stuff!" said Dickenson shortly; "bit picked out of my ear. "

"But, "--began the head of the rescue party. 

"Let it be, " said Dickenson snappishly as he pressed his hand to theinjured place. "If I don't howl about it, I'm sure you needn't. "

"Very well, old fellow, I will not. Ugh! what's that down there--thatfellow dead?"

The officer leaned out as far as he could so as to get a good look atthe motionless figure at the foot of the cliff. 

Drew glanced at the figure too, and nodded his head. 

"Who shot him--you or Dickenson?"

"Neither of us, " said Drew gravely. "It was the work of one of yourfellows; he fell from up there. But what about the party who crossed bythe ford?"

"Oh, we've accounted for them. Cut them off from the ford andsurrounded them. Fifteen, and bagged the lot, horses and all. "

"You were a precious long time coming, though, Roby, " grumbledDickenson. "We seem to have been firing here all day. "

"That's gratitude!" said the officer. "We came as quickly as we could. Nice job, too, to advance on a gang well under cover and double coveredby the strong body across the river. There must have been sixty orseventy of them; but, " added the captain meaningly, "sixty or seventyhave not gone back. How many do you think are down? We've accountedfor a dozen, I should say, _hors de combat_. "

"I don't know, " said Drew shortly, "and don't want to. "

"What do you say, Dickenson?" asked the captain. 

"The same as Lennox here. "

"Come, come, speak out and don't be so thin-skinned. We've got toreport to Lindley. "

"Six haven't moved since, " said Dickenson, looking uneasy now that theexcitement of the fight was at an end; "and I should say twice as manymore wounded. "

"Serve 'em right. Their own fault, " said the captain. 

It was decided to be too risky a proceeding to cross the river, for theBoers were certain to be only a short distance away, sheltered in someadvantageous position, waiting to try and retrieve their dead andwounded; so a small party was posted by the ford to guard against anycrossing of the river, and then the prisoners were marched off towardsthe village a couple of miles distant, where the detachment of infantryand mounted men had been holding the Boers across the river in check forsome weeks past. 

A few shots followed them from a distance at first; but the enemy hadreceived quite as much punishment as they desired upon that occasion, and soon ceased the aggressive, being eager for a truce to communicatewith the little rear-guard posted in the scrub by the river so as torecover their wounded and dead. 

On the way back to the village the two young officer's had to relate infull their experience, which was given in a plain, unvarnished way; andthen as a sharp descent was reached, and the rescued officers caughtsight of the well-guarded prisoners marching on foot, their Bechuanaponies having been appropriated by their captors, Dickenson began togrow sarcastic. 

"Glad you've made such a nice lot of prisoners, Roby, " he said. 

"Thanks, " said the officer addressed, smiling contentedly. "Not sobad--eh? The colonel will be delighted. Nice useful lot of ponies--eh?"

"Ye-es. The old man must be delighted. We're all about starving, andyou're taking him about a score more mouths to feed. "

"Eh?" cried the captain, aghast. "Why, of course; I never thought ofthat. "

"Dickenson did, " said Lennox, laughing. "A thing like this touches himto the heart--I mean lower down. "

"You hold your tongue, my fine fellow, " growled Dickenson. "You're asbad as I am. I don't like the fighting, but I'm ready to do my share ifyou'll only feed me well. I feel as if I'd been losing flesh forweeks. "

"And done you good, " said Lennox seriously. "You were much too fat. "

"Look here, Drew, " growled the young man addressed; "do you want toquarrel?"

"Certainly not, " was the reply. "I've had quite enough for one day. "

Further conversation was prevented by their approach to the village, which was built at the foot of a precipitous kopje, the spot having beenchosen originally for its fertility consequent upon the fact that acopious spring of fresh water rose high up among the rocks to form thelittle stream and gully at whose mouth the young officers had met withtheir fishing experience. 

This village, known as Groenfontein, had been held now for nearly twomonths by the little force, the idea being that it was to be occupiedfor a day at the most, and vacated after the Boers had been driven off. But though this had been done at once, the enemy had, as Drew Lennoxsaid, a disgracefully unmilitary way of coming back after they had beenthoroughly beaten. They had come back here after the driving; othershad come to help them from east, west, north, and south, and as soon asthey were strengthened they had set to work to drive the British forceaway or capture it _en bloc_; but that was quite another thing. 

For, as Dickenson said, the colonel's instructions were to drive and notbe driven. So the Boers were driven as often as there was a chance; andthen, as they kept on returning, the force had to stay, and did so, getting plenty of opportunities for making fresh drives, till thecolonel felt that it was all labour in vain and waste of time. 

Under these circumstances he sent messengers explaining the position andasking for instructions. But his despatches did not seem to have beendelivered, for no orders came to him, and their bearers did not return. Consequently, like a sturdy British officer, he fell back upon his firstcommand to hold the Boers in check at Groenfontein, soon finding thatthey held him in check as well, for even had he felt disposed to retire, it would have been impossible except at the cost of losing half his men;so he held on and waited for the relief which he felt would sooner orlater come. 

But it did not come sooner, and he relied on the later, making the bestof things. Colonel Lindley's way of making the best of things was toreturn a contemptuous reply to the demands made from time to time forhis surrender. 

The first time this demand was made was when the enemy had him in frontand rear. The envoys who came informed him that his position wasperfectly hopeless, for he could not cross the river in face of thestrong body the Boers had lining the banks; and that they had him infront, and if his people did not give up their arms they would be shotdown to a man. 

The colonel's answer to this was, "Very well, gentlemen; shoot away. "

His officers were present, and Drew Lennox and Bob Dickenson exchangedglances at the word "gentlemen, " for the embassy looked like anythingbut that; and they departed in an insolent, braggart way, and very soonafter began to shoot, using up a great many cartridges, but doing verylittle harm. Then, growing weary, they gave up, and the colonel set onepart of his men to work with the spade till dark, making rifle-pit andtrench; while as soon as it was dark he despatched fully half of hisforce to occupy the precipitous mound at the back of the village, makinga natural stronghold which he intended to connect with the camp by meansof stone walls the next day, having a shrewd notion that if he did notthe Boers would, for the mound commanded the place, and would soon makeit untenable. 

Captain Roby's company and another were sent to this duty, and the menwere carefully posted--Lennox and Dickenson on the highest part, whichwas naturally the most windy and cold. Their orders, which theyconveyed to the men, were to keep the strictest lookout, though theenemy had retired far enough away; for the Boers had at that earlyperiod of the war already acquired the credit of being slim and cleverat ambush and night attack. 

But the night was well advanced, and the two friends, after visitingpost after post, were sitting huddled up in their greatcoats, longingfor hot coffee or cigarettes, and feeling obliged to rub their sleepyand tired eyes from time to time, weary as they were with straining tosee danger creeping up over the black, dark veldt, but straining invain. 

"B-r-r-r! What humbug it is to call this Africa!" growled Dickenson. 

"What do you mean?" replied Lennox. 

"Mean? Why, it's so cold. Where's your blazing heat and your sand?One might be at the North Pole. Ow! don't do that. "

He started violently, for Lennox had suddenly stolen out a hand andpinched his arm sharply. 

"Quiet! Listen!"

Dickenson drew his breath hard and strained his ears instead of hiseyes. 

"Well? Can't hear anything. "

"Hist! Listen again. "

There was a pause. 

"Hear anything?"

"Yes; but I don't know what it is, " said Dickenson, laying a hand behindone ear and leaning forward with his head on one side. 

"What does it sound like?"

"Something like a heavy wagon coming along a road with its wheelsmuffled. "

"Heavy wagon drawn by oxen?"

"Yes, " replied Dickenson. 

"Mightn't it be a big gun?"

"It might, " said Dickenson dubiously; "but what, could a big gun bedoing out there on the open veldt?"

"Lying still in its carriage, and letting itself be drawn to the placewhere it was to be mounted. "

"Yes, of course it might be; but it couldn't. "

"Why not? Bob, old fellow, " whispered Lennox in an excited whisper, "Ibelieve the Boers are stealing a march upon us. "

"Well, they won't, because we're on the watch. But out with it: what isit you think?"

"They don't know that we are occupying the kopje to-night. "

"No; we came after it was dark. "

"Exactly. Well, they're bringing up a big gun to mount up here and giveus a surprise in the morning. "

"Phe-ew!" whistled Dickenson. "Oh, surely not!"

"I feel sure that they are. "

"Well, let's send word on to the old man. Send one of the sergeants. "

"And by the time he got there with his news, and reinforcements could besent, the enemy would have the gun here. "

"Let's tell Roby, then. "

"Yes; come on. "

In another minute they had told their officer their suspicions, and hehummed and ha'd a little after listening. 

"It hardly seems likely, " he said, "and I don't want to raise a falsealarm. Besides, the outposts have given no notice; and hark! I canhear nothing. "

"Now?"

They listened in the darkness, and it was as their captain suggested:all perfectly still. 

"There, " he said. "It would be horrible to rouse up the colonel onaccount of a cock-and-bull story. "

"But it would be worse for him to be warned too late. There it isagain; hark!" whispered Lennox, stretching out a hand in the directionfarthest from the village. 

"Can't hear anything, " said the captain. 

"I can, " growled Dickenson softly. 

"Yes, so can I now. It's a wagon whose drivers have missed their way, Ishould say. But we'll see. "

"Or feel, " grunted the captain. "It's as black as ink. --Here, Lennox, take a sergeant's guard and go forward softly to see if you can makeanything out. I don't know, though; it may be as you say, and if itis--"

"We ought to bring in that gun, " whispered Lennox. 

"Yes, at all hazards. I don't know, though. There, takefive-and-twenty of the lads, and act as seems best. If you can do iteasily, force the drivers to come on, but don't run risks. If the Boersare in strength fall back at once. You understand?"

"Quite, " said Lennox softly. 

"Let me go with him, Roby?"

"No; I can't spare you. "

"Yes, do; I can help him. "

"He can do what there is to do himself, and would rather be alone, forit is only a reconnaissance. "

"I should like him with me, " said Lennox quietly, and he felt his armnipped. 

"Very well; but don't waste time. I can hear it quite plainly now. Mind, fall back at once if they are in force. I'll be well on the alertto cover you and your party. "

The requisite number of men were soon under the young officer's orders, and they followed him softly down the rock-encumbered slope of thenatural fortress--no easy task in the darkness; but the men were gettingused to the gloom, and it was not long before the party was challengedby an outpost and received the word. They passed on, getting well roundto the farther side of the kopje before they were challenged again. 

"Glad you've come, sir, " said the sentry; "I was just going to fire. "

"Why?" asked Lennox softly. 

"I can hear something coming out yonder in the darkness. You listen, sir. It's like a heavy wagon. "

The man spoke in a whisper; then for some moments all was perfectlystill. 

"Can't hear it now, sir, " whispered the sentry; "but I felt sure I heardsomething. "

"Wait again, " said Lennox softly; and there was a good five minutes'interval of waiting, but not a sound could be heard. 

"Let's go forward, Bob, " whispered Lennox; and after telling the sentryto be well upon the alert, he led his men slowly and cautiously straightaway out into the black darkness of the veldt, but without hearinganother sound till they were, as far as could be judged, a good twohundred yards from the last outpost, when the men were halted and stoodin the black darkness listening once more, before swinging: round to theright and getting back by a curve to somewhere near the starting-place. 

The next moment the young men joined hands and stood listening to anunmistakable sound away to their right and nearer to the kopje. Thesound was distant enough to be very soft, but there it was, plainlyenough--the calm, quiet crunching up of the food a span of oxen hadeaten, indicative of the fact that they had been pulled up by theirdrivers and were utilising their waiting time by chewing the cud. 

"Forward!" whispered Lennox, and his men crept after him without asound, every one full of excitement, for the general idea was that theywere about to surprise some convoy wagon that had gone astray. 

A minute later the munching of the oxen sounded quite loudly, and thelittle party was brought to a halt by a deep, gruff voice saying in BoerDutch:

"What a while you've been! How much higher can we get?"

"Fix bayonets!" cried Lennox sharply, and a yell of dismay arose, followed by a dozen random shots, as the metallic clinking of the keen, dagger-like weapons was heard against the muzzles of the men's rifles. 

The shots fired seemed to cut the black darkness, and the explodedpowder spread its dank, heavy fumes in the direction of the men's faces, but as far as Lennox could make out in the excitement of leading hisparty on in a charge, no one was hurt; and the next minute his littleline was brought up short, several of the men littering angryejaculations, and as many more bursting into a roar of laughter. 

CHAPTER FOUR. 

WAYS AND MEANS. 

"Here, what in the name of wonder!" cried Dickenson angrily. "Yah!Keep those horns quiet, you beast. "

"What is it?" cried Lennox excitedly. 

"Roast-beef, sir--leastwise to-morrow, sir, " cried one of the men. "We've bay'neted a team of oxen. "

"Speak the truth, lad, " cried another from Lennox's left. "We've beengiving point in a gun-carriage. "

"Silence in the ranks!" cried Lennox sternly as he felt about in thedarkness, joined now by his comrade, and found that their charge hadbeen checked by a big gun, its limber, and the span--six or eight andtwenty oxen--several of the poor beasts having received thrusts from themen's bayonets. 

It was a strange breastwork to act as a protection, but from behind itsshelter a couple of volleys were sent in the direction of the flashes oflight which indicated the whereabouts of the enemy, and this made themcontinue their flight, the surprise having been too great for theirnerves; while the right interpretation was placed upon the adventure atonce--to wit, that in ignorance of the fact that Colonel Lindley haddone in the darkness exactly what might have been expected, and occupiedthe kopje, the Boers had brought up a heavy gun with the intention ofmounting it before morning, and had failed. 

"What's to be the next?" said Dickenson. 

"Next?" cried Lennox. "You must cover us with three parts of the menwhile with the rest I try to get the gun right up to the kopje. "

It was no easy task, for the driver and foreloper of the team had fledwith the artillerymen and the rest of the Boers, while the pricked oxenwere disposed to be unmanageable. But British soldiers are accustomedto struggle with difficulties of all kinds in war, and by the time theBoers had recovered somewhat from their surprise, and, urged by theirleaders, were advancing again to try and recover the lost piece, theteam of oxen were once more working together, and the ponderous gun wasbeing slowly dragged onward towards the rocky eminence. 

It was terribly hard work in the darkness; for the way, after about ahundred yards or so over level veldt, began to ascend, and blocks ofgranite seemed to be constantly rising from the ground to impede theprogress of the oxen. 

In spite of all, though, the gun and its limber were dragged on and on, while in the distance a line of tiny jets of fire kept on spurting out, showing that the enemy had recovered from the panic and were coming on, firing as they came, the bullets whizzing over the heads of our men, butdoing no harm. 

"Steady! steady! and as quietly as you can, " said Lennox in warningtones, as he kept on directing and encouraging his men. "They arefiring by guesswork. --Ah! that won't do any good, " he muttered, for justas he was speaking Dickenson and his men, who had spread out widely, began to reply; "it will only show our weakness. "

He looked forward again in the direction the oxen were being driven; butthe kopje was invisible, and now he altered his opinion about the firingof Dickenson's detachment, for he felt that it would let the captainknow what was going on, and bring up support. 

He was quite right, for in a very little time Captain Roby had felt hisway to them, learnt the cause of the firing, and carefully covered theretreat till the intricacies of the rocky ascent put a stop to furtherprogress in the gloom, and a halt was called till morning. 

The rest of the night passed in the midst of a terrible suspense, forthough the Boer firing gradually died out, as if the leaders had at lastawakened to the fact of its being a mere waste of ammunition, theBritish detachment, scattered here and there about the captured gun, layin momentary expectation of the enemy creeping up and then making arush. 

"But they will not, " said Lennox quietly. "They'll wait till morning, and creep up from stone to stone and bush to bush, trying to pick usoff. "

"You need not be so cock-sure about it, " growled Dickenson. "They arein force, and must have known from our fire how few we were. A rushwould do it. "

"Yes; but they will not rush, " replied Lennox. "They understand toowell the meaning of the word _bayonet_. Cock-sure or no, they'll makeno dash; but as soon as it begins to be light we shall have ahailstorm. "

"Nonsense!" said Dickenson tetchily; "there's no sign of rain. "

"I did not say rain, " replied Lennox, "but hail--leaden hail from everybit of cover round. "

"Oh, I see, " said Dickenson. "Well, two sides can play at that game;and I fancy we have most cover here. "

Lennox was quite right; for as soon as the first pale grey of a lovelydawn began to make objects stand up in an indistinct way upon the levelveldt around the kopje, the sharp cracks of rifle after rifle began atevery object that displayed movement upon the eminence, and thepattering of bullets among the rocks often preceded the reports of theBoer rifles. 

But by this time Captain Roby had communicated with the colonel in thevillage, and had taken his steps, sending his men well out in theenemy's direction to take advantage of every scrap of cover to replywherever it was necessary, which they did, their efforts, as the timewent on, to some extent keeping the Boer fire down. 

The colonel grasped the position at once and sent assistance, with theresult that, in spite of terrible difficulties, by help of horse andmule to supplement the pulling powers of the ox-team, the big gun, limber, and an ammunition-wagon, which daylight showed lying deserted aquarter of a mile away among some bushes into which it had been draggedin the dark, were hauled to the flat top of the kopje, where they weresurrounded with a rough but strong breastwork of the abundant stones, and by the men's breakfast-time a shell was sent well into the midst ofa clump of bush which the Boers had made the centre of their advance. 

A better shot could not have been made, for as soon as the shell hadburst, the defenders of the kopje had the satisfaction of seeing thatthe greater part of the Boers' ponies had been gathered into shelterthere, and a perfect stampede had begun, hundreds of horses, mounted andempty of saddle, streaming away in every direction except that in whichthe kopje lay. 

There was no need for a second shell, for the sputtering rifle-fireceased as if by magic, the Boers retiring, leaving the colonel's forceat liberty to go on at leisure strengthening the emplacement of theenemy's heavy Creusot gun, and forming a magazine for the abundantsupply of ammunition, also captured for its use. 

The rest of the day was occupied, by as many of the men as could bespared, building up sangars [loose stone walls for breastworks] andcontriving rifle-pits and cover to such an extent that already it wouldhave taken a strong and determined force to make any impression; while, when the officers met at the mess that night and the matter was underdiscussion, the colonel smiled. 

"Yes, " he said, "pretty well for one day's work; but by the end of aweek we shall have a little Gibraltar that will take all the men theBoers have in the field to capture--a regular stronghold, ready like acastle keep if we have to leave the village. "

"And may that never be, colonel, " said Captain Roby. 

"Hear, hear!" cried every one present. 

"So I say, " said the colonel; "but we may at any time be ordered tooccupy some other position. By the way, though, I should not dislike tosend the Boer leader a letter of thanks for sending us that gun and asupply of oxen. How many must be killed?"

"Killed?" cried Captain Roby. 

"Yes; several were bayoneted in that charge. "

"Three only, " replied the captain, "and they don't look much the worsefor it. Their flesh seems to close up again like india-rubber. The vetsays they will all heal up. "

"Good, " said the colonel. "Take it all together, I shall have apleasant despatch to send to the general. The capture of the big gun;not a man killed, and only three wounded. How are they getting on, doctor?"

"Capitally. Nothing serious. But, by the way--" The doctor stopped andbegan to clean out his pipe. 

"Yes, by the way?" said the colonel. "Nothing unpleasant to report, Ihope?"

"Um--no, " drawled the doctor. "A fresh patient with a touch of fever;but it wasn't that. I meant--that is, I wondered how you meant to sendthe despatch?"

"Ha! Yes, " said the colonel thoughtfully; "how? I don't feel disposedto risk any more men, and I hear that the Kaffirs do not seem to betempted by the pay offered them, although I have offered double what Igave before. "

"That's bad, " said the doctor. "Well, I suppose you can hold thisplace?"

"Tight!" said the colonel laconically. 

"So long as provisions and ammunition hold out?" said Captain Robytentatively. 

"Yes, " assented the colonel. 

"And when they are ended, " cried Dickenson, who had sat listening insilence, "we can try a bit of sport. There are herds of antelopes andflocks of guinea-fowl about, sir. "

"I doubt it, Dickenson, " said the colonel, smiling; "and I fancy thatthe most profitable form of sport for us will be that followed out byour mounted men. "

"What's that, sir?" asked Dickenson. 

"Stalking the enemy's convoys. These fellows have to be fed, hardy andself-supporting as they are. But there, we are pretty well supplied asyet, and the great thing is that our water-supply is never likely tofail. "

The next morning the Boers made a fresh attack for the purpose ofrecapturing the gun or seizing the kopje where it was mounted. But thisadvance, like several more which followed, only resulted in a severerepulse, and at last their attacks formed part of a long blockade inwhich they hoped to succeed by starving the little British force intosubjection. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

THE BOER PRISONERS. 

It was to this village and kopje, turned after its long occupation intowhat proved to be an impregnable stronghold--one which so far, to theBoers' cost, maintained its promise--that Drew Lennox and Bob Dickensonreturned after their unfortunate fishing expedition, the colonel, abluff, sun-burnt, stern-looking officer, meeting them with a frown asthey came up. "How many men hurt, Roby?" he said. 

"Only one, sir. Dickenson had his ear nicked by a bullet. "

"Humph! Might have been worse, my lad, " said the colonel. "Show it tothe doctor. --Where are your fish, Lennox?"

"In the river, sir, " said the young officer, with a shrug of theshoulders. "How was that?"

The young man briefly explained, and the colonel nodded his head. 

"Look here, " he said, "we want some change from our monotonous fare; butif you two had come back loaded with salmon I should have forbidden anyfurther fishing--so of course I do now. I can't afford to have myofficers setting themselves up as butts for the Boers to practise at. "

"We have taken fifteen prisoners and their horses, sir, " interposedCaptain Roby, making an effort to turn aside the wrath of their chief. 

"Yes, Mr Roby, I saw that you had some prisoners, " replied the colonelmeaningly; "but, excuse me, I had not finished addressing these twogentlemen. "

"I beg pardon, sir. "

"That will do, " said the colonel. "There, I need say no more. Let'ssee the prisoners. "

"I don't think I like fishing as a sport, Drew, old man, " saidDickenson, rubbing his ear, and then wincing with pain. "Come on, andlet's see the inspection of the enemy. But the boss needn't have beenso gruff. We acted as bait, and he has caught fifteen Boers and theirhorses. "

"And how are we to feed them all now we have got them?" said Lennox, with a quaint smile. 

"Oh, that's what made the old man so waxy!" cried the other. "I seenow. Well, let him set them up and have them shot. "

"Of course; according to our merciless custom, " said Lennoxsarcastically; and directly after the two friends closed up to where theprisoners were being paraded, their horses, clever, wiry-looking littlecobs, being led up behind them by some of the men. 

It was almost the first time that the young men had been in such closecontact with the sturdy, obstinate enemy they had so long kept at bay, and they stared eagerly at the rough, unshorn, ill-clad, farmer-likefellows, for the most part big-bearded, sun-tanned, and full of vigour, who met their gaze defiantly, but kept on directing uneasy glances atthe other officers, more than once looking eagerly at their led horsesas if mentally weighing whether by a bold rush they could reach theirsteeds, spring upon them, and gallop away. 

But a glance round showed them the impossibility of such a proceeding, for they were unarmed and surrounded by men with fixed bayonets, while, in addition, every pony had an armed man holding its bridle; and astheir shifty eyes were turned from one to another in a questioning way, the prevailing thought seemed to be that any such proceeding would bemad in the extreme, and could only result in their being shot down. 

The inspection did not take long, and the colonel turned away to conferwith the group of officers who followed him. 

"The sooner we get rid of these fellows the better, " he said, "for wecan't keep them here. What shall I do?" he continued, in response to aquestion from the major of the regiment. "Make them take the oaths tobe on parole not to bear arms against us again?"

"Ready for them to go and break their word, " grumbled the major. 

"Of course; after what has passed we can't trust them a bit. But wecan't keep them here an hour; half-an-hour is too much. They will seefar more of our weakness and the state of our defences in five minutesthan I like. "

He turned to the heavy, big-bearded man who seemed to be the leader, andasked if he would take the oath not to fight against the Queen again. 

The man started and looked relieved, for he grasped all that was said tohim--words which came while he was still in doubt as to what their fatewas to be, his ideas tending towards a volley of rifles fired at tenpaces. 

The next minute he was interpreting the colonel's words to his comradesin misfortune, and with a meaning smile each man willingly made thepromise in Dutch that he would take no further part in the war. 

"Look here, " said the colonel to their leader; "make them fullyunderstand that if they are again taken in arms against the Queen--"

"They have no Queen, " said the Boer leader surlily. "This is theTransvaal Republic. "

"Indeed!" said the colonel sternly. "This is not the TransvaalRepublic, but a part of the British Dominions now; and remember that youall owe allegiance to Her Majesty the Queen-Empress, whose laws you havenow sworn to obey. "

The man scowled. 

"And if, as I was telling you, any of you are again found fightingagainst our troops, you will not be treated as people at war against us, but as rebels liable to be tried by a short drum-head court-martial, andshot out of hand. Do you understand?"

The man nodded. 

"Make your companions fully understand it too. "

The Boer leader hesitated as if about to speak, but the colonel turnedupon him sharply. 

"Quick, sir, " he cried; "I have no time to waste. Tell your companionsthis, so that there may be no mistake. "

The man stepped back, and his followers pressed round him talkingeagerly, several of them understanding English to some extent, and for afew minutes they conversed together excitedly, till, with a shrug of theshoulders, the principal Boer turned and advanced to the colonel. 

"Well, " said the latter, "do they fully grasp all this?"

"Oh yes; they know, " replied the man sourly. 

"That will do, then, " said the colonel. "No; stop. You are no longerour enemies, and we have treated you well; henceforth act as friends. Go back to your farms, and collect and bring here corn, oxen, and sheep, as much as you like, and I will buy it of you at a good price. "

The Boer brightened up at this. 

"In money?" he said. "Not in paper orders?"

"In hard cash, my suspicious friend, " said the colonel, with a look ofcontempt; "but it's time you had learnt that our government paper is asgood as Transvaal gold. "

"We will be paid in gold, " said the Boer, with a peculiar smile. 

"That will do, then, " said the colonel. "Now you can go, and the sooneryou set to work to teach your fellow-countrymen to respect the BritishGovernment the better for you all. Now, off at once. "

The Boer rejoined his companions, talked with them for a few minutes, and returned. 

"Back again?" said the colonel. "Well, what is it?"

"We are waiting to go, " said the Boer coolly. 

"Very well; the way is open, " said the colonel. "Off with you, andthink you are lucky that we do not keep you as prisoners. "

As he spoke he pointed out towards the open veldt; but the Boer shookhis head. 

"Not that way, " he said. "We want to cross the spruit to join ourfriends. "

The colonel hesitated. 

"Well, " he said, turning to the major, "perhaps it is not fair to sendthem out on the karoo. "

"But if you let them join their friends they will be fighting against usagain to-morrow. "

"So they will be, " said the colonel grimly, "if we send them in theother direction. You don't suppose I have any faith in their parole, doyou?"

"I did not know, " said the major. 

"There, I will send a picket with you to see you safely to the ford, "said the colonel. "Now, off at once, and bring the forage as soon asyou can. "

"To-morrow or next night, " said the Boer, with a nod. 

"Here, Roby, send a sergeant's guard to see these people past theoutposts. --Now, my good fellow, time is valuable here. Follow thatgentleman, and he will see that you are safely passed through our lines. Well, what now?"

"You haven't given him orders to return us our horses and our rifles. "

"What!" cried the colonel. 

"We can't get about without them, " said the Boer coolly. 

The colonel laughed. 

"Well, of all the cool impudence!" he cried. "Why, you insolent dog!"he roared, "do you expect we are such children that we are going to giveyou the means of attacking us again directly you are safe?--Here, Roby, see these fellows out of the lines. "

The colonel turned away and walked back to his quarters, followed by atorrent of abuse, which was promptly checked by Captain Roby, who gavehis orders sharply, and the prisoners were marched off in front of thesergeant's guard with fixed bayonets. 

But the incident was not quite at an end, for before a quarter of anhour had elapsed the crackling of rifle-fire was heard in the directionof the ford, towards which men were sent at once. The alarm soon diedout on the cause being known, the sergeant reporting that he hadapproached the ford with the prisoners and displayed a flag of truce, which brought out a party of five or six dozen Boers upon the fartherside of the river, into whose charge the prisoners were given. But nosooner were all across and seen to be talking to their friends thanthere was a rush for cover, and before the sergeant and the outpostsstationed there could grasp what the movement meant the enemy's fire wasopened upon them. 

"Any one hurt, sergeant?" said Captain Roby. 

"No, sir, wonderful to relate. Our lads were too sharp for them, anddropped at once. My heart rose to my mouth, sir, for I thought three ofours were hit; but it was only their sharpness, for they were returningthe fire the next moment, and we kept it up as hot as the enemy did tillthey fell back. "

"Quite time the Boers were taught the meaning of civilised war, Bob, "said Lennox as they returned to their quarters. 

"Quite; but I'm out of heart with them, " replied Dickenson. "They'rebad pupils--such a one-sided lot. "

"What about the corn and sheep and beef those fellows are to bringto-morrow or next night?" said Lennox grimly. 

"Well, what about it? I'm afraid they'll be too much offended with thecolonel's treatment to come. "

"Yes, " said Lennox; "so am I. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

PLEASANT SUPPLIES. 

Matters looked anything but hopeful at Groenfontein, though the men werefull of spirits and eager to respond to any of the attacks made by theBoers, who, with three commandos, thoroughly shut them in, joining handsand completely cutting off all communication. 

Time was gliding on without any sign of help from outside, and thebeleaguered party would have concluded that they were quite forgotten bytheir friends if they had not felt certain that the different generalswere fully engaged elsewhere. 

"Let's see, " said Lennox one evening; "we've been attacked every daysince our fishing-trip. "

"That's right; and the Boers have been beaten every day for a week. "

"And yet they are as impudent as over. They think that we shallsurrender as soon as we grow a little more hungry. "

"Then they'll be sold, " said Dickenson, "for the hungrier I grow themore savage and full of fight I get. You know about the old saying ofsome fellow, that when he had had a good dinner a child might play withhim?"

"Oh yes, I know, " said Lennox. "Well, these children of the desert hadbetter not try to play with me. "

"Ought to have a notice on you, `Take care; he bites'--eh?" said Lennoxmerrily. 

"'M, yes; something of the kind. I say, I wish, though, I could sleepwithout dreaming. "

"Can't you?"

"No; it's horrible. I go to sleep directly I lie down, and then thegame begins. I'm at Christmas dinners or banquets or parties, and thetables are covered with good things. Then either they've got no tastein them, or else as soon as I try to cut a slice or take up a mouthfulin a spoon it's either snatched or dragged away. "

"Oh, don't talk about food, " said Lennox impatiently; "it makes me feelsick. There's one comfort, though. "

"Is there?" cried Dickenson excitedly. "Where? Give us a bit. "

"Nonsense! I mean we have plenty of that beautiful spring water. "

"Ugh!" cried Dickenson, with a shudder. "Cold and clear, unsustaining. I saw some water once through a microscope, and it was full of livethings twizzling about in all directions. That's the sort of water wewant now--something to eat in it as well as drink. "

Lennox made an irritable gesture. 

"Talk about something else, man, " he cried. "You think of nothing buteating and drinking. "

"That's true, old man. Well, I'll say no more about drinking; but Iwonder how cold roast prisoner would taste?"

"Bob!" shouted Lennox. 

"Well, what shall I talk about?"

"Look about you. See how beautiful the kopjes and mountains look in thedistance this evening; they seem to glow with orange and rose and gold. "

"There you go again! You're always praising up this horrid place. "

"Well, isn't it beautiful? See how clear the air is. "

"I dare say. But I don't want clear air; I'd rather it was thick assoup if it tasted like it. "

"Soup! There you go again. Think of how lovely it is down by theriver. "

"With the Boers popping at you? I say, this ear of mine doesn't healup. "

"You don't mind the doctor's orders. "

"So much fighting to do; haven't time. "

"But you grant it is beautiful down by the river?"

"Yes, where only man is vile--very vile indeed; does nothing all day buttry to commit murder. But there, it's of no use for you to argue; Ithink South Africa is horrible. Look at the miles of wretched dustydesert and stony waste. I don't know what we English want with it. "

"Room for our colonists, and to develop the mines. Look at thediamonds. "

"Look at our sparkling sea at home. "

"Look at the gold. "

"I like looking at a good golden furzy common in Surrey. It's of nouse, Drew, my lad; it's a dismal, burning, freezing place. "

"Why don't you throw it up and go home, then?"

"What! before we've beaten the Boers into a state of decency? No!"

Bob Dickenson's "No!" was emphatic enough for anything, and brought theconversation between the two young men to an end; for it was close uponthe time for the mess dinner, which, whatever its shortcomings, as BobDickenson said, was jolly punctual, even if there was no tablecloth. 

So they descended from where they had perched themselves close up to thebig gun, where their commanding position gave them the opportunity formaking a wide sweep round over the karoo, taking in, too, the woodedcourse of the river and the open country beyond in the possession of theBoers. 

But they had seen no sign of an enemy or grazing horse; though they wellknew that if a company of their men set off in any direction, beforethey had gone a quarter of a mile they would be pelted with bullets byan unseen foe. 

They had seen the walls and rifle-pits which guarded the great gun sooften that they hardly took their attention. All the same, though, soldier-like, Drew Lennox could not help thinking how naturally strongthe kopje was, how easy it would be for two or three companies ofinfantry to hold it against a force of ten times their number, and whattremendous advantages the Boers had possessed in the nature of theircountry. For they had only had to sit down behind the naturalfortifications and set an enemy at defiance. 

"It's our turn now, " Lennox said to himself, "and we could laugh at themfor months if only we had a supply of food. "

"Let's try this way, " said Dickenson, bearing off to his left. 

"What for? It's five times as hard as the regular track, andprecipitous. "

"Not so bad but what we can do it. We can let one another down if wecome to one of the wall-like bits too big to jump. "

"But it's labour for nothing. Only make you more hungry, " added Lennox, with a laugh. 

"Never mind; I want to make sure that an enemy could not steal up in thedark and surprise the men in charge of the gun. I'm always thinkingthat the Boers will steal a march on us and take it some day. "

"You might save yourself the trouble as far as the climbing up isconcerned. This is the worst bit; but they could do it, I feel sure, ifour sentries were lax. I don't think they'd get by them, though. "

"Well, let's have a good look what it is like, now all the crags are litup. "

They were lit up in a most wonderful way by the sun, which was justabout to dip below the horizon, and turned every lightning-shivered massof tumbled-together rock into a glowing state, making it look as if itwas red-hot, while the rifts and cracks which had been formed here andthere were lit up so that their generally dark depths could be searchedby the eye. 

"Do you know what this place looks like?" said Dickenson. 

"The roughest spot in the world, " replied Drew as he lowered himselfdown a perpendicular, precipitous bit which necessitated his hanging byhis hands, and then dropping four or five feet. 

"No! It's just as if the giants of old had made a furnace at the top ofthe kopje, and had been pouring the red-hot clinkers down the side. "

"Or as if it was the slope of a volcano, and those were the masses ofpumice which had fallen and rolled down. "

"So that we look like a couple of flies walking amongst lumps of sugar. Well, yours is a good simile, but not so romantic as mine. That's adeep crack, Drew, old chap. Like to see how far in it goes?"

"No, thanks. I want my dinner, " said Lennox. 

"Dinner! Mealie cake and tough stewed horse. "

"Wrong, " said Lennox; "it's beef to-night, for I asked. "

"Beef! Don't insult the muscle-giving food of a Briton by calling toughold draught-ox beef. I don't know but what I would rather have a bit of_cheval_--_chevril_, or whatever they call it--if it wasn't for thatoily fat. But we might as well peep in that crack. Perhaps there's acavern. "

"Not to-day, Bob. It's close upon mess-time. "

"Hark at him! Prefers food for the body to food for the mind. Verywell. Go on; I'm at your heels. "

They descended to the more level part of the granite-strewn eminence, acknowledged the salutes of the sentries they passed, and soon afterreached the mean-looking collection of tin houses that formed thevillage--though there was very little tin visible, the only portionbeing a barricade or two formed of biscuit-tins, which had been madebullet-proof in building up a wall by filling them with earth or sand. The _tin_ houses, according to the popular term, were really the commongrey corrugated iron so easily riveted or screwed together into a hut, and forming outer and partition walls, and fairly rain-proof roofing, but as ugly in appearance as hot beneath the torrid sun. 

Groenfontein consisted of a group of this class of house ranged about awide market-square, while here and there outside were warehouses andsheds and a few farms. 

Bob Dickenson said it was the ugliest and dirtiest place that evercalled itself a town; and he was fairly right about the former. As tothe latter, it might have been worse. Its greatest defect was thelitter of old meat and other tins, while there were broken bottlesenough to act as a defence when attacked by strangers. 

The Boer inhabitants had for the most part fled; those who were leftlived under the protection of the British force, which they preferred tobeing out on commando, using rifle, and risking their lives. 

The empty houses left by the former inhabitants had at once been takenpossession of for officers' and soldiers' quarters; the long warehousesand barns for stabling; and a big wool warehouse, happily containingmany bales of wool, had been turned into mess and club room, the greatbales making excellent couches, and others forming breastworks insidethe windows and the big double doors. 

Here the officers off duty lounged and rested, and here upon thisparticular night they were gathered round the social board to dine, eachofficer with his own servant; and it is worthy of remark that withofficer and man, rifle, revolver, and sword were racked close at hand. 

"Round the social board" is a most appropriate term, though not quitecorrect; for, while social in the highest degree, quite a brotherlyspirit influencing the officers present, the board was really two, heldtogether by a couple of cross-pieces and laid upon barrels, while theseats were of all kinds, from cartridge-boxes to up-ended flour-barrels, branded _Na_. And _Pa_. And _Va_. , and various other contractions oflong-sounding United States names, which indicated where the fine whiteflour they once contained had been grown and ground. 

The mess cook had done the best he could, and provided some excellentbread, but it was rather short in quantity. As to the meat, it was hot;but there were no dish-covers, which Bob Dickenson said did not matterin the least, for during the past few weeks they had been careful todraw a veil over the food. 

But of water, such as needed no filtering, there was ample, ready forquaffing out of tin mug, silver flask, cup, or horn. 

"And the beauty of our tipple now is, " said Bob, "that it never does afellow the least harm. "

It was a favourite remark of his, "an impromptu" that had been muchadmired. He made the remark again on this particular evening, but histones sounded dismal. 

"It's a great blessing, though, " he added; "we might have none. Yes, capital water, " he continued, draining his cup and setting it down witha rap on his part of the board. "Just think, Drew, old man, we might beforced to sit here drinking bad champagne. "

"I don't want to drink bad or good champagne, old fellow, " said Lennox;"but I do wish we had a barrel of good, honest, home-brewed British ale, with--"

"A brace of well-roasted pheasants between us two--eh?"

"No; I was going to say, a good crusty loaf and a cut off a fine oldStilton cheese. "

"J-Ja!" sighed the next man. 

"Never mind, gentlemen, " said the colonel; "what we have will do to workupon. When we've done our work, and get back home, I'll be bound to saythat John Bull will ask us to dinner oftener than will do us good. Whatdo you say, doctor?"

"What do I say, Colonel Lindley?" cried the doctor, putting down hisflask-cup. "I say this Spartan fare agrees with us all admirably. Lookround the table, and see what splendid condition we are all in. A bitspare, but brown, wiry, and active as men can be. Never mind the food. You are all living a real life on the finest air I ever breathed. Weare all pictures of health now; and where I have a wound to deal with itheals fast--a sure sign that the patient's flesh is in a perfect state. "

"It's all very fine, " said Bob Dickenson in a low voice to those abouthim. "Old Bolus keeps himself up to the mark by taking nips; that's whyhe's so well and strong. "

"Nonsense!" said Lennox sharply. "I don't believe he ever touchesspirits except as a medicine. "

"Who said he did?" growled Dickenson. 

"You, Bob; we all heard you, " chorused several near. 

"Take my oath I never mentioned spirits. I said _nips_. "

"Well, you meant them, " said Lennox. 

"I didn't. Don't you jump at conclusions, Drew, old man. I meant nipsof tonics. Old M. D. Has got a lot of curious chemicals in thatmedicine-chest of his, and when he's a bit down he takes nips of them. "

"I don't believe it, " said a brother officer, laughing. "Old Emden, M. D. , take his own physic? Too clever for that!"

The darkness had closed in soon after the officers had taken theirseats--early, after tropic fashion--and one of the messmen had lit fourcommon-looking paraffin-lamps, which swung from the rafters, smeltvilely of bad spirit, and smoked and cast down a dismal light; but themen were in high spirits, chatting away, and the meal being ended, manyof them had started pipes or rolled up cigarettes, when an orderly wasseen to enter by the door nearest the colonel's seat and make quicklyfor his place. 

There was a cessation of the conversation on the instant, and one motionmade by every officer present--he glanced at the spot where his swordand revolver hung, while their servants turned their eyes to therifle-stands and bandoliers, listening intently for the colonel's nextorder: for the coming of the orderly could only mean one thing undertheir circumstances--an advance of the Boers. 

They were right. But the increased action of their pulses began to calmdown again; for instead of standing up according to his wont and givinga few short, sharp orders, the colonel, after turning towards theorderly and hearing him out, merely raised his eyes and smiled. 

"Wonders will never cease, gentlemen, " he said, and he sent a soft, greycloud of cigarette smoke upward towards the roof of the barn. "You allremember our prisoners, brought in after Lennox and Dickenson's fishingexpedition?"

There was an eager chorus of "Yes" from all present save the two youngofficers mentioned, and they were too eager in listening to speak. 

"Well, gentlemen, I told those men that the wisest thing they could dowas to go back to their farms, give up fighting, and collect and bringinto camp here a good supply of corn and beef. "

"Yes, sir, I heard you, " said Captain Roby, for the colonel paused totake two or three whiffs from his cigarette. 

"Well, gentlemen, you will hardly credit the news I have received whenyou recall what took place, and be ready to place some faith in a Boer'ssound common-sense. "

"Why doesn't he speak out at once?" said Dickenson in a whisper. "Whowants all this rigmarole of a preface?"

"What is it, colonel?" said the major. 

"That Boer, the leader of the little party of prisoners, evidently tookmy advice, " continued the colonel; "and instead of rejoining hisfighting friends, he has gone back to the ways of peace and trade, andthey have just arrived at the outposts with a couple of wagon-loads ofgrain, a score of sheep, and ten oxen. "

The news was received with a shout, and as soon as silence was obtainedthe colonel continued: "It seems incredible; but, after all, it is onlythe beginning of what must come to pass. For, once the Boer isconvinced that it is of no use to fight, he will try his best to makeall he can out of his enemies. "

"Well, it's splendid news, " said the major; "but what about its beingsome cunning trap?"

"That is what I am disposed to suspect, " said the colonel; "so, quietlyand without stir, double the outposts, send word to the men on the kopjeto be on the alert, and let everything, without any display of force, beready for what may come. You, Captain Roby, take half a company to meetour visitors, and bring the welcome provender into the market-placehere. "

"Bob, " whispered Lennox, "if we could only go with Roby! There'll be acouple of score of the enemy hiding amongst those sacks. "

"Get out!" responded Dickenson. "I never did see such an oldcock-and-bull inventor as you are. It's stale, too. You're thinking ofthe old story of the fellows who took the castle by riding in a wagonloaded with grass and them underneath. Then it was driven in under theportcullis, which was dropped at the first alarm, and came down chop onthe wagon and would go no farther, while the fellows hopped out throughthe grass and took the castle. Pooh! What's the good of being sosuspicious? These Boers are tired of fighting, and they've taken theold man's advice about trade. "

"I don't believe it, " said Lennox firmly. "I wouldn't trust the Boers abit. "

"Well, don't believe it, then; but let's go and see what they'vebrought, all the same. "

"Yes, certainly; but let's put the colonel on his guard. "

"What! Go and tell him what you think?"

"Certainly. "

"Thanks, no, dear boy. I have only one nose, and I want it. "

"What do you mean?" said Lennox sharply. 

"Don't want it snapped off, as they say. The idea of the cheek--goingand teaching our military grandmother--father, I mean, how to suckeggs!"

"You never will believe till the thing's rammed down your throat, " saidLennox angrily. "Well, come along as we have no orders. "

And without further discussion the two young men buckled on their beltsand followed Captain Roby, who, while the colonel's other instructionswere being carried out, marched his men down to where some of the Boerparty, well-guarded by the outposts, could be dimly seen squatted aboutor seated on the fronts of two well-loaded wagons, whose teams weretying down contentedly chewing the cud. Four more Boers kept the sheepand oxen in the rear of the wagons from straying away in search of aplace to graze, for there was a tempting odour of fresh green herbagesaluting their nostrils, along with the pleasant moisture rising fromthe trickling water hurrying away towards the gully where it found itsway into the river. 

"What do you say to telling Roby to set a man to probe the sacks with afixed bayonet?"

"It would be wise, " whispered back Lennox. 

"Tchah!" sneered Dickenson. "How could a fellow exist under one ofthose sacks of corn? Why, they must weigh on to a couple ofhundredweight. "

"I don't care; there's some dodge, Bob, I'm sure. "

"Artful dodge, of course. Here, let's see if we know the fellowsagain. "

"Very well; but be on your guard. "

"Bother! Roby and his men will mind we are not hurt. "

As he spoke Dickenson led the way close up to the roughly-clad Boersabout the wagons, where, in spite of the darkness, the face of theirleader was easy to make out as he sat pulling away at a big German pipewell-filled with a most atrociously bad tobacco, evidently of homegrowth and make. 

"Hullo, old chap!" said Dickenson heartily; "so you've thought better ofit?"

The Boer looked at him sharply, and, recognising the speaker, favouredhim with a nod. 

"Brought us some provender?" continued Dickenson; and he receivedanother nod. 

"What have you got?"

The Boer wagged his head sidewise towards the wagons and herds, and wenton smoking. 

"Well done; that's better than trying to pot us. But, I say, what aboutyour commando fellows? What will they say when you go back?"

The Boer took his pipe out of his mouth and stuffed a finger into thebowl to thrust down the loose tobacco. 

"Nothing, " he said shortly. "Not going back. "

"What!" cried Lennox, joining in after pretty well satisfying himselfthat there could be no danger in the unarmed Boers and their wagons. 

"What's what?" said the Boer sourly. 

"You're not going back?" cried Dickenson, staring. 

"Well, we can't go back, of course. If we tried they'd shoot us, wouldn't they?"

The reply seemed to be unanswerable, and Dickenson merely uttered agrunt, just as Captain Roby and his men marched up to form an escort forthe little convoy. 

"Well, commandant?" he said. 

The Boer grunted. "Not commandant, " he said; "field-cornet. "

"Very well, field-cornet; how did you manage to get here?"

"'Cross the veldt, " growled the man. 

"Didn't you see any of your friends?"

"No, " grumbled the Boer. "If we had we shouldn't be here. Have you gotthe money for what we've got?"

"No. "

"Stop, then. We're not going on. "

"But you must now. The colonel will give you an order. "

"Paper?" said the Boer sharply. 

"Yes. "

"Then we don't go. "

"Yes, you do, my obstinate friend. It will be an order to an officialhere, and he'll pay you a fair price at once--in gold. "

"My price?"

"Oh, that I can't say, " replied the captain. "But I promise you will befairly dealt with. "

The Boer put his burning pipe in his pocket, snatched off his batteredslouch felt hat, and gave his shaggy head an angry rub, looking round athis companions as if for support, and then staring back at the way theyhad come, to see lanterns gleaming and the glint of bayonets dimly hereand there, plainly showing him that retreat was out of the question. Then, like some bear at bay, he uttered what sounded like a low growl, though in fact it was only a remark to the man nearest to him, a similargrowl coming in reply. 

"Come, sir, no nonsense, " said the captain sternly. "You have come tosell, I suppose?"

"I shouldn't be here if I hadn't, " growled the Boer. 

"Then come along. You cannot go back now. I have told you that youwill be well treated. Please to recollect that if our colonel chose hecould commando everything you have brought for the use of our force; buthe prefers to treat all of your people who bring supplies asstraightforward traders. Now come along. "

The Boer grunted, glanced back once more, and at last, as if he hadthoroughly grasped his position, said a few words to his nearestcompanions and passed the word to trek, when, in answer to the crack ofthe huge whip, the bullocks sprang to their places along the trek-tows, the wagons creaked and groaned, and the little convoy was escorted intothe market-place, where, as soon as we saw him, the field-cornet madefor the colonel's side and began like one with a grievance. 

But the amount of cash to be paid was soon settled, and the Boer'sobjections died away. The only difficulty then left was about theBoers' stay. 

"If we go back they'll shoot us, " he said to the colonel. "We'vebrought you the provisions you asked for, and when you've eaten allyou'll want more, and we'll go and fetch everything; but you must haveus here now. "

"My good sir, " said the colonel, to the intense amusement of theofficers assembled, who enjoyed seeing their chief, as they termed him, in a corner, "I have enough mouths to feed here; you must go back to thepeaceable among your own people. "

"Peaceable? There are none peaceable now. Look here: do you want tosend us back to fight against you?" cried the Boer cornet indignantly. 

"Certainly not, " said the colonel; "and I would not advise you to, foryour own sake. "

"Then what are we to do? We got away with these loads of mealies, butit will be known to-morrow. We can't go back, and it's all your doing. "

"Well, I confess that it is hard upon you, " said the colonel; "but, as Ihave told you, I am not going to take the responsibility of feeding moremouths. "

"But we've just brought you plenty. "

"Which will soon be gone, " cried the colonel. 

"Oh, that's nothing, " said the Boer, with a grin full of cunning; "weknow where to get plenty more. "

The colonel turned and looked at the major, who returned the look withinterest, for these last words opened up plenty of possibilities fordisposing of a terrible difficulty in the matter of supplies. 

"I don't much like the idea, major, " he said in a low tone. 

"No; couldn't trust the fellow, " was the reply. "May be a ruse. "

"At the same time it may be simple fact, " continued the colonel. "Ofcourse he would be well aware of the whereabouts of stores, for theenemy always seem to have abundance. But no; it would be too great arisk. "

"All the same, though, " said the major, who afterwards confessed tovisions of steaks and roast mutton floating before his mind, "the fellowwould be forced to be honest with us, for he would be holding his lifeby a very thin thread. "

"Exactly, " said the colonel eagerly. "We could let him know that at theslightest suggestion of treachery we should shoot him and his companionswithout mercy. "

"Make him understand that, " said the major; and while the Boer partystood waiting and watching by the two wagons, which had been drawn intothe square, a little council of war was held by the senior officers, inwhich the pros and cons were discussed. 

"It's a dangerous proceeding, " said the colonel, in conclusion; "but onething is certain--we cannot hold this place long without food, and it isall-important that it should be held, so we must risk it. Perhaps thefellows are honest after all. If they are not--"

"Yes, " said the major, giving his chief a meaning look; "if they arenot--"

And the unfinished sentence was mentally taken up by the other officers, both Lennox and Dickenson looking it at one another, so to speak. 

Then the colonel turned to the Boer cornet. 

"Look here, sir, " he said; "I am a man of few words, but pleaseunderstand that I mean exactly what I say. You and your companions canstay here upon the condition that you are under military rule. Yourduty will be to forage for provisions when required. You will be welltreated, and have the same rations as the men; but you will only leavethe place when my permission is given, and I warn you that if any of youare guilty of an act that suggests you are playing the spy, it will meana spy's fate. You know what I mean?"

"Oh, of course I do, " growled the Boer. "Just as if it was likely! Youdon't seem to have a very good opinion of us burghers. "

"You have not given us cause to think well of you, " said the colonelsternly. "Now we understand each other. But of course you will have towork with the men, and now you had better help to unload the wagons. "

The cornet nodded, and turned to his companions, who had been watchinganxiously at a little distance; and as soon as they heard the colonel'sverdict they seemed at ease. 

A few minutes later the regimental butchers had taken charge of one ofthe oxen and a couple of sheep, whose fate was soon decided in theshambles, and the men gathered round to cheer at the unwonted sight ofthe carcasses hung up to cool. 

Meanwhile an end of one of the warehouses had been set apart for the newsupply of grain, and the Boers worked readily enough with a batch of thesoldiers at unloading and storing, with lanterns hung from the raftersto gleam on the bayonets of the appointed guard, the sergeant and hismen keeping a strict lookout, in which they were imitated by the youngerofficers, Lennox and Dickenson waiting, as the latter laughingly said, for the smuggled-in Boers, who of course did not appear. 

Lennox made it his business to stand close to the tail-board of one ofthe wagons, in which another lantern was hung, and with the sergeant hegave every sack a heavy punch as it was dragged to the edge ready forthe Boers to shoulder and walk off into the magazine. 

Seeing this, the Boer chief, now all smiles and good humour, made forthe next sack, untied the tarred string which was tied round the mouth, opened it, and called to the sergeant to stand out of the light. 

"I want the officers to see what beautiful corn it is, " he said. 

The sergeant reached up into the wagon-tilt to lift down the lanternfrom where he had hung it to one of the tilt-bows. 

"No, no, " cried the Boer; "you needn't do that, boss. They can see. There, " he cried, thrusting in both hands and scooping as much as hecould grasp, and letting the glistening yellow grains fall tricklingback in a rivulet again and again. "See that? Hard as shot. Smell it. Fresh. This year's harvest. I know where there's enough to feed fouror five thousand men. "

"Yes, it looks good, " said Dickenson, helping himself to a handful, andputting a grain into his mouth. "Sweet as a nut, Drew, but as hard asflint. Fine work for the teeth. "

"Yes, " said the Boer, grinning. "You English can't grind that up withyour teeth. Wait till it's boiled, though, or pounded up and made intomealie. Ha! Make yours skins shine like the Kaffirs'. "

"You don't want these sacks back, I suppose?" said the sergeant who wassuperintending. "Because if you do I'd better have them emptied. "

"Oh no, oh no, " said the Boer. "Keep it as it is; it will be cleaner. "

"Why are some of the sacks tied up with white string and some withblack?" said Lennox suddenly. 

"Came from different farms, " said the Boer, who overheard the remark. "Here, I'll open that one; it's smaller corn. "

He signed to one of his fellows to set down the sack he was about toshoulder, and opening it, he went through the same performance again, shovelling up the yellow grain with his hands. "Not quite so good asthe other sort, " he said; "it's smaller, but it yields better in thefields. "

"Humph! I don't see much difference in it, " said Lennox, taking up afew grains and following his friend's example. 

"No?" said the Boer, chuckling as he scooped up a double handful andtossed it up, to shine like gold in the light. "You are not a farmer, and have not grown thousands of sacks of it. I have. "

He drew the mouth of the sack together again and tied it with its whitestring, when it too was borne off through the open doorway to follow itspredecessors. 

"That roof sound?" said the Boer, pointing up at the corrugated ironsheeting. 

"Oh yes, that's all right, " said the sergeant. 

"Good, " said the Boer. "Pity to let rain come through on grain likethat. Make it swell and shoot. "

The first wagon was emptied and the second begun, the Boers workingsplendidly till it was nearly emptied; and then the cornet turned toCaptain Roby. 

"Don't you want some left out, " he said, "to use at once?"

"Yes, " said the captain; "leave out six, and we'll hand them over to thebakers and cooks. "

Three of the white-tied and three of the black-tied sacks were selectedby the field-cornet, who told his men to shoulder them, and they wereborne off at once to the iron-roofed hut which was used as a store. Then the wagons being emptied, they were drawn on one side, and thecaptain turned to consult Lennox about what hut was to be apportioned tothe Boers for quarters. 

"Why not make them take to the wagons?" said Dickenson. 

"Not a bad notion, " replied Captain Roby; and just at that moment, wellbuttoned up in their greatcoats--for the night was cold--the colonel andmajor came round. 

"Where are you going to quarter these men, Roby?" said the former. 

"Mr Dickenson here, sir, has just suggested that they shall keep totheir wagons. "

"Of course, " said the colonel; "couldn't be better. They'll be wellunder observation, major--eh?"

"Yes, " said that officer shortly; and it was announced to thefield-cornet that his party were to make these their quarters. 

This was received with a smile of satisfaction, the Boers dividing intotwo parties, each going to a wagon quite as a matter of course, andtaking a bag from where it hung. 

Ten minutes later they had dipped as much fresh water as they requiredfrom the barrels that swung beneath, and were seated, knife in hand, eating the provisions they had brought with them, while when the coloneland major came round again it was to find the lanterns out, the Dutchmenin their movable quarters, some smoking, others giving loud announcementthat they were asleep, and close at hand and with all well underobservation a couple of sentries marching up and down. 

"I think they're honest, " said the colonel as the two officers walkedaway. 

"I'm beginning to think so too, " was the reply. 

A short time before, Lennox and his companion had also taken a farewellglance at the bearers of so valuable an adjunct to the military larder, and Dickenson had made a similar remark to that of his chief, but in amore easy-going conversational way. 

"Those chaps mean to be square, Drew, old man, " he said. 

"Think so?"

"Yes; so do you. What else could they mean?"

"To round upon us. "

"How? What could they do?"

"Get back to their people and speak out, after spying out the weaknessof the land. "

"Pooh! What good would that do, you suspicious old scribe? Theiraccount's right enough; they proved it by the plunder they brought andtheir eagerness to sack as much tin as they could for it. "

"I don't know, " said Lennox; "the Boers are very slim. "

"Mentally--granted; but certainly not bodily, old man. Bah! Pitch itover; you suspect every thing and everybody. I know you believe Inobbled those last cigarettes of yours. "

"So you did. "

"Didn't, " said Dickenson, throwing himself down upon the board whichformed his bed, for they had returned to their quarters. "You haven't abit of faith in a fellow. "

"Well, the cigarettes were on that shelf the night before last, and thenext morning they were gone. "

"In smoke, " said Dickenson, with a yawn. 

"There, what did I say?"

"You said I took them, and I didn't; but I've a shrewd suspicion that Iknow who did smoke them. "

"Who was it?" said Lennox shortly. 

"You. "

"I declare I didn't. "

"Declare away, old man. I believe you went to sleep hungry. "

"Oh yes, you may believe that, and add `very' to it. Well, what then?"

"You went to sleep, began dreaming, and got up and smoked the lot inyour sleep. "

"You're five feet ten of foolishness, " said Lennox testily as he laydown in his greatcoat. 

"And you're an inch in height less of suspicion, " said Dickenson, and headded a yawn. 

"Well, hang the cigarettes! I am tired. I say, I'm glad we have noposts to visit to-night. "

"Hubble, bubble, burr, "--said Dickenson indistinctly. 

"Bah! what a fellow you are to sleep!" said Lennox peevishly. "I wantedto talk to you about--about--about--"

Nothing; for in another moment he too was asleep and dreaming that theBoers had bounded out of their wagons, overcome the sentries, seizedtheir rifles, and then gone on from post to post till all were wellarmed. After that they had crept in single file up the kopje, masteredthe men in charge of the captured gun, and then tied the two trek-towstogether and carried it off to their friends, though he could not quitesettle how it was they got the two spans of oxen up among the rocksready when required. 

Not that this mattered, for when he woke in the morning at the reveilleand looked out the oxen were absent certainly, being grazing in theriver grass in charge of a guard; but the Boers were present, lighting afire and getting their morning coffee ready, the pots beginning to sendout a fragrant steam. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

FRIENDS ON THE FORAGE. 

There were too many "alarums and excursions" at Groenfontein for muchmore thought to be bestowed upon the friendly Boers, as the party offormer prisoners were termed, in the days which ensued. "Nobody can saybut what they are quiet, well-behaved chaps, " Bob Dickenson said, "forthey do scarcely anything but sit and smoke that horrible nasty-smellingtobacco of theirs all day long. They like to take it easy. They'resafe, and get their rations. They don't have to fight, and I don'tbelieve nine-tenths of the others do; but they are spurred on--sjambokked on to it. Pah! what a language! Sjambok! why can't theycall it a whip?"

"But I don't trust them, all the same, " said Lennox. "I quite hate thatsmiling field-cornet, who's always shifting and turning the corn-sacksto give them plenty of air, as he says, to keep the grain from heating. "

"Why, he hasn't been at it again, has he?" said Dickenson, laughing. 

"At it again?" said Lennox. "What do you mean?"

"Did he shout to you to come and look at it?"

"Yes; only this morning, when the colonel was going by. Asked us to goin and look, and shovelled up the yellow corn in one of the sacks. Hemade the colonel handle some of it, and pointed out that he was holdingback the corn tied up with the white strings because it lasted better. "

"What did the old man say?"

"Told him that, as the stock was getting so low, he and his men mustmake a raid and get some more. "

"And what did Blackbeard say?"

"Grumbled and shook his head, and talked about the danger of being shotby his old friends if they were caught. "

"Dodge, of course, to raise his price. "

"That's what the colonel said; and he told him that there must be nononsense--he was fed here and protected so that he should keep up thesupply, and that he must start the day after to-morrow at the latest tobuy up more and bring it in. Then, in a surly, unwilling way, heconsented to go. "

"Buy up some more?" said Dickenson, with a chuckle. "Yes, he'll buy alot. Commando it, he'll call it. "

That very day, growing weary of trying to starve out the garrison, theenemy made an attack from the south, and after a furious cannonadingbegan to fall back in disorder, drawing out the mounted men and twotroops of lancers in pursuit. 

As they fell back the disorder seemed to become a rout; but ColonelLindley had grown, through a sharp lesson or two, pretty watchful andready to meet manoeuvre with manoeuvre. He saw almost directly that theenemy were overdoing their retreat; and he acted accordingly. Suspecting that it was a feint, he held his mounted troops in hand, andthen made them fall back upon the village. 

It was none too soon, his men being just in time to fall on the flank ofone of the other two commandos, whose leaders had only waited till thefirst had drawn the British force well out of their entrenchments beforeone attacked from the east, and the other drove back the defenders ofthe ford and crossed at once, but only to bring themselves well underthe attention of their own captured gun on the kopje, its shells playinghavoc amongst them, while the men of the colonel's regiment stood fastin their entrenchments. The result was that in less than an hour thelast two commandos retired in disorder and with heavy loss. 

"There, " said Lennox as the events of the day were being discussed afterthe mess dinner, "you see, Bob, it doesn't do to trust the Boers. "

"Pooh!" replied the young officer. "There are Boers and Boers, and onemust trust them when they supply the larder. Good-luck to our lot, Isay, and may they bring in another big supply. If they don't, we shallhave to begin on those quadrupedal locomotives of horn, gristle, andskin they call spans. Ugh! how I do loathe trek ox!"

"Talking of that, " said Lennox, "the cornet and his men ought to havebeen off to-night. "

"Why?" said Dickenson, staring. 

"Why? Because the enemy will be in such a state of confusion after thecheck they had to-day. "

"To be sure; let's go and tell them so. "

"I was nearly suggesting it to the colonel, but he would only have givenme one of his looks. You know. "

"Yes; make you feel as if you're nine or ten, even if he hadn'tsarcastically hinted that you had not been asked for your advice. But Isay, Drew, old fellow, I think you're right, and if Blackbeard thinks itwould be best he'll go to the old man like a shot. No bashfulness inhim. "

Without further debate the two young men made their way across themarket-square to the wagon where the Boers' dim lantern was swinging, passing two sentries on the way. 

"Not much need for a light, " observed Dickenson; "one might smell one'sway to their den. Hang it all! if tobacco's poison those fellows oughtto have been killed long ago. "

The cornet was seated on the wagon-box, with his legs inside, talking ina low tone to his fellows who shared the wagon with him, and so intentthat he did not hear the young officers' approach till Lennox spoke, when he sprang forward into the wagon, and his companions began to climbout at the back. 

"Why, what's the matter with you?" said Dickenson laughingly as hestepped up and looked in. "Think some of your friends were coming tofetch you?"

"You crept up so quietly, " grumbled the Boer, recovering himself, andcalling gently to his companions to return. 

"Quietly? Of course. You didn't want us to send a trumpeter before usto say we were coming, did you?"

"H'm! No. What were you doing? Listening to find out whether we weregoing to run away?"

"Psh! No!" cried Dickenson. "Here, Mr Lennox wants to say somethingto you. "

"What about?" said the man huskily. 

"I have been thinking that, as you are going on a foraging expedition, "said Lennox, "you ought to go at once. It's a very dark night, and theenemy is completely demoralised by to-day's fight. "

"Demoralised?" said the Boer. 

"Well, scared--beaten--all in disorder. "

"Oh, " said the Boer, nodding his head like an elephant. "But whatdifference does that make?"

"They would not be so likely to notice your wagons going through theirlines. "

"Oh?" said the Boer. 

"We think it would be a good chance for you. "

"Does your general say so?"

"No; our _colonel_ does not know that we have come. "

"So! Yes, I see, " said the Boer softly. 

"We think you ought to take advantage of their disorder and get throughto-night. "

"Hah! Yes. "

"You have only to go and see what the colonel says. "

"Why don't you go?" said the Boer suspiciously. 

"Because we think it would be better for you to go. "

"And fall into the Boers' hands and be shot?"

"Bother!" cried Dickenson. "Why, you are as suspicious as--as--well, assome one I know. Now, my good fellow, don't you know that we've eatenthe sheep?"

"Yes, I know that, " said the Boer. 

"Finished the last side of the last ox?"

"Yes, I know that too, " replied the Boer, nodding his head slowly andsagely. 

"And come down to the last ten sacks of the Indian corn?"

"Mealies? Yes, I know that too. "

"Well, in the name of all that's sensible, why should we want to get youtaken by your own people?"

"To be sure; I see now, " said the cornet. "Better for us to get thewagons full again, and drive in some more sheep and oxen. "

"Of course. "

"Well, I don't know, " said the man thoughtfully. "They will be all onthe lookout, thinking that you will attack them in the night, and twiceas watchful. I don't know, though. There is no moon to-night, and itwill be black darkness. "

"It is already, " said Dickenson. 

"Ha! Yes, " said the Boer quietly, and he puffed at his pipe, which, after dropping in his fright, he had picked up, refilled, and relit atthe lantern door. "Yes, that is a very good way. I shall go and tellthe colonel that we will go to-night. You will come with me?"

"No, " said Lennox; "the colonel does not like his young officers tointerfere. It would be better for you to go. "

"Your chief is right, " said the Boer firmly. "He thinks and acts forhimself. I do the same. I do not let my men tell me what I should do. "He spoke meaningly, as if he were giving a side-blow at some one orother of his companions. "I think much and long, and when I havethought what is best I tell them what to do, and they do it. Yes, Iwill go to the colonel now and speak to him. Wait here. "

"No, " said Dickenson quietly. "Go, and we will come back and hear whatthe colonel thinks. "

The Boer nodded, thrust his pipe in the folds of the tilt, after tappingout the ashes, and went off, the two officers following him at adistance before stopping short, till they heard him challenged by asentry, after which they struck off to their left to pass by the cornstore, and being challenged again and again as they made a short tourround by the officers' quarters, going on the farther side of thecorrugated iron huts and the principal ones, four close together, whichwere shared by the colonel, the doctor, and some of the senior officers. As they passed the back of the colonel's quarters there was the faintmurmur of voices, one of which sounded peculiarly gruff, Dickenson said. 

"Nonsense! You couldn't distinguish any difference at this distance, "said Lennox. "Come along; we don't want to play eavesdroppers. "

"Certainly not on a wet night when the rain is rattling down on thoseroofs and pouring off the eaves in cascades, " replied Dickenson; "but Inever felt so strong a desire to listen before. Wonder what the old manis saying to our smoky friend. "

"Talking to the point, you may be sure, my lad, " replied Lennox. "Isay, though, he is safe to tell Lindley that I suggested it. "

"Well, what of that?"

"Suppose the expedition turns out a failure, and they don't get backwith the forage?"

"Ha! Bad for you, old man, " said Dickenson, chuckling. "Why, we shallall be ready to eat you. Pity, too, for you're horribly skinny. "

"Out upon you for a gluttonous-minded cannibal, " said Lennox merrily. "Well, there, I did it for the best. But I say, Bob, we've come allthis way round the back of the houses here, and haven't been challengedonce. "

"What of that? There are sentries all round the market-square. "

"Yes; but out here. Surely a man or two ought to be placed somewhereabout?"

"Oh, hang it all, old fellow! the boys are harassed to death withkeeping post. You can't have all our detachment playing at sentry-go. Come along. There's no fear of the enemy making a night attack: that'sthe only good thing in fighting Boers. "

"I don't see the goodness, " said Lennox rather gloomily. 

"Ah, would you!" cried Dickenson. "None of that! It's bad enough towork hard, sleep hard, and eat hard. "

"I always thought you liked to eat hard, " said Lennox. 

"Dear me: a joke!" said Dickenson. "Very bad one, but it's better thangoing into the dumps. As I was about to say, we've got trouble enoughwithout your playing at being in low spirits. "

"Go on. What were you going to say?"

"I was going to remark that the best of fighting the Boers is, that theywon't stir towards coming at us without they've got the daylight to helpthem to shoot. We ought to do more in the way of night surprises. Ilike the mystery and excitement of that sort of thing. "

"I don't, " said Lennox shortly. "It always seems to me cowardly andun-English to steal upon sleeping people, rifle and bayonet in hand. "

"Well, 'pon my word, we've got into a nice line of conversation, " saidDickenson. "Here we are, back in the market-square, brilliantly lightedby two of the dimmest lanterns that were ever made, and sentries galoreto take care of us. Wonder whether Blackbeard has finished his confabwith the chief?"

"Let's go and see, " said Lennox, and he walked straight across, answering the sentry's challenge, and finding the Boer back in hisformer place, seated upon the wagon-box, and conversing in a low tonewith the men within. 

He did not start when Lennox spoke to him this time, but swung himselfdeliberately round to face his questioner. 

"Well, " said the latter, "what did the colonel say?"

"He said it was a good thing, and that we should take our wagons, inspan, and be passed through the lines to-night. "

"Oh, come, " said Dickenson; "that's good! One to us. "

"Yes, " grunted the Boer after puffing away; "he said it was very good, and that we were to go. "

"Then, why in the name of common-sense don't you get ready and goinstead of sitting here smoking and talking?"

"Oh, we know, the colonel and I, " said the man quietly. "We talked itover with the major and captains and another, and we all said that theBoers would be looking sharp out in the first part of the night, expecting to be attacked; but as they were not they would settle down, and that it would be best to wait till half the night had passed, and gothen. There would be three hours' darkness, and that would be plenty oftime to get well past the Boer laagers before the sun rose; so we areresting till then. "

"That's right enough, " said Dickenson, "so good-night, and luck go withyou! Bring twice as many sheep this time. "

"Yes, I know, captain, " said the Boer. "And wheat and rice and coffeeand sugar. "

"Here, come along, Drew, old fellow; he's making my mouth water sodreadfully that I can't bear it. "

"You will come and see us go?" said the Boer. 

"No, thank you, " replied Dickenson. "I hope to be sleeping like asweet, innocent child. --You'll see them off, Drew?"

"No. I expect that they will be well on their way by the time I amroused up to visit posts. --Good-night, cornet. I hope to see you backsafe. "

"Oh yes, we shall be quite safe, " said the man; "but perhaps it will bethree or four days before we get back. Good-night, captains. "

"Lieutenants!" cried Dickenson, and he took his comrade's arm, and theymarched away to their quarters, heartily tired out, and ready to dropasleep on the instant as weary people really can. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

"RUN, SIR, FOR YOUR LIFE!"

"Eh? Yes. All right, " cried Lennox, starting up, ready dressed as hewas, to find himself half-blinded by the light of the lantern held closeover him. "Time, sergeant?"

"Well, not quite, sir; but I want you to come and have a look atsomething. "

"Something wrong?" cried the young officer, taking his sword and belt, which were handed to him by the non-com, and rapidly buckling up. 

"Well, sir, I don't know about wrong; but it don't look right. "

"What is it?"

"Stealing corn, I call it, sir; and it's being done in a horrid messyway, too. "

"What! from the stores?"

"Yes, sir, " said the man; "but come and look. "

"Ready, " said Lennox, taking out and examining his revolver, and thenthrusting it back into its holster. 

The next minute, after a glance at Dickenson, who was sleepingpeacefully enough, Lennox was following the sergeant, whose dim lanternshed a curious-looking halo in the black darkness. Then as they passeda sentry another idea flashed across the young officer's confused brain, brought forth by the sight of the guard, for on looking beyond the manthere was no sign of the Boers' lantern hanging from the front bow oftheir wagon-tilts. 

"What about the Boers?" he said sharply. 

"Been gone about an hour, sir. I suppose it was all right? CaptainRoby saw them start. "

"Oh yes, it is quite right, " said Lennox. "Now then, what about thiscorn? Some of the Kaffirs been at it?"

"What do you think, sir?" said the man, holding down the lantern to shedits light upon the ground, as they reached the open door of the storeand showed a good sprinkling of the bright yellow grains scattered aboutto glisten in the pale light. 

"Think? Well, it's plain enough, " said Lennox. "Thieves have beenhere. "

"Yes, sir. The open door took my notice at once. That chap ought tohave seen it; but he didn't, or he'd have given the alarm. "

"Go on, " said Lennox, and he followed the man right into the barn-likebuilding, to stop short in front of the first of the half-dozen or so ofsacks at the end, this having been thrown down and cut right open, sothat a quantity of the maize had gushed out and was running like fineshingle on to the floor. 

"Kaffirs' work, " said Lennox sharply. 

"Well, sir, if I may give you my opinion I should say it was thoseBoers, " said the sergeant gruffly. 

"What!"

"Man must eat, sir, and it strikes me that they, in their easy-goingway, thought it was as much theirs as ours, and helped theirselves toenough to last them till they could get more. "

"Well, whoever has done it, "--began Lennox. 

Then he stopped short, and took a step forward. "Here, sergeant, " hecried, "hold the light higher. "

This was done, and then the pair bent down quickly over the sacks, eachuttering an angry ejaculation. 

"Why, it's sheer mischief, sergeant, " cried Lennox. "Done with a sharpknife evidently. "

For the light now revealed something which the darkness had hithertohidden from their notice. Another sack had been ripped up, apparentlywith a sharp knife, from top nearly to bottom. Another was in the samecondition, and a little further investigation showed that every one hadbeen cut, so that, on the farther side where all had been dark, therewas a slope of the yellow grain which had flowed out, leaving the sacksone-third empty. 

"Well, this is a rum go, sir, " said the sergeant, scratching his headwith his unoccupied hand. "They must have got a couple of sackfulsaway. "

"But why slit them up, when they could have shouldered a couple andcarried them off?"

"Can't say, sir, " said the sergeant. 

Lennox turned back to the doorway, and his companion followed with thelight. 

"Hold it lower, " said Lennox, and the man obeyed, showing the grain theyhad first noticed lying scattered about, while a little examinationfurther showed the direction in which those who had carried it off hadgone, leaving sign, as a tracker would call it, in the shape of a fewgrains which had fallen from the loads they carried. 

"Follow 'em up, sir?" said the sergeant. "It would be easy enough if itkeeps like this. "

"Yes, " said Lennox. "We should know then if it was the Boers. "

The man stepped forward with the door of the lantern opened and thelight held close to the ground, making the bright yellow grains standout clearly enough as he went on, though at the end of a minute insteadof being in little clusters they diminished to one here and anotherthere, all, however, running in one direction for some fifty yards; andthen the sergeant stopped. 

"Seems rum, sir, " he said. 

"You mean that the Boers would not have been going in this direction?"

"That's so, sir. I'm beginning to think that it couldn't have beenthem. "

"I'm glad of it, " said Lennox, "for I want to feel that we can trustthem. Who could it have been, then?"

"Some of the friendly natives, sir, I hope, " replied the sergeant. 

"But they wouldn't have come this way, sergeant. It looks more as ifsome of our own people had been at the corn. "

"That's just what I was thinking, sir, " replied the sergeant, "only Ididn't want to say it. "

"But that's impossible, sergeant. A man might have slit up the sacksout of spite, or from sheer mischief, but he wouldn't have carried offany. "

"No, sir. He wouldn't, would he? Well, all I can say is that it'srather queer. "

"Well, go on, " said Lennox; and the sergeant went on, tracing the grainright out to the back of the corrugated iron huts that formed one sideof the square, and then past the angle and along the next side, nowlosing the traces, but soon picking them up again, the hard, dry earthcompletely refusing to give any trace of the bearer's feet. 

Then the next angle of the square was reached, turned, and the sergeantstill passed on with the light. 

"Gets thicker here, " he whispered, and directly after he stopped andpointed down at two or three handfuls of the bright grain. 

"Seem to have set down a basket here, sir, " he said softly. "Shall I goon?"

"Go on? Yes, and trace the robbery home. The scoundrel who hastampered with the stores deserves the severest punishment. "

The sergeant proceeded, but more slowly now, for he had only a grainhere and a grain there to act as his guide; but these still pointed outthe direction taken by the marauders, till the trackers came suddenlyupon a good-sized patch. 

"Tell you what, sir, " whispered the sergeant; "there's only one chap init, and he's got such a swag he's obliged to keep stopping to rest. "

"Yes, that seems to be the case, sergeant, " said Lennox, lookingcarefully about. "Let's see; we must be near the colonel's quarters, "he whispered. 

"That's right, sir. About twenty yards over yonder; and the fellows onsentry ought to have seen the light and challenged us by now. "

"No, " said Lennox; "the houses completely shut us off. Go on. "

The light was held low down again and swung here and there in thedirection that the marauder ought to have taken; but there was not agrain to be seen to indicate the track, and the sergeant had to harkback again and again without being able to find it. 

"Rum thing, sir, " he whispered. "He must have stopped here and foundthat his basket was leaking, and patched it up, for I can't see anothergrain anywhere. "

"Neither can I, sergeant; but try again. Take a longer circle. "

"Right, sir; but it does seem queer that he should have stopped to makeall fast just behind the colonel's quarters. "

"It seems to indicate that it was the work of some stranger; otherwisehe would not have halted here. "

"P'r'aps so, sir; but if he was a stranger how did he know where thecorn store was?"

"Can't say, sergeant. Try away. "

"Right, sir, " said the man, proceeding slowly step by step, with theopen lantern very close to the ground, and making a regular circle, inthe hope of cutting the way at last by which the supposed thief had goneoff after his last rest. 

But minute succeeded minute without success, and Lennox was about tourge his companion onward in another direction, when the sergeantuttered a sharp ejaculation as if of alarm, jerking up the lantern as hestarted back, and in the same movement blew out the light and shut thelantern door with a loud snap. 

Lennox, who was a couple of yards behind, sprang forward, unfasteningthe cover of his pistol-holster and catching his companion by the arm, while all around now was intensely dark. 

"Enemy coming?" he whispered. 

"Dunno yet, sir, " panted the sergeant, whose voice sounded broken andstrange. "Something awfully wrong, sir. "

"Speak out, man! What do you mean?" whispered Lennox, whose heart nowbegan to beat heavily. 

"I've come upon something down here, sir. "

"Ah! The thief--asleep?"

"No, sir, " said the sergeant, and his fingers were heard fumbling withthe fastening of the lantern. 

"What are you doing, man? Why don't you speak?"

"Making sure the light's quite out, sir. Can't speak for a moment--feelchoking. "

"Then you hear the enemy approaching?"

"No, sir. --Ha! It's quite out! Now, sir, just you go down on one kneeand feel. "

"I don't understand you, sergeant, " whispered Lennox; but all the samehe bent down on one knee and felt about with his right hand, fullyexpecting to touch a heap of the stolen grain. 

"No corn, " he said at the end of a few seconds; "but what's this--sand?"

"Take a pinch up, and taste it, sir. I hope it is. "

"Taste it?" said Lennox half-angrily. 

"Yes, sir, " said the sergeant out of the darkness, and the faint rustlehe made and then a peculiar sound from his lips indicated that he wassetting the example. 

The young officer hesitated no longer, but gathering up a pinch of thedry sand from the ground, he just held it to the tip of his tongue. 

"Why, sergeant, " he whispered excitedly, "it's powder!"

"That's right, sir, " replied the man. "Gunpowder--a train; a heavytrain running right and left. "

"Nonsense!"

"Truth, sir. I had the lantern close to it, and might have fired it ifI'd dropped the lantern, as I nearly did. "

"But what does it mean? Here, sergeant, that's what we have to see. "

"Yes, sir, " replied the sergeant in a hoarse whisper, "and don't yougrasp it? One way it goes off towards the veldt--"

"And the other way towards the colonel's quarters, " whispered Lennox. "Here, sergeant, there must be some desperate plot--a mine, perhaps, close up to that hut. Quick! Follow me. "

The sergeant did not need the order, for he was already moving in thedirection of the cluster of huts, but going upon his hands and knees, leaving the lantern behind and feeling his way, guiding himself by hisfingers so as to keep in touch with the coarse, sand-like powder, whichwent on in an easily followed line towards the back of the colonel'shut. 

It seemed long, but it was only a matter of a few seconds before theywere both close up, feeling in the darkness for some trace of that whichimagination had already supplied; and there it was in the darkness. 

"Here's a bag, sergeant, " whispered Lennox. 

"A bag, sir? Here's five or six, and one emptied out, and--Run, sir, for your life! Look at that!"

For there was a flash of light from somewhere behind them, and as, witha bag of powder which he had caught up in his hand, Lennox turned round, he could see what appeared to be a fiery serpent speeding at a rapidrate towards where, half-paralysed, he stood. 

The Kopje Garrison--by George Manville Fenn

CHAPTER NINE. 

GUY FAWKES WORK. 

The light of the fired train had hardly flashed before the first sentrywho saw it, fired, to be followed by one after another, till the buglesrang out, first one and then another, whose notes were still ringingwhen there was a muffled roar, then another, and another, till six hadshaken the earth and a series of peculiar metallic clashes deafened allaround. 

But before the first sentry had raised his piece to his shoulder anddrawn, the sergeant, seen in the brilliant light of the running train, seemed to have gone frantically mad. 

"Chuck, sir, chuck!" he yelled, though Lennox needed no telling. Thelight which suddenly shone on the back of the cluster of sheet-iron hutshad shown him what was necessary, and after raising the bag he hadpicked up with both hands high above his head, and hurling it as far ashe could, he dashed at the others he could see packed close up againstthe colonel's hut, so that between him and the sergeant five had beentorn from the ground and hurled in different directions outward from thebuildings, leaving only the contents of a sixth and seventh bag whichhad been emptied in a heap connected with the long train before theothers had been laid upon it in a little pile. 

They were none too soon, for the last bag had hardly been hurled awaywith all the strength that the young officer could command, and whilethe sergeant was yelling to him to run, before the hissing fiery serpentwas close upon them. 

Fortunately the sergeant's crawling and the following trampling of theexcited pair had broken up and crushed in the regularly laid train, scattering the powder in all directions, so that the rush of the hissingfire came momentarily to an end and gave place to a sputtering andsparkling here and there, giving Lennox and the sergeant time to rush afew yards away in headlong flight. There was a terrific scorchingblast, and a tremendous push sent them staggering onward in a series ofbounds before they fell headlong upon their faces; while at intervalsexplosion after explosion followed the fiery blast, the burningfragments setting off three of the other bags, fortunately away fromwhere the pair had fallen. 

The sergeant was the first to recover himself, and raising his face alittle from the ground, he shouted, "Don't move, sir! Don't move!There's two or three more to go off yet. "

Lennox said something, he did not know what, for he was half-stunned, the shock having had a peculiar bewildering effect. But at the secondwarning from his companion he began to grasp what it meant, and laystill without speaking; but he raised his head a little, to see thatbeneath the great canopy of foul-smelling smoke that overhung them theearth was covered with little sputtering dots of fire, either of which, if it came in contact, was sufficient to explode any powder that mightremain. 

But two bags had escaped, the explosive blast rising upward; and thedanger being apparently at an end, the principal actors in thecatastrophe roused to find officers hurrying to meet them, and mencoming forward armed with pails of water to dash and scatter here andthere till every spark was extinct and the remaining powder had beenthoroughly drenched. 

"Much hurt, old chap?" cried Dickenson, who was the first to reach hisfriend, and he supplemented his question by eagerly feeling Lennox allover. 

"No! No: I think not, " said Lennox, "except my head, and that feels hotand scorched. Can you see anything wrong?"

"Not yet; it's so dark. Here, let's take you to the doctor. "

"No, no!" cried Lennox. "Not so bad as that. But tell me--what aboutthe officers sleeping in those huts?"

"All right, I believe; but the backs of the houses are blown in, and thefellows at home were blown right out of their beds. "

"No one hurt?"

"Oh yes; some of them are a bit hurt, but only bruised. But you? Oh, hang it all! somebody bring a light. Hi, there, a lantern!"

"No, no!" roared the colonel out of the darkness. "Are you mad? Who'sthat asking for a light?"

"Mr Dickenson, sir. "

"Bah! Keep every light away. There may be another explosion. "

The colonel gave a few sharp orders respecting being on the alert for anexpected attack to follow this attempt--one that he felt to have beenarranged to throw the little camp into confusion; and with all lightsout, and a wide berth given to the neighbourhood of the headquarters, the troops stood ready to receive the on-coming Boers with fixedbayonets. 

But an hour passed away, and the doubled outposts and those sent out toscout had nothing to report, while all remained dark and silent in theneighbourhood of the damaged huts. 

Meanwhile Dickenson had hurried Lennox and the sergeant off to thedoctor's quarters, where they were examined by that gentleman and hisaids. 

"Well, upon my word, you ought to congratulate yourself, Lennox. "

"I do, sir, " was the reply, made calmly enough. 

"And you too, sergeant. "

"Yes, sir, " said the man stolidly. 

"Why, my good fellow, you ought to have been blown all to pieces. "

"Ought I, sir?"

"Of course you ought. It's a wonderful escape. "

"Oh, I don't know, sir. What about my back hair, sir?"

"Singed off, what there was of it; and yours too, Lennox. Smart much?"

"Oh yes, horribly, " said the latter. 

"Oh, well, that will soon pass off. Threw yourselves down on yourfaces--eh?"

"No. We were knocked down. "

"Good thing too, " said the doctor. "Saved your eyes, and the hair aboutthem. A wonderful escape, upon my word. Yes: you ought to have beenblown to atoms. --Eh? What's that, sergeant?"

"I say we should have been, sir, if we hadn't scattered thepowder-bags. "

"Scattered the powder-bags?" said a voice from the door, and the colonelstepped into the circle of light spread by the doctor's lamp. "Tell mewhat you know about this explosion, Lennox. How came you to be thereinstead of visiting your posts?"

Lennox briefly explained, and the colonel stood frowning. 

"I don't see all this very clearly, " said the colonel. "Somebodystealing the corn, and you were tracing the thieves and came upon atrain laid up to my quarters. There was a sentry there; what was heabout?"

"No, sir: no sentry there, " said Lennox. 

"Nonsense! I gave orders for a man to be posted there, and it wasdone. "

"I beg pardon, sir, " said Lennox. "No one was there to challenge us. "

"Indeed!" said the colonel. --"Who's that? Oh, Mr Dickenson, examinethe place as soon as it is light. There was a man there, for I saw himmyself. But now then, I cannot understand how the enemy can have stolenthrough the lines and carried the powder where it was found. What doyou say, Lennox?"

"Nothing, sir. My head is so confused that I can hardly recall how itall happened. "

"Of course. Well, you, sergeant. You said that you scattered thepowder-bags. "

"Yes, sir. Threw 'em about as far as we could. "

"We?"

"Yes, sir. Mr Lennox and me. "

"After the train was fired?"

"Oh yes, sir; it was coming on at a great rate. "

"Humph! Then you did a very brave action. "

"Oh no, sir, " said the sergeant. "We were obliged to. Why, we should, as Dr Emden says, sir, have been blown all to bits if we hadn't. Wewere obliged to do something sharp. "

"Yes, " said the colonel dryly. "It was sharp work, sergeant, and yousaved my life and the major's. "

"Did we, sir? Very glad of it, sir. "

"But about how the powder was conveyed there. I can see nothing for itbut treachery within the camp. --Of course!--Those Boers!"

"But they had gone, sir, " said Lennox. 

"Yes, and left us a memento of their visit. "

"Beg pardon, sir, " said Dickenson. 

"Yes? Go on, Mr Dickenson. "

"I think I can see through the mystery. "

"Then you have better eyes than I have, " said the colonel. "Proceed. "

"It was one of their tricks, sir, " said Dickenson. "They came into campwith their wagons and waited their chance. "

"But the powder, man, the powder?" said the colonel impatiently. 

"So many bags of it, sir, each inside one of the sacks of maize; and thenight they were to go away they slit their sacks open, took out thepowder, and planted it at the back of your quarters, sir. "

"That will do, Mr Dickenson, " said the colonel dryly. 

"Beg pardon, sir. I thought it a very likely explanation of thebusiness. "

"Too likely, Mr Dickenson, " said the colonel, "for it is undoubtedlythe right one. The misfortune is that the treacherous scoundrels havegot away. Bah! They're worse than savages! Well, let us all bethankful for our escape. I thought I had taken every precaution Icould, but one never knows. Then you will not have to go into hospital, Lennox?"

"Oh no, sir; I shall be all right in a few hours. "

"And you, Colour-Sergeant James?"

"Beg pardon, sir?" said the blackened non-com, staring. 

"I say, and you, _Colour-Sergeant_ James, " said the colonel, layingemphasis on the word colour. "You feel that you need not go into theinfirmary?"

"Feel, sir?" cried the sergeant, drawing himself up as stiff as hisrifle. "Beg pardon, sir, but that's quite cured me. I never felt sowell in my life. "

"I am glad of it, my man, " said the colonel quietly. --"Yes?" he added asone of the junior officers came to the door. 

"Two men come in from the kopje, sir: a message from the sergeant withthe gun. There's a strong body of the enemy close up between us and thelines on the slope. The men had to go round a long way before theycould get through. "

"I'll come, " said the colonel, and he hurried out to make some fresharrangements, the effect of which was that as soon as it was light theaction of the Boers was precipitated by a counter-attack, and after anhour's firing they were driven out of their cover, to run streamingacross the veldt, their flight hastened by a few well-planted shellsfrom the big gun and the rapid fire of the Maxim which swept the plain. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

TRACKING THE WAGONS. 

Lennox was well enough, when the sun was up, to accompany Dickenson tothe examination of the scene of the explosion, but not in time towitness the discovery of two bags of unexploded powder, from where theyhad been hurled by Colour-Sergeant James, who was on the ground beforeit was light, as he explained to the two young officers. 

"You were early, sergeant, " said Lennox. "Yes, sir; to tell the truth, I was. You see, I couldn't sleep a wink. "

"In so much pain?"

"Well, the back of my head did smart pretty tidy, I must say, sir, and Icouldn't lay flat on my back as I generally do; but it wasn't that, sir--it was the thought of the step up. Just think of it, sir! Onlybeen full sergeant two years, and a step up all at once like that. "

"Well, you deserved it, " said Lennox quietly. "Deserved it, sir? Well, what about you?"

"Oh, I dare say I shall get my promotion when I've earned it, " saidLennox. "Now then, let's look round. You found two bags of the powder, then?"

"Yes, sir, " said the man, pointing; "one down in that pit where they dugthe soil for filling the biscuit-tins and baskets, and the other yonderbehind that wall. The blast must have blown right over them. "

"But how about the sentry the colonel said he saw here?" asked Lennox. 

The man's countenance changed, a fierce frown distorting it. 

"He was quite right, sir, " said the sergeant, nodding his head. "Theyfound him this morning at his post. "

"Dead?" said Lennox in a hoarse whisper. 

"Yes, sir--dead. Horrid! Some one must have crept up behind him with ablanket and thrown it over him while some one else used an iron bar. Hecouldn't have spoken a word after the first blow. "

"But why do you say that?" said Dickenson. "I understand the sentry wasfound dead, but--"

"There was the blanket and the iron bar, sir--the one over him and theother at his side. I don't call that fair fighting, sir; do you?"

The answer consisted of a sharp drawing in of the breath; and theofficers turned away to examine the mischief done by the explosion, thebacks of two houses having been blown right in. 

"Well, " said Dickenson dryly, "it's awkward, because they've got to bemade up again; but one can't say they're spoiled. "

"Not spoiled?" said Lennox, looking wonderingly at the speaker. 

"No; they were so horribly straight and blank and square before. Theydo look a little more picturesque now. Oh, he was a wicked wretch whoinvented corrugated iron!"

"Nonsense!" said Lennox. 

"But it does keep the wet out well, sir, " put in the sergeant. "I don'tknow what we should have done sometimes without it. "

Further conversation was stopped by the coming towards camp of a coupleof Boers bearing a white flag; but they were only allowed to approachwithin the first line of defence. 

"Want to have a look at the mischief they have done, " said Dickensonbitterly, "and they will not have a chance. My word, what they don'tdeserve!"

The permission they had come to ask was given, and they were turned backat once, to signal for their ambulance-wagons to approach, these beingbusy for quite an hour picking up the dead and wounded; while themurdered sentry was the only loss suffered by the defenders ofGroenfontein and the kopje. 

As soon as suspicion was firmly fixed upon the party of non-combatantBoers who had departed upon their mission to obtain fresh supplies, oneof the first orders issued by the colonel was for a patrol of mountedmen to go in pursuit and, if possible, bring them back. 

"There is not much chance of overtaking them, " he said to the officerspresent; "but with a couple of teams of slow-going oxen they cannot maketheir own pace. Then this is the last time I'll trust a Boer. "

"The worst of it is, " said the major, "that we have let them carry offthose two spans of bullocks. Tut, tut, tut! Forty of them; tough asleather, of course, but toothsome when you have nothing else. "

"Toothsome!" said Captain Roby, laughing. "A capital term, for the poorteeth of those who tried to eat them would have to work pretty hard--eh, --Dickenson?"

"Better than nothing, " said the young lieutenant--a decision with whichall agreed. 

That day passed off without further attack from the enemy, who seemed tohave drawn off to a distance; and as night fell the colonel became veryanxious about the patrol, which had not returned. Dickenson, who hadthe credit of being the longest-sighted man in the regiment, had spentthe day on the highest point of the kopje, armed with a powerfultelescope, and from his point of vantage, where he could command thecountry in that wonderfully clear atmosphere for miles round, had sweptevery bit of plain, and searched bush and pile of granite again andagain, till the darkness of evening began to fill up the bush like aflood of something fluid. When he could do no more he left the crew ofthe gun and began to descend by what he considered the nearest way toheadquarters, and soon found it the longest, for he had delayed hisreturn too long. 

"Hang it all!" he muttered. "What a pile of shin-breaking rocks it is!I've a jolly good mind to go back and take the regular path; seems sostupid, though, now. "

In this spirit he persevered, wandering in and out among the piled-upblocks, all of which seemed in the darkness to be exactly alike, oftenmaking him think that he was going over the same ground again and again. But he was still descending, for when he climbed up the next suitableplace to try and get a view of the lights of the camp he could see thembeneath him and certainly nearer than when he started. 

"Shall manage it somehow, " he muttered; "but, hang it! how hungry I am!There, I'll have a pipe. "

He fumbled in his pocket as he stood in the lee of a block of granite, sheltered from the cold night wind, found the pipe, and raised it to hislips to blow through the stem, but stopped short with every sense on thealert, for from below to his left he heard a light chirp such as mighthave been given by a bird, but which he argued certainly was not, for heknew of no bird likely to utter such a note at that time of the evening, when the flood of darkness had risen and risen till it had filled upeverything high above the highest kopje that dotted the plain. 

"Couldn't be a signal, could it?" he said to himself. "Yes, " he saiddirectly after, for the chirp was answered from lower down. 

Dickenson softly swung the case of his telescope round to his back outof the way, and took out his revolver without making a sound, listeningintently the while, and at the end of a long minute he made out a lowwhispering close at hand; but he could not place it exactly, for thesounds seemed to be reflected back from the face of the rock directly infront of him. 

"I wish it wasn't so dark, " he said, and screwing up his lips, he triedto imitate the chirp, and so successfully that it was answered. 

"Must be one of our sentries, " he thought, and he hesitated as to hisnext proceeding. 

"Don't want to challenge and raise a false alarm, " he said; "but lastnight's work makes one so suspicious. I'll let them challenge me. "

He turned to descend softly from where he had climbed to, and his footslipped on the weather-worn stone, so that he made a loud scraping soundin saving himself from a fall; but not so loud that he was unable tohear the scuffling of feet close at hand, followed directly after bydead silence. 

His finger was on the trigger of his pistol, and he was within an ace offiring in the direction of the noise, but refrained, and contentedhimself with walking as sharply as he could towards it with outstretchedhands, for overhanging rocks made the place he was in darker than ever, and he was reduced to feeling his way. Then stopping short with a senseof danger being close at hand, he gave the customary challenge, to haveit answered from behind him; and the next minute he was face to facewith a sentry. 

"I thought I heard something, sir, " said the man. "Then it was you?"

"No, no, " said Dickenson; "I heard it too--a low chirp like a bird. "

"No, no, sir; not that--a sound as if some one slipped. "

"Yes, that was I, " said Dickenson; "but there was a chirp. Did you hearthat?"

"Oh yes, I heard that, sir; and another one answered it. "

"And then there was talking. "

"Oh no, sir, I heard no talking. Sound like a bird; but I think it's alittle guinea-piggy sort of thing. I believe they live in holes likerats, and come out and call to one another in the dark. "

"Well, perhaps it may be; but keep a sharp lookout. "

"I'll keep my ears well open, sir, " said the man; "there's no seeinganything in a night like this. "

The sentry was able to put his visitor in the right direction, andDickenson went on, forgetting the incident and wondering how Lennox wasgetting on; then about what the colonel would say to his ill-success;and lastly, the needs of his being filled up all his thoughts, makinghim wonder what he should get from the mess in order to satisfy theravenous hunger that troubled him after his long abstinence. 

He reached the square at last, but not without being challenged threetimes over. Then making his way to the colonel's patched-up quarters, he was just in time to meet the patrol coming into the opening, theirleader going straight to the mess-room, where the officers weregathered. 

"Any luck?" said Dickenson. "I was on the lookout for you up yondertill I couldn't see. "

"Yes, and no, " said the officer. "Come on and you'll hear. "

Dickenson followed his companion into the long, dreary-looking, ill-lighted barn, where they were both warmly welcomed; and the officerannounced that he had gone as near the Boers' laagers as he could, drawing fire each time; but he had not been able to either overtake ortrace the plotters till close upon evening, when on the return. Theyhad found a sign, but there was so much crossing and recrossing that thebest of scouts could have made nothing of it; and he concluded that theparty he sought had got well away, when all at once they came upon theundoubted spoor of the two teams of oxen, followed it into the bush, andjust at dusk came upon the two wagons in a bush-like patch among thetrees. 

"And what had the men to say for themselves?" said the colonel eagerly. 

"The men had gone, sir, " said the officer. 

"Ah! Bolted at the sight of you?"

"Oh no, sir; they were gone. "

"What! and left the wagons?"

"Yes, sir; they had left the wagons, but they had carried off theteams. "

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

THE COLONEL'S PLANS. 

The effects of the night alarm were dying out, for there was plenty totake the attention of the defenders of Groenfontein every day--days fullof expectancy--for a Boer attack might take place at any moment, whileevery now and then some one at an outpost had a narrow escape; and twomen were hit by long-range bullets, fired perhaps a mile away by someprowling Boer who elevated his piece and fired on chance at thebuildings in the village. 

"Sniping, " the men termed it, and all efforts to suppress this cowardlyway of carrying on the war were vain, for in most cases there was nochance of making out from what scrap of cover the shots had beendespatched; while it became evident that, from sheer malignity, theundisciplined members of the enemy's force would crawl in the darknessto some clump of rocks, or into some ditch-like donga, or behind one ofthe many ant-hills, and lie there invisible, firing as he saw a chance, and only leaving it when the darkness came on again. 

The rations issued grew poorer; but the men only laughed and chaffed, ridiculing one another and finding nicknames for them. 

Colour-Sergeant James, the sturdy non-commissioned officer, the back ofwhose head still showed the blasting effects of the explosion which hehad shared with Lennox, was known as the "Fat Boy, " on account of thegeneral shrinking that had gone on in his person till he seemed to beall bone and sinew, covered with a very brown skin; another man came tobe known as the "Greyhound;" while Captain Roby's favourite corporal, anunpleasant-looking fellow, much disliked by Lennox and Dickenson for hissmooth, servile ways, had grown so hollow-cheeked that he was alwaysspoken of as the "Lantern, " after being so dubbed by the joker of hiscompany. 

In fact, the men generally had been brought down to attenuation by thescarcity of their food; while their khaki uniforms were not uniform inthe least, the men for the most part looking, as Bob Dickenson put it, "like scarecrows in their Sunday clothes. "

"The lads are getting terribly thin, sergeant, " said Lennox one day, after the men had been dismissed from parade. 

"Oh, I don't know, sir, " said the sergeant; "a bit fine, sir, but inmagnificent condition. Look at the colour of them--regular good warmtan. "

"But the Boers haven't tanned them, all the same, sergeant, " put inDickenson, who was listening. 

"No, sir, and never will, " said the sergeant proudly. "As to theirbeing thin, that's nothing; they're as healthy as can be. A soldierdon't want to be carrying a lot of unnecessary meat about with him; andas to fat, it only makes 'em short-winded. See how they can go at thedouble now, and come up smiling. They're all right, sir, and we canfeed 'em up again fast enough when the work's done. Beg pardon, sir:any likelihood of a reinforcement soon?"

"You know just as much as I do, sergeant, " said Lennox. "Our orders areto hold this place, and we've got to hold it. Some day I suppose thegeneral will send and fetch us out; till then we shall have to do ourbest. "

"Yes, sir, that's right; but I do wish the enemy would give us a realgood chance of showing them what our lads are made of. "

But the Boers had had too many of what Dickenson called "smacks in theface" during their open attacks, and seemed disposed now to givestarvation a chance of doing the work for them. At least, that was theyoung officer's openly expressed opinion. 

"But they're making a great mistake, Drew, my lad, " he said one eveningas he and his friend sat chatting together. "An Englishman takes agreat deal of starving before he'll give in. They're only making theboys savage, and they'll reap the consequences one day. My word, though, what a blessing a good spring of water is!"

As he spoke he picked up the tin can standing upon the end of aflour-barrel that formed their table, had a good hearty drink, set itdown again, and replaced his pipe between his lips. "I used to thinkthat bitter beer was the only thing a man could drink with his pipe; but_tlat_! how good and fresh and cool this water is, and how the Boersmust wish they had the run of it!"

"It helps us to set them at defiance, " said Lennox. "They might wellcall the place `Green Fountain. ' It might be made a lovely spot if itwasn't for the Boer. "

"Yes, I suppose anything would grow here in the heat and moisture. Isuppose the spring comes gurgling up somewhere in the middle of thekopje. "

"It must, " said Lennox, "and then makes its way amongst the stones tospread out below there and flow on to the river. "

"Seems rum, though, " said Dickenson. "I never did understand why watershould shoot up here at the highest part of a flat country. It ought tobe found low down in the holes. What makes it shoot up?"

"The weight and pressure of the country round, I suppose, " said Lennox. "Hullo! What does that mean?"

"Business, " cried Dickenson, as both the young men sprang to their feetand seized belts and weapons. For the report of a rifle was followed byothers, coming apparently from the direction of the kopje near to wherethe stream came rushing out between two rugged natural walls of piled-upstone. Every one was on the alert directly, fully in the expectationthat the enemy we're about to act in non-accordance with their regularcustom and make an attack in the dark. 

But the firing ceased almost as suddenly as it had begun; and after atime the alarm was traced back to a sentry who had been on duty at thelower part of the west side of the kopje, near by where the water gushedup at the foot of a huge mass of granite, where the most precipitouspart stretched upward half-way to the summit. 

Captain Roby's company held the kopje that night, and consequently bothof the young officers were present at the tracing of the cause of thealarm, when it seemed to have been proved that it was only false. 

The sentry who fired was examined by Captain Roby, and was certain thathe had not given any alarm without cause, for he said he had heard stepsas of more than one person approaching him as if going to the water. 

"And you challenged?" asked the captain. 

"Yes, sir; and then all was quite quiet for a few moments, but I heardthe sounds again as if they were coming closer to me, and I fired, andthere was a rush of feet. "

"A party of baboons going down to drink, " said the captaincontemptuously. 

"There have been no baboons seen since we occupied the kopje, " saidLennox. 

"Perhaps not; but when they were driven off they must have gonesomewhere, and what more likely than that they should come back to thespot where they could get water?--Come, my man, you felt frightened, didn't you?"

"Yes, sir, " said the sentry; "I was a bit scared. "

"And you think now that all you heard was a party of those big dog-likemonkeys--eh?"

"No, sir; it was men, and only three or four. "

"Ha! How do you know?"

"Because the baboons go on all fours, sir; and I could make out one manstanding up as he ran off along the rocky bit of path. "

"What! You saw one man?"

"Yes, sir. "

"But it was dark?"

"I could see the figure of a man for a moment just against the sky, sir. "

"But mightn't that have been one of the apes reared up for the time?"

"Oh no, sir, " said the sentry. "I shouldn't mistake a monkey for a man;and besides, they don't wear boots. "

"Ah! and do you say these people who came near you wore boots?"

"Well, it sounded like it, sir, for when I fired I could hear theleather squeak. "

"Humph!" grunted Captain Roby; and Dickenson, who was full now of hisadventure in what seemed to have been near the same place, spoke out:

"I think there's something in what he says:" and he related his ownexperience. "At the time, I was so occupied in getting back forsomething to eat that I forgot all about the matter after dinner. Butnow this has occurred I begin to feel that the chirping sounds I heardreally were signals, and that I did hear voices talking togetherafterwards. "

"Then it must have been Kaffirs sneaking there for water after it wasdark. "

"But the footsteps?" said Lennox. 

"Well, Kaffirs have feet. "

"But not boots, " said Lennox quietly. 

"I beg your pardon, " said the captain warmly; "I could pick out a dozenof the black hangers-on who have boots which they have obtained from themen. "

Just then an orderly arrived from the colonel to know what Captain Robyhad made out respecting the alarm; and upon a full report being given, the colonel sent orders for Captain Roby to march his company to thefoot of the kopje, surround it, and thoroughly search it from top tobottom. 

This search was commenced as soon as it was light, the men having beenled to the foot and stationed before day broke; and the arduous taskseemed to be thoroughly enjoyed by the men, who, as they slowly ascendedthe rough cone, naturally closed in so that the prospect of missing anyone hiding among the cracks and chasms grew less and less. To thesoldiers it was like a game of hide-and-seek held upon a gigantic scale, and they shouted to one another in the excitement of the hunt. Everynow and then a rift would be found which promised to be the entrance toa cavern such as abounded in many of the granite and ironstone piles;but in every instance, after the men had plunged in boldly with bayonetsfixed, they found the holes empty and were brought up directly, not evenfinding a sign of the place having been occupied. 

The officers advanced from four different places, but the incurvation ofthe mount, and its being only practicable for climbing here and there, caused Lennox and Dickenson to approach more rapidly than the others;hence it happened that by the time they were half-way to the top theywere within talking distance, as they kept on trying to keep their menin line, and at the end of another hundred feet they were side by side, panting and hot from their efforts, and ready to give one another a handor a leg up in difficult parts. 

"Well, Drew, old man, " cried Dickenson as they both paused to wipe theirfaces and give their men time to breathe, "nice job this! I suppose theold man meant it to give us an appetite for breakfast. "

Lennox laughed. 

"He ought to have given us a task to take away the sharpness; but it'sall right. I shouldn't be at all surprised if we started two or threeKaffirs from some hole higher up. "

"Why, what would they be doing there?"

"Keeping their gregarious home tidy for their tribe to come back to whenwe are gone. "

"Well, plenty do live in these kopjes. Remember about that one up inthe Matabele country that was full of cracks and passages, and had fouror five caves one above another?"

"Oh yes, I remember it. "

"This might be the same some day, but I believe it's all a reservoir ofwater inside. "

"Or else solid, for there seems to be no door. We may find a way inyet; I shouldn't wonder. "

"I should, " said Dickenson; "and I believe after all now that thechirping I heard was made by some rat-like creature. "

"The more I think about it, " continued Lennox, "the more I feel ready tobelieve that two or three of the Kaffirs are here, and in communicationwith the Boers. "

"What! acting as spies?"

Lennox nodded; he was still too short of breath to talk much. 

"Well, now you come to talk like that, it does appear possible, for theBoers do seem to have known pretty well how and when to attack us. "

"Exactly. "

"Of course! Why, there was the night when they were bringing up the biggun. They must have had guides. "

"Oh, if you come to that, they may have people with them who used tolive here. "

"Yes, they may have, " said Dickenson; "but it isn't likely. Depend uponit, there are two or three Kaffirs somewhere about here, and we havethem to thank for some of our misfortunes. If we do catch them they'llhave it pretty sharp. "

"Not they, " said Lennox. "We shall treat them as prisoners of war. "

"As spies, " said Dickenson, "and you know their lot. "

"Psh! The colonel would not shoot a set of poor ignorant blacks. "

"Browns--browns, browns. "

"For a reward they'd fight for us just as they may have been fightingfor the Boers. "

"But we don't want them to fight for us. If they'd try and feed usthey'd be doing some good. --Yes, all right. Ahoy there!" shouted thespeaker, for a hail came from higher up. "Forward, my lads; forward!"

This last to the men on either side, who had snapped at the chance of afew minutes' rest, after the fashion displayed by their officers. 

The climbing advance went on again till the level patch at the top, which had been turned into a gun-platform, was reached, and the menhalted in the bright sunshine, to group about the huge gun after theyhad been ordered to break off. They rested, enjoying the cool breezeand gazing eagerly about in search of enemies, seeing, however, nothingbut the surrounding prospect all looking bright and peaceful in themorning sun. 

"`Brayvo! Werry pretty!' as Sam Weller would have said, " criedDickenson as Captain Roby closed the field-glass he had been using andjoined his junior officers, frowning and looking impatient. 

"Look here, Mr Dickenson, " he said sourly, "a little of thatcommonplace, slangy quotation may be tolerated sometimes after the messdinner if it's witty--mind, I say if it's witty--but such language asthis seems to me quite out of place, especially if spoken in the hearingof the men when on service. "

"Yes, of course, " replied Dickenson shortly; "but I took care that theywere out of hearing. "

"They are not out of hearing, sir, " retorted Roby; "as Mr Lennox herewill bear me witness, Sergeant James and Corporal May must have heardevery word. "

He turned to Lennox with a questioning look and waited for him to, as hetermed it, bear witness. 

"Well, really, I don't think they could have heard, " said Lennox. 

"What!" cried Roby indignantly. "Here, sergeant, you heard--you, Corporal May, you heard what Mr Dickenson said?"

"Yes, sir, everything, " replied the corporal smartly. 

"And you, sergeant?"

"I heard Mr Dickenson saying something, sir, " replied the sergeantbluntly, "but I was looking along the gun here and did not catch aword. "

"You mean you would not hear, " cried the captain angrily. --"Look here, Mr Dickenson, don't let it occur again. "

He jerked at the case of his field-glass and took it out again, thencrossed to the other end of the roughly-made gun-platform and directedthe telescope upon some object near the horizon. 

The two subalterns exchanged glances. 

"Mr Lennox--Mr Dickenson, " said the latter in a low tone. "Poor oldchap, he's regularly upset. Well, no wonder; wants his breakfast. I'mjust as grumpy underneath for the same reason, but I keep it down--withmy belt. Look here, Drew; go and prescribe for him. Tell him to bucklehimself up a couple of holes tighter and he'll feel all the better. "

"Hold your tongue! He isn't well, and he's put out about thismare's-nest hunt. "

"Well, yes; we haven't done much good. "

"Not a bit. How do you feel?"

"As if I should like to kick that time-serving corporal. "

"What! the `Lantern'? Yes: brute! Anything to curry favour with hismaster. "

"Look here, don't forget. Mind I give old James two ounces of the besttobacco first time I have any--which I'm afraid will not be just yet. "

"Mare's-nest, " said Lennox thoughtfully. "Yes, I suppose it is amare's-nest. Nobody could have been about here without being caught bythe sentries. "

"I don't know, " said Dickenson, looking about him; "these niggers arevery clever at hiding and sneaking about. I felt certain after what Ihad experienced that we should find a way into a passage and some caves. Here, 'tention; the general's coming back. "

Captain Roby returned, replacing his glass, and gave a few sharp ordersfor the men to take their places once more and commence the descent, searching every crevice among the rocks as they went down. 

This was carefully done, and the men reached the foot of the granitepile, formed up, and marched back to the market-place, where they weredismissed to their meagre breakfast, while the captain sought thecolonel's quarters without a word to his subordinates. 

"The doctor says fasting's very good for a man; but one man's meat, orwant of it, is another man's poison, Drew, my boy, and starvation doesnot agree with Roby. "

"No, " replied Lennox. "I've noticed that he has been a bit queer for aweek past. "

"Say a fortnight, and I'll agree with you. Why, he has been like a bearwith a sore head. Never said a civil word to any one, and I've heardhim bully the poor boys shamefully. "

"Yes; it is a pity, too, for they've behaved splendidly. "

"Right you are. I always liked them, but I'm quite proud of the poorfellows now. I say though, hang it all! talking must be bad on an emptystomach. Lead on, my lord; the banquet waits. "

"Banquet!" said Lennox, with a sigh. 

"Yes. Oh, how tired I am of that mealie pap! It puts me in mind ofBrahma fowls, and that maddens me. "

"Why?"

"Because I used to keep some of the great, feather-breeched, lumberingthings to send to poultry shows. Some one told me that Indian com was afine thing for them--made their plumage bright and gave them bone; so Iordered a lot. "

"And did it answer the purpose?"

"Answer the purpose?" cried Dickenson indignantly. "Why, the beggarspicked it up grain by grain and put it down again. Pampered Sybarites!Then the cock cocked his eye up at me and said, `_Tuck, tuck, tuck!Caro, waro, ware_!' which being interpreted from the Chick-chucklanguage which is alone spoken by the gallinaceous tribe, means, `Noneof your larks: yellow pebbles for food? Not to-day, thankye!'"

"I say, Bob, what a boy you do keep!" said Lennox. 

"The sweet youthfulness of my nature, lad. But, as I was telling you, the beggars wouldn't touch it, and I had to get our cook to boil itsoft. Our mealie pap has just the same smell. That makes me think ofbeing a real boy with my poultry pen: the Brahmas make me think of theyoung cockerels who did not feather well for show and were condemned togo to pot--that is to say, to the kitchen; and _that_ brings up theirlegs and wings peppered and salted before broiling for breakfast, finished off with a sprinkle of Worcester sauce, and then--oh, luscious!oh, tender juiciness! Oh! hold me up, old man, or I shall faint. There, sniff! Can't you smell? Yes, of course; mealie pap in a tin, and--Oh, here's the colonel eating his. Roby will have to give hisreport now. "

"Good--morning, gentlemen, " said the colonel. "Just in time forbreakfast. Well, what have you found?"

He had hardly asked the question before Captain Roby hurried in, to goup to his side at once and make his report. 

"I'm sorry; but no more than I expected. --Here, " he said, turning to hisservant, after making a brave show of eating the meagre tin of Indiancorn porridge; "bring me a little cocoa. "

"Beg pardon, sir, " said the man, bending over him from behind; "verysorry, but last of the cocoa was finished yesterday. "

"Humph! Yes; I had forgotten, " said the colonel, and he took up hisspoon and began to play with the porridge remaining in his tin. 

The breakfast was soon ended, and the officers made a show of chattingcheerfully together, while the colonel sat tapping the edge of his tinsoftly with his canteen spoon, looking thoughtfully into the bottom ofthe cleaned-out vessel the while. Then every eye was turned to him ashe straightened himself up, for they judged that he was going to makesome communication. They were right, for he threw down his spoon on theclothless board and said suddenly:

"Well, gentlemen, the French proverb says, _Il faut manger_. "

"Yes, " said the doctor, with a grim smile; "but it is necessary to havesomething in the manger. "

"Quite so, doctor, " said the colonel, with a good-humoured nod; "so Imay as well open a discussion on the position at once, and tell you thatwhile Roby and his company have been searching the kopje the major and Ihave formed ourselves into a committee of ways and means, and gone roundthe stores. --Tell them, major. "

The gentleman addressed shrugged his shoulders. 

"There is so little to tell, " he replied; "only that with aboutquarter-rations we can hold out for another week. That's all. "

"Not all, " said the colonel. "We have the horses as a last resource;but they are life to us in another way, and must be left till the veryend. "

Dead silence reigned, every man looking down at the rough table. 

"Well, gentlemen, " continued the colonel, "after giving every thought toour position I come to the conclusion that at all hazards I must holdthis place. "

"Hear, hear!" came from every lip. 

"We are keeping three commandos fully employed, and that is something. "

There was a sound like a murmur of satisfaction. 

"I might determine, " said the colonel, "to try and reach Rudolfsberg, and somehow or another we would cut our way there; but our losses wouldbe terrible, and we should reach safety--some of us--with the feelingthat we had not done our duty by holding Groenfontein at all hazards. "

"That's quite right, " said the major as his chief paused, and a murmurof assent followed the major's words. 

"Then, gentlemen, that brings me back again to the French proverb. Wemust eat, so the first thing to do is to decide on which direction araid is to be made: that means scouting, and the discovery of thenearest Boer store of provisions, with sheep and cattle. We are quitealone here, without the possibility of my words being heard, so I canspeak out freely. Scouting parties must go out at once in the directionof each of the three commandos, and on the strength of their reports theexpedition will be made. "

"To-night?" said the major. 

"Yes, " replied the colonel. "Hush! Don't cheer! Let matters go on asif nothing fresh were on the way. We cannot afford to have ourproceedings carried out of the lines by Kaffir spies. "

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

THE BOER ADVANCE. 

The scouting parties went out in three different directions after a longsurvey from the top of the kopje, the routes being marked out for theleaders in consultation with the colonel, who, glass in hand, selectedthe most likely routes to be followed so that the enemy might beavoided, and the more distant country reached where two or three Boerfarms were known to be situated. 

Then, with three of the best mounted men in each, they set off; and thecolonel took especial care that no one of the many friendly--said to befriendly--natives who hung about the camp should follow. It was anecessary precaution, for the outposts stopped no less than a dozen menstealing through the long grass on both sides of the river, and, totheir great disappointment, turned them back to go and squat downsulkily in such shade as they could find. 

The instructions given were that at the latest the scouts were to beback at sundown, so as to give ample time for pointing out the route tobe followed and preparations made for the raid to come. 

Plenty of discussion ensued when the scouts had ridden off at a walk, opening out so as not to take the attention of the Boers; and as far ascould be made out by the watchers there was not a sign of an enemy uponeither of the hills. 

The question of the discussion was which company of the regiment wouldbe called upon to start upon the raid, the members of each hoping to beselected; and Captain Roby maintaining loudly, in a sharp, snappish way, that without doubt his company would be chosen, and turning fiercelyupon any of his brother officers who differed from him. 

"He's precious cock-sure, Drew, " said Dickenson later on, as theystrolled together up the steep sides of the kopje; "but we had our bitof work this morning, and it is not likely that the old man will sendus. "

"Of course not; but it was of no use to say anything. Our failure hashad a strange effect upon the poor fellow, and a word would act upon himlike fire upon tinder. "

"Yes; but the starvation picnic has had its effect on other people too. Who's he that he should have the monopoly of getting into a passionabout nothing? I say, though, as we were up there this morning I don'tsee what is the use of our going up again; there'll be no shade at thetop, and we shall be half-roasted. "

"Don't come, then, " said Lennox quietly. "I'm going up to see if I canfollow the scouts with a glass. "

"Don't come?" cried Dickenson sharply. "Well, I like that! Here'sanother one touched by the sun. Old Roby is not to have the monopoly ofgetting into a fantigue. "

"Nonsense! I'm not out of temper, " said Lennox. 

"Not out of temper? Well, upon my word! But I shall come all the same. I would now if it were ten times as hot. "

"Very well, " said Lennox, drawing his breath hard so as to command histemper, for he felt really ruffled now by the heat and his comrade's wayof talking. 

They climbed slowly on, step for step, till, as they zigzagged up into agood position which displayed the sun-bathed landscape shimmering in theheat, Lennox caught a glimpse of one of the scouting parties in thedistance, and was about to draw his companion's attention to it whenDickenson suddenly caught at his arm and pointed to a glowing patch ofthe rock in the full blaze of the sun. 

"Look, " he said. "Big snake. "

"Nonsense!" said Lennox angrily; "there are no snakes up here. "

Their eyes met the next instant with so meaning a look in them that bothburst out laughing, Dickenson holding out his hand, which was taken atonce. 

"I forgive old Roby, " he said. 

"So do I, " said Lennox frankly. "Heat and hunger do upset a man'stemper. See our fellows out there?"

He pointed in the direction where he had seen the mounted figures, feeling for his glass the while. 

"Not our men, " said Dickenson, following his example, and together theyproduced their glasses. 

"Oh yes, " said Lennox. "I am certain it was they. "

"And I'm as certain it was not, " cried Dickenson. 

Their eyes met again; but this time they felt too serious to laugh, andwere silent for some moments. 

Dickenson then said frankly:

"Look here, old chap, there's something wrong with us. We've got thenew complaint--the Robitis; and we'd better not argue about anything, orwe shall have a fight. My temper feels as if it had got all the skinoff. "

"And I'm as irritable as Roby was this morning. Never mind. Can youmake out the mounted men now?"

"No, " said Dickenson after a pause. "Can you?"

"No. They're gone behind that patch of forest. There, " he continued, closing his glass, "let's get up to the top and sit in the men'sshelter; there'll be a bit of air up there. "

He proved to be right, for a pleasant breeze, comparatively cool, wasblowing on the other side of the mountain and tempering the glare of thesunshine, while they found that there was a bit of shade behind aturret-like projection standing out of the granite, looking as if it hadbeen built up by human hands. 

There they sat and watched for hours, scanning the veldt, whichliterally quivered in the heat; but they looked in vain for any movementon the part of the enemy, who had been disturbed by the scouts, and atlast made up their minds to go down--truth to tell, moved by the samereason, the pangs of hunger asserting themselves in a way almost toopainful to be borne. 

"Let's go, " said Dickenson; "they've got right away in safety. Ibelieve the Boers are all asleep this hot day, and in the right of it:plenty to eat and nothing to do. "

"Yes, let's go. I'm longing for a long cool drink down below there. Pst! What's that?"

"One of the fellows round there by the gun, " said Dickenson. 

"No, " whispered Lennox decidedly; "it was close at hand. Did you hearit?"

"Yes. Sounded like the rock splitting in this fiery sunshine. "

"More like a piece falling somewhere inside--beneath our feet--and Idistinctly heard a soft, echoing rumble. "

"Come along down, old man, " said Dickenson. "It's too hot to be uphere, and if we stop any longer we shall have something worse than beinghungry--a bad touch of the sun. I feel quite ready to go off my headand imagine all sorts of things. For instance, there's a swimmingbefore my eyes which makes me fancy I can see puffs of smoke rising outyonder, and a singing and cracking in my ears like distant firing. "

"Where?" cried Lennox excitedly. "Yes, of course. I can see the puffsplainly, and hear the faint cracking of the fire. Bob, my lad, thenthat sharp sound we heard must have been the reverberation of a gun. "

"Oh dear!" groaned Dickenson. "Come along down, and let's get our headsin the cool stream and drink like fishes. "

"Don't be foolish! Get out your glass. "

"To drink with?"

"No! Absurd! To watch the firing. "

"There is no firing, man, " cried Dickenson. 

"There is, I tell you. "

"Oh, he has got it too, " groaned Dickenson. "Very well; all right--there is fighting going on out there a couple of miles away, and I cansee the smoke and hear the cracking of the rifles. But come on down andlet's have a drink of water all the same; there's plenty of that. "

"You're saying that to humour me, " said Lennox, with his glass to hiseyes; "but I'm not half-delirious from sunstroke. Get out your glassand look. The Boers are coming on in a long extended line, and theymust be driving in our scouts. "

"You don't mean it, do you, old chap?" cried Dickenson, dragging out hisglass. 

"Yes; there's no mistake about it. "

_Crack_! went a rifle from behind the projection, a few yards away; anddirectly after, as the two officers began scurrying down, the bugleswere ringing out in the market-square, and the colonel gave his ordersfor supports to go out, check the Boer advance, and bring the scoutingparty or parties in. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

SOMETHING IN THE HEAD. 

It was a narrow escape, but the nine men got safely back to quarters, but minus two of their horses. For the Boers had in every case beenwell upon the alert; their lines had not been pierced, and they followedup the retreating scouts till the searching fire from the kopje began totell upon their long line of skirmishers, and then they sullenly drewback, but not before they had learnt that there were marksmen in theregiment at Groenfontein as well as in their own ranks. 

"That's something, Drew, " said Dickenson as he watched the slow movementof a light wagon drawn by mules. "But only to think of it: all thattrouble for nothing--worse than nothing, for they have shot those twohorses. Yes, worse than nothing, " he continued, "for they would havebeen something for the pot. "

Each of the scouting parties gave the same account of the state ofaffairs; that is to say, that though to all appearances the countryround was clear of the enemy, a keen watch was being kept up, and, turnwhich way they would, Boers were ready to spring up in the mostunexpected places to arrest their course and render it impossible toreach supplies and bring them in. 

Their report cast a damp on the whole camp. For bad news travels fast, and this was soon known. 

"Sounds bad, " said Dickenson cheerfully, "and just like them. They arenot going to run their heads into danger unless obliged. They mean tolie low and wait for us, then turn us back to starve and surrender. "

"And they'll find that we shall take a great deal of starving first, "replied Lennox bitterly. "But I don't agree with you altogether. Ifully expect that, in spite of their failure to blow us up, it will notbe long before they contrive something else. "

"Well, we shall not quarrel about that, old man, " said Dickensoncheerily. "If they do come on in some attack, every one here will bedelighted to see them. We should enjoy a good honest fight. What Idon't like is this going on shrinking and pulling the tongue fartherthrough the buckle. If it goes on like this much longer I shall have togo to our saddler to punch a few more holes in my belt. I say, though, one feels better after that draught of water. I believe if I had stayedup yonder much longer I should have gone quite off my head, throughfancying things, for it was only imagination after all. "

A fresh company occupied the kopje that evening, and once more perfectsilence reigned. There was one of the glorious displays of stars seenso often in those clear latitudes, when the great dome of heaven seemsto be one mass of sparkling, encrusted gems. 

Lennox had been standing outside his quarters for some time, enjoyingthe coolness, and shrinking from going in to where the hut was hot andstuffy and smelling strongly of the now extinguished paraffin-lamp, mingled with a dash of the burned tobacco in Dickenson's pipe. 

"I say, " said the latter, "hadn't you better come in and perch? Nothinglike making your hay when the sun shines, and getting your forty winkswhile you can. "

"Quite right, " replied Lennox in a low, dreamy voice; "but it's verypleasant out here. "

"That's true enough, no doubt, old man; but you'll be on duty to-morrownight out yonder, and you can go on star-gazing then. Yah! Oh--oh dearme, how sleepy I do feel!" he continued, yawning. "I'll bet a pennythat I don't dream once. Regularly worn out, that's how I am. There, good-night if you won't come and lie down. I shall just allow myselfhalf a--Oh, hang it! I do call that too bad!"

For ere he could finish his sentence a rifle cracked somewhere near thetop of the kopje, followed by another and another; the bugles rang out, and from the continued firing it seemed evident that the Boers weregoing against their ordinary custom and making a night attack. 

If they did, though, they were to find the camp ready for them, everyman and officer springing to his place and waiting for orders--thosegiven to Captain Roby being, as his men were so familiar with the spot, to take half a company and reinforce the detachment on the kopje. 

They found that the firing had completely ceased by the time they werehalf-way up, and upon joining the officer in command there, to CaptainRoby's great satisfaction, he found a similar scene being enacted tothat which had taken place before him. 

"Another false alarm, Roby, " the officer said angrily. "Your fellowsstarted the cock-and-bull nonsense, and it has become catching. Thesentry here declares he saw a couple of figures coming down in thedarkness, and he fired. The idiot! There is nothing, of course, andthe colonel shall make an example of him. "

Lennox was standing close up to the offender, and in spite of thedarkness could make out that the man was shivering. 

"Come, come, " said the young officer in a half-whisper; "don't go onlike that. You fancy you saw something?"

"I'm sure I did, sir, " replied the sentry, grateful for a kind wordafter the severe bullying he had received for doing what he believed tobe his duty. "I saw two of them, as plain as I can see you now. I wasregularly took aback, sir, for I hadn't heard a sound; but as soon as Ifired I could hear them rush off. "

"You feel certain?"

"Yes, sir; and the captain says it was all fancy. If it was, sir, Iknow--"

"Know what?" said Lennox, impressed by the man's manner. "Speak out. "

"Oh, I know, sir, " said the man again, with a shudder. 

"Well, speak out; don't be afraid. "

"Enough to make any man feel afraid, sir, " half whimpered the man. "Idon't mind going into action, sir. I've shown afore now as I'd followmy officers anywhere. "

"Of course you would, my lad, " said Lennox, patting the young fellowencouragingly on the shoulder, for he could see that he was sufferingfrom a shock, and, doubtless from abstinence and weakness, washalf-hysterical. 

"It's bad enough, sir, to be posted in the darkness upon a shelf likethat over there, expecting every moment to get a bullet in you; but whenit comes to anything like this, it makes a fellow feel like a coward. "

"Who said coward?" said Dickenson, who had followed his companion andnow came up. 

"I did, sir, " said the man through his chattering teeth. 

"Where is he?" said Dickenson. "I should like to look at him. Ihaven't seen one lately. "

"Here he is, sir, " said the poor fellow, growing more agitated; "it'sme. "

"Get out!" cried Dickenson good-humouredly. "You're not a coward. There isn't such a thing in the regiment. "

"Oh yes, there is, sir, " whimpered the man. "It's all right, sir. I'mthe chap: look at me. "

"Stop a moment, " said Lennox quickly; "aren't you one of the men whohave been in the infirmary?"

"Yes, sir. This is the first time I've been on duty since. "

"What was the matter with you?"

"Doctor said it was all on account of weakness, sir, but that I shouldbe better back in the fresh air--in the ranks. "

"And you feel weak now?"

"Yes, sir; horrid. I'm ashamed of myself for being such a coward. ButI know now. "

"Well, what do you know?" asked Lennox, more for the sake of calming theman than from curiosity. 

"I thought I was going to get all right again and see the war through, if I didn't get an unlucky ball; but it's all over now. I've seen 'em, and it's a fetch. "

"A what?" cried Dickenson, laughing. 

"Don't laugh, sir, please;" said the man imploringly. "It's too awful. I see 'em as plain as I see you two gentlemen standing there. "

"And who were they?" continued Dickenson; "the brothers Fetch?"

"No, sir; two old comrades of mine who 'listed down Plymouth way when Idid. We used to be in the same football team. They both got it atMagersfontein, and they've come to tell me it's going to be my turnnow. "

"Bah!" growled Dickenson. "Did they say so?"

"No, sir; they didn't speak, " said the man, shivering; "but there theywere. I knew Tom Longford by his big short beard, and the other musthave been Mike Lamb. "

"Oh, here you are, " said the captain of the company. "You can go backto quarters, and be ready to appear before the colonel in the morning. "

"One moment, Captain Edwards, " said Lennox gravely. "You'll excuse mefor speaking. This man is only just off the sick list; he is evidentlyvery ill. "

"Oh yes, I know that, Mr Lennox, " said the officer coldly; "he has avery bad complaint for a soldier. Look at him. Has he told you that hehas seen a couple of ghosts?"

"Yes. He is weak from sickness and fasting, and imagined all that; butI feel perfectly certain that he has seen some one prowling about here. "

"Ghosts?" said the captain mockingly. 

"No; spies. "

"Psh! It's a disease the men have got. Fancy. Every fellow on dutywill be seeing the same thing now. There, that's enough of it. "

"Look out!" cried Lennox angrily; and then in the same breath, "What'sthat?"

For there was a sharp, grating sound as of stone against stone, and thensilence. 

"Stand fast, every man, " cried Lennox excitedly, seizing his revolverand looking along the broad, rugged shelf upon which they stood in thedirection from which the sound had come. 

"A lantern here, " cried the captain as a sharp movement was heard, andhalf-a-dozen men at a word from their officer doubled along the shelffor a couple of dozen yards and then stood fast, while the other end ofthe path was blocked in the same way. 

Lennox's heart was beating hard with excitement, and he started as hefelt Dickenson grip his arm firmly. 

Then all stood fast, listening, as they waited for the lantern to bebrought. Quite ten minutes of painful silence elapsed before a coupleof dim lights were seen approaching, the bearers having to come downfrom the gun-platform; and when the two non-commissioned officers whobore them approached, and in obedience to orders held them up, theydisplayed nothing but swarthy, eager-looking faces, and the piled-uprugged and weathered rocks on one side, the black darkness on the other. 

"Come this way, sergeant, " said Captain Edwards, and he, as officer incommand of the detachment that night, led on, followed closely byCaptain Roby and the two subalterns. 

They went along in perfect silence, the lanterns here being alternatelyheld up and down so that the rugged shelf and the piled-up masses ofrock which formed the nearly perpendicular side of the kopje in thatpart might be carefully examined. 

This was done twice over, the party passing each time where their menwere blocking the ends of the shelf which had been selected for one ofthe posts. 

"It's strange, " said Captain Roby at last. "I can see no loose stone. "

"No, " said Captain Edwards. "It was just as if a good-sized block hadslipped down from above. Let's have another look. "

This was done, with no better result, and once more the party stood fastin the dim light, gazing in a puzzled way. 

"Can any one suggest anything?" said Captain Roby. 

There was silence for a few moments, and then Lennox caught hold ofDickenson's arm and gave it a meaning pressure as he turned to the twocaptains, who were close together. 

"I have an idea, " he whispered. "Give the orders loudly for the men tomarch off. Take them round to the south, and wait. "

"What for?" said Captain Roby snappishly. 

"I should like Dickenson and me to be left behind. I'll fire if thereis anything. "

"Oh, rubbish!" said Captain Roby contemptuously. 

"No, " said his brother officer quietly. "It is worth trying. " Thenturning to the two sergeants who bore the lanterns, he said, "When I sayput out those lights, don't do it; cover them sharply with greatcoats. "

Directly after he gave his first order, when the lanterns rattled, andall was dark. 

Then followed the next orders, and tramp! tramp! tramp! the men marchedaway like a relieving guard, Lennox and Dickenson standing fast withtheir backs leaning against the rugged wall of rock, perfectlymotionless in the black darkness, and looking outward and down at thefaint light or two visible below in the camp. 

As they drew back against the rock Lennox felt for his companion's hand, which gripped his directly, and so they stood waiting. 

To them the silence seemed quite appalling, for they felt as if theywere on the eve of some discovery--what, neither could have said; butupon comparing notes afterwards each said he felt convinced thatsomething was about to happen, but paradoxically, at the same time, asif it never would; and when a quarter of an hour must have passed, theexcitement grew more intense, as the pressure of their hot, wet handstold, for they felt then that whatever was about to happen must befallthem then, if they were not interrupted by the return of their officers. 

Each tried to telegraph to his companion the intensity of feeling fromwhich he suffered, and after a fashion one did communicate to the othersomething of his sensations. 

But nothing came to break the intense silence, and they stood withstrained ears, now gazing up at the glittering stars, and now downthrough the darkness at the two feeble lights that they felt must bethose outside the colonel's quarters in the market-square. 

"I don't know how it was, " said Lennox afterwards, "but just at the lastI began somehow to think of being at the back of the colonel's hut thatnight just after Sergeant James had put out the light upon discoveringthe train. "

"I felt that if the business went on much longer, something--some of mystrings that were all on the strain--would crack, " interruptedDickenson. 

"Yes, " said Lennox; "I felt so too. "

And this was how he was feeling--strained--till something seemed to beurging him to cry out or move in the midst of that intense period, whenall at once he turned cold all down the back, for a long-drawn, dismal, howling wail rose in the distance, making him shudder just as he hadseen the sentry quiver in his horror and dread. 

"Bah! Hyena, " he said to himself the next moment; and then a thrill ranthrough him as he felt Dickenson's grip increase suddenly with quite apainful pressure. 

He responded to it directly, every nerve in his body quivering with thegreater strain placed upon it by what was happening, till every nerveand muscle seemed to harden into steel. For the long expected--whateverit might prove to be--the mystery was about to unfold itself, and in hisintense feeling it seemed to Lennox as if the glittering stars wereflashing out more light. 

It was only a noise, but a noise such as Lennox felt that he must hear--a low, dull, harsh, grating noise as of stone passing over stone; andthough he could see nothing with his eyes, mentally he knew that one ofthe great time-bleached and weathered blocks of granite that helped toform the cyclopean face of the kopje wall had begun to turn as on apivot. 

This grating sound lasted for a few seconds only, and it came apparentlyfrom a couple of yards away to his right, as he stood with his backpressed against the rugged natural stones. 

Then the noise ceased as suddenly as it had begun, and he listened, nowholding his breath in the vain hope that it would silence the heavy, dull beating of his heart, whose throbs seemed to echo painfully in hisbrain. 

He pressed Dickenson's hand again, to feel from the return grip howthoroughly his comrade was on the alert. 

Then all was perfectly silent again, while a dull feeling of despairbegan to assert itself as he felt that they were going to hear no more. 

At last, with head wrenched round to the right, his revolver feeling wetin his fingers and his eyes seeming to start with the strain of gazingalong the shelf at the brilliant stars before him, his nerves literallyjerked and he felt perfectly paralysed and unable to stir, for here, notsix feet away, he could make out against the starry sky the dimly-markedsilhouette of a heavily-built man. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

A STRANGE FIND. 

It seemed to Drew Lennox that he was staring helplessly at the darkshadowy shape for quite a minute--but it was only a matter of a fewseconds--before, snatching his left hand from his companion's grasp, helet his revolver drop to the full extent of its lanyard, and sprangopen-handed at the man. 

The movement warned the latter of his danger, and turning sharply roundfrom where he was watching the direction taken by the detachment, hemade a desperate effort to catch the young officer by the throat. 

But Lennox was springing at him, and the weight of his impact drove theman back for a yard or two; but he recovered himself, got a grip, andthen a desperate struggle commenced at the edge of the rugged shelf ofrock just where the kopje went down for some fifty feet almostperpendicularly, while a pile of heaped-up fragments which had lodgedafter falling from above stood out ready to receive the unfortunate whofell. 

Neither spoke as they gripped, but stood panting heavily as if gatheringbreath for the terrible struggle that threatened death to one if notboth combatants. They were not well matched. Lennox seemed to beslightly the taller, but he was young, slight, and not fully knit; whilehis adversary was broad-shouldered, and possessed limbs that wereheavily coated with hardened muscles, so that in spite of the weightbrought to bear in the young officer's sprint he recovered himself wherea weaker man must have been driven backward to the ground. 

Dickenson sprang forward to his comrade's help, but stopped short as herealised that in that narrow space there was only room for a strugglebetween two, and by interfering he would be more likely to hinder hisfriend than help. Hence it was that he stood waiting for hisopportunity, listening to the hoarse breathing of the wrestlers andwatching the faintly seen struggle--for capture on the one part, forridding himself of his adversary by pushing him off the shelf on theother. 

In a very few moments Lennox had recognised the fact that he wasovermatched; but this only roused the stubborn bull-dog nature of theyoung Englishman, and setting his teeth hard, he brought to bear everyfeint and manoeuvre he had learnt at his old Devon school, wherewrestling was popular, and in the struggles of the football field. 

But all in vain: his adversary was far too heavy for him, and, to hisrage and discomfiture, in spite of all his efforts he found one greatarm tightening about his ribs with crushing pressure, while the man wasbending down to lift him from the shelf, evidently to hurl him off intospace. 

The position was desperate, and in its brief moments Lennox did all thatwas in his power, tightening his grasp in the desperate resolve that ifso savage a plan was carried out he would not go alone. 

It might have been supposed that in his emergency-he would have calledto Dickenson for help, but the fact was that his adversary so filled histhoughts that there was no room for his comrade's presence, and hestruggled on, straining every muscle and nerve. 

But, to repeat the previous assertion, he was completely overmatched bya desperate man; and, unless Dickenson could have interfered and savedhim, Lennox's fate was to be thrown from the rocky ledge out into theblack shadowy air, to fall heavily, crushed and broken, upon the stonesbelow. 

But fate favoured him at the last pinch, for as his enemy by sheerweight and pressure bore him back and then lifted him from the shelfpreparatory to hurling him outward, Lennox suddenly gave up resisting, loosening his grasp so as to take fast hold round his enemy's neck, whenthe sudden cessation of resistance had the effect of throwing the latteroff his balance just when he was very near the edge where he intended toplant his foot down and check his farther progress. The result was thathe put his foot down a few inches too far, his heel pressing down uponthe rock where his toes should have been, and before he could recoverhimself his foot was down over the side, while by a frantic wrenchLennox flung himself sidewise inward. 

They fell sidewise upon the shelf, Lennox uppermost, his enemy half overthe edge and gliding rapidly down, his weight drawing his adversaryafter him slowly, inch by inch, for the hitter's position debarred hismaking any successful effort to escape. For the enemy not only had himtightly clasped, but, feeling his disadvantage, had wrenched his faceround so that he could savagely seize hold of the young officer's khakijacket with his teeth. And there he hung on, doubtless intending tospeak and declare that if he was to fall his enemy should share hisfate. But no coherent words were uttered; nothing was to be made outbut a savage growling as of some fierce wild beast. 

The action took less time than the telling, and, fortunately for all, now was Dickenson's opportunity. 

The darkness had prevented his seeing the whole of the varying phases ofthe struggle; but the latter part was plain enough, and fully graspingthe position and the emergency of the case, he sprang upon thecontending couple just at the right moment, adding his weight, whichfrom his position of vantage completely checked the gradual glidingmovement in which Lennox was being drawn onward to his death. 

"Give up, you brute!" roared Dickenson now. "Surrender!"

For response the prostrate man, who was vainly striving to find footholdbelow the edge of the shelf, let go with one hand and quick as thoughtflung it over the speaker so that he got hold tightly by the tunic, growling fiercely the while. 

"Yah! That's flesh!" roared Dickenson, and in his rage and pain hestruck down heavily with his doubled fist. "You brute!" he cried. "Give up, or I'll shove you down. "

The prisoner gave up struggling for a moment or two, and seemed to betrying to get a hold of some projecting stone. 

"There, " cried Dickenson, "let go. Give up; you're a prisoner. Leaveoff struggling, and I'll haul you back on to the shelf. It's no good tofight any more. That's right. You surrender, then? Mind, if you tryany of your confounded Boer treachery I'll send a bullet through yourskull. "

_Crack_!

"Oh!"

The shot from a revolver, and a cry of pain from Dickenson, who at thesame moment realised the fact that the prisoner's last movements hadmeant not giving up or getting a safer position on the ledge, but aneffort to get at his revolver and fire at so close quarters that thecondensed flame from the pistol's muzzle burned the young man's cheek, the bullet barely touching the skin as it flew off into space. 

"Beast!" cried Dickenson savagely, and he struck wildly at the revolveras it was fired again, and fortunately diverted the clumsy attempt at anaim, but at the expense of his knuckles, two of which were cut againstthe chambers of the revolver. 

As he uttered the word the young officer was recalling the fact thatthis made two shots, and he felt that in all probability there were fourmore to come. His hand was busy as well as his head, for he struck outagain and again in an effort to get hold of the pistol; but he could notprevent the firing of another shot, which struck the rock beside himwith a loud pat. 

"Ha!" cried Dickenson in a tone full of satisfaction; "got you!" Forhis efforts in the darkness had been at last rewarded by his fingerscoming in contact with the barrel of the little weapon, which he claspedtightly and held on to, in spite of jerk and snatch, feeling the barrelheat as it was fired again, and again, and again, but with the muzzleforced upward so that the bullets flew harmlessly away. 

"That's better, " growled Dickenson. "Now, you spiteful savage, will yougive up--will you surrender?"

A savage growling was the only answer. 

"You brute!" muttered Dickenson. "'Pon my word, if it wasn't for poorold Drew I believe I should let you go over, and see how you likedthat. --Here, Drew, " he cried aloud, "how is it? What are you doing?"

"Holding his left hand down. He has got hold of my revolver. "

"Bless him for a beauty! Can you stop him?"

"I don't know yet; I'm so awkwardly situated. Can you keep us fromgoing over?"

"Oh yes, I can do that. Here, I've got at my six-shooter now; holdstill, and I'll put something through his head. "

"No, no; we must take him alive, " cried Lennox. 

"It's all very fine, but he's going to take us dead. Better let mecripple him. Shall I light a match?"

"No, no. I've got tight hold of his wrist now, so that he can't use myrevolver. Ha! Look out!"

"I shall have to shoot him, " cried Dickenson; for, foiled in his effortto get hold of the fresh weapon, the man began to struggle againfiercely, heaving himself up and wrenching himself to right and left ina way that threatened to result in the whole party going over into theblack gulf below. 

Lennox uttered another warning cry. 

"Take care?" growled Dickenson. "Who's to take care in the dark? Here, tell the brute in Dutch that if he doesn't give up I'll send a bulletthrough his head. He doesn't seem to understand plain English. "

"Yes, he does, for he spoke in English just now. "

This was too true, for just then the prisoner suddenly yelled out, "Dirck! Dirck! Help! The cursed rooineks have got me down. "

"Oho! Then there are more than one of you, my beauty!" cried Dickenson. "Now then, this is a gag; hold still or I'll pull the trigger. "

There was a clinking sound caused by the rattling of the desperateprisoner's teeth against the barrel of the pistol which Dickenson thrustinto his mouth just as he was about to speak. But he wrenched his headround and began to struggle again so desperately that Lennox's tempergot the upper hand and he began to grow merciless to a degree thattempted him to bid his comrade fire. 

"Look here, " roared Dickenson at the same moment, "I've had enough ofthis, my fine fellow. Surrender, or I'll fire without mercy. "

"Ha!" ejaculated Lennox in a sigh of relief, for those six shots had notbeen fired in vain. The prisoner had unconsciously summoned assistanceto complete his capture, and Lennox's sigh had been produced by thesight of a flash of light and the sound of hurrying feet, the twosergeants with their lanterns reaching the spot first, closely followedby the officers and men, who gazed down in wonder at the human knotcomposed of the wondrously tied up three lying at the edge of theprecipice. 

"Come on, " shouted Dickenson. "We've caught the ghost. Don't let himgo. "

"Here, hold these, some one, " cried Sergeant James, and as soon as hehad got rid of his lantern he made fast, as a sailor would say, to theprisoner and held on; while, to use his words, his mate pulled out theprisoner's stings, for he had three--two revolvers (one of coursedischarged) and a keen-bladed sheath-knife, something like an Americanbowie. 

Five minutes later the light of the held-up lanterns fell upon afierce-looking, much bruised and battered, black-bearded Boer, lyingupon the rocky shelf, tied hand and foot, his face so smeared anddisfigured by blood that it acted like a mask. 

"Carry him down at once, " said Captain Roby; "he is evidently badlywounded. "

"Not he, " growled Dickenson savagely. "He hurt me more than I hurt him. He used pistol; I only used fist and punched him in the nose. "

Sergeant James smiled grimly, and drawing a roll of bandage from hiswallet, tore off a bit and wiped the blood from the prisoner's face. 

"Hullo!" he cried. --"Hooray, Captain Roby, sir! This is our Boer friendwho tried to blow us up. "

Lennox stopped forward eagerly, and signed for the lantern to belowered. 

"Yes, " he cried wonderingly; "that is the man. "

"And no mistake, " said Dickenson. "Come, I call this a good catch. "

The other officers looked down at the dark eyes scowling up at them. 

"Yes, " he growled fiercely, "I am the man; and I'll do it yet. "

"Perhaps your precious game may be stopped now, my good fellow, " saidCaptain Roby meaningly. 

"Yes, " said Captain Edwards sternly. "You were treated well andgenerously the first time; this time you may find that the Englishofficers can be stern as well as generous to a beaten enemy. --Well, Captain Roby, " he continued, "there was no mistake, you see, about thealarm. "

"So I see, " said the latter officer coldly. 

"The thing is, what was he doing here?"

"Playing the spy, or hiding and waiting for a chance to get away, Isuppose. "

"Well, you will take him down with you, and report to the colonel, " saidCaptain Edwards. 

"Stop a bit, " cried Dickenson. "You haven't got the other. "

"What other?" cried the two captains in a breath. 

"This fellow's comrade. "

"Has he one?"

"You heard what the private said about seeing two, " cried Dickenson. 

"Oh, the words of a man in a scare go for nothing, " said Captain Robycontemptuously. 

"Perhaps not; but this fellow was in no scare when he called for hiscompanion--Dirck, did he call him, Lennox?"

"Yes, Dirck; and he must be somewhere close at hand. Look, Bob. "

He touched his comrade's arm to draw his attention to the sneering smileon the prisoner's face. 

"And where do you think his friend is?" said Captain Edwards. 

"In the same place as this man came from. They have a hiding-placesomewhere close by. "

"Yes, " cried Dickenson; "one that enables them to play a regularJack-in-the-box trick. "

"But how? Where?" said Captain Edwards. 

"I don't know how, and I don't know where it is, " replied Lennox; "but Ido know that they have a hiding-place somewhere here amongst the rocks. This Boer was not here one minute; then we heard the creaking andgrinding of a stone door close at hand, and he was standing out againstthe sky. "

"Whereabouts?" said Captain Roby. 

"About here, " said Lennox, stepping to the rock close at hand. --"Bringthe lantern, quick. "

Sergeant James stepped forward with his and held it up for his officer, who began to examine the rock; but Dickenson paid no heed. He employedhimself in watching the prostrate Boer attentively, and noticed that hiseyes were being blinked violently, as if the man were in a great stateof excitement. But he seemed to calm down rapidly as the youngsubaltern walked to and fro, holding the light up, then down, and alwayscoming back to the starting-place. 

"Well, can't you find it?" said Captain Roby, with a sneer. 

"No, " replied Lennox frankly. "I can see no signs of it. "

"And are not likely to, " replied Captain Roby, with a grunt indicativeof the contempt he felt. "It's all absurd. What did you expect tofind? A hidden Aladdin's cave, with genii keeping the door?--Here, Dickenson, you are a gentleman of fine imagination. Go and help him. Expand your lungs, and cry _Open Sesame_!"

"Why don't you, " said Dickenson, "as you know Persian, or whatever itis, so well?"

Captain Roby was about to make an angry retort, but Captain Edwards nowinterfered. 

"I don't think there is any hiding-place along here, " he said. "Theremay be a rift or cave somewhere about the kopje, but certainly theredoes not seem to be one in this part. "

"I am not satisfied, " said Lennox, who was busy still directing thelight in and out among the crevices of the rocks. "It hardly seemspossible, but the natural form of the granite is in blocks which look asif they had been piled-up by the hand of man. Could any one of these bea rough door?"

"No; absurd, " said Captain Roby. "There, we have captured our prisoner;let's get him down to the colonel. "

"But what about his calling for Dirck to help him?" said Lennox eagerly. 

"I did not hear him call for Dirck to help him, " said Robycontemptuously. 

"No, but we did, " cried Lennox, as he went on tapping the granite blockswith the butt of his revolver, curiously watched the while by theprisoner, who was in complete ignorance of the fact that Dickenson, whostood half behind, was intently watching him in turn. 

"Give it up, Lennox, " said Captain Roby. "You are doing no good there. "

"Burning!" cried Dickenson so suddenly that every one turned and stared. 

"What is burning?" cried Captain Edwards. 

"Drew Lennox is. "

"Burning?"

"Hang it all, sir! have you forgotten all your childish games?" criedDickenson impatiently. "`Hot boiled beans, ' you know. Lennox isseeking, and he's burning. "

"Am I?" cried Lennox excitedly, and the grim faces of the men thrown upby the lanterns grew eager and excited too. 

"To be sure you are, " said Dickenson. 

"How do you know?"

"By my lord the prisoner's phiz here. He gave quite a twitch when youtapped that last rock but one. "

"Ha!" cried Lennox; "then there is a way in here. I thought it soundedhollow. "

He stepped back and began to tap the rough stone again to prove hiswords, every one now noticing that the rock gave out a dull, hollowtone; while, unable to contain himself, the prisoner, as he lay tightlybound upon his back, uttered a low, hissing sound as he drew in a deepbreath. 

"Here we are, " cried Lennox, more excited than ever. "Sergeant, givesome one else that lantern; take a man with you up there by the gun, andbring back a crowbar or two, and one of the engineers' picks. "

The men went off at once, and while the party awaited their returnLennox went on examining the rough block of granite by which he stood, but looked in vain for any sign of hinge or fastening. 

"I hope you are right, Lennox, " said Captain Edwards, who had stepped tohis side; and he spoke in a low voice. 

"So do I, " was the reply; "but I feel sure that there is, for there mustbe a hiding-place somewhere. Wait a bit, and we shall capture theprisoner's mate. "

Lennox involuntarily glanced down at where the carefully bound Boer laywith the light shining full upon his eyes, and he could not repress astart as he saw the malignant flash that seemed to dart from them intohis own. It affected him so that he ceased his examination for themoment, waiting impatiently till the distant sound of steps announcedthe return of the sergeant and the man bearing the implements he hadsought. 

"Got the crowbar?" cried Lennox eagerly. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Then bring it here. Thrust it in under the stone at this naturalcrevice. "

"Why?" said Captain Roby sharply. --"Here, sergeant, try higher up. "

But before the words were fully uttered the sergeant had driven thechisel-edge of the iron bar into the horizontal crevice about on a levelwith his knees, with the result that the men cheered so loudly that theydrowned the angry curse which escaped the Boer's lips. For, to thesurprise of all, no sooner had the sergeant pressed down the wedged-inbar than it acted as a lever would, lifting one corner of the stone sothat it slipped away, the great block turning easily upon a centralpivot, and leaving an opening some four feet high and just wide enoughfor a man to pass through. 

"The light, sergeant. --Bayonets, my lads!" shouted Lennox, springingforward; but his cry was mingled with one from the prisoner, who yelledout:

"Fire, Dirck; fire! Never mind yourself; blow them all into the air. "

It was an order which was full of suggestion, coming as it did so soonafter the cowardly attempt to kill the colonel and his chief officers;but not a man shrank from the task before him, nor hesitated to take therisk, whatever it might be. Lennox was in first, closely followed bythe sergeant, lantern in his left hand, iron bar in his right, ready tostrike down the first man who resisted, while the light was directedhere and there in eager search for bag or barrel that might contain theelements of destruction. 

The lantern lit up one of the typical caverns of the country, so many ofwhich have been utilised for strongholds by the Matabele, Mashona, andother chiefs, and Lennox found himself in a rift of the stone which ranright up overhead, a vast crack which the light of the lantern was toofeeble to pierce, while away to the right ran a low-roofed passage, striking off almost at right angles, but only to _zigzag_ farther on anddie away in the darkness. 

"Bayonets, lads!" cried Lennox again; "the other man must be down here. "

"Look out!" cried Captain Roby, who was close behind. "Mind that openlantern there. Hi, sergeant! is there any sign of powder or dynamite?"

"No, sir, " cried the non-com sharply, as he held the lantern as high ashe could and made its light play in every direction. "All a bam toscare us, sir. No, no!" he yelled. "Keep back, every one. Up here, sir, in this hole. There's a bag that looks like those we found. Takethe lantern, Mr Lennox, sir. "

"No, " cried the young officer; "keep it, and light me. The other fellowcan't get away; we'll have him afterwards. Here we are, " he continued, reaching up to a niche and drawing out a powder-bag. "Will you have itpassed out, Mr Roby?"

"Yes: take hold, one of you. --Captain Edwards. "

"Here you are. "

"See that the powder-bag is put well out of the prisoner's reach. He isfast bound, but he might try to play us some trick. "

"Yes, all right, " said the captain; and then to the two men left onguard by the prisoner, "Keep a sharp eye on this man; don't let himstir. "

"No, sir, " was the reply; and then the order was given for the powder tobe guarded. 

As the captain returned it was to meet a man bearing out another bag, and he entered the cavern in time to see Lennox draw out another, andagain another, till eight had been dragged out of the place into whichthey had been packed and carried out into the open air. 

"Why, Lennox, man, " he said laughingly, "you handle those bags as ifthey were tea. Aren't you afraid that some of them will explode?"

"Not he, " said Dickenson, who was looking on and holding up the secondlantern. "No danger. I'm here. I've been watching so that heshouldn't light a cigarette. "

There was a titter from the men near, and Captain Roby criedimpatiently, "Why, there's enough to have blown the top off the kopjeand destroyed the big gun. "

"Thoroughly, I should say, wedged-in there as it was, " said Dickenson. "How much more is there, Lennox?"

"That's all, " was the reply. "No, no. There's a great rift here to theright, full too. "

"Hand it out, then, quickly, " said Captain Roby. "Be careful there withyour rifles; if a man lets his off by accident we shall all be blown toatoms. "

"They'll take care, " said Captain Edwards; "eh, my lads?"

"Rather, sir!" said the sergeant grimly; and all worked hard andcarefully avoided the lanterns, till Lennox announced that the secondrift had given out its last bag. 

"Yes, that's all, " he said; "but I want to know how they got it uphere. "

"They managed to get it up in the dark, " said Captain Roby. "There, youmay open a lantern now. Is there any sign of a train, Lennox?"

"Not the ghost of one. But I expect our friend meant to blow up the gunand do as much damage as he could besides. We were none too soon. Nowwhat about the other? he must be in here somewhere. Shall I lead on, sir?"

"Yes, " said Captain Roby sharply. "Take the sergeant with one lanternand ten men. I'll follow with the other lantern and ten more. You, Captain Edwards, keep a guard over the powder and the prisoner. Ofcourse your men will be ready to receive any one trying to escape afteravoiding our search. "

"Right, " was the answer; and sword in one hand, revolver in the other, Lennox and Dickenson began their advance into the maze-like cavern, closely followed by the sergeant holding the lantern well on high sothat its rays kept on flashing from the men's bayonets. 

"Keep your eyes well skinned, Drew, old chap, " whispered Dickenson, "andnever mind your revolver. You're sure to miss in a place like this. --You behind, lads. The bayonet, mind, whenever our friend here makes arush; he must be stopped. "

There was a low murmur of assent from the men, and then, with eyes andbayonets gleaming strangely in the dancing light, the party movedsteadily on into the weird darkness of the cave. 

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

THE PLOT THAT FAILED. 

The searchers' way was now a narrow crack such as might have been formedby some mighty convulsion of nature which tore apart a gigantic mass ofstone, the fracture running here and there where veins of some softermaterial had yielded, to be separated sometimes only two or three feet, and at others opening out to form rugged chambers as much as twenty feetin extent, whose roofs ran up so high, that the dim light from thelanterns failed to reach them. Here and there were niches and creviceswhich were carefully searched in the expectation of their proving to behiding-places; but the men, who forced their way in without hesitation, failed to obtain any result. 

Upon reaching one which seemed to be the deepest, Dickenson, who wasfirst to notice it, paused to shout, "Now, Dirck, old chap, come out andsurrender before we fire. "

"No, no, " cried Lennox; "how do we know but what there may be quite astore of powder farther in?"

"But it looks such an awkward place, " said Dickenson. "A fellow with abayonet might keep a regiment at bay. "

"Yes, " said Lennox coolly; "it looks awkward, but come on. "

As he spoke he pushed by, sword in hand, and began to explore thesuspicious-looking rift. 

"Oh, come; play fair, " cried Dickenson. "I was first. "

"Come along, " said Lennox, with his voice sounding smothered. 

"Oh, very well, " grumbled Dickenson. "Bring the lantern, sergeant. Wemay as well see ourselves skewered. "

He plunged in hastily, closely followed by the lantern-bearer, and as itseemed to be an extremely likely hiding-place, the rest of the partywere halted ready to give assistance. But at the end of a minute thelantern had shown that it was a blind lead, and the explorers hurriedback, and the advance was continued through narrow crack and roughopening, till the lights threw up the blank stone where the riftsuddenly contracted. 

"Why, here's the end of the cave!" cried Captain Roby. "We must havepassed him somewhere. "

"Then he is hiding somewhere high up on a shelf by the roof. "

"No, no; look here, " cried Lennox, stepping in advance. "Lantern--quick!"

Sergeant James stepped forward to where the young lieutenant wasstanding by a rough opening in the floor of the cavern, and upon thelight being directed downward, to the surprise of all, the rugged branchof a small tree could be seen lowered down into a sloping position, withits boughs cut short off to form rough steps, their regularitysuggesting that they were near akin in their growth to those of a fir, and affording good foot and hand hold to any one wishing to descend. 

"We're on his track, sure enough, " said Lennox, letting his blade hangfrom his wrist by the sword-knot, and beginning to descend quickly, thesergeant with the light closely following. 

The next minute the leaders of the party were in a wide and spaciouschamber, fairly level as to its floor, with the sides running intorugged niches and holes, all of which were well searched, without avail, a couple of men being left, sentry-like, at one which ran down like asloping passage into some lower place. 

Along this, as soon as the big chamber had proved to be empty, Lennoxhurried. The descent was very steep and rugged, and necessitated hislowering himself down by his hands in two or three places, till a lowerstory, so to speak, was reached, in the shape of a vast chamber of themost irregular form, the whole party assembling about the entrance, where the lights were held-up, to show dimly what seemed to be huge, rounded lumps placed here and there upon heaps of broken stones orblocks which had fallen from the roof some ten or a dozen feet overhead, while at one end the top of the cave sloped down to join the risingfloor. 

"This seems to be the bottom of the cave, " said Captain Roby. "Now, sharp, my lads. Keep that way out safe. "

"Which?" said Dickenson. "Here's another hole in the floor. Lanternhere. Yes, there's another private staircase with a flight of stepsready. This ought to be the well. Yes; come and listen. You can hearwater rushing. "

Sure enough, as they bent over the gloomy, mysterious-looking hole, upwhich a cool, moist breath of air arose, they could hear the gurglingrush of hurrying water, while the light held down showed the rugged barkof another tree ready for descent. 

"Will you go down, Lennox?" said the captain. 

"Oh yes, I'll go down, " was the reply. 

"Well, undress, " said Dickenson banteringly. "It means a swim. Don'tspoil your neat uniform. "

"Will you go?" asked Lennox sharply. 

"Oh yes, I'll go, " said Dickenson. 

"Thank you, " replied Lennox through his set teeth. --"Here, sergeant, give me the lantern. "

Catching it from the man, he planted his foot upon the first branchstump a foot below the edge of the yawning hole; but the moment hetouched it a violent jerk was given to the tree-trunk, just as if it hadbeen seized by some one below and wrenched round. 

Lennox's position was so insecure, with one hand holding the lantern, that he was thrown off his balance, and he would have fallen headlongdown but for the snatch he made at the sergeant, who also caught at him, slipped, and the two were nearly precipitated down the horrible place atthe bottom of which the water was rushing with a hollow, echoing, whispering sound. 

The tree saved them, the sergeant getting a firm hold; but between themthe light of the lantern was shut off, hidden between the two men forthe moment, and an attempt was made by Dickenson to reach and drag itup. 

"I've got it, " he cried. "Let it come. No, I haven't; mind. "

For it had slipped through his fingers, and it went clattering down therough, well-like place, striking against one of the projecting stumps ofthe tree-trunk, which turned it right over and threw it with an echoingcrash against the wall, lit it up for a moment, and then the flamewithin was extinguished. 

"Yah!" roared Captain Roby as the place was plunged into absolutedarkness. "Here, bring up the other lantern. "

There was silence, broken by panting and scuffling as of two men engagedin a struggle. 

Then Sergeant James said hoarsely, "All right, sir?"

"Yes, " panted Lennox, "but I thought I was gone. "

"Who has got that other lantern?" asked the captain. 

"It went out, sir, " came in a husky tone from its bearer. 

"Bah!" exclaimed Captain Roby. "Here, two of you make your way back tothe top; be smart, and bring two more lanterns. "

There was a low, hissing sound as of men all drawing in a deep breath atthe same time, and before the captain could repeat his command apeculiar sound came up the hole. 

"Look out!" cried Lennox. "Bayonets here! Some one is coming up. "

Sergeant James sank upon his knees in the darkness, felt about for theedge of the hole, and then leaning over, seized hold of the tree-trunk, and whispered, "Some one's trying to drag it down, sir. " Then in astentorian voice: "Ahoy there! Fire straight down, my lads!"

There was a final jerk given to the trunk, next a grating and scratchingsound against the wall, and then a rushing noise caused by thedislodging of a stone which fell with a crash, sending echoes repeatingthemselves far below, and after what seemed to be a measurable space oftime there was a dull _plosh_ as the stone plunged into water. 

"Well, " said Dickenson, breaking the silence as all about him stoodbreathlessly listening for the next sound, "I'm rather glad that wasn'tI. "

"Attention!" cried Captain Roby angrily as two or three of the men burstinto a half-smothered guffaw. "Who has a match?"

"I have, " said Dickenson, striking a wax vesta as he spoke, the brightflash being followed by the feeble little taper flame; "but it's nearlythe last. Bring that lantern here. "

There was a quick response, the bearer opening the door with fumblingfingers, and as he held the rapidly burning-down match Dickenson drewthe pricker from his belt, held the light close, and began to operate onthe wick of the little lamp inside the lantern. 

"Only slipped down, " he said. "Wick was too small. Hold the lanternstill, man. That's better. I shall get it up directly. "

The scratching of the sharp steel point sounded quite loudly on thesocket of the lamp as the wick kept eluding the efforts made, and thefaint light threw up the grim faces around in a strangely weird way, while not another sound was heard but the hissing rush of the water farbelow, till suddenly there was a sharp bang, the lantern was nearlyknocked out of its holder's hand, and Dickenson yelled, "Oh Gemini!"

They were in utter darkness once more. 

"Bah!" cried Roby. "How careless!"

"Burned down to my fingers, " said Dickenson coolly out of the blackdarkness. "Do you know, I don't believe a bullet going into you hurts abit more than being burned like that. "

"For goodness' sake strike another match, Mr Dickenson, " cried thecaptain angrily. 

"Fumbling for it now, sir. Doesn't seem as if there are any more. Yes, here's one little joker hiding in a corner. Got him!"

_Scr-r-r-itch_! went the little match, and flashed into a bright flamewhich formed an arch in the air and disappeared down the yawning pit. 

"Why, you left go!" cried Captain Roby. 

"No wonder if I did, after burning my fingers so, " grumbled Dickenson;"but I didn't, for I've got the wax here. Top jumped off. "

Then there was a tinkling sound as he shook the little silver box heheld. 

"Hurrah!" he cried. "Here's one more. Ready with that lantern, mylad?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Take the lamp out and let me try if I can get the wick up with thepricker before I strike the match. "

The men's breathing could be heard as they stood, with every nerve onthe strain, listening to the scraping, scratching sound made in theexcitement and dread caused by the horrible darkness; for there was nota man present, from officer to the youngest private, who had much faiththat they would find the way back to the mouth of the cavern. 

"For goodness' sake mind you don't drop the match, Mr Dickenson, " saidthe captain suddenly. 

"Trust me, sir, " said Dickenson coolly. --"Ah, would you slip back intothe paraffin. Come out, " he continued, apostrophising the wick he waspricking at. "Phew! How nasty it makes one's fingers smell! Bravo!Got him at last. "

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated the captain impatiently. 

"Wait till I've opened the wick a little more. That's it! Here, whatam I to wipe my fingers on?"

"Oh, never mind your fingers, man, " cried Captain Roby. 

"But they're quite slippery, sir. "

"Rub 'em on my sleeve, sir, " growled Sergeant James. 

"Thankye, sergeant, but I've just polished them on my own. "

_Click! click_! went the lamp as it was thrust back into the lantern, and there was once more the sound of men drawing their breath hard--asound that was checked suddenly as the last match was heard to tinkle inthe silver box. 

"Got him!" said Dickenson audibly as he talked to himself. "Now then, ready with the lantern?" he said aloud. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Give me elbow-room, all of you. "

There was the sound of men shrinking back. 

"Now then, " said Dickenson, "here goes! I hope the head won't come offthis time. "

_Fuzz_! and directly after _fuzz_! but no light followed the rubbing ofthe match. 

"Why, it has got no head, " cried the striker in dismay, and at thisannouncement the men uttered a groan. "All right, " cried Dickensoncheerily. "I was rubbing its tail instead of the head. "

_Cr-r-r-r-r-r-ch_! went the match; there was a burst of flame, followedat a trifling interval by the steady glow of the tiny taper, and theyoung officer's fingers were lit up and seen to bear the flame to thelantern lamp, which caught at once and blazed up, when the door was shutwith a click, and the men exhaled their pent-up breath in a heartycheer. 

"Well done!" said Captain Roby. "Here, I'll lead now; or would you liketo continue what you began, Mr Lennox?"

The latter looked at him, and seemed to hesitate. 

"Oh, very well, " said Roby rather contemptuously. "I'll lead myself. "

"No, no; you misunderstood me, " cried Lennox as Dickenson turned uponhim wonderingly. "I want to go on. "

"I don't want to rob you of your chance, " said Roby. --"Here, MrDickenson, what two men went back to fetch those lights?"

"Corporal May and Channings tried to feel their way, sir, but they foundthe job hopeless. "

"But I gave orders. "

"Yes, sir, " said Dickenson; "but they could not find their way. "

"I'll speak about this later on, " said Roby. "Now then, Mr Lennox, areyou ready?"

"Yes, sir, " was the reply as the young officer stood waiting forSergeant James, who had slipped off his scarf, passed it through thehandle of the lantern, and was securing it to his waist. 

"Then forward!" cried Roby. 

"Better let me lead, sir, on account of the light, " half-whispered thesergeant; "then you can be ready to give point at any one who comes atme. "

"No, " said Lennox firmly; "I must lead. Leave your rifle, and followme, bayonet in hand. "

He stepped to the mouth of the pit, tried the ladder-like contrivance, found it fairly firm, and began to descend as fast as he could; while, risking the strength of the wood, the sergeant stepped on as soon asthere was room and followed, shedding the dancing light's rays on theweird-looking walls of the place. 

Dickenson went next, and the captain followed, to find those in frontwaiting upon a fairly wide shelf, upon which the bottom of the tree waspropped, while beneath it, and sloping now, the well-like pit went downinto the black darkness, up from which the hollow, echoing rush of watercame in a way which made some of the stoutest present shudder. 

The shelf was at the mouth of a low archway which proved, upon thelantern being held up, to be the entrance to another of theramifications of the great series of caves with which the kopje washoneycombed. Here within a few yards lay the first lantern, which hadrebounded on falling and rolled down into a narrow crack in theflooring, a rift which ran from somewhere ahead, draining the interiorof the cavern passage, and bearing a tiny stream of water to join therushing waters below, these being undoubtedly the source of theperennial stream which issued from the foot of the kopje. 

One of the men pounced upon the lantern at once, to find that, thoughthe glass was much cracked, it was perfectly ready for use; and therewas a short delay while it was relit without application to the one thesergeant had just detached, one of the men having now recalled that hehad a tin box of matches nearly full. 

The moment this was done Captain Roby gave the order to advance. Hesent the lantern-bearers forward with orders to keep to right and left;and at the end of about a hundred feet, where the cavern chamber wasbeginning to contract, he called aloud for them to halt. 

"Now, Mr Lennox, " he cried, "advance with six men abreast in a linewith the lights, and make ready to fire if the man in front does notsurrender. Attention!"

His orders echoed along the roof of what seemed to be quite a narrowpassage in front, and the men listened till the last echoes died out, when Captain Roby spoke again. 

"Hoi, there, you Boer in hiding!" he cried. "Your comrade's a prisoner, and if you wish to save your life, surrender too. "

The captain waited, but there was no reply, and the word was given toadvance again, when suddenly from out of the darkness beyond the rangeof the lights there came the sharp, clear _click! click_! of a piecebeing cocked. 

"There's the answer, Mr Lennox, " said the captain. "Give your orders, and clear the place. "

"No, stop; I surrender, " came from a hoarse voice speaking in brokenEnglish. "Tell your men not to shoot. "

"Come forward, " cried Lennox, "and give up your piece. "

He stepped towards the spot from whence the voice had come, to see thecrossing lights of the two lanterns centre upon the broad, familiar faceof one of the Boers who had been captured, and who had returned with theloaded wagons and the powder-bags, of which the last portion had beensecured a short time before. 

The man halted, and stood with his rifle presented at the youngofficer's breast. 

"One man can't fight against a hundred, " he growled. 

"Only with treachery and deceit, " said Lennox sternly. "Give up yourrifle, you cowardly dog. "

"Not till you give your English word that I shall not be shot, " repliedthe Boer. 

"I'll give the order for you to be shot down if you don't give up yourpiece, " cried Lennox angrily. 

"You give the word that I shall only be a prisoner, or I'll shoot youthrough the heart, " cried the Boer harshly. 

"I give no word. Surrender unconditionally, " cried Lennox, whose bloodwas up. 

"Give your word, you miserable rooinek!" growled the Boer, whose teethshone in the light, giving him the aspect of some fierce beast at bay. "Give your word. You're covered--your word of honour, or I'll fire. "

"Fire!" shouted Captain Roby from behind; but the six men halted beforeobeying the ill-judged command. For, in response to the Boer's threat, Lennox had sprung forward to strike at the presented piece, the edge ofhis sword clicking loudly against the barrel of the rifle, turning itsufficiently aside to disorder the desperate man's aim, so that thebullet whistled by him and over the heads of his men, before sending alittle shower of granite splinters and dust from the side of the cavern. 

Before the Boer could fire again Lennox had him by the throat, and inanother minute he was held up against the cavern wall by three men withtheir bayonets, while the sergeant wrested the rifle from his hands andtore away the man's well-filled bandolier. 

"Ah!" he snarled; "cowards again. Always cowards, since the day whenyou ran away from us at Majuba. "

"Hold your tongue, sir, before you are hurt by some of the men who knowthat they have one of the bravo miscreants before them who laypowder-mines ready to destroy those they dare not fight in the openfield. "

"Tell the dog I'll have him gagged as well as bound if he does not keephis tongue quiet, " said Captain Roby, coming up. 

The Boer laughed mockingly; and Captain Roby, who seemed unable torestrain the anger rising within him, turned away. 

"See that he has no revolver, Lennox, " he said hoarsely, "and try tofind out whether he has any companions. "

"He wouldn't say if he had, " replied Lennox; "but we'll soon search andsee. Sergeant James is making him fast. Yes, he had a revolver, " hecontinued as he saw the sergeant take the weapon and thrust it insidehis belt. 

The next minute the prisoner was secure between two men, and thelight-bearers went forward, to be brought to a standstill almostdirectly by the contraction of the cellar-like place, out of which therewas no way in that direction. 

Having satisfied themselves of this, the party hastened back to thetree, and stood looking about for a time, examining a few cracks andrifts, before the orders were given to mount to the upper cave--a riskyand unpleasant task, for the tree-trunk was loose. The men, however, for the most part made light of it, and as soon as the big chamber wasreached they proceeded to thoroughly examine that, when, to the delightof all, its real character of a hiding-place and storehouse belonging toone of the native tribes was revealed: for scores of huge woven basketswere piled-up, looking at a few yards' distance, with no betterillumination than the military lamps, like masses of rock, butcontaining hundreds upon hundreds of bushels of hard, sweet corn, failing which there would soon have been only one chance of escape forthe detachment, and that by a bold attempt to cut their way through. 

The search was continued, but nothing more rewarded their efforts. There was the ample supply of corn, stored up by some tribe, and outsidethe bags of gunpowder hidden by the Boers, whose plan was quite evident, and thoroughly realised by all who had discovered the entrance--to blowup the great gun captured from them and destroy the stronghold thatchecked their advance. 

Before long a sentry was marching up and down in front of that ingeniousspecimen of native work, the big stone entrance to the cave which ran soeasily upon a pivot; while the detachment in charge of the big guntalked shudderingly of the risk they had unknowingly been running, for, given a little longer time and the right opportunity, their two craftyenemies would undoubtedly have fired their mine and blown the greaterpart of the kopje-top into the air. 

"I was growing anxious over the long silence, " said the colonel, smiling, after he had been made aware or the success attending the partythat had hurried up at the alarm, and after he had examined theprisoners; "but you have done a splendid night's work--cleared away animpending danger, and secured a storehouse of com sufficient for a wholemonth. "

"A month or more, " said Captain Roby. 

"Ha! Then we can hold out and wait. But about these prisoners. Here, major, what do you say?"

"Humph!" ejaculated the major. "Two of the treacherous hounds whodeceived us, and whom we let go to fetch us supplies. "

"And came back to blow us up, " said the colonel. 

"Failed in that, " said Captain Roby, "and then started anothercold-blooded, treacherous plan. "

"Yes, " said the colonel, "based upon the knowledge they must have wrungfrom one of the native tribes they have oppressed. Well, gentlemen, wehave two of the miscreant spies. What next?"

"The fate of spies, " said Captain Roby. "I think it is due to our menthat they should be shot. "

"Kept prisoners till we can hand them over to the general, and let himdecide, " said the major. "What do you say, Edwards?"

"They are prisoners, and beaten, " said the captain. "Yes, I side withyou. "

"Two against you, Roby, " said the colonel. --"Well, Lennox--and you, Dickenson--you may as well give your opinion. What do you say, Dickenson?"

"I should like to see that black-haired brute tied up and flogged, sir. "

"Should you?" said the colonel, smiling. "Well, I dare say he deservesit; but it is not the punishment we can give a prisoner, so your opinionwill stand alone. --Well, Lennox?"

"Oh, it's all war, sir; and the fellows are half-savage peasants whohate us like poison. You can't shoot them, sir, for fighting theirbest--their way. "

"No, Mr Lennox, I can't shoot them; but it will be a horrible nuisanceto have to keep them as prisoners. I wish they had died fighting likebrave men. As it is they will have to live prisoners till the war is atan end. Now then, about where to place them. "

"Here, I know, sir, " said Dickenson, laughing. "Shut them up in thekopje. They'll be quite at home there. "

"No, " said Lennox, joining in his comrade's merriment; "don't trust themthere, sir. They're malicious enough to spend their time destroying allthe corn. "

"Well done, Lennox!" said the colonel emphatically. "I'm glad youspoke, for before anything was said I had determined to make theirhiding-place their prison. You are right. That would not do at all. --Roby, you must have your prisoners placed in the safest hut that you canfind, and let a sentry share their prison, for they must never be leftalone. Now, gentlemen: bed. "

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

THE LOST MAN. 

"Yes, sir, I'm very sorry, and feel that it's a great disgrace, " saidColour-Sergeant James. 

"Sorry!" said Captain Roby contemptuously. 

"It's all I can be, sir, " said the sergeant sadly. "I'm not going todefend myself. "

"But how could you miss him when the roll was called?"

"I don't know, sir. I suppose it was all due to the excitement andbeing fagged out with what we'd gone through in that black hole. "

"Black hole!" cried Roby. "You deserve the Black Hole yourself, sergeant. "

"Yes, sir. I thought he answered, but the poor fellow must have losthis way somehow, and have got left behind. "

"It's horrible, " cried Roby. "I don't know what's to be done. "

"Go in search of the poor fellow at once. It's enough to send a man outof his mind, " broke in Lennox impatiently. 

"I did not ask you for your opinion, Mr Lennox, " said the captaincoldly. --"Here, James, come with me to the colonel at once. "

"Yes, sir, " said the sergeant, and he followed his superior. 

"What nonsense!" cried Dickenson. "Here, Drew, old man, let's go on upto the hole at once with half-a-dozen men and lanterns. "

"That's what I wanted to do, " said Lennox bitterly; "but I suppose itwould be going against discipline. "

"Going against your grandmother! Hesitate, when the poor fellow may bedying of fright? He is rather a chicken-hearted sort of a customer. "

"So would you be if you lost yourself in that dismal hole. "

"True, oh king! I should sit down in a fit of the horrors, and howl formy mother till I cried myself to sleep. "

"No, you wouldn't, Bob. But old Roby does make me set up my bristlessometimes. I don't know what's come to him lately. "

"I know what I should like to see come to him. "

"What?"

"A good licking. "

"Yes, to be followed by court-martial. "

"Not if a Boer did it, " said Dickenson, chuckling. 

"What are you laughing at?"

"Thoughts, dear boy. Only thinking of what a lark it would be if hebegan bullying one of our prisoners--say Blackbeard--and the savage oldBoer slipped into him with his fists. I shouldn't hurry to help himmore than I could help. "

"Don't humbug, " said Lennox. 

"I tell you I shouldn't. Look here, Drew, old chap, you haven't foundme out yet. I'm not half such a nice young angel as you think. "

"Hold your row; here's James. " For the sergeant came hurryingin. --"Well?"

"Search party of twenty directly, gentlemen. Colonel sends word thatyou two are to come with us. "

"Right, " cried Lennox excitedly. "What did the colonel say?"

"`Poor fellow!' sir; and then he turned on the captain, sir. "

"Yes, " cried Dickenson eagerly, "What did he say to him?"

"Why the something or another hadn't he gone to look for Corporal May atonce?"

"Bravo!" said Dickenson; and Lennox, who was buckling on his swordhurriedly, felt better. 

"But how about you, James? Are you going to be degraded for neglect?"said Dickenson as they hurried out to join the men already assembled. 

"No, sir, " replied the sergeant, with a broad smile spreading over hismanly countenance. "The colonel heard all I had to say in defence, andhe just says, `Bad job, sergeant--accident. '--You know his short way, sir?--Then, `Be off and get your men together; find the poor fellow assoon as you can. '"

Captain Roby was just hurrying to a group of men waiting to make thestart, when Sergeant James came up, carrying all the lanterns he couldmuster in a bunch. "Come, gentlemen, " he said sharply; "make haste, please. Have you plenty of matches, sergeant?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Fall in, my lads. Here, stop. No rifles; only your bayonets. "

The firearms were returned to their quarters, and a couple of minuteslater the search party were on their way to the kopje. 

"Beg pardon, sir, " said the sergeant, suddenly breaking from his placeto address the captain; "wouldn't it be better to take a long rope withus?"

"What for?" said Roby angrily. "For the men to hold on by in case anyone should be lost? Absurd!"

The sergeant was returning to his place, and Lennox and Dickensonexchanging glances, when the captain altered his mind. 

"Yes, " he said; "on second thoughts, we may as well take a coil. Hurryback and fetch one, sergeant. "

The latter handed his bunch of lanterns to one of the men, and went offback to quarters at the double, while the party marched on. 

"Fasting doesn't do old Cantankerous any good, " said Dickenson in ahalf-whisper. 

"Quiet! Quiet! He'll be hearing you and getting worse, " said Lennox. 

"Impossible!" grunted Dickenson. "He wants a week's good feeding or afit of illness to do him good. He's going sour all over. "

The sergeant did not overtake the party till they were close upon theentrance to the cave, where a sentry was pacing up and down; and now asudden thought struck Roby. 

"Here, sergeant, " he cried angrily as the latter hurried up, ratherbreathless with his exertions. "How are we to get into the place? Youhaven't brought a crowbar to move the stone. "

"No, sir. Left it hidden close by last night. "

"Oh!" grunted Roby, halting the men; while the sergeant handed the coilof rope to one of them, who slipped it on over head and one shoulder, towear it like a scarf; and James went on a few yards to a crack in theside of the rocky wall, thrust in his arm, drew out the bar, and trottedback to the opening, inserted the chisel, and raised the stone about aninch, when it turned upon its pivot directly. 

"Wonderfully well made, " said Dickenson. "One might have passed it ahundred times. "

"Silence in the ranks!" cried Roby sternly; and the sergeant steppedinto the dark hole at once, placed his hands one on either side of hislips, and gave a tremendous hail. 

All listened to the shout, which went echoing through the passages andchambers of the cavern; but there was no reply, nor yet to half-a-dozenmore hails. 

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated Roby. "I expected to find him waiting closeto the entrance. Lanterns. "

The men were already inside lighting them, eight being rapidly gotready; and once more the party began to traverse the weird place, butunder far more favourable circumstances, the line of golden dots formedby the lanterns giving every one a far better opportunity of judgingwhat the place was like. 

At every turn in the crooked way a halt was called, and a fresh seriesof hails went echoing on before them; but not so much as a whisper of ananswer greeted their ears. 

"The poor fellow must have become tired out with waiting, " said CaptainRoby, "and dropped off to sleep. "

"He sleeps pretty soundly, then, " whispered Dickenson, who was in frontwith Lennox, following the sergeant, who carried the first lantern. 

"Ought to have been woke up by that last shout, though, " said Lennox. "What do you say, sergeant?"

"I'm afraid we shall come upon him soon regularly off his head, gentlemen, " said the sergeant, "He isn't the pluckiest chap in hiscompany. "

"Don't talk like that, sergeant, " said Lennox sharply. "It's enough todrive any poor fellow crazy to find himself shut up in a place like thisand feel that he may never be found. "

"Well, yes, " added Dickenson, "it is; without counting all the horrorshe'd conjure up about bogies and things coming after him in the dark. "

"I dare say, sir, " said the sergeant; "though I don't suppose there'sanything worse here than bats. "

"Halt! Now, all together, " cried the captain from behind, and anotherseries of shouts were given. 

There was no response, and the party went spreading out and examiningevery nook as they passed through the echoing chambers, but foundnothing. 

"Is it likely that he did come out with us?" said Lennox as they nearedthe second well-like opening over the rushing water. 

"Can't say, sir, " said the sergeant. "The last I saw of him was when wewere down in the lowest place, advancing to meet the second prisoner. Ijust had a squint of his face then by the lantern, and it looked liketallow. "

"Effect of the light, " said Dickenson. 

"No, sir. It was the getting down that tree and hearing the water. "

"That's it, sergeant, " said the nearest man behind. "I never thought ofit till you said that. "

"Thought of what?" said the sergeant roughly. 

"'Bout what Corporal May said to me. "

"What was it?"

"That it was enough to scare any one getting down such a ladder as that, and if he'd known, he'd have seen the service anywhere before he'd havecome. "

"Yes, he looked regularly scared, gentlemen, " said the sergeant; andthen he stopped short, swinging his lantern over the hole before him andshowing the top of the tree ladder, while the gurgling, echoing whisperof the running water seemed to fill the air with strange sounds. Butthese were drowned directly by a fresh burst of hails, which wentechoing away. 

"Forward!" said the captain at last. "Steady in front, there. Becareful how you go down, men. "

"Don't be alarmed, dear Roby, " whispered Dickenson. "Just as if weshouldn't be careful of our invaluable necks. "

There was plenty of light now, for Lennox carried a lantern on goingdown after the sergeant, who had gone first, and stood at the bottomholding up his own, while four more were held over the yawning pit fromthe top. The men, too, were in better trim for the descent, knowing asthey did the worst of what they had to encounter, so that they went downpluckily enough, in spite of the tree quivering and threatening to turnround, till it was held more steadily at both ends. 

Then, as all crowded into the archway and hailed once more, their shoutsseemed to return to them faintly from the arrow-shaped hollow, whichfrom being broad at first went off nearly to a point, and more weirdlystill from the continuation of the pit where the water ran. 

"I'm beginning to be afraid he is not here, " said the captain. "Openout, my lads, and thoroughly search every hollow and corner. "

The men shouted again, with no result; and then they spread out like afan and advanced, searching behind every stone, right on past the spotwhere the second Boer had been captured, and on once more till thecavern narrowed in and there was only room to creep. 

"Hold the light closer, sergeant, " said Lennox. 

"See anything?" cried Roby from just behind him. 

"Can't tell yet, sir. --What's that, sergeant?"

For answer the sergeant went down on his hands and knees and advanced, pushing his lantern before him. 

"There, you needn't do that, " said Roby impatiently. "The man's nothere. It's a false alarm. He wasn't left behind, and we shall find himsomewhere, when we get back to quarters. Come out, sergeant. I'm sickof this. "

"But there's something here, sir. "

"Eh? What is it?"

The sergeant thrust something behind him, and Lennox went down on handsand knees, reached into the narrow hole, which the sergeant nearlyfilled, and snatched the object from the man's hand. 

"His helmet!" cried Lennox excitedly, and he too passed it back to whereRoby and Dickenson were, and they examined the recovered headpiece. 

"Oh, there's no doubt about it, " said Dickenson. "Look here, " he criedas Lennox and the sergeant came back; "what do you make of this?"

"Oh! it's the poor fellow's helmet, gentlemen, " said the sergeant. "Look at his number, sir. "

"Then where is he? Is there any opening in yonder?"

"Not room for a rat, sir. Seems as if he must have been left behind andfelt his way in there to sleep. Look here, sir; I found these too. "

The speaker held out a short black pipe with a little blackened, lately-smoked tobacco at the bottom, and a tin box containing plenty ofmatches. 

"Why, he had all these and never said a word when I was so hard pushed, "cried Dickenson. 

"I expect he was in too much of a stoo to remember them, sir, " said thesergeant. "He must have been precious queer, or he wouldn't have leftthese and his helmet behind. "

"He was nearly off his chump, sergeant, with having to come down, " saidthe man with the short memory. 

"Then he has been here!" cried Captain Roby. "But where is he now?"

As if moved by one impulse, every one present turned sharply round tolook in the direction of the archway beyond which the slopingcontinuation of the entrance-pit went on down to the running water. Noone spoke, but all thought horrors; and Lennox acted, for, snatching alantern from the nearest bearer, he ran as fast as the rugged floorwould let him, back to the archway, took hold of the tree-trunk, andleaned over the horrible hole, swinging the light downward, while thosewho watched him, looking weird and strange in the distance, heard himshout loudly, and listened to hear, very faintly rising from far below, a faintly uttered, hollow moan. 

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

FISHING WITH A ROPE. 

"Forward!" cried Captain Roby loudly. 

"Forward!" said a wonderfully exact echo from the pit, and the cavernchamber seemed to burst into strange, echoing repetitions of theconfused trampling and rushing and thundering of feet, as, with thedancing lanterns, the men sprang forward to render help. 

"He's down here, " cried Lennox in excitement. "Silence, all of you!"

Captain Roby looked annoyed at the way in which his subaltern officerseemed to take the lead; but he said nothing then, only stood frowning, while in the midst of a breathless silence Lennox leaned over thedangerous-looking place and hailed again. 

"Corporal! Are you down there?"

There was no response, and once more he hailed. 

"Corporal May!"

This time there was a piteous moan. 

"Oh! there's no doubt about it, " cried Lennox. "Tie a lantern to therope and lower it down. Let's see where he is. "

"Thank you, Mr Lennox, " said Roby coldly. "I will give the necessaryorders. "

"I beg pardon, sir, " said Lennox, drawing back; but as he glanced asidehe saw that the sergeant was busy with the end of the rope, fastening itto the handle of one of the lanterns, and the man who had slipped it offhis shoulder was rapidly uncoiling the ring. 

"Anybody got a flask?" said Dickenson. "We might send him down areviver with the light. "

But there was no reply, flasks being rarities at Groenfontein, and suchas there were did not contain a drop. By this time the lantern wasready, and Sergeant James glanced at the captain, who signed to him tolower away. 

Directly after, the descending lantern was lighting up the sides of thegulf, which were not six feet apart; but how far the great crack-likeplace extended they could not see, the light penetrating but a littledistance, and then all was black darkness, out of which, from far below, there came up the murmuring, gurgling rush of the running water. 

As for the lantern, as soon as it was lowered down it ceased swinging, coming with a sharp tap against smooth rock which went downward in apretty regular slope, but so steep that the lantern lay upon its sideand glided down as fast as the men could pay out the rope. 

"I sha'n't have length enough, I'm afraid, sir, " said the sergeant, wholeaned over the edge. 

"Then why didn't you bring more?" cried the captain angrily. 

The sergeant was silent, and _grate! grate! grate_! the lantern went ondown over the rock face, which sparkled with moisture, for anexceedingly thin sheet of water glistened and went on wearing it down asit probably had from the time the great kopje cavern was formed. 

But still there was no sign of the missing man--nothing but glisteningrock, and beyond that darkness. 

"How much more rope have you?" said the sergeant in a whisper. 

"'Bout a dozen feet, " said the man who was passing it to him frombehind. 

"Swing the lantern to and fro, " cried the captain sharply. 

"It won't swing, sir, " replied the sergeant. "If I try, it will onlyroll over on to its face. "

"Never mind; you haven't tried. Now swing it, " cried Roby. 

"Bottom, " cried the sergeant, for the lantern stopped short, and downbeneath it there was a flash and a quivering reflection, showing that itwas close to the flowing water. 

"What is it resting on?" said Lennox eagerly, for he had forgotten thesnub he had received and was all eagerness to help. "I didn't hear itclick on rock. "

"Just what I was thinking, sir, " replied the sergeant, lifting thesuspended lantern again and letting it descend once more. 

"I wish to goodness, Mr Lennox, that you would not keep oninterfering, " cried Captain Roby angrily. --"Now, sergeant, what do youmake out?"

"Rests on something soft, sir. No; it's hit against something hard. Why, it's metal--a buckle. "

"I know, " cried Lennox, forgetting himself again. "You've lowered itright down on to the poor fellow, and he's above the water. "

"Mr--" began the captain angrily, but his words were drowned in thehearty cheer given by the men. --"Silence!" cried Captain Roby, andleaning over, he shouted down the horrible-looking pit. --"Unfasten therope from the lantern, " he said, "and tie it tightly round your breast. Don't be frightened now: we'll soon have you out. "

There was no response. 

"Tut, tut, tut!" went the captain again. "Some one will have to godown. Who'll volunteer?"

"I will, sir, " cried Lennox excitedly, before any one else could answer. 

The captain was silent for a few moments, and then, in a way that seemedto suggest that he had been trying to find some objection to giving hisconsent, "Very well, Mr Lennox, " he said. --"Here, sergeant, haul up thelight again. "

This was rapidly done, the lantern set free, and the rope tied securelyjust beneath the young man's arms. 

"How will you have the lantern, sir?" said the sergeant. 

"I will see to that, James, " said the captain. "Unfasten your belt, MrLennox, and pass it through the ring of the lantern so that it can hangto your waist and leave your hands free. "

"Just as if we didn't know!" said the sergeant to himself as he helpedin this arrangement. 

"Sure the knot will not slip, sergeant?" said Lennox. 

"Oh, it won't come undone, sir. If it moves at all, it will be to gettighter. "

"That is what I meant. I want to breathe. "

"Less talking there, " said the captain. "Recollect that a man's life isin danger. If you feel any compunction about going, Mr Lennox, makeway for one of the men. "

"Ready, sir, and waiting for your orders, " said Lennox quietly. 

"Very well. Now then, lower away. "

The sergeant took a firm hold of the rope, and whispered "Trust me, sir, " to the explorer, who nodded and looked calmly enough in thesergeant's eyes, and gave way as he felt himself lifted off the stonesupon which he stood and gently lowered down till he was half-hanging, half-sitting, against the sloping side of the rock. Then a few feet ofthe rope glided through the sergeant's hands, and Lennox stiffenedhimself out, to hang rigidly, feeling his back rest against the wetrock, over which he began to glide slowly, and then faster and faster ashe was let down hand over hand, seeing nothing but the black darknesslit up like a quaint halo in front of him, and going down what he feltto be a terrible depth. He fought hard against one horrible thoughtwhich would trouble him: should he ever be pulled up again? And nosooner had he mastered this than another gruesome idea forced itself asit were out of the darkness in front, the words to his excitedimagination seeming to be luminous: suppose the rope should break!

It is wonderful how much thought will compress itself into a minute. Itwas so here, these ideas repeating themselves again and again before theyoung man's feet touched something soft and yielding, and upon hisstretching his legs wide he felt slippery rock. 

"Hold on!" he shouted, and there was what sounded like a mocking chorusof "On--on--on--on!" beginning loudly and distinctly, and going rightaway into a faint whisper. 

Turning himself a little on one side, Lennox bent outward so that thelight of the lantern flashed from a narrow stream of water which, fromthe bubbles and foam, he could see was rushing towards him, to pass downunder the ledge of rock upon which one foot rested; but now he was ableto see what he wanted, and that was the missing corporal hanging faceupward, but with head and neck over the edge of a block of stone whichhad checked his rapid slide down into the gulf, while the next momentthe light showed that the poor fellow's legs were also hanging downward, the ledge being exceedingly narrow. 

"Well?" cried Captain Roby. "Found him?"

"Yes, sir. Seems to be quite insensible. I can get my arms round himand hold him if you can haul us up. Will the rope bear us both?"

"No!" came in a roar from up above, every man, in his excitement, negativing the proposal. 

"Silence, men!" cried the captain angrily. Then he shouted down, "Itwould be too risky. Here, I'll have the rope slackened, and you canuntie it and make it fast round May's chest. I'll have him hauled up, and send the rope down again for you. --Slacken away, my lads. "

The pressure on the rope ceased for a moment as it was slackened, andthen it tightened with a jerk, and there was a loud, echoing splash asLennox was plunged into rushing water to the waist, the sensation beingas if he had been suddenly seized and was being dragged under into somegreat hole. 

"Hold hard!" he roared, and the echoes seized upon the lastword--"Hard--hard--hard!"--running right away again till it was awhisper. 

"Why, what are you about?" cried Roby. 

"Trying to save the light, " panted Lennox. "There is no room to standon the ledge with the poor fellow. Haul up a little more. My face ison a level with him now. Haul! haul! The water seems to suck me down. Ha!" he gasped; "that's better, " and he wrenched himself round, catchingat a piece of slippery rock that was against his waist, and looking forfoothold, for a few moments in vain, till he saw a way out of hisdifficulty. 

"How are you getting on?" cried the captain excitedly. 

"I'm obliged to kneel right on the poor fellow, " said Lennox; "there'sso little room. He's alive--I can feel his heart beating. Keep therope tight for a few minutes. "

"Tight it is, sir, " shouted Sergeant James. 

"Look here, Lennox, " cried Roby hoarsely; "can you unfasten the rope andtie it to the corporal? We can see nothing from up here. "

"That's what I'm trying to find out, sir, " replied Lennox. --"Yes, Ithink so. "

"Think! You must be sure, " cried Dickenson, whose voice sounded huskyand strange. "Look here, I'm going to slide down to you. "

"Silence!" roared the captain. "You will do nothing of the kind. --Lookhere, Lennox. "

"I'm all attention, sir. "

"If you can't do as I say I must send for another rope. "

"No, no, it would be horrible to leave the poor fellow; he'd slip offthe rock. "

"Then you must stay with him. "

"Very well, sir, " said Lennox after a short pause. 

"Ha! I think I can do it now I've found room to kneel. "

"Bravo!" shouted Dickenson. 

"Will you be silent, Mr Dickenson?" cried the captain. --"Now, Lennox, what are you doing?"

"Trying to get this knot undone, sir; it's so tight. " At the end of aminute he cried, "I can't move the knot. I'm going to pass it over myhead, and then make a noose and slip it round the corporal. "

"Can you do that?"

"Yes, sir, I think so. Now slacken away all you can, but keep a tighthold in case I have to snatch at it again. "

"Oh yes, they'll keep a tight hold. --Do you hear, Sergeant James?"

"Oh yes, sir, I hear, " growled the sergeant, whose face glistened withthe perspiration that streamed down from the gathering-place--his brow. 

"How are you getting on?" cried the captain. 

"Don't talk to me, please, " panted Lennox. "I'm doing my best. " Therewas a pause, and then, "I've got it off, and I'm going to pass it overhis neck and shoulders now. It will compress his chest, but I can'thelp it. "

"Don't study that; only get it fast. Ready?" continued the captainafter another pause. 

"Not quite yet. It is hard to get the loop over. I have to bend downto reach with one hand, and hold on with the other. "

"Go on, " said the captain. 

A strange rustling sound came up, and then it seemed as if the rope wasbeing flapped against the rock. 

"Can't you do it?" shouted the captain. 

"Not yet. I'm obliged to rest a minute. "

"Oh dear! oh dear me!" panted Captain Roby in a tone of voice thatseemed to suggest other words which indicated his idea that the youngsubaltern was very awkward. 

"Got it at last!" came up. "I think so. Yes, I have him tight--rightpast his arms; he can't slip. Now, haul!"

"Haul!" echoed Captain Roby. "Quick!"

But Sergeant James knew better than that. The rope had to pass throughhis cautious hands, and he raised it gently. 

"All right, sir?" he asked. 

"Yes; haul, " cried Lennox. "You have him now. Right; you're liftinghim right off. I'll hold on to the rock. Be sharp, for it's a veryawkward--"

The young subaltern's words were cut short at that moment by a mosthorrible, unearthly-sounding yell; for the tightening of the rope aboutthe unfortunate corporal, and the steady strain as he was lifted fromwhere he had lain so long, had the effect of arousing his dormantenergies. Not realising that he was being helped, he had no sooneruttered his cry of horror than, as if suddenly galvanised into life, hebegan to struggle violently, tearing, kicking, and catching at somethingto hold on to for dear life. 

Unfortunately, and consequent upon the slow way in which the rope wasbeing drawn up, the first thing his right hand came in contact with wasone of Lennox's arms, round which his fingers fastened as if they wereof steel. The next moment his right hand was joined by his left and heclung desperately, dragging the young officer from the slippery edge ofrock, and before Lennox could raise a hand to help himself and hold onin turn, and cling desperately in the hope that after all perhaps therope might bear them both, the corporal's spasmodic clasp ended asquickly as it came. Those at the top felt the strain on the rope less, and those who were gazing down unoccupied saw the light suddenlyextinguished, heard a terrible, echoing splash, followed by suckings andwhisperings that seemed as if they would have no end. 

For Lennox did not rise again, the rush of water bearing him rapidlydown into the very bowels of the cavernous mass of rock. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

THE CORPORAL RELATES. 

The party at the head of the cavern stood for a few moments perfectlymotionless, listening to the dying away of the strange gurglings andwhispering echoes which followed the heavy splash, and then Dickensonuttered a wild cry of horror and despair. 

"Pull!" he shouted. "Pull up!" and, spurred into action by his order, Sergeant James and the two men behind him who helped with the ropehauled away rapidly, till the rigid-looking form of the corporal roseout of the darkness into the light shed by the lanterns, to be seized bythe sergeant and dragged into safety. 

"Is he dead?" said Captain Roby hoarsely. "I dunno, sir, " growled thesergeant, loosening the noose around the rigid sufferer, and then with afew quick drags unfastening the knot which had troubled Lennox in hishelpless state. 

"Silence a moment, " cried the captain, "while I hail!" and he made theplace echo with his repetitions of the subaltern's name. 

There were answers enough, but given only by the mocking echoes;otherwise all below was still save the weird, rushing sound of thewater. 

"Here, what are you doing, Dickenson?" cried the captain, who suddenlybecame aware of the fact that the young lieutenant had seized thesergeant and was hindering him from securing the end of the rope abouthis chest. 

"He's not going down: I am, " cried Dickenson hoarsely. 

"You?"

"Yes; I think I'm going to leave my friend in a hole like this?"

"Hole indeed!" thought the captain. Then aloud: "Let him go down, sergeant. Here, two lanterns this time;" and as the sergeant obeyed andbegan securing the rope about Dickenson, Roby seized and beganunbuckling the young officer's belt, and himself passed the stiffleather through the ring-handles of a couple of lanterns, and rebuckledthe belt, adjusting it so that Dickenson had a light on either side. 

"Ready, sergeant?" said the young officer sharply. 

"All right, sir; that'll hold you safe. "

"What are you going to do, Dickenson?" said Roby, in a voice that didnot sound like his own. 

"I don't know, " cried the young officer, with a curious hysterical ringin his voice. "Go down. --See when I get below. --Now then, quick!--Loweraway. --Fast!"

He began gliding down the sharp slope directly after. 

"Faster!" shouted Dickenson before he was half-way down; and thesergeant let the rope pass through his hands as quickly as he could withsafety let it go, while the lanterns lit up the glistening sides withweirdly-strange, flickering rays, till the rope was nearly all out andDickenson stopped with a sudden jerk. 

"Got him?" shouted Roby. 

"No!" came up in a despairing groan. "I'm on a dripping ledge. Lowerme a few feet more till I call to you to stop. "

The sergeant obeyed, and the call came directly after. For there was asplash and the lights disappeared--not extinguished, but they seemed toglide under a black projection that stood out plainly as a rugged edgeagainst the light, which made the water flash and sparkle as it could beseen gliding swiftly by. 

"Well?" shouted Roby again. 

"Hold on with the rope, " came up. "The water's close up to the foot ofthe lanterns. If you let it any lower they will go out. "

"Right, sir, " roared Sergeant James. 

"Now, " shouted Roby; "see him?"

"No; the water goes down here in a whirlpool, round and round, and I canfeel it sucking at me to drag me below. "

"Yes, sir; I can feel it along the rope. Look at my arms, " growled thesergeant. 

There was a quick glance directed at the sergeant, and those who werenearest could see that, while his arms jerked and kept giving a little, the rope was playing and quivering in the light. 

"Can't you see anything?" cried Roby wildly. 

"Place like a big well ground in the rock, " came up in hollow tones;"the water all comes here, and goes down a great sink-hole. Shall I cutmyself free and dive?"

"No!" came simultaneously, in a hoarse yell, from a dozen throats. 

"Madness!" shouted Roby. "Look round again; he may be clinging to therocks somewhere. "

Dickenson uttered a strange, mocking laugh, so loud and thrilling thatit made his hearers shudder. 

"There's nothing but this hole, smoothed round by the water. I can seeall round. "

"Yah!" roared the sergeant. "Haul!" For suddenly his arms received aheavy jerk which bent him nearly double, and the light which glowed downby the water disappeared; while, but for the rush made to get a grip atthe rope by Roby and a couple more men, the sergeant would have gonedown. 

As it was, the sudden snatch made dragged him back; and then, withoutfurther order, the men hauled quickly and excitedly at the rope tillDickenson's strangely distorted face appeared in the light. 

"Hold on!" shouted the sergeant, and stooping down, he got his handswell under his young officer's armpits, made a heave with all hisstrength, and jerked him out of the horrible pit on to the hard rock. 

Roby had helped by seizing the sergeant and dragging him back as soon ashe had a good hold, and it was his captain's eyes that Dickenson's firstmet in a wild, despairing look, before, dripping with water from thechest downwards and the lights both extinguished, he sank upon his kneesand dropped his face into his hands, no one stirring or speaking in thefew brief moments which followed, but all noticing that the poorfellow's chest was heaving and that a spasmodic sob escaped his lips. 

The silence was broken by the sergeant, who stood rubbing his wet handsdown the sides of his trousers. 

"Thought I was gone too, " he said huskily. 

His words reached Dickenson's understanding, but not their full extent. His hands dropped to his lap, and he looked up, gazing round in astrangely bewildered way, his lower lip quivering, and his voicesounding pathetically apologetic. 

"Yes, " he said feebly, "I thought I was gone. The water seemed to riseup round me suddenly to snatch me down. I did all I could--all I could, Roby, but it seemed to make me as weak as a child. Look at that--lookat that!" he groaned, holding out one arm, which shook as if with thepalsy. Then clasping his hands together he let them drop, and gazedaway before him into the darkness through the arch, and said, as if tohimself, "I did all I could, Drew, old lad--I did all I could. "

"Dickenson, " whispered Roby, bending over him. "Come, come, pullyourself together. Be a man. "

The poor fellow turned his head sharply, and gazed wildly into thespeaker's eyes. 

"Yes, yes, " he said, and drawing a deep breath, he eagerly snatched atthe hand held out to him and stood up. "Bit of a shock to a fellow'snerves. I never felt like that when we went at the Boers. Thank you, sergeant. Thank you, my lads. I never felt like that. "

"No, " said the captain quickly. "It would have unmanned any one. "

"Did me, sir, " said Sergeant James. "And I never felt like that. "

"Ha!" sighed Dickenson, giving himself a shake, and beginning tounbuckle his belt to get rid of the dripping lanterns. "I'm better now. Ought I to go down again, sir?"

"Go down again, man?" cried Roby. "Good heavens, no! It would bemadness to send any one into that horrible pit. --Here, I had forgottenCorporal May. Where is he?"

"We laid him down in yonder, sir, " said one of the men, indicating theinterior of the cavern with a nod. 

"Not dead?"

"No, sir, I don't think so, " was the reply as the captain passed throughthe archway, followed by the sergeant, who snatched up a lantern; whileDickenson turned to the great pit, steadied himself by the tree-trunkwhich led up, and gazed into the black place. 

"Poor old Drew!" he groaned softly. "If it had only been together--insome advance!"

And then, soldier-like, he drew himself up as if standing to attention, turned, and went to his duty again, walking pretty steadily after Robyto join them where the sergeant was down on one knee with his handthrust inside the corporal's jacket. 

"Heart's beating off and on, sir, " growled James. "I don't think he'shurt. Seems to me like what the doctor called shock. "

"Yes. What did he say?"

"I dunno, sir. Sort of queer stuff: sounded like foolishness. I'mafraid he's off his head. --Here, May--me, May, my lad. Hold up. You'reall right now. "

The man opened his eyes, stared at him wildly, and his lips quivered. 

"What say?" he whispered. 

"I say, hold up now. "

"Hurts, " moaned the poor fellow, beginning to rub his chest. "Have Ibeen asleep?"

"I hope so, my lad, " said Roby, "for you have been saved a good deal ifyou have. "

"Ugh!" groaned the man, with a shiver. "Mind that light don't go out. Here, " he cried fiercely, "what did you go and leave me for?"

"Who went away and left you?"

"I recklect now. It was horrid. I dursen't try and climb that treeagain with the water all cissing up to get at me. "

"What!" cried Roby sharply. 

"It was when the orders were given to retire, sir. I kept letting firstone chap go and then another till I was last, and then I stood at thebottom trying to make up my mind to follow, till the lights up atopseemed to go out all at once. Then I turned cold and sick and allfaint-like, holding on by the tree, till there was a horrid rush and asplash as if something was coming up to get at me, and I couldn't helpit--I turned and ran back through that archway place in the big hole, feeling sure that the water was coming to sweep me away. 'Fore I'd gonefar in the black darkness I ketched my foot on a stone, pitched forwardon to my head, and then I don't remember any more for ever so long. Itwas just as if some one had hit me over the head with the butt of arifle. "

"Where's the lump, then, or the cut?" said Sergeant James sourly. 

"Somewhere up atop there, sergeant. I dunno. Feel; I can't move myarms, they're so stiff. "

The sergeant raised his lantern and passed his hand over the man's head. 

"Lump as big as half an egg there, sir, " he said in a whisper. 

"It's a bad cut, ain't it, sergeant?" said the corporal. 

"No; big lump--bruise. "

"Ah, I thought it was a cut; but I'd forgotten all about it when I cometo again in the dark, and couldn't make it out. My head was all of aswim like, and I couldn't recklect anything about what had happened, normake out where I was, only that I was in the dark. All I couldunderstand was that my head was aching awful and swimming round andround, and I seemed to have been fast asleep for hours and hours, andthat I had woke up. That was all. "

"Well, go on, " said the sergeant, in obedience to a hint from Roby. 

"Yes, direckly, " said the man. "I'm trying to think, but my head don'tgo right. It's just as if some sand had got into the works. Ah, it'scoming now. It was like waking up and finding myself in the dark, andnot knowing how I got there. "

"Well, you said that before, " said the sergeant gruffly. 

"Did I, sergeant? Well, that's right; and I tried to get up, but Icouldn't stand, my head swam so. Then I got on my hands and knees, andbegan to crawl to the ladder; and I went on and kept stopping on accountof my head, till I knocked against my helmet and put it on, and begancrawling again, thinking I must be where I'd lain down and gone tosleep. Then I went on again for ever so long till I could go nofarther, for I was in a place where the rock came down over my head sothat I could touch it; but it was all narrow-like, and I was so tiredthat I lay down, got out my pipe, lit up, and had a smoke. "

"What next?" said the sergeant, exchanging glances with Roby andDickenson, who were listening. 

"That's all, " said the man quietly. "So I'll just have a nap to set myhead right. It's a touch of fever, I think. "

"Stop a moment, my lad, " said Roby. "Can't you recollect what camenext?"

"No, sir, " said the man drowsily. "Oh yes, I do. I know I begancrawling again without my helmet after I'd smoked a pipe of tobacco--forthe hard rim hurt my head--and went on and on for hours, till I thoughtI could hear water running; and then in a minute I was sure, and I madefor it, for at that time I was so thirsty I'd have given anything for adrink to cool my hot, dry throat. Yes, it's all coming back now. Icrept on till all at once the water falling sounded loud, and the nextmoment I was sinking down sidewise into a deep place where I was hangingacross a stone to get at the water in the dark, and couldn't. It wasjust like a nightmare, sergeant, that it was, and I felt my head go downand my legs hanging till my back was ready to break, but I couldn't getaway, and I lay and lay, till all at once I was snatched up, and thathurt me so that I yelled for help, and then the nightmare seemed to begone and I was lying all asleep like till I saw you and the captain; andhere I am, somewhere, and that's all. "

It was all, for the corporal swooned away, and had to be lifted andcarried up. 

"Poor fellow!" said Captain Roby; "he'll be better when we get him outinto the open air. See to him, my lads. If he cannot walk you mustcarry him. "

The men closed round the corporal, while the captain and Dickensonwalked back to where a couple of the men, looking sallow and half-scaredwith their task, stood holding one of the lanterns at the month of thewater-chasm. 

"Heard anything?" said the captain, in a low tone of voice which soundedas if he dreaded to hear his own words. 

"Nothing, sir, " was the reply; "only the water rushing down. "

"It seems to me, "--began the other, and then he paused. 

"Yes: what? How does it seem to you?" asked the captain. 

"Well, sir, as we stand listening here it sounds as if the hole downthere gets choked every now and then with too much water, and then theplace fills up more, and goes off again with a rush. "

The captain made no reply, but stood with Dickenson gazing down into thechasm till there was a difference in the sound of its running out, whenthe latter caught at his companion, gripping his arm excitedly. 

"Yes, " he whispered hoarsely; "that's how it went while I was downthere. Oh Roby! can't we do anything more?"

The captain was silent for some little time, and then he half-draggedhis companion to the rough ladder. 

"Come up, " he said; "you know we can do no more by stopping thinkingtill one is almost wild with horror. Here, go up first. "

It was like a sharp order, but Dickenson felt that it came from hisofficer's heart, and, with a shiver as much of horror as of cold fromhis drenched and clinging garments, he climbed to the next level andstood feeling half-stunned, and waiting while the sergeant climbed upand joined them with some rings of the rope upon his arm. 

"May's going to try and climb up by himself, sir, " said the sergeant ina low voice, "but I've made the rope fast round him to hold on by incase he slips. We don't want another accident. "

The sight of the rope, and the sergeant's words, stirred Dickenson intospeaking again. 

"James, " he said huskily, "don't you think something more might be doneby one of us going down to the water again?"

"No, sir, " replied the sergeant solemnly; "nothing, or I'd have beenbegging the captain to let me have another try long enough ago. "

"Yes, of course, of course, " said Dickenson warmly. "How are we to tellthe colonel what has happened?"

The young officer relapsed into a dull, heavy fit of thinking, in whichhe saw, as if he were in a dream, the corporal helped out of the pit bymeans of the rope, and then go feebly along the cavern, to break downabout half-way, when four men in two pairs crossed their wrists and, keeping step, bore him, lying horizontally, to the next ladder, up whichhe was assisted, after which he was borne once again by four more of themen; and as Drew's comrade came last with the captain, the processionmade him nearly break down with misery and despair. 

For, what with the slow, regular pacing, the lights carried in front, and the appearance of the man being carried, there was a horriblesuggestion in it all of a military funeral, and for the time being itseemed to him that they had recovered his comrade and were carrying himout to his grave. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

NOT DEAD YET. 

The entrance at last, with the glorious light of the sun shining in, manafter man drawing a heavy sighing breath of relief; and as they gatheredoutside on the shelf where the sentries were awaiting their coming, itseemed to every one there that for a few moments the world had neverlooked so bright and beautiful. Then down came the mental cloud ofthought upon all, and they formed up solemnly, ready to march down. 

"Well, Corporal May, " said the captain, "do you think you can walk?"

"Yes, sir, " replied the man. "My head's thick and confused-like, butevery mouthful of this air I swallow seems to be pulling me round. Ican walk, sir, but I may have to fall out and come slowly. "

"Yes, yes, of course, " said the captain, with whom the corporal hadalways been a petted favourite. "Don't hurry, my lad. --Sergeant, youand another man fall out too, if it is more than he can manage. "

Then turning to the rest of the party, the captain glanced along therank at the saddened faces which showed how great a favourite the younglieutenant had been, and something like a feeling of jealousy flashedthrough him as he began to think how it would have been if he had beenthe missing man. But the ungenerous thought died out as quickly as ithad arisen, and he marched on with the men slowly, so as to make iteasier for the corporal, till half the slope of the kopje had beenzigzagged down, when he called a halt. 

"Sit or lie about in the sunshine for ten minutes, my lads, " he said, and the men gladly obeyed, dropping on the hot stones and tufts ofbrush, to begin talking together in a low voice, as they let their eyeswander over the prospect around, now looking, by contrast with the blackhorror through which they had passed, as if no more beautiful scene hadever met their eyes. 

"How are you, Dickenson?" said the captain after they had sat togetherfor a few minutes, drinking in the sunlight and air. 

The young lieutenant started and looked at him strangely for a fewmoments before he spoke with a curious catch in his voice. 

"Is it all true?" he said. 

The captain's lips parted, but no words came; he only bowed his headslowly, and once more there was silence, till it was broken byDickenson. 

"Poor old Drew!" he said softly. "Well, I hope when my time comes Ishall die in the same way. "

"What!" cried the captain, with a look of horror which brought a grimsmile to the subaltern's quivering lip. 

"I did not mean that, " he said sadly; "by a bullet, I hope, but doingwhat poor old Drew was doing--saving another man's life. "

He turned his head on one side, reached out his hand, and picked fromthe sun-dried growth close at hand a little dull-red, star-like flowerwhose petals were hard and horny, one of the so-called everlastingtribe, and taking off his helmet, carefully tucked it in the lining. 

"Off the kopje in which he died, " said Dickenson, in reply to aninquiring look directed at him by the captain. "For his people at homeif I live to get back. They'll like to have it. "

Captain Roby said nothing aloud, but he thought, and his thoughts weresomething to this effect: "Who'd ever have thought it of thislight-hearted, chaffing, joking fellow? Why, if they had been brothershe couldn't have taken it more to heart. Ha! I never liked the poorlad, and I don't think he liked me. There were times when I believe Ihated him for--for--for--Well, why did I dislike him? Because otherpeople liked him better than they did me, I suppose. Ah, well! like ornot like, it's all over now. "

He sat thinking for a few minutes longer, watching Dickenson furtivelyas he now kept turning himself a little this way and that way andchanged his seat twice for a fresh piece of hot stone. Suddenly at hislast change he caught the captain's eye, and said quite cheerfully:

"Getting a bit drier now. " Then, seeing a surprised look in his brotherofficer's countenance, he said quietly, "I'm a soldier, sir, and we'veno time for thinking if there's another comrade gone out of our ranks. "

"No, " said Roby laconically, and he hold out his hand, in whichDickenson slowly laid his own, looking rather wistfully as he felt itpressed warmly. "I--I hope we shall be better friends in the future, Dickenson, " said the captain rather awkwardly. 

"I hope so too, sir, " replied Dickenson, but there was more sadness thanwarmth in his tones as his hand was released. 

"Yes; soldiers have no time for being otherwise. --There!"

The captain sprang up, and Dickenson stiffly followed his example. 

"Fall in, my lads. --Well, corporal, how are you now?"

"Head's horrid bad, sir; but this bit of a rest has pulled me together. I should like to fall out when we get near the way down to the spring. "

"Of course, my lad, of course. --Here, any one else like a drink?"

"Yes, sir, " came in chorus from the rank. 

"All of us, please, sir, " added the sergeant. 

"Very well, then; we'll fall out again for a few minutes when get down. 'Tention! Right face--march!"

The men went on, all the better for their rest, while the captain joinedDickenson in the rear, and marched step by step with him for someminutes in silence. 

"What confoundedly bad walking it is down here!" he said at last. "Shakes a man all to pieces. "

"I hadn't noticed it, " said Dickenson, with something like a sigh. 

"I say!"

Dickenson turned to look in the captain's face. 

"Come straight to the chief with me, Dickenson. I don't like my job oftelling him. He'll say I oughtn't to have let the poor fellow go down. "

"I don't think he will, " replied Dickenson, after a few moments'silence. "The old man's as hard as stone over a bit of want ofdiscipline; but he's always just. "

"Think so?" said the captain. 

"Yes. Always just. I'll come with you, though I feel as weak as waternow. But I shall be better still when we get down to the quarters; andit has got to be done. "

No more was said till the bottom of the kopje was nearly reached, and ata word from the sergeant the men went off left incline down and down andin and out among the loose blocks of weathered and lichen-covered stonewhich had fallen from the precipices above, while, as glimpses keptappearing of the flashing, dancing water, the men began to increasetheir pace, till the two foremost leaped down from rock to rock, and onewho had outpaced his comrade bounded down out of sight into the deepgully along which the limpid water ran. 

"Oh!" exclaimed Dickenson, suddenly stopping short with his facedistorted by a look of agony. 

"What's the matter?" cried the captain anxiously. "Taken bad?"

"No, no. The men!" said the young officer huskily. "The water--the menare going to drink. That place in the cavern--it is, of course, whereGroenfontein rises. "

"Yes, of course, " replied the captain; "but it is too late now. "

He had hardly uttered the words before there was a yell of horror whichmade him stop short, for the foremost man came clambering back intosight, gesticulating, and they could see that he looked white andscared. 

"Oh!" cried the captain. "It will be _sauve qui peut_! The Boers havesurprised us, and the lads have nothing but their side-arms. Got yourrevolver? I've mine. Let's do the best we can. Cover, my lads, cover. "

"No, no, no!" cried Dickenson in a choking voice. "I can't help it, Roby. I feel broken down. He has found poor Drew below there, washedout by the stream!"

"Come on, " cried the captain, and in another few moments they were withthe men, who were closing round their startled comrade. 

"Couldn't help it, " the poor fellow panted as his officers came withinhearing. "I came upon him so sudden; I thought it was a ghost. "

"Hold your tongue, fool!" growled the sergeant. "Fall in! Show somerespect for your poor dead officer. --Beg pardon, gentlemen. They'vefound the lieutenant's body, and--thank Heaven we can--wecan--_Ur-r-r_!" he ended, with a growl and a tug at the top button ofhis khaki jacket. 

The men shuffled into their places and stood fast, imitating the actionof their officers, who gravely doffed their helmets and stepped downinto the hollow, where, upon a patch of green growth a few feet abovethe rippling water foaming and swirling in miniature cascades among therocks, poor Lennox lay stretched out upon his back in the full sunshine, which had dried up the blood from a long cut upon his forehead, where ithad trickled down one side of his face. 

He looked pale and ghastly, and there was a discoloration about hismouth and on one cheek where he seemed to have been battered by strikingagainst the stones amongst which he had been driven in his rush throughthe horrible subterranean channel of the stream; but otherwise he lookedas peaceful as if he were asleep. 

The captain stopped short, gazing at him, while Dickenson droppedlightly down till he was beside his comrade, and sank gently upon oneknee, to bend lower, take hold of the right hand that lay across hischest, and then--"like a girl!" as he afterwards said--he unconsciouslylet fall two great scalding tears upon his comrade's cheek. 

The effect was magical. Lennox's eyes opened wildly, to stare blanklyin the lieutenant's face, and the latter sprang to his feet, flinginghis helmet high over his head as he turned to the line of waiting menabove him and roared out hoarsely:

"Hurrah! Cheer, boys, cheer!"

The shout that rang out was deafening for so small a detachment, and twomore followed, louder still; while the next minute discipline wasforgotten and the men came bounding down to group about the figurestaring at them wildly as if not yet fully comprehending what it allmeant, till the lookers-on began shaking hands with one another in theirwild delight. 

Then Dickenson saw the light of recognition dawn in his comrade's face, a faint smile appear about his mouth and the corners of his eyes, whichgradually closed again; but his lips parted, and as Dickenson bent lowerhe heard faintly:

"Not dead yet, old man, but, "--His voice sounded very faint after he hadpaused a few moments, and then continued: "It was very near. "

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

ALL ABOUT IT. 

The men forgot their thirst in the excitement of the incident, and assoon as Lennox showed signs of recovering a little from the state ofexhaustion in which he lay, every one volunteered to be his bearer. Butbefore he had been carried far he made signs for the men to stop, andupon being set down he took Dickenson's arm, and, leaning upon himheavily, marched slowly with the men for the rest of the way towards thecolonel's quarters. 

They were met, though, before they were half-way, their slow approachbeing seen and taken for a sign that there was something wrong; andcolonel, major, doctor, and the other officers hurried to meet them andhear briefly what had occurred. 

"Why, Lennox, my lad, " cried the doctor after a short examination, "youought to be dead. You must be a tough one. There, I'll see what I cando for you. "

He took the young officer in his charge from that moment, and his firstorder was that his patient was to be left entirely alone, and, afterpartaking of a little refreshment, he was to rest and sleep for as manyhours as he could. 

"The poor fellow has had a terrible shock, " he said to the colonel. 

"Of course; but one naturally would like to know how he managed toescape. "

"Very naturally, my dear sir; but his eyes tell me that if his brain isnot allowed to recover its tone he'll have a bad attack of fever. A mancan't go through such an experience as that without being terriblyweakened. I want him to be led into thinking of everything else but hisescape. I dare say after a few hours he will be wanting to talkexcitedly about all he felt; but he mustn't. Not a question must beasked. "

As it happened, the patient did exactly what the doctor wished: heslept, or, rather, sank into a state of stupor which lasted for manyhours, came to his senses again, partook of a little food, and thendropped asleep once more; and this was repeated for days before hethoroughly recovered, and then began of his own volition to speak of hisexperience. 

It was about a week after his mishap, in the evening, when Dickenson, just returned from a skirmish in which the Boers had been driven back, was seated beside his rough couch watching him intently. 

"Don't sit staring at me like that, old fellow, " said Lennox suddenly. "You look as if you thought I was going to die. "

"Not you! You look a lot better to-night. "

"I am, I know. "

"How?" asked Dickenson laconically. 

"Because I've begun to worry about not being on duty and helping. "

"Yes; that's a good sign, " said Dickenson. "Capital. Feel stronger?"

"Yes. It's just as if my strength has begun to come back all at once. Did you drive off the enemy to-day?"

"Famously. Gave them a regular licking. "

"That's right. But tell me about Corporal May. "

"Oh no, you're not to bother about that. "

"Tell me about Corporal May, " persisted Lennox. 

"Doctor said you weren't to worry about such things. "

"It isn't a worry now. I felt at first that if I thought much aboutthat business in the cave I should go off my head; but I'm quite cooland comfortable now. Tell me--is he quite well again?"

"Not quite. He has had a touch of fever and been a bit loose in theknob, just as if he had been frightened out of his wits. "

"Of course, " said Lennox quietly. "I was nearly the same. I did notknow at the time, but I do now. He is getting better, though?"

"Fast; only he's a bit of a humbug with it. I thought so, and thedoctor endorses my ideas. He likes being ill and nursed and petted withthe best food, so as to keep out of the hard work. I don't like thefellow a bit. There, you've talked enough now, so I'll be gone. "

"No; stop, " said Lennox. "Tell me about the stores of corn we found inthat cave. "

"Hang the cave! You're not to talk about it. "

"Tell me about the grain, " persisted Lennox. 

"Oh, very well; we're going on eating it, for if it hadn't turned up asit did we should have been obliged to surrender or cut our way through. "

"But there's plenty yet?"

"Oh yes, heaps; and we got about thirty sheep two days ago. "

"Capital, " said Lennox, rubbing his hands softly. "Now tell me--whereis the grain stored?"

"Where the niggers put it when they collected it there. "

"Not moved?"

"No. It couldn't be in a better place--a worse, I mean. Bother thecave! I wish you wouldn't keep on thinking about it. "

"Very well, I won't. Tell me about the prisoners. "

"Ah, that's better. The brutes! But there's nothing to tell aboutthem. I wish they had got their deserts, but we none of us wanted toshoot them, though they did deserve it. "

"Oh, I don't know, " said Lennox. "They're a rough lot of countrymen, and they think that everything is fair in war, I suppose. Where arethey?"

"Number 4 tin hut, and a fellow inside with them night and day. Thenthere's the sentry outside. Makes a lot of trouble for the men. "

Lennox was silent for a few minutes before speaking again. 

"I say, Bob. "

"Yes?"

"Look at this cut on my forehead. "

"I'm looking. Very pretty. It's healing fast now. "

"Will it leave much of a scar?"

"I dare say it will, " said Dickenson mockingly. "Add to your beauty. But you ought to have one on the other side to match it. "

"I wasn't thinking about my looks, " said Lennox, smiling. 

"Gammon! You were. "

"I suppose I must have been dashed against a block of stone. "

"Good job, too. Doctor said it acted like a safety-valve, and itsbleeding kept off fever. "

"I suppose so. I must have been dashed against something with greatforce, though. "

"Oh, never mind that. Will you leave off thinking about that cave?"

"No, I won't, " said Lennox coolly. "I must think about it now; I can'thelp it. "

"Then I'm off. "

"Why?"

"Because you were getting better, and now you are trying to makeyourself worse. "

"Oh no, I'm not; and you are not going. Talking to you about it actslike a safety-valve, too. There, it's of no use for you to try and stopme, Bob, for if you go I shall think all the more. I've been wanting totell you all about it for days. "

"But the doctor said I was not to encourage you to talk about thehorror. "

"Well, you are not encouraging me; you are flopping on me like a wetblanket. I say, it was horrible, wasn't it?"

"No, " said Dickenson angrily; "but this is. "

Lennox was silent for a few minutes, and he lay so quiet that Dickensonleaned forward to gaze at him earnestly, "All right, Bob. I'm here, andgetting awfully strong compared with what I was a week ago. I shall getup and come out to-morrow. "

"You won't. You're too weak yet. "

"Oh no, I'm not. I shall be on duty in two or three days, and as soonas I'm well enough I want you and the sergeant to come with me to haveanother exploration with lanterns and a rope. "

"There, I knew it. You're going off your head again. "

"Not a bit of it. "

"Then why can't you leave the wretched cave alone?"

"Because it interests me. I mean to go down again at the end of therope. "

"Bah! You're mad as a hatter. I knew you'd bring it on. "

"There, it's of no use. I want to tell you all about it. "

"If you think I'm going to stop here and listen to a long rigmaroleabout that dreadful hole, you're mistaken; so hold your tongue. "

"There's no long rigmarole, Bob. You know how the corporal yelled outand clutched at me. "

"No; I only guessed at something of the kind, " replied Dickensonunwillingly. "We could not see much. "

"Well, in his horror at finding himself lifted he completely upset me. It was all in a moment: I felt myself gliding over the slimy stone, andthen I was plunged into deep water and drawn right down. "

"But you struck out and tried to rise?" said Dickenson, overcome now byhis natural eagerness to know how his comrade escaped. 

"Struck out--tried to rise!" cried Lennox, with a bitter laugh. "I havesome recollection of struggling in black strangling darkness for whatseemed an age, the water thundering the while in my ears, before all wasblank. "

"But you were horror-stricken, and felt that you must go on fighting foryour life?"

"No, " said Lennox quietly. "I felt nothing till the darkness suddenlyturned to bright sunshine, and I have some recollection of being drivenagainst stones and tossed here and there, till I dragged myself out of ashallow place among the rocks and up amongst the green growth. Then acurious drowsy feeling came over me, and all was blank again. That'sall. "

"But weren't you in agony--in horrible fear?"

"Yes, when I felt myself falling and tried to save myself. "

"I mean afterwards, when you were being forced through, that horriblepassage. "

"What horrible passage?" said Lennox, with a faint smile. 

"What horrible passage, man? Why, the tunnel, or channel, or whateverit is--the subterranean way of the stream under the kopje, in the bowelsof the earth. "

"I told you I was horrified for a moment, and then I was choking in thewater, till all seemed blank, and then I appeared to wake in the hotsunshine, where I was knocked about till I crawled out on to the bank. "

"But didn't you suffer dreadfully?"

"No. "

"Didn't you think about England and home, and all that?"

"No, " said Lennox quietly. 

"Weren't you in fearful agony as you fought for your life?"

"Not the slightest; and I don't think I struggled much. "

"Well, upon my word!" cried Dickenson in a tone of disgust. "I likethis!"

"Do you, Bob? I didn't. "

"You didn't? Look here, Drew, I'm disgusted with you. "

"Why?" said Lennox, opening his eyes wider. 

"Because you're a miserable impostor--a regular humbug. "

"What! don't you believe I went through all that?"

"Oh yes, I believe you went through all the--all the--all the hole; butthere don't seem to have been anything else. "

"Why, what else did you expect, old fellow?"

"What I've been asking you--pains and agonies and frightful sufferingsand despairs, and that sort of thing; and there you were, pop down intothe darkness, pop under the kopje, pop out into the sunshine, and pop--no, I mean, all over. "

"Well, what would you have had me do? Stop underneath for a month?"

"No, of course not; but, hang it all! if it hadn't been that you gotthat cut on your forehead and a few scratches and chips, it was no worsethan taking a dive. "

"Not much, " said Lennox, looking amused. 

"Well, I really call it disgusting--a miserable imposition upon yourfriends. "

"Why, Bob, you are talking in riddles, old fellow, or else my head's soweak still that I can't quite follow you. "

"Then I'll try and make my meaning clear to your miserably weakcomprehension, sir, " cried Dickenson, with mock ferocity. "Here wereyou just taking a bit of a dive, and there were we, your friends, fromthe captain down to the latest-joined private, suffering--oh! I can'ttell you what we suffered. I don't mean to say that Roby was breakinghis heart because he thought there was an end of you; but poor oldSergeant James nearly went mad with despair, and the whole party wasready to plunge in after you so as to get drowned too. "

"Did they take it like that, Bob?"

"Take it like that? Why, of course they did. "

Lennox was silent for a few moments before he said softly, "And did poorold Bob Dickenson feel something like that?"

"Why, of course he did. Broke down and made a regular fool of himself, just like a great silly-looking girl--that is, " he added hastily, "Imean, nearly--almost, you know. "

"I'm very sorry, Bob, " said Lennox gently, and his eyes looked large ashe laid his hand upon his comrade's sleeve. 

"Then you don't look it, sir. I say, don't you go and pitch such a lametale as this into anybody else's ears. Here were we making a dead heroof you, and all the time--There, I've seen one of those little black andwhite Welsh birds--dippers, don't they call 'em?--do what you did, scores of times. "

"In the dark, Bob?"

"Well--er--no--not in the dark, or of course I couldn't have seen it. There, that'll do. Talk about a set of fellows being sold by a lot ofsentiment: we were that lot. "

"The way of the world, Bob, " said Lennox rather bitterly; "a fellow mustdie for people to find out that he's a bit of a hero. But please torecollect I did nothing; it was all accident. "

"And an awfully bad accident too, old chap; only I don't see why thedoctor need have prohibited your talking about the affair. We've allbeen thinking you went through untold horrors, when it was justnothing. "

"Just nothing, Bob, " said Lennox, looking at him with a wistful smile onhis lip. 

"Well, no; I won't say that, because of course it was as near as atoucher. For instance, the hole might have been too tight to let youthrough, and then--Ugh! Drew, old chap, don't let us talk about it anymore. It's a hot day, and my face is wet with perspiration, but myspine feels as if it had turned to ice. Yes, it was as near as atoucher. I would rather drop into an ambush of the Boers a dozen timesover than go through such a half-hour as that again. "

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

PREPARATIONS. 

There was a splendid supply of corn in the great woven Kaffir baskets, and that and the captured flock of sheep did wonders; but there weremany hungry mouths to feed, and the lookout was growing worse than ever. The Boers were fighting furiously all over the two states and keepingour men at bay, or else were flitting from place to place to be hunteddown again, and keeping the British generals so busily at work that, though they tried hard, it was impossible to send help to the littledetachment at Groenfontein, from which place they had received no news, neither were they able to get through a single despatch. 

Many a long discussion took place amongst the soldiers about the stateof affairs, in which Corporal May declared that it was a burning shame--that the generals only thought of saving their own skins, and didn'tcare a fig for the poor fellows on duty fighting for their lives. 

Sergeant James was present, and he flushed up into a rage and bulliedthe corporal in the way that a sergeant can bully when he is put out. He told the corporal that he was a disgrace to the army; and he told themen that as long as a British officer could move to the help of his menwho were in peril, he didn't care a snap of the fingers for his ownlife, but he moved. 

Then it was the men's turn, and they spoke all together and as loudly asthey could; but they only said one word, and that one word was "Hooray!"repeated a great many times over, with the result that Corporal May wasfully of opinion that the men put more faith in the sergeant than theydid in him, and, to use one of the men's expressions, "he sneaked offlike a wet terrier with his tail between his legs. "

Discussions took place also among the officers again and again aftertheir miserable starvation mess, which was once more, in spite of allefforts to supplement it, reduced to a very low ebb. For the bravecolonel was Spartan-like in his ways. 

"I can't sit down to a better dinner than my brave lads are eating, gentlemen, " he would say. "It's share and share alike with the Boers'hard knocks, so it's only fair that it should be the same with the goodthings of life. "

"Yes, that's all very well, colonel, " grumbled the major; "but where arethose good things?"

"Ah, where are they?" said the colonel. "Never mind; we shall win yet. The Boers have done their worst to crack this hard nut, and we've keptthem at bay, which is almost as good as a victory. "

"But surely, sir, " said Captain Roby impatiently, "help might have beensent to us before now. Has the general forgotten us?"

"No, " said the colonel decisively. "I'm afraid that he has severaldetachments in the same condition as we are. That's why we do not getany help. "

"Perhaps so, sir, " said the captain bitterly; "but I'm getting verytired of this inaction. "

"That sounds like a reproach to me, Roby, " said the colonel gravely. 

"Oh no, sir; I didn't mean that, " said the captain. 

"Your words expressed it sir. Come now, speak out. What would you doif you were in my place, with three strong commandos of the Boersforming a triangle with a kopje at each apex which they hold with guns?"

"I don't want to give an opinion, sir. "

"But every one wishes that you should. --Eh, gentlemen?"

"Certainly, " came in eager chorus. 

"Well, if I must speak, I must, sir, " said the captain, flushing. 

"Yes, speak without fear or favour. "

"Well, sir, all military history teaches us that generals with smallarmies, when surrounded by a greater force, have gained victories byattacking the enemy in detail. "

"Yes, I see what you mean, " said the colonel quietly. "You would haveme attack and take first one kopje, then the second, and then thethird?"

"Exactly, sir. "

"Capital strategy, Mr Roby, if it could be done; but I cannot recallany case in which a general was situated as we are, with three verystrong natural forts close at hand. "

There was a murmur of assent, and Dickenson exchanged glances withLennox, who was, with the exception of the scar on his forehead, nonethe worse for his terrible experience in the kopje cavern. 

"You see, gentlemen, " continued the colonel, who did not display theslightest resentment at Roby's remarks, "if the Boers were soldiers--menwho could manoeuvre, attack, and carry entrenchments--they are so muchstronger that they could have carried this place with ease. It wouldhave meant severe loss, but in the end, if they had pushed matters toextremity, they must have won. As it is, they fight from cover--veryeasy work, when they have so many natural strongholds. I could take anyof these; but while I was engaged with my men against one party, theother two would advance and take this place, with such stores as wehave. Where should we be then?"

"Oh, but I'd leave half the men to defend the place, sir. Why, with acouple of companies, and a good time chosen for a surprise, I could takeany of the enemy's laagers. "

The colonel raised his eyebrows, and looked at the speaker curiously. 

"You see, sir, " continued Roby, speaking in a peculiarly excited way, "the men, as an Irishman would say, are spoiling for a fight, and we aregetting weaker and weaker. In another fortnight we shall be quitehelpless. "

"I hope not, Mr Roby, " said the colonel dryly. "Perhaps you would liketo try some such experiment with a couple of companies?"

"I should, sir, " cried the captain eagerly; and the other officerslooked from one to the other wonderingly, and more wonderingly stillwhen the colonel said calmly:

"Very well, Mr Roby. I will make my plans and observations as to whichof the three laagers it would be more prudent to attack. If you do notsucceed, you ought at least to be able to bring in some of the enemy'scattle. "

That evening the colonel had a quiet council with the major, the latterbeing strongly opposed to the plan; but the colonel was firm. 

"I do not expect much, " he said, "but it will be reading the Boers alesson, even if he fails, and do our men good, for all this inaction istelling upon them, as I have been noticing, to my sorrow, during thepast three or four days. To be frank with you, Robson, I have beenmaturing something of the kind. "

"But you will not give the command to Roby?" cried the major. 

"Certainly not, " said the colonel emphatically. "You will take thelead. "

"Ha!" ejaculated the major. 

"With Roby as second in command. I will talk with you after I have donea little scouting on my own account. "

Two days elapsed, and Captain Roby had been talking a good deal in arather injudicious way about its being just what he expected. Thecolonel had been out both nights with as many men as he could mount--just a small scouting party--seen all that he could as soon as it wasdaylight, and returned soon after sunrise each time after a brush withthe enemy, who had discovered the approach to their lines and followedthe retiring party up till they came within reach of the gun, when a fewshells sent them scampering back. 

It was on the third night that Captain Roby sat talking to his greatestintimates, and he repeated his injudicious remarks so bitterly thatCaptain Edwards said severely, "I can't sit here and listen to this, Roby. You must be off your head a little, and if you don't mind you'llbe getting into serious trouble. "

"Trouble? What do you mean, sir?" cried Roby. "I feel it is my duty tospeak. "

"And I feel it is not; and if I were Colonel Lindley I would not standit. "

He had hardly spoken when there was the crack of a rifle, followed byanother and another. The men turned out ready for anything, fullyexpecting that the Boers were making an attack; but Dickenson camehurrying to the colonel with the report of what had happened. 

The two prisoners had been waiting their opportunity, and rising againstthe sentry who shared their corrugated iron prison, had snatched hisbayonet from his side and struck him down, with just enough life left inhim afterwards to relate what had happened. Then slipping out, they hadtried to assassinate the sentry on duty, but failed, for he was too muchon the alert. He had fired at them, but they had both escaped into thedarkness, under cover of which, and with their thorough knowledge of thecountry, they managed to get right away. 

"Just like Lindley, " said Roby contemptuous as soon as the alarm wasover and the men had settled down again. "Any one but he would havemade short work of those two fellows. "

He had hardly spoken when an orderly came to the door of the hut wherehe, Captain Edwards, and two more were talking, and announced that thecolonel desired to speak with Captain Roby directly. The latter sprangup and darted a fierce look at Captain Edwards. 

"You have lost no time in telling tales, " he said insolently. 

"You are on the wrong track, " said the gentleman addressed, angrily. "Ihave not seen the colonel to speak to since, and I have sent nomessage. "

Roby turned on his heel wrathfully and went straight to the colonel'squarters, to face him and the major, who was with him. 

To his intense astonishment and delight, the colonel made theannouncement that the south-west laager was to be attempted by surprisethat night by a hundred and fifty men with the bayonet alone, the majorin command, Captain Roby second, and Captain Edwards and the twosubalterns of Roby's company to complete the little force. 

"When do we start, sir?" said Roby, with his heart beating fast. 

"An hour before midnight, " said the colonel; and the major added:

"Without any sound of preparation. The men will assemble, and everyprecaution must be taken that not one of the blacks gets wind of theattempt so as to warn the enemy of our approach. "

"I have no more to add, Robson, " said the colonel. "You know where tomake your advance. Take the place if you can without firing a shot, butof course, if fire should be necessary, use your own discretion. "

The whole business was done with the greatest absence of excitement. The three officers were warned at once; Captain Edwards lookeddelighted, but Dickenson began to demur. 

"You are not fit to go, Drew, " he said. 

"I never felt more fit, " was the reply, "and if you make any oppositionyou are no friend of mine. "

"Very well, " said Dickenson quietly; "but I feel that we're going tohave a sharp bit of business, and I can't think that you are strongenough. "

"I've told you that I am, " said Lennox firmly. "The orders are that Igo with the company, and the colonel would not send me if he did notknow from his own opinion and the doctor's report that I am fit to bewith the ranks. "

There was a little whisper or two between Dickenson and Sergeant James. 

"Oh, I don't know, sir, " said the latter; "he has pulled roundwonderfully during the last fortnight, and it isn't as if we were goingon a long exhausting march. Just about six or seven miles through levelveldt, sir, and in the cool of the night. "

"Well, there is that, " said Dickenson thoughtfully. 

"And a good rest afterwards, sir, so as to make the advance, so I hear, just at the Boers' sleepiest time. Bah! It'll be a mere nothing if wecan only get through their lines quietly. They'll never stand thebayonet; and I wouldn't wish for a smarter officer to follow than MrLennox. "

"Nor a braver, James, " said Dickenson quietly. 

"Nor a braver, sir. "

"If he is up to the mark for strength. "

"Let him alone for that, sir, " said the sergeant, with a chuckle. "Idon't say Mr Lennox will be first, but I do say he won't be last; andthe men'll follow him anywhere, as you know, sir, well. "

"Yes, " said Dickenson, drawing a deep breath; "and it's what we shallwant to-night--a regular rush, and the bayonet home. "

"That's it, sir; but I must go. The lads are half-mad with joy, and ifI'm not handy we shall have them setting up a shout. "

But of course there was no shout, the men who, to their great disgust, were to stay and hold the camp bidding good-luck to their more fortunatecomrades without a sound; while more than once, with the remembrance ofthe dastardly murder that had just taken place, men whispered to theircomrades something about not to forget what the cowardly Boers had done. 

Exact to the time, just an hour before midnight, and in profounddarkness--for the moon had set but a short time before--the men, withshouldered rifles, set off with springy step, Dickenson and Lennox, towhom the country was well known from shooting and fishing excursionsthey had made, leading the party, not a word being uttered in the ranks, and the tramp, tramp of feet sounding light and elastic as the ladsfollowed through the open, undulating plain, well clear of the bush, there being hardly a stone to pass till they were within a mile of thelittle kopje where the Boers' laager lay. 

There the broken country would begin, the land rising and being muchencumbered with stones. But the place had been well surveyed by themajor through his field-glass at daybreak two days before, and he hadcompared notes with Lennox, telling him what he had seen, and the youngofficer had drawn his attention to the presence of a patch of woodlandthat might be useful for a rallying-point should there be need. CaptainRoby, too, had been well posted up; and after all that was necessary hadbeen said, Lennox had joined his friend. 

"Oh, we shall do it, Bob, " he said. "What I wonder is, that it was nottried long enough ago. "

"So do I, " was the reply. "But, I say, speak out frankly: do you feelup to the work?"

"I feel as light and active as if I were going to a football match, " wasthe reply. 

"That's right, " said Dickenson, with a sigh of relief. 

"And you?"

"Just as if I were going to give the Boers a lesson and show them what acouple of light companies can do in a storming rush. There, save yourbreath for the use of your legs. Two hours' march, two hours' lie down, and then--"

"Yes, Bob;" said Lennox, drawing a deep breath, and feeling for thefirst time that they were going on a very serious mission; "and then?"

And then there was nothing heard but the light tramp--tramp--tramp--tramp of a hundred and fifty men and their leaders, not one of whom feltthe slightest doubt as to his returning safe. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

FOR A NIGHT ATTACK. 

It was a weird march in the silence and darkness, but the men were aselastic of spirits as if they had been on their way to some festivity. There may have been some exceptions, but extremely few; and Dickensonwas not above suggesting one, not ill-naturedly, but in his anxiety forthe success of the expedition, as he explained to Lennox in a whisperwhen they were talking over the merits of the different non-commissionedofficers. 

"I don't believe I shall ever make a good soldier, Drew, " he said. 

"What!" was the reply; and then, "Why?"

"Oh, I suppose I've got my whack of what some people call brute courage, for as soon as I get excited or hurt I never think of being afraid, butgo it half-mad-like, wanting to do all the mischief I can to whoever itis that has hurt me; but what I shall always want will be the cool, calmchess-player's head that helps a man to take advantage of every move theenemy makes, and check him. I shall always be the fellow who shoves outhis queen and castle and goes slashing into the adversary till hesmashes him or gets too far to retreat, and is then smashed up himself. "

"Well, be content with what you can do, " said Lennox, "and trust to thecool-headed man as your leader. You'll be right enough in your way. "

"Thankye. I say, how a trip like this makes you think of your men andwhat they can do!"

"Naturally, " said Lennox. 

"One of the things I've learnt is, " continued Dickenson, "how much aregiment like ours depends on its non-commissioned officers. "

"Of course, " replied Lennox. "They're all long-experienced, highly-trained, picked men. See how they step into the breach sometimeswhen the leaders are down. "

"By George, yes!" whispered Dickenson enthusiastically. --"Oh, botherthat stone! Hff!--And I hope we sha'n't have them stepping into anybreaches to-night. "

"Why?"

"Why! Because we don't want the leaders to go down. "

"No, of course not, " said Lennox, laughing softly. "But, talking aboutnon-commissioned officers, we're strong enough. Look at James. "

"Oh yes; he's as good as a colonel in his way. "

"And the other sergeants too. "

"Capital, well-tried men, " said Dickenson; "but I was thinking of thecorporals. "

"Well, there's hardly a man among them who mightn't be made a sergeantto-morrow. "

"Hum!" said Dickenson. 

"What do you mean?" cried Lennox shortly. 

"What I say. Hum! Would you make that chap Corporal May a sergeant?"

"Well, no: I don't think I would. "

"Don't think? Why, the fellow's as great a coward as he is a sneak. "

"Don't make worse of the man than he is. "

"I won't, " said Dickenson. "I'll amend my charge. He's as great asneak as he is a coward. "

"Poor fellow! he mustn't come to you for his character. "

"Poor fellow! Yes, that's what he is--an awfully poor fellow. CorporalMay? Corporal _Mayn't_, it ought to be. No, he needn't come to me forhis character. He'll have to go to Roby, who is trying his best to gethim promoted. Asked me the other day whether I didn't think he was thenext man for sergeant. "

"What did you say?"

"Told Roby that he ought to be the very last. "

"You did?"

"Of course: right out. "

"What did Roby say?"

"Told me I was a fool--he didn't use that word, but he meant it--andthen said downright that fortunately my opinion as to the men'squalities wasn't worth much. "

"What did you say to that?"

"`Thankye;' that's all. Bah! It set me thinking about what a moll thefellow was in that cave business. It was sheer cowardice, old man. Heconfessed it, and through that your accident happened. I don't likeCorporal May, and I wish to goodness he wasn't with us to-night. I'mhopeful, though. "

"Hopeful? Of course. I dare say he'll behave very well. "

"I daren't, old man; but I'm hopeful that he'll fall out with a sorefoot or a sprained ankle through stumbling over a stone or bush. That'sthe sort of fellow who does--"

"Pst! We're talking too much, " whispered Lennox, to turn theconversation, which troubled him, for inwardly he felt ready to endorseevery word his comrade had uttered. 

"Oh, I'm talking in a fly's whisper. What a fellow you are! Alwaysready to defend anybody. "

"Pst!"

"There you go again with your _Pst_! Just like a sick locomotive. "

"What's that?"

"I didn't hear anything. Oh yes, I do. That howl. There it goesagain. One of those beautiful hyenas. I say, Drew. "

"Yes?"

"My old people at home live in one of those aesthetic Surrey villagesfull of old maids and cranks who keep all kinds of useless dogs andcats. The old folks are awfully annoyed by them of a night. When I'vebeen down there staying for a visit I've felt ready to jump out of bedand shell the neighbourhood with jugs, basins, and water-bottles. But_lex talionis_, as the lawyers call it--pay 'em back in their own coin. What a game it would be to take the old people home a nice pet hyena ora young jackal to serenade the village of a night!"

"There is an old proverb about cutting your nose off to be revenged uponyour face. There, be quiet; I want to think of the work in hand. "

"I don't, " replied Dickenson; "not till we're going to begin, and thenI'm on. "

The night grew darker as they drew nearer to their goal, for a thin veilof cloud shut out the stars; but it was agreed that it was all thebetter for the advance. In fact, everything was favourable; for theBritish force had week by week grown less demonstrative, contentingitself with acting on the defensive, and the reconnoitring that had goneon during the past few days had been thoroughly masked by the attemptssuccessfully made to carry off a few sheep, this being taken by theenemy as the real object of the excursions. For the Boers, after theirlong investment of Groenfontein and the way in which they had cut offall communications, were perfectly convinced that the garrison wasrapidly growing weaker, and that as soon as ever their ammunition diedout the prize would fall into their hands like so much ripe fruit. 

They were thus lulled as it were into a state of security, which enabledthe little surprise force to reach the place made for withoutencountering a single scout. Then, with the men still fresh, a halt wasmade where the character of the ground suddenly changed from open, rolling, bush-sprinkled veldt to a slight ascent dotted with ruggedstones, which afforded excellent cover for a series of rushes if theirapproach were discovered before they were close up. 

This was about a mile from the little low kopje where the Boers werelaagered; and as soon as the word to halt had been whispered along theline the men lay down to rest for the two hours settled in the plansbefore making their final advance, while the first alarm of the sentrieson guard was to be the signal for the bayonet-charge. 

"I don't think we need say any more to the lads, " whispered the major asthe officers crept together for a few final words. "They all know thatthe striking of a match for a furtive pipe would be fatal to theexpedition. "

"Yes, " said Captain Roby, "and to a good many of us. But the lads maybe trusted. "

"Yes, I believe so, " said the major. 

"There's one thing I should like to say, though, " said Roby. "I've beenthinking about it all the time we've been on the march. "

"What is it, Roby?" said the major. --"Can you hear, Edwards--all ofyou?"

"Yes--yes, " was murmured, for the officers' heads were pretty closetogether. 

"I've been thinking, " said Captain Roby, "that if we divided our forceand attacked on two sides at once, the Boers would believe that we werein far greater force, and the panic would be the greater. "

"Excellent advice, " said the major, "if our numbers were double; but itwould weaken our attack by half--oh, by far more than half. No, Roby, Ishall keep to the original plan. We don't know enough of the kopje, andin the darkness we could not ensure making the attack at the samemoment, nor yet in the weakest places. We must keep as we are. Get asclose as we can without being discovered, and then the bugles mustsound, and with a good British cheer we must be into them. "

"Yes, yes, yes, " was murmured, and Captain Roby was silent for a briefspace. 

"Very well, sir, " he said coldly. "You know best. "

"I don't know that, Roby, " replied the major; "but I think that is thebetter plan--a sudden, sharply delivered surprise with the bayonet. Theenemy will have no chance to fire much, and we shall be at such closequarters that they will be at a terrible disadvantage. "

"Yes, " said Captain Edwards as the major ceased speaking; "let them havetheir rear open to run, and let our task be to get them on the run. Iagree with the major: no alterations now. "

"No, " said Dickenson in a low growl; "no swapping horses when you'recrossing a stream. "

"I have done, " said Roby, and all settled down into silence, theofficers resting like the men, but rising to creep along the line fromtime to time to whisper a word or two with the non-commissionedofficers, whom they found thoroughly on the alert, ready to rouse up aman here and there who was coolly enough extended upon his backsleeping, to pass the time to the best advantage before it was time tofight. 

Every now and then there came a doleful, despairing yelp from somehungry animal prowling about in search of prey, and mostly from thedirection of the Boer laager, where food could be scented. Twice, too, from far off to their left, where the wide veldt extended, there camethe distant, awe-inspiring, thunderous roar of a lion; but for the mostpart of the time the stillness around was most impressive, with soundtravelling so easily in the clear air that the neighing of horses wasplainly heard again and again, evidently coming from the Boer laager, unless, as Lennox suggested, a patrol might be scouting round. But aseach time it came apparently from precisely the same place, the firstidea was adopted, especially as it was exactly where the enemy's campwas marked down. 

The two hours seemed very long to Lennox, who lay thinking of home, andof how little those he loved could realise the risky position heoccupied that night. Dickenson was flat upon his back with his handsunder his head, going over again the scene in the cavern when he waslooking down the chasm and watching the movement of the light his friendhad attached to his belt. 

"Not a pleasant thing to think about, " he said to himself, "but it makesme feel savage against that corporal, and it's getting my monkey up, forwe've got to fight to-night as we never fought before. We've got towhip, as the Yankees say--`whip till we make the beggars run. ' What apiece of impudence it does seem!" he said to himself a little later on. "Here we are, about a hundred and fifty hungry men, and I'll be bound tosay there's about fifteen hundred of the enemy. But then they don'tgrasp it. They're beggars to sleep, and if we're lucky we shall be onto them before they know where they are. Oh, we shall do it;" and helay thinking again of Corporal May, feeling like a boy once more; and hewas just at the pitch when he muttered to himself, "What a pity it isthat an officer must not strike one of his men!--for I should dearlylike to punch that fellow's head. --Ha! here's the major. Never mind, there'll be other heads waiting over yonder, and I dare say I shall getall I want. "

He turned over quickly, not to speak, but to grip his comrade's hand, for the word was being passed to fall in, and as he and Lennox grippedeach other's hands hard and in silence, a soft, rustling movement washeard. For the men were springing to their feet and arranging theirpouches and belts, before giving their rifles a thorough rub to get ridof the clinging clew. 

"Fall in" was whispered, and the men took their places with hardly asound. 

"Fix bayonets!" was the next order, and a faint--very faint--metallicclicking ran along the lines, followed by a silence so deep that thebreathing of the men could be heard. 

"Forward!"

There was no need for more, and the officers led off, with the one ideaof getting as close to the Boers as possible before they werediscovered, and then charging home, keeping their men as much togetheras they could, and knowing full well that much must be left to chance. 

The next minute the men were advancing softly in double line, openingout and closing up, as obstacles in the shape of stone and bush began tobe frequent. But there was no hurry, no excitement. They had ampletime, and when one portion of the force was a little entangled by apatch of bush thicker than usual, those on either side halted so as tokeep touch, and in this way the first half-mile was passed, the onlysound they heard being the neighing of a horse somewhere in front. 

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

THE ADVANCE. 

The horse's neigh was hailed with satisfaction by the officers, for itproved that they were going right; and soon after, this idea wasendorsed and there was no more doubt as to their being aiming exactly, for right in front the darkness seemed to be intensified, and theadvancing party could dimly see the rugged outline of the kopje markedagainst the sky. 

Lennox drew a deep breath full of relief, for from what he could seethere would be no terrible blundering and fighting their way upprecipitous tracks, as the Boers' stronghold was nothing more than avast mound, easy of ascent; though he did not doubt for a moment butthat wherever the ground was fairly level the lower part would bestrengthened by breastworks and row after row of wagons, from behindwhich the Boers would fire. 

The advancing force tramped on as silently as ever, in spite of theimpediments in their way; but there was no alarm, no scout sittingstatue-like upon his active, wiry Basuto pony, and farther on nobandolier-belted sentry, rifle in hand, shouted the alarm. They mighthave been approaching a deserted camp for all the hindrance they metwith. 

It seemed to Lennox, just as others expressed it later on, that it wastoo good to be true, and the young officer's heart beat fast as, revolver in one hand, sword in the other, he stepped lightly on, prepared for a furious volley from the Boer rifles, being quite certainin his own mind that they must be going right into an ambush. 

But no--all was safe: and they were so near that at any moment thebugles might sound, to be followed by the rousing cheer of the men intheir dashing charge. 

Suddenly there was a pause, and a thrill ran along the line, for therewas something in the way not five yards from Lennox's position in theline. 

"A sentry!" was whispered, and the line advanced again, for a burgherwas lying across the way, fast asleep, and giving warning thereofthrough the nose--sleeping so hard that the men stepped right over him, he as unconscious as they were that other sentries were failing as muchin their wearisome duty and being passed. 

"It must be now, " thought Lennox, as he could dimly make out, spreadingto right and left, a line of wagons, but not closed up, for there werewide intervals between; and now a low, dull, crunching sound and theodour of bovine animals plainly announced that there were spans of oxenlying close by the wagons as if ready for some movement in the earlymorning for which their drivers had made preparations overnight. 

As it happened, the interval between two of the wagons was fairly widejust opposite the spot where Lennox was in line with his men. Dickensonwas off to his left, and Roby was leading. 

In a whisper the major indicated that the men should close up and passthrough this opening, but in the excitement of the moment he spoke tooloudly, and from somewhere close, the guard having been passed in thedarkness, a man started up and shouted:

"Who comes there?"

His answer was given by the loud call of a bugle, and as he fired hiswarning shot the major's voice was heard shouting, "Forward--bayonets!"and with a ringing cheer the men dashed on as best they could, makingfor the centre of the Boers' position, shouting, cheering again andagain, and driving the yelling crowd of excited Boers who were springingup in all directions before them like a flock of sheep. 

The confusion was awful: rifles were being fired here and there atrandom, and more often at the expense of friend than of foe; whilewherever a knot of the enemy clustered together it was as often to comeinto contact with their own people as with the major's excited line, which dashed at them as soon as an opening could be found, with sucheffect that the Boers, thoroughly surprised, gave way in everydirection, fleeing from bristling bayonets and overturning one anotherin their alarm. 

It was terrible work, for the attacking line was so often arrested byimpediments whose nature they could not stop to grasp, that it was soonbroken up into little groups led by officers commissioned andnon-commissioned. But still, after a fashion, they preserved theformation of an advancing wave sweeping over the kopje, and theirdiscipline acted magnetically with its cohesion, drawing them together, while their enemies scattered more and more to avoid the bayonet as muchas to find some shelter from which such of them as had their riflescould fire. 

It was panic _in excelsis_, and though many fought bravely, using theirpieces as clubs where they could not fire, the one line they followedwas that of flight for the enclosure behind, where their horses weretethered; and in less than ten minutes the major's force had swept rightthrough the Boer laager on to open ground, where, in response to bugle, whistle, and cry, they rallied, ready for rushing the enemy whereverthey could see a knot gathering together to resist, or from which firinghad begun. 

Another five minutes, during which there was desperate work going onnear what had been the centre of the attacking line, and the beating ofhorses' hoofs and trampling feet told that the Boers were in full flightin the direction of the next kopje, where their friends were in allprobability sleeping in as much security as had been the case where theattack was made. And now, as soon as the major could get his men inhand, they dropped on one knee to empty the magazines of their riflesinto the dimly seen cloud of flying men running and hiding for theirlives, the volleys completely dissipating all thoughts of rallying tomeet the attacking force; in fact, not a Boer stopped till the nextkopje was reached and the news announced of their utter defeat. 

It was quick but terrible work, for the men's bayonets had been busy. Their blood was up, and they felt that they were avenging weeks of cruelsuffering, loss, and injury. But now that the wild excitement of theencounter was at an end, and they were firing with high trajectory attheir panic-stricken foes, the bugle rang out "Cease firing!" and theygathered together, flinging up their helmets and catching them on theirbayonets, and cheering themselves hoarse. 

The next minute they were eagerly obeying orders, with the faint lightof day beginning to appear in the east, and working with all their mightto collect and give first aid to the wounded, whether he was comrade orenemy: no distinction was made; everything possible was done. 

But before this Major Robson had selected the best runner of his menvolunteering for the duty, and sent him off to Groenfontein bearing ahastily pencilled message written upon the leaf of his pocketbook:

"Boers utterly routed--kopje and laager taken. Many wounded; sendhelp. "

For the attacking force had not escaped unhurt, several having receivedbullet-wounds, as where the Boers could get a chance they fired well;but as far as could be made out in the first hurried examination not aman was dangerously injured, and in most of the cases their hurts werecuts and bruises given by the butts of rifles. As to the Boers, themajority of their hurts were bayonet-thrusts, in some cases the lastinjuries they would receive; but quite a score were suffering from thesmall bullet-holes made by the Mauser rifles fired by their friends intheir random expenditure of ammunition, such of them as had been shot byour men lying far out on the veldt, having received their wounds duringtheir hurried flight and not yet been brought in. 

Many of the wounded Boers--there was not a single prisoner, ordershaving been given not to arrest their flight--looked on in wonder to seethe easy-going, friendly way in which our soldiers gave them help. Forit was a cheery "Hold up, old chap!" or "Oh, this is not bad; you'llsoon be all right again. "

"Here, Tommy, bring this Dutchman a drink of water. "

For the fierce warrior was latent once again, and now it was the simpleBriton, ready and eager to help his injured brother in the good oldSamaritan mode. 

There was other work in hand to do as soon as it was light enough--theroll to call--and there were missing men to be accounted for; while, asthe officers responded to their names, there was no answer to that ofCaptain Roby. 

"He was fighting away like a hero, sir, last time I saw him, " saidSergeant James, whose frank, manly face was disfigured by a tremendousblow on the cheek. 

"Search for him, my lads; he can't have been taken prisoner, " said themajor. "It's getting lighter now. "

"Poor fellow! I hope he hasn't got it, " said Dickenson to himself as henursed a numbed arm nearly broken by a drive made with a rifle-butt. 

Lennox was called, and Dickenson's eyes dilated and then seemed tocontract, for there was no reply. 

"Mr Lennox. --Who saw Mr Lennox last?"

There was no answer for some seconds, and then from where the woundedlay a feeble voice said, "I saw him running round one of the wagons, sir, just in the thick of the fight. "

"He must be down, " said the major sadly. "Look for him, my lads; he issomewhere on the ground we came along, lying perhaps amongst the Boers. "

Dickenson groaned--perhaps it was from pain, for his injury throbbed, pangs running right up into the shoulder-joint, and then up the leftside of his neck. 

"Oh! don't say poor old Drew's down, " he said to himself. "Just, too, when I was growling at him for not coming to look me up when I washurt. "

No one did say he was down but the young lieutenant's imagination, andhe sat down on a rock and began watching the men coming and going afterbringing in wounded men. 

"Who said he saw Mr Lennox last?" cried Captain Edwards. 

"I did, " said the wounded man in a feeble, whining voice. 

"Who's that?" said the major, stepping towards the man, who lay with hisface disfigured by a smear of blood. 

"I did, sir. Dodging round one of the wagons somewhere. It was wherethe Boers stood a bit, and I got hurt. "

"Could you point out the place?"

"No, sir; it was all dark, and I'm hurt, " said the man faintly. 

"Give him some water, " said the captain. "Your hurts shall be seen tosoon, my lad. Cheer up, all of you; the major has sent for theambulance-wagons, so you'll ride home. "

"Hooray, and thanks, sir!" said the worst wounded man, and then hefainted. 

Just then, as the first orange-tipped clouds were appearing far on high, four men were seen approaching, carrying a wounded man slung in SergeantJames's sash; and as soon as he caught sight of the injured man's faceMajor Robson hurried to meet the party. 

"Roby! Tut, tut, tut!" he cried. "This is bad work. Not dead, sergeant?"

"No, sir; but he has it badly. Bullet at the top of his forehead; hithim full, and ploughed up through scalp; but as far as I can make outthe bone's not broken. "

"Lay him down, sergeant. How long will it be, " he muttered, "before weget the doctor here? Where did you find him?"

"Lying out yonder all alone, beyond those rocks, sir, " replied thesergeant. 

"Water--bandage, " said the major, and both were brought, and the bestthat could be done under the circumstances was effected by the major andSergeant James, while the sufferer resisted strongly, every now and thenmuttering impatiently. Then irritably telling those who tended him tolet him go to sleep, he closed his eyes, but only to open them again andstare vacantly, just as Dickenson, who had been away for another lookround on his own account, came up and bent over him. 

"Poor fellow!" muttered Dickenson sadly, and he laid his handsympathetically upon that of the wounded captain. 

"I don't think it's very serious, " said the major. "Look here, Dickenson; we have no time to spare. Take enough men, and set half toround up all the bullocks and sheep you can see, while the others loadup three or four wagons with what provisions you can find. Send offeach wagon directly straight for camp, and the cattle too, while wegather and blow up all the ammunition and fire the wagons left. It willnot be very long before the enemy will be coming back. Hurry. "

Dickenson was turning to go when the major arrested him. 

"Any news of Lennox?" he said. 

"None, sir, " said the lieutenant sadly. 

But his words were nearly drowned by an angry cry from Roby: "Thecoward! The cur! He shall be cashiered for this. "

"Go on, Dickenson, " said the major; "the poor fellow's off his head. Hedoesn't mean you. "

The lieutenant hurried away, and for the next half-hour the men workedlike slaves, laying the wounded Boers well away from the laager, andtheir own injured men out on the side nearest Groenfontein; whileDickenson, in the most business-like manner, helped by Sergeant James, sent off a large drove of oxen, the big, heavy, lumbering animalsherding together and trudging steadily away after a wagon with itsregular span laden heavily with mealies, straight for Groenfontein. Fora few Kaffirs turned up after the firing was over, evidently with ideasof loot, and ready to be impressed for foreloper, driver, or herdsmen tothe big drove of beasts. 

A few horses were rounded up as well, and followed the oxen; while, asfast as they could be got ready, three more provision-wagons weredespatched, the whole making a long broken convoy on its way to theBritish camp. 

By this time the men, working under the orders of Captain Edwards andthe major, had got the Boers' ammunition-wagons together in one placebehind a mass of rocks, on the farther side of the kopje, away from thewounded. Then the weapons that could be found were piled amongst thewagons in another place; and the troops were still working hard when themajor bade them cease. 

"We can do no more, " he said; "we have no time. But oughtn't theambulance-wagons to be here by now? The enemy can't be long; they'rebound to attack. Ah, Dickenson, have you got all off?"

"All I could, sir, in the time. "

"That's right. I want your men here. You'll be ready to help to getoff the wounded as soon as the wagons come?"

Dickenson nodded, with his head averted from the speaker and his eyeswandering over the injured men. 

"No news of Lennox?" he asked. 

"None. I can't understand where the poor fellow is, unless he wascarried off in the rush of the Boers' retreat. A thorough search hasbeen made. Here, get up on the highest part of the kopje with yourglass, and see if you can make out anything of the enemy. "

The lieutenant was in the act of opening the case of his field-glass, when from where the wounded lay came another angry burst of exclamationsfrom Roby, incoherent for the most part, but Dickenson heard plainly, "Coward--cowardly hound! To leave a man like that. "

Dickenson turned a quick, inquiring look at the major. 

"Delirium, " said the latter sharply. "I don't know what the poor fellowhas on his brain. Oh, if the ambulance fellows would only come! There, my dear boy, off with you and use that glass. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

THE SERGEANT IN HIS ELEMENT. 

Dickenson dashed off and climbed the low kopje, zigzagging among roughstone walls, rifle-pits, and other shelter, and noting that, if theBoers came upon them before they could retreat, there was a strongposition for the men from which they could keep the enemy at bay; and, soldier-like, he began calculating as to whether it would not have beenwiser to decide on holding the place instead of hurrying back toGroenfontein, with the certainty of having to defend themselves andfight desperately on the way, small body as they were, to escape beingsurrounded and cut off. 

To his great satisfaction, though, upon reaching the highest part of themound and using his glass, there were only a few straggling parties ofmen dotting the open veldt, where everything stood out bright and clearin the light of the early morning. Some were mounted, others walking, and in two places there was a drove of horses, and all going in thedirection of the next laager held by the Boers. 

He stood with his glass steadied against a big stone and looked long, searching the veldt to right and left and looking vainly for the mainbody of the enemy retreating; but they were out of reach of his vision, or hidden amongst the bushes farther on. But even if the foremost hadreadied their friends, these latter were not riding out as yet to makereprisals, and, as far as he could judge, there was no risk of an attackfor some time to come. 

For a moment a feeling of satisfaction pervaded him, but the next hisheart sank; and he lowered his glass to begin looking round the kopjewhere here and there lay the men who had fallen during the surprise. 

"Where can poor old Drew be?" he almost groaned. 

At that instant his eyes lit upon the figure of the major, waving hishand to him angrily as if to draw his attention; and raising his own tohis lips, he shouted as loudly as he could, "Nothing in sight. "

The major's voice came to him clearly enough, in company with anotherwave of the hand in the other direction: "Ambulance?"

Dickenson swung round his glass to direct it towards Groenfontein, andhis spirits rose again, for right away beyond the long string of oxenand wagons, as if coming to meet them, he could make out three lightwagons drawn by horses, and a knot of about twenty mounted men coming ata canter and fast leaving the wagons behind. 

"Ha!" sighed Dickenson; "that's good. The colonel must have startedthem to meet us the moment the firing was heard. "

He turned directly to shout his news to the watching major, who signedto him to come down; and he descended, meeting two men coming up, one ofthem carrying a field-glass. 

"To watch for the enemy, sir, " said the latter as they met. "Which isthe best place?"

"Up yonder by that stone, my lad, " replied Dickenson, pointing. "Anynews of Mr Lennox?"

"No, sir; I can't understand it. I think I saw him running down theside of the kopje just as we were getting on, but it was so dark then Icouldn't be sure. "

"I can't understand his not being found, " said Dickenson to himself, ashe hurried down to where the major was posting the men in the bestpositions for resisting an attack, if one were made before the partycould get away. 

Dickenson's attention was soon too much taken up with work waiting, forthe wounded had to be seen to. Rightly considering that before long theenemy would advance to try and retake their old position, the major gaveorders that the Boer wounded be rearranged so that they were in shelterand safety; and then, as there was still no sign of danger, the fewinjured of the attacking force were borne to the nearest spot where theambulance party could meet them. Then the final work of destructionbegan. 

"Seems a thousand pities, " said Captain Edwards, "badly as we wanteverything nearly here. "

"Yes, " said the major; "but we can take no more, and we can't leave thestores for the enemy. --Here, Dickenson, take Sergeant James and playengineer. I have had the trains laid and fuses placed ready. You twomust fire them as soon as we are a few hundred yards away. "

Dickenson shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. 

"Take care, and make sure the fuses are burning; then hurry away. Don'trun any risks, and don't let Sergeant James be foolhardy. "

"I'll mind, sir, " said Dickenson shortly. 

"The wagons will be fired before we start, so that the wind will keepthem going. "

"What about the powder?" said Dickenson gruffly. "That is all together. There are three wagons wheeled down into the shelter of the rock, sothat the blast will not reach the fire. "

"It'll blow it right up, " growled Dickenson. 

"No, " said the major; "the rocks will deflect it upwards. I've seen tothat. "

"Couldn't we make the mules carry off the wagons? All three ambulanceswill not be wanted. "

"My dear boy, you mean well, " said the major impatiently; "but pray becontent with taking your orders. Edwards and I have thought all thatout. The fire will not go near the wounded Boers, and the explosionwill not touch the fire. As to carrying off these wagon-loads ofcartridges that will not fit our rifles or guns, what is the use? Now, are you satisfied?"

"Quite, sir, " said Dickenson. "I was only thinking that--"

"Don't think _that_, man; obey orders. "

"Right, sir, " said Dickenson stiffly, and he went off to look upSergeant James. "Hang him!" growled the young officer. "It doesn'tseem to be my work. Making a confounded powder-monkey of a fellow!"

He glanced up, and saw that the men were busy on high with thefield-glass, but making no sign. Then he noted that the ambulance, withits escort, was coming on fast; and soon, after a little inquiry, hecame upon the sergeant, busy with the men, every one with his rifleslung, linking wagons together with tent-cloth poles and wood boxes andbarrels so that the conflagration might be sure to spread when once itwas started, to which end the men worked with a will; but they did nothesitate to cram their wallets and pockets with eatables in any formthey came across. 

"Make a pretty good bonfire when it's started, sir, " said the sergeant. 

"Humph! Yes, " said Dickenson. "But what are those two barrels?"

"Paraffin, sir, for the beggars' lamps. "

"Well, " said Dickenson grimly, "wouldn't it help the fire if you openedthem, knocked in their heads, and bucketed out the spirit to fling itover the wagon-tilts?"

The men who heard his words gave a cheer, and without orders seized thecasks, rolled them right to the end where the fire was to be started, drove in the heads with an axe, and for the next quarter of an hour twoof the corporals were busy ladling out the spirit and flinging it allover three of the wagons and everything else inflammable that was near. 

"Now pack the paraffin-casks full of that dry grass and hay, " criedDickenson, who had been superintending. "It will soak up the rest, andyou can start the fire with them. "

The men cheered again, and in a very short time the two barrels stoodunder the tail-boards of two wagons, only awaiting the flashing-off of abox of matches to start a fire that no efforts could check. 

"Here is the ambulance party, " cried Dickenson. "Come with me now, sergeant. Let your corporals finish what there is to do. "

"I don't see that there's any more to do, sir, " said the sergeant, wiping his wet face. "Want me, sir?"

"Yes; I've something to say. You will go down and see the wounded off. Oh dear! oh dear! I've been thinking of what we were doing, and not ofpoor Mr Lennox. You've heard nothing, I suppose?"

"Neither heard nor seen, sir, " replied the sergeant. "Seems to me that, in his plucky way, he must have dashed at the enemy, got mixed, and theysomehow swept him off. "

"If they did, " said Dickenson, "he'll be too sharp for them, and getaway. "

"That he will, sir. "

"I was afraid the poor fellow was killed. "

"Not he, sir, " cried the sergeant. "He'd take a deal of killing. Besides, we should have found him and brought him in. He'll turn upsomewhere. "

"Ha! You make me feel better, James, " said Dickenson. "It took all thespirit out of me. Now then, I've some bad news for you. "

"Let's have it, sir. I've had so much that it runs away now like wateroff a duck's back. "

"It has nothing to do with water, sergeant, but with fire. "

"That all, sir? I see; I'm to stop till the detachment's well out ofthe way, and then fire the laager?"

"No, " said Dickenson; "that will be done before the men have marched. You are to stop with me and light the fuses. "

"To blow up the ammunition, sir? Well, I was wondering who was to dothat. "

"It's a risky job, sergeant. "

"Pooh, sir! Nothing like advancing against a lot of hiding Boerswaiting to pot you with their Mausers. Beg pardon, sir; who wasMauser?"

"I don't know, sergeant. I suppose he was the man who invented the Boerrifles. "

"And a nice thing to be proud of, sir! I'm not a vicious sort offellow, but I do feel sometimes as if I should like to see him set up asa mark, and a couple of score o' Boers busy trying how his inventionworked. "

"Come along, " said the lieutenant. --"Then you don't mind the job?"

"Not I, sir. I always loved powder from a boy. Used to make littlecannons out of big keys, filing the bottoms to make a touch-hole. I wasa don at squibs and crackers; and the games we used to have layingtrains and making blue devils! Ha! It was nice to be a boy!"

"Yes, sergeant; and now we've got something big to do. But there, you're used to it. Remember getting away the powder-bags with MrLennox?"

"Remember it, sir? Ha! But I was in a fright then. "

"Of being blown up?"

"Well, sir, if you'll believe me, I never thought of myself at all. Iwas all in a stew for fear the powder should catch from the lantern andmake an end of Mr Lennox. "

"I believe you, " said Dickenson; and they stopped at the spot where theambulance-wagons had trotted up, and the leader of the mounted escorthad dropped from his panting horse to speak to the major. 

"Then you've done it, sir?"

"Yes, as you see. What message from the colonel?"

"Covering party advancing, sir, to help you in. You are to get all theprovisions and cattle you can, and retire. But that I see you havedone. Enemy near, sir?"

The major glanced at the top of the kopje before replying, and then saidbriefly, "Not yet. "

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

ANOTHER EXPLOSION. 

The wounded men--a couple of dozen all told, many of the injuries beingonly slight--were rapidly lifted into the light wagons while the horsesand mules were given water, and all went well, the more slightly hurtcheering and joking their bearers, and making light of their injuries inthe excitement of the triumph. 

"Mind my head, boys, " said one; "it's been knocked crooked. "

"And my leg's loose, you clumsy beggar; it's there somewhere. Don'tleave it behind. "

"I say, Joey, I've got a hole right through me; ain't it a lark!"

"Here, you, sir! Take care; that's my best 'elmet. I want it for apiller. " And so on, and so on. 

Only one man groaned dismally, and that was Corporal May. 

"I say, mate; got it as bad as that?" said one of the bearers. 

"Oh! worse--worse than that, " moaned the corporal. "I'm a dead man. "

"Are you, now?" said one of his fellows in the company. "I say, speakthe truth, old chap; speak the truth. "

"Oh!" groaned the corporal. "Why am I here--why am I here?"

"I dunno, " said the bearer he looked at with piteous eyes. "I never wasgood at riddles, mate. Can't guess. Ask me another. --There you are, lifted as gently as a babby. You're only a slightly; I do know that. "

The corporal was borne away, still groaning, and the man who had spokenlast handed him some water. 

"Cheer up, corporal, " he said; "you'll be back in the ranks in a week. "

Meanwhile the bearers were busy in the shelter where Captain Roby lay, flushed, fevered, and evidently in great pain, while his brotherofficers stood round him, eager to do anything to assuage his pangs andsee him carefully borne to the wagon in which he was to travel. 

"How are you, Roby?" said Dickenson, softly laying a powder-blackenedhand upon the injured man's arm, while the bearers stood waiting toraise him. 

The question and the touch acted electrically, Roby started; his eyesopened to their full extent, showing a ring of white all round the iris;and he made an effort to rise, but sank back. 

"You coward--you miserable cad!" he cried. "You saw me shot down--Iimplored you to help me to the rear--and you chose that time to showyour cowardly hate--you, an officer. --Coward! You ran--you turned andran to save your beggarly life--coward!--coward! Oh, if I hadstrength!--I'll denounce you to the colonel. Cur!--coward!--cur!--I'llpublish it for all the world to know. "

Dickenson started at first, and then listened to the end. 

"All right, " he said coolly. "Don't forget when you write your book. "

"Lift him, my lads, gently; we have no time to spare, " said the majorsternly; and as Roby was borne away, shouting hoarsely, "Coward!--cur!"Captain Edwards said sharply in a whisper, so that the men should nothear:

"Dickenson! Is this true?"

"Oh! I don't know, " was the reply. "I recollect the bugle sounding, and then I was too busy to know what I did till it sounded `Ceasefiring!' I know I was out of breath. "

"Take no notice, " said the major quickly. "The poor fellow's raving. Coward! Tchah! Be ready, Dickenson. You've found the sergeant?"

"All ready, sir. "

In a very few minutes the ambulance-wagons were off again, with theirattendants ordered to go at a steady walk, and, if an attack was made, to keep the red-cross flag well shown, and avoid the line of fire ifpossible. 

And still there was no alarm given from the top of the kopje of theBoers' approach. 

A short time was allowed for the ambulance to get ahead, during whichthe officers had another look at the Boer wounded, the major orderingwater to be given to the men. Next a few sheaves of abandoned rifleswere cast into the wagons to be burned, and a final look was given tothe preparations already made for the destruction of the camp. 

At last, while the long line of captured stores was crawling over theveldt, and a great number of the other oxen which had wandered off tograze were, according to their instinct, beginning to follow theircompanions as if to make for Groenfontein, the order was given for themen to fall in ready for the march back. 

All was soon in order, and the major turned to Dickenson, who stoodaside with Sergeant James, waiting to perform their dangerous task. 

"I was going to appoint four more men to fire the wagons, " said themajor, "but with the preparations you have made the flames will spreadrapidly, and you two can very well do it; and as soon as the fire hastaken hold you can light the fuses yonder. "

"Men signalling from the top of the kopje, " said Captain Edwards. 

"That means the enemy in sight, " said the major coolly. "Signal to themto come down. "

As the captain turned away to attend to his orders the major held outhis hand to Dickenson. 

"Do your work thoroughly, " he said gravely, "and then follow as fast asyou can. I will leave pickets behind to cover you. "

Dickenson nodded, but said nothing, only stood fingering a box ofmatches in his pocket and watching the major hurrying down theencumbered slope of the kopje to join the men awaiting the order tomarch. 

"Sentries on the top coming down, sir, " growled the sergeant; andDickenson nodded again, turning to watch the two men running activelyalong and leaping from stone to stone, till they were pretty close tothe drawn-up force, when the bugle rang out, the voices of the officerswere heard, and the retiring party went off at a good swinging march. 

Dickenson watched them for a few minutes without a word, while thesergeant stood with his rifle grounded and his hands resting upon themuzzle, perfectly calm and soldierly, patiently waiting for his orders, just as if he and the sergeant were to follow as a sort of rear-guardinstead of to fulfil about as dangerous a task as could fall to the lotof a man, knowing too, as he did, that the enemy had been signalled asadvancing--a body of men armed with the most deadly and far-reachingrifles of modern times. 

"About time now, sergeant, " said Dickenson coolly. 

"Yes, sir; 'bout right now, I should think. "

"I want them to have a fair start first, " continued Dickenson; "and Ican't help feeling a little uneasy about the enemy's wounded, for therewill be an awful explosion. "

"Oh, they'll be all right, sir. Make 'em jump, perhaps, and thinkthey're going to be swept away. "

"I wish they were farther off, " said Dickenson; and then he uttered anejaculation as he started aside, an example followed by the sergeant, who chuckled a little as he exclaimed:

"Wish 'em farther off, sir? So do I. "

For, following directly one after the other, two shots were fired fromthe shelter where the wounded Boers had been carefully laid in safety, acouple of them having evidently retained their rifles, laying them undercover till they could find an opportunity to use them. 

"That's nice and friendly, James, " said Dickenson coolly. "Forward!--under cover. "

"I feel ashamed to run, sir, " said the sergeant fiercely. 

"Look sharp!" cried Dickenson, for two more bullets whistled by them. "I don't like bolting, but it seems too bad to be shot down by the menwe have been getting into safety. "

"And fidgeted about, sir, " said the sergeant grimly. "I wish you'd giveme orders to chance it and go back and give those blackguards one apiecewith their own rifles. It must have been them the captain meant when hewas letting go about cowards and curs. "

"Very likely, poor fellow!" said Dickenson, marching coolly on till theywere covered from the Boers' fire. "There, they may fire away now totheir hearts' content, " he continued, as he halted at the end of theprepared wagons. "Wind's just right--eh?"

"Beautiful, sir; and as soon as the blaze begins to make it hot you'llfind the breeze'll grow stiffer. It's a great pity, though. "

"Yes; I wish we had all this at Groenfontein. "

"So do I, sir; but wishing's no good. I meant, though, it's a pity itisn't dark. We should have a splendid blaze. "

"We shall have a splendid cloud of black smoke, sergeant, " saidDickenson, taking out his box of matches. "Ready?"

"Ready, sir, " replied the sergeant, and each held his match-box as lowdown in the paraffin-barrel as the saturated hay would permit, struck amatch, and had to drop it at once and start back, for there was a flashof the evaporating gas, followed by a puff of brownish-black, evil-odoured smoke, which floated upward directly. 

"Bah! Horrible!" cried Dickenson, coughing. "My word, sergeant!there's not much doubt about the Boers' camp blazing. "

"Serve 'em right, sir, for using such nasty, common, dangerous paraffin. Here comes the wind, sir: what did I say?"

For the soft breeze came with a heavier puff, which made the forkedtongues of flame plunging up amongst the thick smoke begin to roar, andin a very few seconds the fire was rushing through one of the tiltedwagons as if it were a huge horizontal chimney. 

"Did you get singed, sergeant?"

"No, sir. It just felt a bit hot. Hullo! what's that?"

For a horrible shrieking and yelling arose from the direction of thewounded Boers. 

"The crippled men, " said Dickenson. "They're afraid they are going tobe burned to death. We ought to go and shout to them that there'snothing to fear. "

"Yes, sir, it would be nice and kind, " cried the sergeant sarcastically;"only if we tried they wouldn't let us--they'd shoot us down before wewere half-way there. "

"Yes, I'm afraid so, " said Dickenson, who stared almost in wonder at theterrific rate at which the fire was roaring up and sweeping along, threatening, as wagon after wagon caught, to cover the kopje with flame. 

"Perhaps, sir, " said the sergeant, with a grim smile, "it would be acomfort to the poor fellows' nerves if we sent up the ammunition-wagonsnow. "

"Whether it would or not, sergeant, we must be sharp and do it, or withthese flakes of fire floating about we shall not dare to go near ourfuse. "

"That's what I'm thinking, sir, " said the sergeant. 

"Forward, then;" and the pair went on at the double to the spot wherethe train was laid, the fuses being some distance from theammunition-wagons, and on lower ground sheltered by great stones. 

The next minute the pair were down on one knee sheltering theirmatch-boxes from the wind behind a big rock, with the train well inview, for those who laid it had not scrupled to use an abundance ofpowder. 

"I did not reckon about this wind, " said Dickenson. "As fast as one ofus strikes a light it will be blown out. "

"That's right, sir. "

"And we shall never get the fuse started. "

"We must try, sir. "

"Yes, " said Dickenson. "Here, it must be one man's job to fire thetrain; the explosion will send off the next wagon. "

"And no mistake, sir. We ought to have had a lantern to light the fuseat. But you get lower down, sir, and I'll set off the whole box ofmatches I've got here, chuck it into the train, and drop behind this bigstone. "

"That seems to be the only way to get it done, " replied Dickenson. 

"Yes, I'm sure of it, sir, " said the sergeant. 

"All right, then; run down and get behind that piece of rock. I'll doit directly. "

"No, no, sir; let me do it, " pleaded the sergeant. 

"'Tention!" roared Dickenson. "Quick! No time to lose. Off at once. "

The sergeant's lips parted as if he were about to say something, butDickenson gave him a stern look and pointed downward towards the stone, when discipline ruled, and the man doubled away to it, grumbling andgrowling till he was lying down panting as if he were out of breath. 

"I could have done it better myself, " he said hoarsely; and then, "Oh, poor lad, poor lad! If--if--"

There was a sharp crack, followed by a pause filled up by the shriekingand yelling of the wounded Boers. Then the sergeant felt that he mustraise his head and see how matters were going on; but he refrained, forthere was a peculiar hissing noise. Dickenson had taken about twentymatches out of the box he carried, held them ready, and ignoring thefuse, he struck the bundle vigorously, stretched out his hand, which wasalmost licked by the flash of flame, and applied it to the thickly-laidtrain. 

For a few moments there was no result, the wind nearly blowing out theblazing splints; but just as the young man was hesitating about gettingout more matches--_phitt_! There was a flash as the powder caught andthe flame began to run in its zigzag course right along the groundtowards the nearest ammunition-wagon. 

Turning sharply, Dickenson laid his hands upon a block of loose stone, vaulted over it, and dropped flat upon his face, conscious the while ofthe piteous cries of the wounded men. 

The next instant there was a tremendous concussion, the stone giving hima violent blow, and as the sky above seemed to blaze there was a roarlike thunder, then a perceptible pause, another roar, again a pause, andanother roar. 

Then for a few moments the young officer lay deafened and feelingstunned, till beneath the pall of smoke which hung over him he openedhis eyes and saw the sergeant kneeling by his side with his lips moving. 

Dickenson stared at him wonderingly, while he saw the horrified look inthe man's face and its workings as he kept on moving his lips, andfinally half-raised his young officer and laid him down again. 

"What's the matter?" said Dickenson--at least he thought he did--he feltas if he had said so; but somehow he could not hear himself speak forthe crashing sound of many bells ringing all together. 

He did not for the moment realise what had happened, but like a flashthe power of thinking came back, and drawing a deep breath, he tried toget up, but could hardly stir. Something seemed to hold him down. 

"Give me your hand, sergeant, " he said, but still no words seemed tocome, and he repeated what he wished to speak; but before he hadcompleted his sentence, he grasped the fact that the sergeant's mannerhad changed, for he rose up, felt behind him, looked at him again, andseemed to speak, for his lips moved. 

"Are you hurt?" Dickenson said, in the same way. 

The sergeant's lips moved and he shook his head, looking the while as ifhe were not hurt in the least. 

"Then why don't you speak?" said Dickenson. 

The man smiled and pointed to his ears. 

"The explosion has deafened you?" said Dickenson dumbly, for still hecould not hear a word. "What do you mean? Oh, I see. "

For the sergeant clapped him on the chest, and then placing his shoulderagainst the stone, he seemed to be exerting all his strength to force ituphill a little, succeeding so well that the next moment Dickenson felthimself slip, glided clear of the sergeant's legs, and rose to his own, while the man leaped aside and the great block slipped two or threeyards before it stopped. 

"Then I was caught by the stone?" said Dickenson wonderingly. "I feltit move. "

He felt sure now that he had said those words; but in his confusedstate, suffering as he was from the shock, he could only wonder why thesergeant should begin feeling him over, and, apparently satisfied thatnothing was broken, begin hurrying him along in the direction taken bythe retreating force, which, now that the dense cloud of smoke waslifting, he could see steadily marching away in the distance, but with agroup of about a dozen lingering behind. 

Just then the sergeant stopped, unslung his rifle, placed his helmet onthe top, and held it up as high as he could, till Dickenson saw asimilar signal made by the party away ahead. 

"They know we're all right, " said Dickenson, still, as it seemed, dumbly: and the sergeant nodded and smiled. 

"It was an awful crash. I mean they were terrible crashes, sergeant. "

There was another nod, and after a glance back the sergeant hurried himalong a little faster. 

"Can you--no, of course you can't--hear whether the Boers are callingout now?"

The sergeant shook his head. 

"Poor wretches!" said Dickenson. "But they were too far off to behurt. "

The sergeant nodded. 

"Here, I can't understand this, " said Dickenson. 

"You pointed to your ears and signified to me that the explosions hadmade you as deaf as a post. "

The sergeant turned to him, looking as if he were trying to check abroad grin, as he pointed to his officer's ears. That made all clear. 

"Why, it is I who am deaf, " cried Dickenson excitedly; and almost at thesame moment something seemed to go _crack, crack_ in his head, and hishearing had come back, with everything that followed sounding painfullyloud. 

"And no wonder, sir, " said the sergeant. "It was pretty sharp. My earsare singing now. Does it hurt you where you were nipped by the stone?"

"Feels a bit pinched, that's all. "

"And you're all right beside, sir?"

"Yes, I think so, sergeant. "

"That's good. Well, sir, you did it. "

"What! blew up the wagons? Yes, sergeant, I suppose we've done our worksatisfactorily. But do you think the Boers would be hurt?"

"If they were, sir, it was not bad enough to make them stop singing outfor help. I heard them quite plainly after the explosions. Can youwalk a little faster, sir?"

"Oh yes, I think so. I'm quite right, all but this singing noise in myears. I say, though, what about the enemy?"

"I don't know anything about them, sir; the kopje hides them for thepresent, but once they make out how few we are, I expect they'll come onwith a rush; and the worst of it is, they're mounted. But it'll be allright, sir. The colonel said he was sending out a covering party tohelp us in, didn't he?"

"Yes, " replied Dickenson. 

"Oh, we shall keep them off. They'll begin sniping as soon as they geta chance, but they'll never make a big attack in the open field likewe're going over now. "

A very little while after they overtook the party hanging back till theycame up, Captain Edwards being with the men, ready to congratulate themon the admirable way in which their task had been carried out. 

The brisk walking over the veldt in the clear, bright air rapidlydissipated Dickenson's unpleasant sensations, and when the main body wasovertaken the young officer would have felt quite himself again if ithad not been for the dull, heavy sense of misery which asserted itself:for constantly now came the ever-increasing belief that he must acceptthe worst about his comrade, something in his depressed state seeming torepeat to him the terrible truth--that poor Drew Lennox must be dead. 

He found himself at last side by side with the major, who as they wenton began to question him about his friend's disappearance, and hefrowned when Dickenson gravely told him his fears. 

"No, no, " said the major; "we must hope for better things than that. He'll turn up again, Dickenson. We must not have our successful raiddiscounted by such a misfortune. --Eh, what's that?"

"Boers in sight, sir, " said Sergeant James. "Mounted men coming onfast. "

"Humph! Too soon, " said the major, and he proceeded to make the best ofmatters. The ambulance party was signalled to hurry forward, and amessage sent to the little rear-guard with the store wagons and cattleto press forward with their convoy to the fullest extent. Then, as themounted Boers came galloping on and divided in two parties, right andleft, to head off the convoy, the eager men were halted, faced outward, and, waiting their time till the galloping enemy were nearly level atabout three hundred yards' distance, so accurate a fire was brought tobear that saddles were emptied and horses went down rapidly. Fiveminutes of this was sufficient for the enemy, the men swerving off in acourse right away from the firing lines, and, when out of reach of thebullets, beginning to retreat. 

"Has that settled them?" said Captain Edwards. 

"No, " said the major; "only made them savage. They'll begin to try therange of their rifles upon us now. Open out and hurry your men on, forthe scoundrels are terribly good shots. "

The speaker was quite right, for before long bullets began to sing inthe air, strike up the dust, and ricochet over the heads of the men, tofind a billet more than once in the trembling body of some unfortunateox. But fighting in an open plain was not one of the Boers' strongpoints; the cover was scarce, they had their horses with them, and thelittle British party was always on the move and getting nearer home. Several bold attempts were made to head them off, but they were thwartedagain and again; but in spite of his success, the major began to growfrantic. 

"Look at those blundering oxen, Dickenson, " he cried. "It's a regularfuneral pace over what will be our funerals--the brutes! We shall haveto get on and leave them to their fate. I'll try a little longer, though. I say, we must be half-way now. "

"Yes; but unfortunately there's a fresh body of the enemy coming up at agallop, " said Dickenson, who had paused to sweep the veldt with hisfield-glass. "Yes, twice as many as are out here. "

"What!" cried the major. "Well, there's no help for it; we shall haveto leave the cattle behind. Send a man forward to tell the convoy guardto halt till we come up, and let the cattle take their chance. "

"The men with the wagons too, sir?"

"No, " cried the major; "not till we're at the last pinch. We must tryand save them. "

The messenger was sent off at the double; and as the retreating partymarched on, the major continued to use his glass, shaking his head inhis annoyance from time to time as he saw the Boer reinforcementsclosing up. 

"Oh!" he groaned, "if we only had a lancer regiment somewhere on ourflank, just to manoeuvre and keep out of sight till their chance camefor a charge. Make them run--eh, Edwards?"

"Yes, " said the captain dryly; "but unfortunately we have no lancerregiment on our flank. "

"No, " replied the major; "and we must make the best of it. "

"Beg pardon, sir, " said Sergeant James to Dickenson; "but don't it seema pity?"

"What? To have got so far and not be able to get back unhurt?"

"I was thinking of the cattle, sir, " replied the sergeant gloomily. "Hungry and low as the poor lads are with the want of meat, it seems asin to forsake all that raw roast-beef. It's enough to make the menmutiny. "

"Not quite, sergeant, " replied his officer as he tramped steadily on. "But look forward; it doesn't seem to make any difference. Thebaggage-guard has halted, but the oxen are marching on, following thewagons steadily enough. "

"Yes, sir; as the old lines used to say that I learnt at school, `It istheir nature too. '"

"I suppose the enemy will divide, take a long reach round, and get aheadof the convoy. "

"Yes, sir, that'll be their game. They'll make for that patch ofwood and rocks in front, occupy it, and force us to make awhat-you-may-call-it. "

"Detour?" said Dickenson. 

"That's it, sir. "

"Yes, " said Dickenson thoughtfully; "they'll be able--mounted--to makeit before we can. "

But the major seemed to think differently, for he sent fresh men on tohurry the convoy, his intention being to occupy the rough patch of a fewacres in extent, hoping to keep the enemy at bay from there till thepromised help came from Groenfontein. 

"Yes, I know, " he said impatiently when Dickenson joined him for a fewminutes to receive fresh orders. "It's distant, and we shall be withoutwater; but it must be done. They must not even stampede the cattle. "

"The major says the cattle must be saved, sergeant, " said Dickenson ashe doubled and rejoined his little company. 

"Does he, sir?" said the sergeant cheerfully. "Very well, sir, then wemust do it. Beg pardon, sir; might be as well for you to go on and saya few words to the lads to cheer them up. "

"They're doing wonderfully well, sergeant. "

"That's true, sir; but we want 'em to do better. They don't see theworst of it. It's all very well to appeal to a soldier's heart and hishonour, and that sort of thing; but this is a special time. "

"What do you mean? This is no time for making speeches to the bravefellows. "

"Of course not, sir. But just you say in your merry, laughing waysomething about the beggars wanting to get our beef, and you'll see whatthe lads can do. Taking a bone from a hungry dog'll be nothing to it. The lads'll shoot as they never shot before, for there isn't one of themthat isn't thinking of roast and boiled. "

Dickenson laughed, and went on at once along the little column, sayinghis few words somewhat on the plan the sergeant had suggested, and itsent a thrill through the little force. They had just come up with theconvoy guard, who heard what he said, and somehow or other--how, it isas well not to inquire--several of the great lumbering beasts began tobellow angrily and broke into a trot, which probably being comprehendedby the drove in front, they too broke into a trot, which in turn wastaken up by the spans in the wagons, and the whole line was in motion. 

The drivers and forelopers who led the way made for the cover, and atthe word of order that passed along the line the men doubled, cheeringloudly the while, and sending the bullocks blundering along in a cloudof dust. 

"Steady, there! Steady!" shouted the major. "Never mind the cattle. The lads will be winded, and unable to shoot. "

"Yes, " panted Captain Edwards; for while this had been going on, theenemy, now tripled in number, were repeating their former evolution, andtwo clouds of them taking a wide sweep round were nearly abreast of thelittle force, evidently on their way to seize the patch of bush as ashelter for their horses while they dismounted, occupied the cover, anddealt destruction to those who came on. 

The major saw the uselessness of his manoeuvre now, and was almost readyto give it up; but still he had hopes. 

"The cattle will screen our advance, " he said, "and the enemy are boundto ride right round on account of cover for their horses. I believeeven now that we can get to this side as soon as the Boers get to theother, and we must clear the bush at the point of the bayonet. "

The men soon knew what was required of them, and they kept on steadilyat the double. But minute by minute it grew more evident that the fast, strong ponies of the enemy, long as the sweep being taken on either sideproved to be, must get to the cover first; and, to the despair of theofficers, while they were still far distant in the deceiving, clear air, they saw the two big clouds of the enemy, as if moved by one order likea well-trained brigade of cavalry, swing round right and left and dashfor the thick patch of dwarf trees dotted with rocks. 

"We're done, sergeant, " said Dickenson breathlessly. 

"Yes, sir, " said the man coolly; "they've six legs to our two. I'msorry about that beef, for I'd set my mind on a good meal at last. "

At that moment the bugle rang out, for it was madness to press on, andthe men, disappointed of their bayonet-charge to clear the little openwood, began to draw breath ready for their next order to turn off rightor left and continue the retreat out of rifle-fire as soon as theycould. 

"Oh, it's maddening!" cried Dickenson passionately as he unfastened thecover of his revolver holster. 

"Oh no, sir, " said Sergeant James. "Case for a cool head. You'll seenow how neatly the major will get us out of fire and take us round. Iwish, though, that our covering party had been within reach. "

An order rang out directly for the party to advance left incline, whichmeant the giving up of their loot, and the men went on with set teeth asthey saw the two great clouds of Boers growing darker as they pressed infor the patch of trees; and then there was a cheer bursting from everythroat--a cheer that was more like a hoarse yell, for from both ends ofthe little wood, still some five hundred yards away, there was a puff ofsmoke, followed by the rattle of a Maxim-gun on the right, a smallfield-piece, shrapnel charged, on the left, and directly after a coupleof volleys given by well-concealed men. 

The effect was instantaneous: riders and fallen horses and men werestruggling in wild confusion, falling and being trampled down, and thoseunhurt yelling in wild panic to get clear. And all the while, as fastas they could fire, the hidden covering party in the wood weresupplementing the Maxim and gun fire by emptying their magazines intothe two horror-stricken mobs. For they were nothing better, as in aselfish kind of madness to escape they dragged their horses' heads roundand lashed and beat at them with the butts of their rifles, to beginfrantically galloping back by the way they came. 

But the worst of their misfortune had not come. Each wing had to gallopfor some distance within shot of the major's little force, which pouredin volley after volley before "Cease firing!" was sounded, the Boershaving continued their flight right away, evidently making for theirruined laager, leaving horse and man dotting the veldt. 

The men were too busy congratulating each other upon their victory, andhelping to round up the cattle scared by the firing, to pay much heed atfirst to the wounded enemy; but as soon as a dozen of the best riderswere mounted on some of the Bechuana ponies which, minus their riders, had begun to contentedly browse on such green herbage as could be found, the major set a party to work bringing the wounded Boers into the shade. 

"Their own people will see to them as soon as we are gone, " said themajor. "What do you make out, Edwards?" he continued to that officer, who was scanning the retreating enemy through his glass. 

"They seem to me to be gathering together for another advance, " saidCaptain Edwards. 

"No, " said the major, "they will not do that. This has been too severea lesson for them. They'll wait till we are gone, and then come to seeto their killed and wounded. That was a sudden turn in the state ofaffairs. "

"Ha!" replied Captain Edwards. "I was beginning to wonder how many ofus would get back to Groenfontein. "

"Yes, " said the major; "so was I. "

In a very short time the ambulance party and the convoy, with its greattrain of cattle, were once more on their way to the camp, well-guardedby half the party Colonel Lindley had so opportunely sent to the help ofthe expedition, the rest, with the major's little force, following moredeliberately, keeping on the alert for another attack from the Boers, who waited till their foes were quitting the field before coming slowlyon. But not for a new encounter; their aim now was only to carry offtheir wounded comrades and bury their dead. 

"Yes, " said the major, "they have had one of the sharpest lessons wehave given them during the war. We suffered enough in carrying thekopje by surprise; this time we have not lost a man. "

These last words haunted Dickenson all the way back to the camp, whichwas reached in safety, the men being tremendously cheered by thecomrades they had left behind. But in spite of his elation with thegrand addition to their supplies and the two great triumphs achieved byhis men, the colonel looked terribly down-hearted at the long array ofwounded men; while with regard to Lennox he shook his head. 

"A sad loss, " he said. "I looked upon Drew Lennox as one of thesmartest young fellows in the corps. It's very hard that misfortuneshould have befallen him now. "

"But you think he'll get back to us, sir?" said Dickenson excitedly. 

The colonel gave him a quick look. 

"I hope so, Mr Dickenson; I hope so, " he said. "There, cheer up, " headded. "We shall soon see. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

"A COWARD!--A CUR!"

It was about an hour later, when the wounded had been seen to by thesurgeon--who reported very favourably on the men, whose injuries werefor the most part the result of blows from rifle-butts received in thestruggle on the kopje--that two of the scouts who had been left to watchthe Boers came in with a sufferer dangerously injured by a rifle-bullet. 

Dickenson's heart gave a throb as he saw the men, and being off duty, hehurried to meet them, in the hope and belief that they had found Lennox. But it was one of their companions. 

The men's report was that the Boers had come steadily on as the Britishforce retreated, and had then been busily engaged collecting their deadand wounded, paying no heed to the little outpost watching them tilltheir task was done, when, as the last of their wagons moved off, theybegan firing again, till one of the outposts fell, and the othersremained too well covered, staying till the firing had ceased, and thenhurrying back. 

"Poor old Lennox!" said Dickenson to himself. Then, seeing thatSergeant James was watching him, he shook his head. 

"I was hoping that they were bringing in Mr Lennox, sir, " said thesergeant gloomily. "Of course, seeing the temper the enemy is in aftertheir defeat, it would be like getting some of our fellows murdered ifthe colonel gave me leave to go out with a white flag. "

"I'm afraid so too, " said Dickenson. 

"But what about as soon as it's dark, sir? Think the colonel would letus go to make a better search? He must be near the Boers' laager wherewe missed him. "

"I was thinking something of the sort, " said Dickenson. "Will you gowith me, James?"

"Will I go with you, sir?" cried the sergeant. "Wouldn't I go throughanything to try and get him back? You'll ask the colonel to name me, sir?"

"If he gives consent, " said Dickenson warmly. "He'll tell me to taketwo or three men, and of course I shall pick you for one. "

"Thankye, sir; and don't you be down-hearted. You're fagged now, sir, with all we've done since we started, and that explosion gave you ahorrid shaking up. You go to your quarters, sir, as soon as the colonelhas given leave, and lie down--flat on your back, sir--and sleep tillit's time for starting. I'll have the others ready, and I'll rouse youup, sir. "

"Very well, sergeant, " said the young officer. "I must own to being abit down. "

As soon as the sergeant had left him, the young officer went to thecolonel's quarters and asked to see him. 

"Come in, Dickenson, " said the chief, and he held out his hand. "Thankyou, my lad, " he said. "I've heard all about what you've done. Verygood indeed. I sha'n't forget it in my despatch, but when it will getto headquarters is more than I can tell. I'm glad you have come. Whatcan I do for you?"

Dickenson stated his wishes, and the colonel looked grave. 

"I don't know what to say, Dickenson, " he replied. "It would be a veryrisky task. I have scouts out, but I doubt whether they'll be able totell whether the enemy is still holding the kopje. If he is, you willrun a terrible risk. I've just lost one of my most promising youngofficers; I can't spare another. "

"I was afraid you would say so, sir. But Drew Lennox and I have alwaysbeen regular churns together, and it seems horrible to settle downquietly here in safety and do nothing to try and find him. "

"It does, my dear sir; but we soldiers have to make sacrifices in thecause of duty. "

"Yes, sir; but we've had a splendid bit of luck since last night. Can'tyou strain a point?"

The colonel smiled. 

"Well, it's hardly fair to call it luck, Dickenson, " he said. "I thinksome of it's due to good management. Eh?"

"Yes, sir; you are quite right. "

"Well there, then, if you'll promise me to run no risks with the lads, and return if you find the enemy still at the kopje, I'll give you leaveto take a sergeant and a couple of men and go. "

Dickenson looked pleased and yet disappointed. 

"We might find him somewhere near, sir, even if the Boers are there, " hesaid. 

"In the darkness of a moonless night, with men on the _qui vive_ readyto fire at the slightest sound?"

"We got well into the laager last night, sir, with a hundred and fiftymen, " said Dickenson in tones of protest. 

"But you wouldn't get in to-night with one, and such an enterpriseagainst either of the other laagers would now be impossible. There, Ican make no further concessions, for all your sakes, so be content. "

"You are right, sir, and I am wrong, " replied Dickenson quietly. 

"You will retire, then, directly you find the place occupied?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Go, then, as soon as it is dark. You can pick two men who can ride, take three of the captured Bechuana ponies, and one can hold them whilethe others search. "

"Thank you, sir. "

"But I have no hope of your finding him, Dickenson. This is solely froma desire that we may feel we have done all we can do in such a case. Now I am busy. You have been up all night, and nearly been killed. Goand lie down for a few hours' sleep. "

The young officer left the colonel's presence, and had no trouble infinding the sergeant, for he was watching for his return, and heard witheagerness the result. 

"Ride? Capital, sir; make us fresher for our work. We shall find him. I don't believe he's dead. Now you'll take a rest, sir. I'll have theponies ready, and the men. "

Dickenson gave him the names of the two men he would like to take, buthad to give up one. 

"Can't sit a horse, sir; hangs on its back like a stuffed image. NowJeffson, sir, was a gentleman's groom. Ride anything. I wonder heisn't in the cavalry. "

"Very well, then; warn Jeffson. There, I am done up, sergeant. I trustyou to rouse me as soon as it's dark. "

"Right, sir. But one word, sir. "

"What is it?"

"Captain Roby, sir. Keeps off his head, sir. Going on awfully. DoctorEmden says it's due to the bullet striking his skull. "

"Dangerous?" said Dickenson anxiously. 

"Oh no, sir; but he keeps on saying things that it's bad for the men tohear; and that Corporal May, he's nearly as bad. He thinks he's worse. He's within hearing, and every time the captain says anything, MasterCorporal May begins wagging his head and crying, and tells the chapsabout him that it's all right. "

"Poor fellow! There, I'll go and see them before I lie down. "

"No, sir; please, don't, " said the sergeant earnestly. "You've donequite enough for one day. "

"Confound it, man! don't dictate to me, " cried Dickenson testily. 

"Certainly not, sir. Beg your pardon, sir; but we've got a heavy job onto-night, and it's my duty to warn you as an old soldier. "

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, sir, that I've had twenty years' experience, and you've hadtwo, sir. A man can only do so much; when he has done that and tries todo more, he shuts up all at once. I don't want you to shut up, sir, to-night. I want you to lead us to where we can find Mr Lennox. "

"Of course, sergeant. I know you always mean well. Don't take anynotice of my snappish way. "

"Not a bit, sir, " said the man, smiling. "It's only a sign that, thoughyou don't know it, you're just ready to shut up. "

"But, hang it all, man!" said the young officer, with a return of hisirritable manner, "I only want to just see my brother officer for a fewminutes. "

"Yes, sir, I know, " said the sergeant stubbornly; "but you're betteraway. He's right off his head, and abusing everybody. If you go he'llsay things to you that will upset you more than three hours' sleep willwipe out. "

"Oh, I know what you mean now--what he said before--about my being acoward and leaving him in the lurch. "

"Something of that sort, sir, " replied the sergeant. 

"Poor fellow! Well, perhaps it would be as well, for very little seemsto put me out. It was the shock of the explosion, I expect. There, sergeant, I'll go and lie down. "

"I'll bring you a bit of something to eat, sir, when I come. There'splenty now. "

"Ah, to be sure; do, " said the young man. "But I could touch nothingyet. Remember: as soon as it is quite dark. "

"Yes, sir; as soon as it is quite dark. "

Dickenson strode away, and the sergeant uttered a grunt of satisfaction. 

"Poor fellow!" he muttered. "It would have made him turn upon thecaptain. Nobody likes to be called a coward even by a crank. It wouldhave regularly upset him for the work. Now then, I'll just give thosetwo fellows the word, and then pick out the ponies. Next I'll lie downtill the roast's ready. We'll all three have a good square meal, andsleep again till it's time to call Mr Dickenson and give him his corn. After that, good-luck to us! We must bring that poor young fellow in, alive or dead, and I'm afraid it's that last. "

Meanwhile Dickenson had sought his quarters, slipped off hisaccoutrements and blackened tunic, and thrown himself upon his roughbed. It was early in the afternoon, with the sun pouring down itsburning rays on the iron roofing of his hut, and the flies swarmingabout the place. 

As a matter of course over-tired, his nerves overwrought with theexcitement of what he had gone through, and his head throbbingpainfully, he could not go to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes hisears began to sing after the same fashion as they did directly followingthe explosion, and after tossing wearily from side to side for quite anhour, he sat up, feeling feverish and miserable. 

"I'm making myself worse, " he thought. "I know: I'll go down to theside of the stream, bathe my burning head and face, and try and find ashady place amongst the rocks. "

He proceeded to put his plan into execution, resuming his blackenedkhaki jacket and belts, and started off, to find a pleasant breezeblowing, and, in spite of the afternoon sunshine, the heat much morebearable than inside his hut. His way led him in the direction of therough hospital, and as he drew near, to his surprise he heard CaptainRoby's voice speaking angrily, and Dickenson checked himself and boreoff to his right so as to go close by the open door. 

"Poor fellow!" he said. "I must see how he is. "

He went into the large open hut in which the captain had been placed bythe doctor's orders, because it was one in which the sides had beentaken off so as to ensure a good current of air. As the young officerentered he caught sight of two others of the injured lying at one end, and noted that the wounded corporal was one. 

Both men were lying on their backs, perfectly calm and quiet; but Robywas tossing his hands about impatiently and turning his head from sideto side, his eyes wide open, and he fixed them fiercely upon his brotherofficer as he entered. 

"How does he seem, my lad?" said Dickenson to the attendant, who wasmoistening the captain's bandages from time to time. 

"Badly, sir. Quite off his head. "

"Ah! Cur!--coward!" cried Roby, glaring at him. "Coward, I say! Toleave me like that and run. "

"Nonsense, old fellow!" said Dickenson, affected just as the sergeanthad said he would be; and his voice sounded irritable in the extreme ashe continued, "Drop that. You said so before. "

"Who's that?" cried Roby, with his eyes becoming fixed. 

"Me, old fellow--Dickenson. Not a coward, though. "

"Who said you were?"

"Why, you did, over and over again. "

"A lie! No. I said Lennox. Ah! To run for his miserable life--acoward--a cur!"

"What!" cried Dickenson angrily; but Roby lay silent as if exhausted, and, to the young officer's horror and disgust, a womanly sob came fromthe corporal's rough pallet at the end of the hut, and in a whiningvoice he moaned:

"Yes, sir; he don't mean you, but Mr Lennox, sir. I saw him run, andit's all true. "

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

"THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE TRUTH. "

Bob Dickenson's jaw dropped as he stood staring for some moments at thecorporal--as if he could not quite believe his ears. It seemed to himthat this had something to do with the explosion, and that his hearingapparatus was still wrong, twisting and distorting matters, or else thatthe excitement of the past night and his exertions had combined with theaforesaid explosion to make him stupid and confused. 

But all the same he felt that he could think and weigh and compareRoby's words with those of the corporal, and experienced the sensationof a tremendous effervescence of rage bubbling up within his breast andrising higher and higher to his lips till it burst forth in words hotwith indignation. 

"Why, " he roared, "you miserable, snivelling--lying--Oh, tut, tut, tut!what a fool I am, quarrelling with a man off his head!--Here, orderly, "he continued, turning to the hospital attendant, "this fellow Maydoesn't know what he's saying. "

"So I keep on telling him, sir, " said the man sharply; "but he will keepat it. Here's poor Captain Roby regularly off his chump, and burstingout every now and then calling everybody a coward, and, as if that ain'tbad enough, Corporal May goes on encouraging him by saying _Amen_ everytime. "

"I don't, " cried the corporal, in a very vigorous tone for one so badlyinjured; "and look here, if you make false charges against me I'llreport you to the doctor next time he comes round, and to the coloneltoo. "

"What!" cried the orderly fiercely. "Yes, you'd better! Recollectyou're down now, and it's my turn. I've had plenty of your nastiness, Mr Jack-in-office Corporal, for a year past, when I was in the ranks. You ain't a corporal now, but in hospital; and if you say much more anddon't lie quiet I'll roll up a pad of lint and stuff that in yourmouth. "

"You daren't, " cried the corporal, speaking the simple truth defiantly, and without a trace of his previous whining tone. 

"Oh yes, I dare, " said the attendant, with a grin. "Doctor's orderswere that, as you were put in here when you oughtn't to be, I was to besure and keep you quiet so as you shouldn't disturb the captain, and I'mblessed if I don't keep you quiet; so there. "

"You daren't, " cried the corporal tauntingly. 

"What! Just you say that again and I will. Look here, my fine fellow. In comes Dr Emden. `What's this, orderly?' he says. `How dare you gagthis man?'

"`Couldn't keep him quiet, sir, ' I says. `He's been raving awful, andlying, and egging the captain on to keep saying Mr Dickenson and MrLennox is cowards. '"

"I wasn't lying, " cried the corporal, with a return of his whimperingtone. "What Captain Roby says is all true. I saw Mr Lennox sneak offlike a cur with his tail between his legs. "

"Cur yourself, you lying scoundrel!" cried Dickenson. --"Here, orderly, I'll hold him. Where's that gag?"

"Oh! Ow!" wailed the corporal. "Here, if you touch me I'll cry forhelp. "

"You won't be able to, " said the orderly, making a pretended rush at thedoctor's chest of hospital requirements. 

"Bah! Quiet, orderly. Let the scoundrel alone. He's off his head anddoesn't know what he's saying, poor wretch. "

"Begging your pardon, sir, " said the attendant, "the captain don't; butthis chap does. I haven't seen what I have amongst the sick and woundedwithout picking up a little, and I say Master Corporal here's doing abit o' sham Abram to keep himself safe. "

"Oh, nonsense, " said Dickenson shortly. "You're getting as bad as thepoor fellow himself. The doctor would have seen in a minute. "

"I don't know, sir, " whispered the attendant, glancing at the corporal, who lay with his eyes half-closed and his ears twitching. "He's prettycunning. Had a crack or two with a rifle-stock, I think, but only justso much as would make another man savage. You'll see; he'll be sentback into the ranks in a couple of days or so. "

"No, no, orderly, " said Dickenson. "I prefer to believe he's a bitdelirious. "

"Well, sir, I hope he is, " said the man, "for everybody's sake, including his own. I don't know, though, " he continued, following thelieutenant outside after the latter had laid his hand upon Roby'sburning forehead, and been called a coward and a cur for his pains;"I've got my knife into Master Corporal May for old grudges, and Ishould rather like Mr Lennox to hear him say what he does about him. Corporal May would get it rather hot. "

"That will do, " said Dickenson; "the man's in such a state of mentalexcitement that his captain's ravings impress him and he thinks it isall true. There, you, as a hospital attendant, must learn to be patientwith the poor fellows under your charge. "

"I am, sir, " said the man sturdily. "Ask the doctor, sir. I'm doing mybest, for it's sore work sometimes with the poor chaps who are regularlybad and feel that they are going home--I mean the long home, sir. I'vegot six or seven little things--bits of hair, and a silver ring, and alucky shilling, and such-like, along with messages to take back with mefor the poor fellows' mothers and sisters and gals; and please goodnessI ever get back to the old country from this blessed bean-feast we'rehaving, I'm going to take those messages and things to them they're for, even if I have to walk. "

"Ha!" said the young officer, laying his hand on the man's shoulder andgripping him firmly, for there was a huskiness in his words now, and hesniffed and passed his hand across his nose. 

"Can't help it, sir. I'm hard enough over the jobs, but it touches aman when it comes to sewing 'em up in their blankets ready for you knowwhat. Makes you think of them at home. "

"Yes, " said Dickenson, in quite an altered tone. "There, you know me. When we get back and you're going to deliver your messages, if you letme know, orderly, I'll see that you don't have to walk. " Dickensonturned sharply to walk away, but came back. "Try and keep the captainfrom making those outrageous charges, my lad. "

"I do, sir; but he will keep on. "

"Well, go on cooling his bandages, and he'll go off to sleep. "

"I hope so, sir, " replied the man. "But what about Corporal May?"

"Serve him the same, of course, " said Dickenson, and he hurried away, with Roby's words ringing in his ears. 

"Chap wants to be a sort of angel for this work, " said the orderly as hefumbled about his slight garments. "Hankychy, hankychy, where are yer?Washed you out clean in the little river this morning and dried you on ahot stone. "

"What are you looking for, mate?" said the third patient in the hutfeebly--a man who, with a shattered arm-bone, was lying very still. 

"Hankychy, " said the orderly gruffly. "Lost it. "

"Here it is. You lent it to me to wipe my face and keep off the flies. "

"Did I? So I did. All right, mate; keep it. Mind you don't hurt theflies. Like a drink o' water?"

"Ah-h!" sighed the injured man. That was all, but it meant so much. 

There was a pleasant, trickling, tinkling sound in the heated hut as theorderly took a tin and dipped it in an iron bucket. The next minute hewas down on one knee with an arm under the sufferer's shoulders, raisinghim as gently as if the task was being done by a woman. Then the tinwas held to the poor fellow's lips, and the orderly smiled as he saw theavidity with which it was emptied. 

"Good as a drop of beer--eh?" he said. 

"Beer?" replied the patient, returning the smile. "Ha! Not bad in itsway; but I never tasted a pint so good as that. "

"Oh! Ah!" said the orderly grimly. "Wait till you get all right again, and you'll alter your tune. "

"Get right again?" whispered the man, so that the corporal should nothear. "Think I shall?"

"What! with nothing else the matter but a broken bone? Why, of course. "

"Ah!" sighed the poor fellow, with a look of relief. "I'm a bit down, mate, with having so little to eat, and it makes me think. Thankye;that's done me a lot o' good. "

He settled down upon the sack which formed his couch, and the orderlyrose to take back the tin, not seeing that Corporal May's eyes werefixed upon the vessel, which he watched eagerly, as if expecting to seeit refilled and brought to him. But the orderly merely set it down, andmade a vicious blow at a buzzing fly. 

"Well, what have I done?" whined the corporal. 

"Done? Heverythink you shouldn't have done, " said the orderly. "Lookhere, corp'ral; next time the barber cuts your hair, you ask him to takea bit off the end of your tongue. It's too long, mate. "

"Do you want me to report you to the doctor for refusing to bring me adrink?"

"Not I, " said the orderly coolly. "The chief's got quite enough to dowithout listening to the men's complaints. "

"Then bring me a drink of water directly. "

"All right, " said the man good-humouredly; "but you'd better not. "

"Better not? Why?"

"Because it only makes you cry. Runs out of your eyes again in bigdrops, just as it does out of another fellow's skin in perspiration. Strikes me, corp'ral, that you were meant for a gal. "

"You won't be happy till you've been reported, my man, " said thepatient. 

"And I sha'n't be happy then, mate. Want a drink o' water?"

"Yes; but things are managed here so that the patients have to beg andpray for it. "

"And then they gets it, " said the orderly good-humouredly as he dippedthe tin again; "and that's more than you can say about what most chapsbegs and prays for. There you are. "

"Well, help me up, " said the corporal. 

"Yah! Sit up. You can. "

"Oh!" groaned the man in a peculiar way which sounded as if he were notsatisfied with its effectiveness, and so turned it into a whine. 

"Won't do with me, corp'ral, " said the man. "You gammoned the doctor, but you haven't took me in a bit. "

"Only wait!" said the patient in a miserable whining tone this time. "How cowardly! What a shame for such as you to be put in charge ofwounded men!"

"Wounded!" said the orderly, laughing. "Why, your skin is as whole asmine is. You've frightened yourself into the belief that you're verybad. "

"Ah! you'll alter your tone when I've reported you. "

"Look here, corp'ral; it strikes me that, with the row that's coming onabout you and the captain charging the officers with being cowards, there's going to be such a shine and court-martial that you'll have yourwork cut out to take care of yourself. Here, put your arm over myshoulder, and up you come. "

"Eh?" said the corporal in a much more natural tone. 

"Eh--what?"

"About the court-martial?"

"Oh, I don't know. I only said what I thought, " said the orderly, winking to himself. "Now then, up you come. Mind the water. "

He supported the corporal gently enough, and helped him to raise thewater to his lips, watching him as he drained it, and then lowered himgently down and knelt, still looking at him, till the corporal gazedback at him wonderingly. 

"What are you staring at?" he said sharply. 

"You, old man. "

"Why?"

"I was thinking. Your knocks have made you quite off your head. "

"That they haven't. I'm as clear over everything as you are. "

"Oh no, " said the orderly. "You're quite off your chump, and don't knowwhat you're saying. "

"You're a fool, " said the corporal angrily. 

"Tell me something I don't know, old chap. Fool? Why, of course I was, to 'list and come out for a holiday like this. Oh yes, plenty of usfeels what fools we've been; but we're making the best of it--like men. D'yer hear--like men? I say, the captain's regularly raving, ain't he?"

"Well, er--yes--no. "

"Oh, he is; and you'd better own up and be cracked too. You don't knowwhat you've been saying about Mr Lennox. "

The corporal hesitated, looking up in the orderly's eyes curiously, andseeming as if he was thinking deeply of the man's words and debating inhimself about the position he was going to occupy if an inquiry didfollow the captain's charges. He was not long in deciding, but heforgot to whine as he said, "Off my head? Delirious? Not a bit. I sawall the captain said, and I'm as clear as you are. I shall stick to it. There's nothing like the truth. "

"Oh yes, there is, " said the orderly, chuckling; "a thoroughly goodthumping lie's wonderfully like it sometimes--so much like it that itpuzzles people to tell t'other from which. "

"Look here, orderly; do you mean to tell me I'm a liar?" said thecorporal angrily. 

"Not I. 'Tain't no business of mine; only it strikes me that there'sgoing to be a regular row about this. People as go righting don't liketo be called cowards. It hurts anybody, but when it comes to be said ofa soldier it's like skinning him. There, I must go and wet thecaptain's lint. "

Saying which, the orderly rose and went to captain Roby's side tomoisten the hot bandages, so that their rapid evaporation might producea feeling of coolness to his fevered head. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

A FIND. 

Dickenson walked frowning away from the hospital hut, thinking of themanner in which Roby had shifted the charge of cowardice from hisshoulders to Lennox's, and a sigh of misery escaped from his breast ashe made for the side of the bubbling stream. 

"Poor fellow!" he said to himself. "I'm afraid that he's where beingcalled coward or brave man won't affect him. "

He reached the beautiful, clear stream, lay down and drank like somewild animal, and then began bathing his temples, the water setting himthinking of Lennox's adventures by its source, and clearing his head somuch that when he rose at last and began to walk back to his quarters hefelt wonderfully refreshed. 

This state of feeling increased to such a degree that when he once morelay down after taking off his hot jacket, the heat from the roof, thebuzzing of the flies, and the noises out in the village square mingledtogether into a whole that seemed slumber-inviting, and in less than tenminutes he was plunged in a deep, heavy, restful sleep, which seemed tohim to have lasted about a quarter of a hour, when he was touched uponthe shoulder by a firm hand, and sprang up to gaze at the light of alantern and at nothing else. 

"Close upon starting-time, sir, " said the sergeant out of the darknessbehind the lamp. 

For a few moments Dickenson was silent, and the sergeant spoke again. 

"Time to rouse up, sir. "

"Yes, of course, " said the young officer, getting slowly upon his feet, and having hard work to suppress a groan. 

"Bit stiff, sir?"

"Yes; arm and back. I can hardly move. But it will soon go off. "

"Oh yes, sir. It was that big stone nipping you after the blow-up. "

"I expect so, " said Dickenson, struggling into his jacket. "Ha! It'sgetting better already. Where are the ponies?"

"Round by the tethering-line, sir; but you've got to have a bit ofsupper first. "

"Oh, I want no supper. I've no appetite now. "

"Armoured train won't work, sir, without filling up the furnace, " saidthe sergeant sternly; "and the ponies are not quite ready. "

"You promised to have them ready, sergeant. "

"So I did, sir; but we want all we can out of them to-night. We mayhave to ride for our lives; so I managed to beg a feed of mealies apiecefor them. There's a snack of hot meat ready in the mess hut, sir, andthe colonel would like to see you before you start. "

"Yes, " said Dickenson, finishing buckling on his sword, and slipping thelanyard cord of his revolver about his neck. 

He hurried then to the mess-room, where a piece of well-broiled steak, freshly cut from one of the oxen, was brought by the cook, emitting anaroma agreeable enough; but it did not tempt the young officer, whoseone idea was to mount and ride away for the kopje. Certainly it was notonly like fresh meat--very tough--but it possessed the toughness ofyears piled-up by an ox whose life had been passed helping to drag atow-rope on trek. So half of it was left, and the young man sought thecolonel's quarters. 

"Ha!" he said. "Ready to start, then?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, I must leave all to your discretion, Dickenson, " he said. "Recollect you promised me that if there was any sign of the kopje beingstill occupied you would stop at once and return. "

"Yes; I have not forgotten, sir. "

"That's enough, then. Keep your eyes well open for danger. I'd giveanything to recover Lennox, but I cannot afford to give the lives ofmore of my men. "

Dickenson frowned. 

"You mean, sir, that you do not believe he is still alive. "

"I don't know what to say, Dickenson, " said the colonel, beginning towalk up and down the hut. "You have heard this ugly report?"

"Yes, sir; and I don't believe it. "

"I cannot believe it, " said the colonel; "but Captain Roby keeps onrepeating it to the doctor and the major; while that man who waswounded, too, endorses all his captain says. It sounds monstrous. "

"Don't believe it, sir, " cried Dickenson excitedly. 

"I have told you that I cannot believe it, " said the colonel; "but MrLennox is missing, and it looks horribly corroborative of Roby's tale. There, go and find him--if you can. We can't add that to our othermisfortunes; it would be a disgrace to us all. "

"You mean, sir, " said Dickenson coldly, "if Drew Lennox had--has--well, I suppose I must say it--run away?"

"Exactly. "

"Well, sir, I don't feel in the least afraid. He is either a prisoner, lying badly wounded somewhere about the kopje, or--dead. "

He said the last word in a husky tone, and then started violently. 

"What is it, man?" cried the colonel excitedly, for the young officerseemed as if he were suffering from some violent spasm. "Are you hurt?"

"Something seemed to hurt me, sir, " said the young man; "but it was onlya thought. "

"A thought?"

"Yes, sir, " was the reply. "I was wondering whether it was possible. "

"Whether what was possible?" said the colonel impatiently. "Don't speakin riddles, man. "

"No, sir. It came like a flash. Suppose the poor fellow was somewherenear the spot where we exploded the ammunition?"

"Fancy, " said the colonel coldly. "There must have been plenty ofplaces round about the part you attacked without Lennox being there. There, lose no time; find him, and bring him back. "

"He half believes that wretched story put about by Roby, " said Dickensonto himself as he walked stiffly away, depressed in mind as well as body, and anything but fit for his journey, as he began to feel more and more. But he made an effort, stepped out boldly in spite of a sharp, catchingpain, and answered briskly to the sentries' challenges as he passed intothe light shed by the lanterns here and there. 

"Ready, sir?" said a voice suddenly. 

"Yes; quite. The sooner we're off the better. "

"The ponies are waiting, sir; and I've got the password, and knowexactly where the outposts are if I can hit them off in the dark, forit's twice as black as it was last night. "

"Then it will be a bad time for our search. "

"Search, sir?" said the sergeant bluntly. "We're going to do nosearching to-night. "

"What!" cried Dickenson. 

"It's impossible, sir. All we can do is to get as close as we can tothe kopje and find out whether the enemy is still there. Then we mustwait for daylight. If the place is clear, it will be all easy going; ifthe Boers are still there we must have a hasty ride round, if we can, before we are discovered. "

"Very well, " said Dickenson slowly as they walked on to the lines wherethe ponies were tethered, mounted, and went off at a walk, the sergeantand Dickenson side by side and the two men close behind; while theslight, cob-like Bechuana ponies upon which they were mounted seemed toneed no guiding, but kept to the track which brought them again uponoutposts, where their riders were challenged, gave the word, and thenwent steadily on at a walk right away across the open veldt. 

"Ponies know their way, sir, " said the sergeant after they had riddenabout a mile. "I'll be bound to say, if we let them, they'll take usright by that patch of scrub where the enemy had his surprise, and thengo straight away for the kopje. "

"So much the better, sergeant, " said Dickenson, who spoke unwillingly, his body full of pain as his mind was of thought. 

"Will you give the order for us to load?"

"Load?" said Dickenson in a tone expressing his surprise. "Oh! ofcourse;" and he gave the necessary command, taking the rifle handed tohim by one of the men as they rode on. "I was thinking of our chancesof finding the Boers out scouting. I suppose it is quite possible thatwe may run against a patrol. "

"More than likely, sir. They'll be eager enough to find out some way ofpaying back what we gave them to-day. "

"Of course, and--What does this mean?" whispered Dickenson, for his ponystopped short, as did the others, the sergeant's mount uttering a sharp, challenging neigh and beginning to fidget. 

"Means danger, sir, " whispered the sergeant. "We loaded none too soon. "

There was nothing for it but to sit fast, peering into the wall ofdarkness that surrounded them, trying vainly to make out the approachingdanger, every man listening intently. Fully ten minutes elapsed, andnot a sound was heard. The ponies, well-trained by the Boers to stand, remained for a time perfectly motionless, till all at once, just asDickenson was about to whisper to the sergeant that their mounts hadprobably only been startled by some wild animal of the desert, one ofthem impatiently stretched out its neck (drawing the hand holding thereins forward), snuffed at the earth, and began to crop at the stuntedbrush through which they were passing. The others immediately followedsuit, and, letting them have their own way, the party sat once morelistening in vain. 

Then came a surprise. All at once, from what Dickenson judged to besome fifty feet away, there was the peculiar _ruff! ruff! ruff! ruff_!of some one walking slowly through the low scrub, which there was notunlike walking over a heather-covered track. 

"Stand, " cried the lieutenant sharply, "or we fire. "

"No. Hold hard, " cried a familiar voice. "Who goes there? Dickenson, is that you?"

"Lennox! Thank Heaven!"

The steps quickened till he who made them came staggering up to thelieutenant's pony, at which he caught, but reached short, stumbled, andfell. 

The sergeant was off his pony in a moment, handing the reins to acompanion, and helping the lost man to rise. 

"Are you all right?" said Dickenson excitedly as he reached down, feltfor, and firmly grasped his friend's wet, cold hand. 

"All right?" said Lennox bitterly. "Well, as all right as a man can bewho was about to lie down utterly exhausted, when he heard your pony. "

"But are you wounded?"

"No; only been nearly strangled and torn to pieces. But don't ask mequestions. Water!" A water-bottle was handed to the poor fellow, andthey heard him drink with avidity. Then ceasing for a short space, hesaid, "I was just going to lie down and give it up, for I was completelylost. " He began drinking again, and then, with a deep breath of relief:"Whose is this?"

"Mine, sir, " said the sergeant, and he took the bottle from thetrembling outstretched hand which offered it. 

"Thankye, sergeant, " sighed the exhausted man. "It does one good tohear your voice again. Are we far from Groenfontein?"

"About three miles, " said Dickenson. 

"Ah!" said Lennox, with a groan. "Then I can't do it. "

"Yes, you can, " said Dickenson warmly. "Here, hold on by the nag's manewhile I dismount. We'll get you into the saddle, and walk the ponyhome. "

"Excuse me, sir; I'm dismounted, " said the sergeant, "and I'd ratherwalk, please. "

"Thank you, James, " said Dickenson. "I'll take your offer, for I'mnearly done up myself. "

"You keep still, then, sir. --Dismount, my lads, and help to get MrLennox into the saddle. --Rest on me, sir; I've got you. Sure you're notwounded, sir?"

There was no reply; but the sergeant, who had passed his arm round hisyoung officer's waist, felt him subside, and if the hold had not beentightened he would have sunk to the ground. 

"Got him?" cried Dickenson. 

"Yes, sir; all right. Fainted. "

"Fainted?"

"Yes, sir. Regular exhaustion, I suppose. We'll get him into thesaddle, and I think the best way will be for me to got up behind andhold him on, for he's regularly given up now that he has fallen amongfriends. "

"But the pony: will it carry you both?"

"Oh yes, sir--at a walk. They're plucky little beasts, sir. But we'vegot him, sir, and that's what I didn't expect. I suppose we mustn'tcheer?"

"Cheer? No, " said Dickenson excitedly. "Look here, sergeant; I'm a bitcrippled, but I'll have him in front of me. "

"But he's on my pony now, sir, with the lads holding him. Had we betterdrag him down again? He's precious limp, sir; and I'm afraid he's hurtworse than he said. "

"Very well; keep as you are, " said Dickenson hurriedly; and, almostunseen, the sergeant mounted behind his charge and began to feel abouthim for the best way of making the poor fellow as comfortable aspossible. 

"He's got his sword all right, sir, but his revolver's gone. Stop amoment, " continued the sergeant, fumbling in the darkness; "there's thelanyard, but his hat's gone too. There, I've got him nicely now. Mount, my lads. "

There was a rustling sound as the men sprang into their saddles again. 

"Ready?" said Dickenson. 

"Yes, sir. "

"Stop a moment. How are we to find our way back?"

"We shall have to trust to the ponies, sir, " said the sergeant. "Let'ssee; we have turned their heads round over this job. We must leave itto them; they'll find their way back, thinking they're going to get somemore mealies. Trust them for that. "

"Forward at a walk!" said Dickenson. "Tut, tut, sergeant! It's asblack as pitch. If a breeze would only spring up. "

"Dessay it will, sir, before long. "

"How does Mr Lennox seem?"

"Head's resting on my clasped hands, sir, and he's sleeping like ababy--regular fagged out. "

It was a slow and toilsome march; but the party were in the highest ofspirits, and, in the hope of seeing the lights at Groenfontein at theend of an hour or so, they kept on, only pausing now and again to listenfor danger and to rearrange Lennox, whose silence began to alarm hisfriend. But the sergeant assured him that the poor fellow was sleepingheavily, and they went on again with a dark mental cloud coming overDickenson's exhilaration as he thought of the unpleasant news thatawaited his friend. 

"But a word from him will set that right, " he said to himself. "Poorfellow! He must be done up to sleep like that. Why, he never evenasked how we got on after the fight. "

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

IN DIFFICULTIES. 

On and on at the ponies' slow walk through the short scrub or over thebare plain, with the clever little animals seeming to instinctivelyavoid every stone that was invisible to the riders in the intensedarkness. Every now and then a halt was made, one of which their steedsimmediately took advantage by beginning to browse on such tender shootsas took their fancy, and again and again the whispered questions wereasked:

"How does he seem, sergeant?"

"Fast asleep, sir. "

"Hadn't you better let one of the men take your place?"

"Oh no, sir; I'm all right, and so's he. "

"Can either of you hear anything?"

"No, sir; only the ponies cropping the bush. " Then a faint, "We oughtto be getting near home, sergeant. "

"Yes, sir. "

"Can we do anything more?"

"No, sir; only wish for a row of gas-lamps along a straight road, and itain't any good to wish for that. "

"I can see nothing, sergeant, and the sky seems blacker than the earth. "

"Both about the same, sir, I think. "

"It is so unfortunate, sergeant, just at a time like this. "

"Oh, I don't know, sir; one ought to make the best of things, and weighone against another. "

"What do you mean?"

"Well, sir, we're bothered a good deal with the darkness, and we'reobliged to do what a human man don't like to do--trust to a dumb animalinstead of himself. Of course that's bad; but then, on the other side, we're not running up against any of the enemy, and instead of huntingfor hours after a long ride and then not finding what we come for, herewe are not having a long dangerous ride at all, and him we wanted tofind tumbling right atop of us and in a way of speaking, saying, `Looking for me, my lads? Here I am!'"

"Yes, we have been very fortunate, " said Dickenson. 

"Fortunate, sir? I call it downright lucky. "

"Of course--it is. But can we do no more?"

"Not that I see, sir--feel, I mean. We might camp down and let thehorses feed till daylight. "

"Oh no; let us keep on. "

"Very well, sir; then there really is nothing we can do but trust to theponies. They somehow seem to see in the dark. "

"Forward, then!"

At the end of another half-hour they drew rein again, and almostprecisely the same conversation took place, with the exception thatDickenson declared at the end that they must have lost their way. 

"Well, sir, " replied the sergeant dryly, "it's hardly fair to say that, sir. "

"What do you mean?" said Dickenson tartly. 

"Begging your pardon, sir, one can't lose what we've never had. It'sbeen a regular game of Blindman's buff to me, sir, ever since we leftthe last post. "

Dickenson was silent, for he felt that he had nothing to say but"Forward!" so he said that, and the ponies moved on again. 

"We must be going wrong, sergeant, " said Dickenson at last. "We haveleft Groenfontein to the right. "

"No, sir; I think not, " replied the man. "If we had, we should havebroken our shins against the big kopje and been challenged by our men. "

"Then we've passed it to the left. "

"No, sir. If we had we should have come upon the little river, and theponies would have been kicking up the stones. "

"Then where are we?" said the lieutenant impatiently. 

"That's just what I'm trying to find out, sir. I wouldn't care if Iknew which was the north, because then one could say which was thesouth. "

"Psh! It all comes of trusting to the ponies. "

"Yes, sir; but that's one comfort, " said the sergeant. "We know they'rehonest and would not lead us wrong. Poor brutes! they're doing theirbest. "

"I'm beginning to feel hopelessly lost, sergeant. I believe we keepgoing on and on in a circle. "

"Well, sir, we might be doing worse, because it must be daylightby-and-by. "

"Not for hours, " said Dickenson impatiently. "We are, as I said, hopelessly lost. "

"Hardly, " said the sergeant to himself, "for here we are. " Then aloudhe once more proposed that they should bivouac till daybreak. 

"No, " said the leader decisively. "We'll keep on. We must have beencoming in the right direction, and, after all, I dare say Groenfonteinis close at hand. "

He was just about to give the order to march again when the long, snappish, disappointed howl of a jackal was heard, and the ponies ceasedgrazing and threw up their muzzles; while as Dickenson leaned forward togive his mount an encouraging pat he could feel that the timidcreature's ears were thrust right forward. 

"Always seems to me, sir, " said the sergeant gently, "that the wildthings out in these plains never get enough to eat. Hark at thatbrute. "

He had hardly spoken when from out in the same direction as the jackal'scry, but much farther away, came the tremendous barking roar of a lion, making the ponies draw a deep breath and shiver. 

"Well, " said Dickenson, "that can't be our way. It must be open countryyonder. It's all chance now, but we needn't run into danger and scareour mounts. We'll face right round and go as far as we can judge in theopposite direction to where that cry came from. "

"Yes, sir; and it will make the ponies step out. "

The sergeant was quite right, for the timid animals responded to thetouch of the rein, immediately stepped out at the word "Forward!" andthen broke into a trot, which had to be checked. 

The roar was not heard again, but the yelps of the jackals were; and theparty went on and on till suddenly the cautious little beasts began toswerve here and there, picking their way amongst stones which lay prettythickly. 

"This is quite fresh, sergeant, " said Dickenson. 

"Yes, sir. I was wondering whether we had hit upon the river-bank. "

"Ah!" cried Dickenson eagerly, just as his pony stopped short, sighed, and began to browse without reaching down, the others seeming to do thesame. 

"But there's no river here, sir, " continued the sergeant. 

"How do you know?"

"Ponies say so, sir. If there'd been a river running by here, they'd bemaking for it to get a drink. "

"Yes, of course. Here, sergeant, I can touch high boughs. "

"Same here, sir. "

"But there's no wood in our way. "

"What about the patch where our men surprised the Boers yesterday, sir?"

"To be sure. Why, sergeant, we must have wandered there. "

"That's it, sir, for all I'm worth. "

"Ha!" said Dickenson, with a sigh of relief. "Then now we havesomething tangible, and can easily lay our course for Groenfontein. "The sergeant coughed a little, short, sharp, dry cough, and saidnothing. "Well, don't you think so?"

"Can't say I do, sir. I wish I did. "

"Why, hang it, man! it's simple enough. Here's the coppice, andGroenfontein must lie--"

Dickenson stopped short and gave his ear a rub, full of vexation. 

"Yes, sir, that's it, " said the sergeant dryly; "this is the patch ofwood, but which side of it we're looking at, or trying to look at, Idon't know for the life of me. It seems to me that we're just as likelyto strike off straight for the Boers' laager as for home. I don't knowhow you see it, sir. "

"See, man!" cried Dickenson angrily. "It's of no use; I only wish Icould see. We can do nothing. I was thinking that we had only to skirtround this place, and then face to our left and go straight on, and weshould soon reach home. "

"Yes, sir; I thought something of that sort at first, but I don't now. May I say a word, sir?"

"Yes; go on. I should be glad if you would. "

"Well, sir, it's like this; whenever one's in the dark one's pretty wellsure to go wrong, for there's only one right way to about fifty that arenot. "

"Yes, of course. "

"Then won't it be best to wait till the day begins to show in the east, and rest and graze the ponies for a bit? Better for Mr Lennox too. "

"You're right, sergeant; and it would have been better if I had giventhe order to do so at first. --Here, dismount, my lads, and hobble yourcobs. --Here, I'll help you to get Mr Lennox down, sergeant. Stop amoment; let's try and find a patch of heath or grass or somethingfirst. --Hullo! what's here?" he cried a minute later, after dismountingand feeling about. 

"What have you found, sir?"

"Ruts--wheel-marks made, of course, by our guns or their limbers. Can'twe tell our way by those?"

"No, sir. It makes things a bit simpler; but we had a gun and wagon ateach end, and we can't tell in the dark which end this is. If we startagain by this we're just as likely to make straight off for the Boercamp as for ours. "

"Yes; we'll wait for daylight, sergeant, " said Dickenson. "We're alltired out, so let's have two or three hours' rest. "

A few minutes later Lennox, still plunged in a stupor-like sleep, waslifted from the sergeant's pony, and at once subsided into the bed ofshort scrub found for him; the ponies, well hobbled, were cropping thetender parts of the bushes; and the weary party were sitting down. 

There was silence for a few minutes, and then the sergeant spoke in awhisper. 

"Think it would be safe for the men to light a pipe, sir?"

"Hum! Yes, " said Dickenson, "if they light the match to start theirpipes under a held-out jacket and in the shelter of one of the bigstones. "

He repented directly he had given the consent, on account of the risk. 

"But, poor follows!" he said, "this will be the second night they havebeen out on the veldt, and it will help to keep them awake. "

Lennox was at the end of a couple of hours sleeping as heavily as ever. Dickenson had seated himself close by him so that he could lay a handupon his forehead from time to time; and he judged that the poor fellowmust be in pain, for each time there was a sharp wincing, accompanied bya deep sigh, which resulted in the touch being laid on more lightly. Itwas only to satisfy himself in the darkness that his comrade wassleeping and not sinking into some horrible state of lethargy; andfinding at last that there was no apparent need for his anxiety, thewatcher directed his attention to listening for sounds out upon theveldt, and divided the time by making surmises as to the experiencesthrough which Lennox must have passed. 

Captured and escaped! That was the conclusion to which he always came, and he wished that Lennox would wake up and enliven the tedium of thedark watch by relating all that he had gone through. 

The lion made itself heard again and again, but at greater distances;and the prowling jackals and hyenas seemed to follow, for their criesgrew fainter and fainter and then died out into the solemn silence ofthe veldt, which somehow appeared to the listener as if it wereconnected with an intense feeling of cold. 

Then all at once, as Dickenson turned himself wearily and in pain fromthe crushing he had received when the stone slipped, he became consciousof something dark close by, and his hand went involuntarily to hisrevolver. 

The next minute he realised that what he saw was not darker, but the skybehind it lighter, and he sprang to his feet. 

"You, sergeant?" he said. 

"Yes, sir, " was whispered back. "Be careful; one never knows who may benear. The light's coming fast. "

Coming so fast that at the end of a quarter of an hour Dickenson coulddimly make out the steep kopje by Groenfontein away to his left, and thelow, hill-like laager that they had destroyed twenty-four hours beforelow down on the opposite horizon. 

"Why, sergeant, " he whispered eagerly, "if we had started again in thedark we should have gone right off to where the Boers might have been. "

"Yes, sir, and away from home. That's the worst of being in the dark. "

"As soon as it's a little lighter, " whispered Dickenson, "we had bettercarefully examine this place. It is quite possible that there may be apatrol of the enemy occupying it, as we have done. "

"Yes, sir, likely as not, for--"

The sergeant clapped his hand over his lips and dropped down upon hisknees, snatching at his officer's jacket to make him follow his example. 

There was need enough, for all at once there was something loudlyuttered in Dutch, replied to by another speaker, the voices coming fromthe other side of the woodland patch. 

In another minute there was quite a burst of talking, and, making signsto his two companions, the sergeant stepped softly to where the ponieswere browsing and led them in amongst the trees, which stood up densely, until they were well hidden. 

The next idea was to lift Lennox well under cover; but he was nottouched, for he was still sleeping, and already so well hidden that itwould not have been possible for any one to see him if passing roundoutside the trees and the thin belt of scrub. 

"Get well down there, my lads, " said Dickenson then. "We'll try andhold this little clump of stones if they do find us. If they do, wemust give them a wild shout and a volley. They need not know how few weare. "

The men crouched down among the stones while the pale grey dawn wasbroadening, and waited in the full expectation of being discovered; forthough a mounted patrol might in passing fail to see the men, thechances were that it would be impossible to go by without catching sightof the ponies. 

It was evident enough to the listeners that the Boer party had passedthe night in this shelter, and that they must have been sleeping withouta watch being kept; otherwise, in spite of the quiet movements ofDickenson and his men, their arrival must have been heard; and now, asthey crouched there, rifle in hand, all waited in the hope that theparty would ride off at once in the direction of the ruined laager. 

But Dickenson waited in vain, for the crackling of burning sticks toldthat the enemy did not intend to start till they had made theirbreakfast, and the young officer's brain was busily employed debating asto whether it would not be better to try and drive them off with asurprise volley, putting them to flight in a panic. Under thecircumstances he took the non-commissioned officer into consultation. 

"If you think it's best, sir, " said the sergeant, "do it; but you can'tget much of a volley out of four rifles, and if you follow it up byemptying your magazines there'll be no panic, for they'll know what thatmeans. "

"What do you advise, then?"

"Waiting, sir. We're only four. There's Mr Lennox, but that seemslike bringing us down to two instead of making us five. As we are we'rein a strong position, and they may ride right away without seeing us;and that's what we want, I take it, for we don't want to fight--we wantto get Mr Lennox safely back. If they don't ride straight off, and arecoming round here and see us, we can try the panic plan while they'remounted. They're pretty well sure to scatter then. If we fire nowthey're not mounted, they'll take to cover, and that'll be bad, sir. "

"Yes. It means a long, dull time, " replied Dickenson. "We'll wait, sergeant; but how long it will be before they know we're here I'm sure Idon't know. I've been expecting to hear one of the ponies neigh everymoment, and that will be fatal. "

"Oh, I don't know, sir. You never can tell. They may take fright eventhen after the startlings we've given them. They're brave enough chapsso long as they're fighting from behind stones, or in ambush, or whenthey think they've got the whip-hand of us; but a surprise, or thethought that we're getting round their flank and into their rear, ismore than they can stand. "

"Silence!" whispered Dickenson. "I think they're on the move. "

But they were not, and the sun was well up before sundry sounds pointedto the fact that the enemy were preparing to start. 

For sundry familiar cries were heard, such as a man would address to afidgety horse which declined to have its saddle-girth tightened. Themen were laughing and chatting, too, until a stern order rang out, onewhich was followed by the trampling of horses--so many that the sergeantturned and gave a significant glance at Dickenson. 

"Now then, which way?" thought the latter. "If they come round thisside they must see us, and they are bound to, for here lies theirlaager. "

He was right, for the trampling came nearer, and it was quite evidentthat the little party were riding round in shelter of the patch of wood, so as to get it between them and the English camp before strikingstraight away. 

They were only about a dozen yards distant, dimly seen through theintervening trees, and Dickenson was in the act of glancing right andleft at his men when a chill ran through him. For Lennox, who had lainperfectly still in the shadow beneath the bush where he had been laid, suddenly began to mutter in a low, excited tone, indicating that he wasjust about waking up. It was impossible to warn him, even if he hadbeen in a condition to be warned; and to attempt to stir so as to clap ahand over his lips must have resulted in being seen. 

There was nothing for it but to crouch there in silence with heartsbeating, and a general feeling that in another few seconds the ordermust come to fire. 

The moments seemed to be drawn out to minutes as the Boers rode on, lessening their distance and talking loudly in a sort of formation twoor three abreast, till the front pair were level, when one of themraised his hand to shade his eyes, and drew his comrade's attention tosomething in the distance. 

"It's a party of the rooineks, " he said in his Dutch patois; "or some ofour horses left from that wretched surprise yesterday. "

"I shall never do it in the dark, " said Lennox half-aloud, andDickenson's heart seemed to cease beating. 

"What do you say, behind there?" cried the first speaker sharply, butwithout turning his head. 

"I say they're rooineks, " said one of the three who came next. 

"Yes, they're rooineks, sure enough, " said the first Boer; "but that'snot what you said just now. "

"Yes, I did, " was the surly answer; "but every one here's talking atonce. "

"Yes, " growled the first speaker. "Silence, there! Halt!"

The men reined up in a group, while the first man, who seemed to be incommand, dragged out a much-battered field-glass, focussed it, and triedto fix the distant objects. But his horse was fresh and fidgety, waiting to be off. 

"Stand still!" cried the Boer savagely, and he caught up the reins hehad dropped on the neck of his mount and gave them a savage jerk whichmade the unfortunate animal plunge, sending the rest into disorder, sothat it was another minute before steadiness was restored. --"Mind whatyou're about, there, " cried the leader. "Keep close to the bushes. Doyou want to be seen?"

He raised his glasses to his eyes again for a few seconds, closed them, and thrust them back into their case. 

"There's too much haze there, " he said. "Can't see, but I feel surethey're some of our ponies grazing. "

"Going to round them up and take them back with us?"

"I would if I was sure, " was the reply, "but after yesterday's work wecan't afford to run risks. Curse them! They've got enough of ourstores to keep them alive for another month. "

Every man was gazing away into the distance, little suspecting that onlya few yards away four magazine-rifles were covering them, and that at aword they would begin to void their charges, with the result that atleast half-a-dozen of them, perhaps more, would drop from their saddles, possibly never to rise again. And all this while the little Britishparty crouched there with, to use the untrue familiar expression, theirhearts in their mouths, watching their enemies, but stealing a glancefrom time to time at the shadowy spot beneath the thick bush, wonderingone and all what the young lieutenant would say next. 

"He must give the order to fire, " said the sergeant to himself as hecovered the leader. "We shall have Mr Lennox speaking out louderdirectly and asking where he is. "

The sergeant was quite right, for all of a sudden Lennox exclaimed:

"Why, it's light! Here, where am I?"

But it was directly after the Boer leader had shouted the order toadvance, and the little body of active Bechuana ponies sprang forward, eager to begin cantering over the plain, not a man the worse for hisnarrow escape, as they burst out chatting together, Lennox's exclamationpassing quite unnoticed, even if heard. 

"Ha!" ejaculated Dickenson, exhaling his long-pent-up breath. "I doubtif any of them will be nearer their end again during the war. "

And then, after making sure that the Boer party were going off at asharp canter, and that the risk of speaking or being seen was at an end, he crawled quickly to where Lennox lay upon his back, his eyes once moreclosed, and sleeping as soundly as if he had never roused up intoconsciousness since early in the night. 

"Lennox--Drew, " whispered Dickenson, catching him by the arm, but onlyeliciting a low, incoherent muttering. "Well, you can sleep!"

"It's not quite natural, sir, " said the sergeant. "He must have beenhurt somewhere, and the sooner the doctor has a look at him the better. "

"Yes, " said Dickenson thoughtfully. --"That was a close shave, sergeant. "

"Yes, sir--for the enemy. If we had fired they'd have gone off likefrightened sheep, I feel sure now. "

"Yes, I think so too. But we must not stir yet. "

"No, sir; I'd give those fellows time to get out of sight. We don'twant them to see us. If they did, they'd come swooping down to try andcut us off. What do you say to trying if we can make out what's wrongwith Mr Lennox? I think he must have been hit in the head. "

"Yes; let's look, " said Dickenson: and after planting a sentry to keep asharp lookout from a sheltered spot on each side of the little woodlandpatch, he set to work, with the sergeant's help, to carefully examinehis rescued comrade, but without the slightest result, save finding thathis head was a good deal swollen in one part, and, lower down, his leftshoulder was puffed up, and apparently excessively tender from either ablow or wrench. 

"It's beyond us, " said Dickenson, with a sigh. "We'll make a start now, and get him into the doctor's hands. "

"Yes, sir; we might make a start now, " said the sergeant. "Wait a fewminutes, sir, while I saddle up the ponies. I'll be quite ready beforeyou call the sentries, sir. "

"I'll try and wake Mr Lennox, then, " said Dickenson, "and we'll get himon to the pony first. "

"I wouldn't, sir, if you'll excuse me, " said the sergeant. "If he'shalf-insensible like that from a hurt to his head, it'll be best to lethim wake up of himself. "

"Perhaps so, " said the young officer; "but I don't like his being sostupefied as this. "

The preparations were soon made, and the sergeant led the horsestogether, just as Dickenson rose from Lennox's side, took out his glass, and joined the sentry on their side. 

"Can you make out anything?" he said. 

"Only the same little cluster as the Boers did, sir. I think it'sponies grazing. "

He had hardly spoken before there was a hail from the other side of thelittle wood. 

"What is it?" shouted the sergeant. 

"Boers coming along fast. I think it's the same lot coming back. Yes, it must be, " cried the sentry. "I've just come across their pot andkettle and things. This must be their camp. "

"Over here, " shouted Dickenson. "Now, sergeant, we must mount and beoff, for we shall not have such luck again. "

"No, sir, " said the sergeant gruffly. "Will you help, sir?"

Dickenson's answer was to hurry to his friend's side, and in a veryshort time he was once more on a pony, with the sergeant keeping him inhis place; while the others sprang into their saddles and rode off, manoeuvring so as to keep the enemy well on the other side of thewoodland clump, and managing so well that they did not even see them fora time, the Boers riding back toward their old bivouac; and for a whilethere seemed to be no danger. 

But it was terribly slow work keeping to a walk. Twice over the pony onwhich Lennox was mounted was pressed into an amble, but the shakingseemed to distress the injured man, and the walking pace was resumed, till all at once there was ample evidence that they had been seen, adistant crack and puff of smoke following a whistling sound overhead, and directly after the dust was struck up pretty close to one of theponies' hoofs. 

"The game has begun, sergeant, " said Dickenson calmly. 

"Yes, sir. Shall we dismount and give them a taste back?"

"We out here on the open veldt, and they under cover quite out of sight?No; press on as fast as we can, straight for Groenfontein. They musthave it all their own way now. "

"Hadn't we better try a canter again, sir?"

"Yes, sergeant, if we are to save his life. Forward!"

They were nearly half a mile on their way, and slowly increasing thedistance; but it was quite time to take energetic action, for, toDickenson's dismay, the Boers were not going to content themselves withlong shots, and all at once ten or a dozen appeared round one end of thelittle wood, spreading out as they galloped, and coming straight forthem in an open line. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

HIS DUES. 

Burdened as the little party was with an insensible man, escape bytrusting to the speed of their active little mounts was quite out of thequestion; and, young officer though he was, Dickenson was old enough inexperience to know what to do. 

About a couple of hundred yards ahead was a scattered patch of thepleasant form of South African growth known locally, from its catchingqualities, as the Wait-a-bit-thorn, and as rapidly as they could goDickenson led his men to that, finding, as he expected, just enoughcover in the midst of a perfectly bare plain, if not to shelterlying-down men, at least to blur and confuse the enemy's marksmen. Herehe gave the order, "Dismount!" Lennox was laid flat upon his back, tolie without motion, and each man took the best shelter he could; whilethe ponies, not being trained like the modern trooper to lie down, wereleft to graze and take care of themselves. 

The Boers came galloping on, to find, on a small scale, how muchdifference there was between attacking in the open and defending awell-sheltered position. But they had it yet to learn; and, evidentlyanticipating an easy victory, they galloped forward bravely enough, fully intending to hold the party up and expecting surrender at once. 

Dickenson waited till they were well within range before giving theorder to fire, adding sternly the instruction that not a singlecartridge was to be wasted, no shot being fired till the holder of therifle felt sure. 

The order was succeeded by utter silence, broken only by the thudding ofhoofs, and then _crack_! from the sergeant's piece, a puff ofgreyish-white smoke, and one of the enemy's ponies went down upon itsknees, pitching the rider over its head, and rolled over upon one side, kicking wildly, and trying twice before it was able to rise to its feet, when it stood, poor beast! with hanging head; while its rider was seencrawling away, to stop at last and begin firing. 

_Crack_! again, and one of the Boers fell forward on the neck of hismount and dropped his rifle, while his frightened pony galloped on, swerving off to the right. 

_Crack! crack_! two more shots were fired without apparent effect, andthen two more at intervals, each with good, or bad, effect. In one casethe rider threw up his arms and, as his pony tore on, fell oversidewise, to drop with his foot tight in the stirrup, and was draggedabout a hundred yards before he was freed and his mount galloped away. 

The other shot took effect upon a pony, which stopped dead, to standshivering, in spite of the way in which the Boer belaboured it with hisrifle, seeming to pound at it with the butt to force it along. But itwas all in vain--the poor brute's war was over, and it slowly subsided, its rider springing off sidewise, to drop on one knee, as he tried toshelter himself behind the animal; but he was not quick enough, forDickenson's rifle was resting upon a tuft of thorn, perfectly steady, ashe covered his enemy. _Crack_! and another tiny puff of smoke. Thenoise and the greyish vapour were nothings out in that vast veldt, butthey meant the exit of a man from the troublous scene. 

They meant more; for, as he saw the effect, the leader of the Boersshouted an order, and his men swerved off right and left, presentingtheir ponies' flanks to the British marksmen, who fired rapidly now, andwith so good aim that two more ponies were badly hit, their ridersleaping off to begin running after their comrades as hard as they could, while a third man fell over to one side, lay still for a few moments, and then struggled into a sitting position and held up his hands. 

"Don't fire at him!" cried Dickenson excitedly, and none too soon, forone of the men was taking aim. 

"Ha!" said the sergeant grimly as the Boers galloped back. "That'lltake some of the bounce out of the gentlemen. One of them told us thatour men didn't know how to shoot. I dare say if we'd had their trainingwe might be able to bring down springboks as well as they can. "

"Yes; capital, capital, my lads!--Well, sergeant, I think we may go onagain. "

"No, sir, no!" cried the man excitedly. "They don't know when they'rebeaten. Look at that. "

For as he spoke the two little parties joined up again into one, sprangoff their ponies, and imitated Dickenson's manoeuvre, lying down andbeginning to shoot at long-range. 

"I don't think they'll hurt us at that distance, sergeant, " saidDickenson. 

"They'll hurt us if they can hit us, sir, " replied the man; "but it's along way, and with their hands all of a shake from such a bit as they'vejust gone through. "

All the same, though, the bullets began to whistle overhead; then onestruck the ground about ten yards in front of the sergeant andricocheted, passing so near that the whiz was startling. 

"That was well meant, " he said coolly; "but I don't believe the chap whosent it could do it again. "

"Look at that poor fellow, " said Dickenson suddenly. 

"'Fraid of being hit by us or them, sir, " replied the sergeant. "Not avery pleasant place. "

For the Boer who had thrown up his hands in token of surrender had begunto crawl slowly and painfully to their right, evidently to get well outof the line of fire. The man was evidently hit badly, for he kept onsinking down flat on his face, and four times over a curious sensationof regret came over Dickenson, mingled with a desire to go to his helpwith such surgical aid as he could supply. But each time, just as hewas going to suggest it to the sergeant, the man rose on all fours againand crawled farther away. 

"I don't think he's much hurt, sir. Going pretty strong now. "

The sergeant had hardly spoken before Dickenson uttered an ejaculation, for the wounded man suddenly dropped down flat again and rolled over, showing as one hand came into sight that he still grasped his rifle; andthen he was completely hidden, as if he had sunk into some slightdepression. 

"Dead!" sighed Dickenson solemnly. 

"Looks like it, sir, " said the sergeant quietly. 

"Or exhausted by his efforts, " said Dickenson. "Look here, sergeant, aman's a man. "

"`For a' that, and a' that, ' as the song says, " muttered the sergeant tohimself. 

"Whether he's one of our men or an enemy. I can't lie here, able tohelp, without going to his help. "

"No, no, sir; you mustn't stir, " cried the sergeant excitedly. "If youbegin to move there'll be a shower of bullets cutting up the groundabout you. It's a good hundred and fifty yards to crawl. "

"I can't help that, " said Dickenson quietly. "I must do it. "

"But think of yourself, sir, " said the sergeant. 

"A man in my position can't think of himself, sergeant. "

"Well, think of us, sir. "

"I shall, sergeant. "

"Ha!" cried the sergeant, in a tone full of exultation. "And think ofyour friend, sir. He wants help as bad as that chap, and you ought tothink of him first. "

For just then they heard Lennox talking hurriedly, and on Dickensonlooking back over his shoulder he could see his comrade's hands movingin the air, as if he were preparing to struggle up. 

Dickenson began to turn hurriedly to creep back to where Lennox lay, with one of the ponies grazing calmly enough close by, when the handsfell again, and the young officer lay perfectly still. 

"He has dropped to sleep again, and may be quiet for an hour. Sergeant, I'm going to crawl out to that wounded Boer. "

"Very well, sir; you're my officer, and my duty is to obey. I'm verysorry, Mr Dickenson. It's a good two hundred yards, sir, and I believeit's a bit of slimmery. He crawled there to be out of shot. "

_Whiz-z-z! crack_! A puff of smoke and then a rush of hoofs, for thepony which had been grazing so calmly close by where Lennox lay wenttearing over the veldt for about fifty yards, when, with two of itscompanions trotting after it as if to see what was the matter, itpitched suddenly upon its head, rolled over with its legs kicking as ifit were galloping in the air, and then they fell and all was over, thetwo others turning and trotting back, to begin grazing once again. 

"That's bad, " said Dickenson sadly. "We couldn't spare that pony. Why, sergeant, they can shoot! I didn't think they could have done it atthis range. "

"What! not at two hundred yards, sir?"

"Two hundred, man? It's a thousand. "

"Why, you don't see it, sir, " cried the sergeant excitedly. "It wasn'tthe enemy out yonder sent that bullet home. "

"Not the enemy out there?" cried Dickenson. 

"No, sir. It was your dead man who fired that shot. "

"What?"

"Don't feel so sorry for him, sir, do you, now?"

As the sergeant was asking this question, the soldier who lay off totheir left, and who had not discharged his piece for some time, firedsimultaneously with a shot which came from the direction where thewounded Boer lay. 

"Ah!" cried the sergeant excitedly. "Can you see him from there?"

"No, " growled the man; "but I saw something move, and let go on thechance of hitting him, but only cut up the sand. "

"Don't take your eye from the spot, my lad, " cried Dickenson sharply. "Never mind a fresh cartridge. Trust to your magazine. "

"Yes, sir; that's what I'm doing, " was the reply. 

"Hadn't we all better do the same, sir?" asked the sergeant. 

"Yes, " said Dickenson angrily. 

"I doubt whether we can keep his fire down, though, sir. He's got usnow. "

"Not yet--the brute!" cried Dickenson through his teeth. 

"He'll have the other two safe, sir. "

"Other two?" cried Dickenson wonderingly. 

"What! don't you see, sir? There's another of the ponies hit. "

"Good gracious!" cried Dickenson, in such a homely, grandmotherly stylethat, in spite of their perilous position, the sergeant could not helpsmiling. 

But his face was as hard as an iron mask directly, as he saw the look ofanguish in his young officer's face, Dickenson having just seen thesecond pony standing with drooping head and all four legs widelyseparated, rocking to and fro for a few moments, before droppingheavily, perfectly dead. 

_Crack_! came again from the same place, and another of the grazingponies flung up its head, neighing shrilly, before springing forward togallop for a couple of hundred yards and then fall. 

And _crack_! again, and its following puff of smoke, making the fourthpony start and begin to limp for a few yards with its off forelegbroken; and _crack_! once more, and the sound of a sharp rap caused byanother bullet striking the suffering beast right in the middle of theshoulder-blade, when it dropped dead instantly, pierced through theheart. 

"Best shot yet, sir, " said the sergeant grimly; "put the poor beast outof its misery. Now, " he muttered to himself, "we know what we've got toexpect if we don't stop his little game. "

"Every man watch below where the smoke rose, " said Dickenson slowly andsternly. "That man can't see without exposing himself in some way. Yes; be on the alert. Look! he's pressing the sand away to right andleft with the barrel of his rifle. Mind, don't fire till you've got athoroughly good chance. "

No one spoke, but all lay flat upon their chests, watching the movingright and left of a gun-barrel which was directed towards them, butpointing so that if fired a bullet would have gone over their heads. Itwas hard to see; but the sun glinted from its polished surface from timeto time, and moment by moment they noted that it was becoming morehorizontal. 

Every man's sight was strained to the utmost; every nerve was on thequiver; so that not one of the four felt that he could trust himself toshoot when the crucial moment came. 

It came more quickly than they expected; for, after a few moments ofintense strain, the barrel was suddenly depressed, till through theclear air the watchers distinctly saw a tiny hole and nothing more. Then all at once the sun glinted from something else--a something thatflashed brightly for one instant, and was then obscured by smoke--thesmoke that darted from the little, just perceptible orifice of thesmall-bore Mauser and that which shot out from four British rifles, tocombine into one slowly rising cloud; while as the commingled reports offive rifles, friendly and inimical, died away, to the surprise ofDickenson and his men they saw the figure of a big swarthy Boerstaggering towards them with both hands pressed to his face. The nextmoment he was lying just in front of his hiding-place, stretched out--dead. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

SAFE AT LAST. 

"Ha!" ejaculated Dickenson, with a sigh of relief, and he turned away tocreep to where Lennox lay, finding him still plunged in the same stateof stupor. 

"One ought to lay him in the shade, " he thought; but there was verylittle that he could do beyond drawing a few pieces of the thorn bushtogether to hang over his face. He then took out his handkerchief tolay over the bush, but hastily snatched it away again. "Bah!" hemuttered. "It's like making a white bull's-eye for them to fire at. "

Then he crept back to his position, with the bullets still whizzingoverhead or striking up the dust, and he almost wondered that no one hadbeen hit. 

"I hope Mr Lennox is better, sir, " said the sergeant respectfully. 

"I see no difference, sergeant. But what does that mean?"

"What we used to call `stalking horse, ' sir, down in the Essex marshes. Creeping up under the shelter of their mounts. "

"Then they are getting nearer?"

"Yes, sir. Don't you think we might begin to pay them back? We couldhit their ponies if we couldn't hit them. "

"Yes, sergeant, soon, " replied the young officer, carefully scanning theenemy's approach; "but I think I'd let them get a hundred yards, or eventwo, nearer before we begin. The business is simplified. "

"Is it, sir?"

"I mean, there's no question of retreating now that the ponies are gone. It's either fight to the last, or surrender. "

"You mean, sir, that there were three things to do?"

"Yes; and now it's one of two. "

"Isn't it only one, sir? I think the lads feel as I do, right-downsavage, and ready to fight to the last. "

"Very well, " said Dickenson; "then we'll light to the last. "

The sergeant smiled, and then for a time all lay perfectly still, fullyexpecting that one or other of the many bullets which came whizzing bywould find its billet; but though there were several very narrowescapes, no one was hit, and though the enemy in front had greatlylessened the distance, their bullets struck no nearer. But the men grewvery impatient under the terrible strain, and all three kept on turningtheir heads to watch their officer, who lay frowning, his rifle in frontand his chin supported by his folded arms. 

"Ah!" came at last, in an involuntary sigh of relief from all three, asthey saw Dickenson alter his position after the enemy had made a freshand perceptible decrease in the distance between them by urging theirponies forward, the men's legs being strongly marked, giving the poniesthe appearance of being furnished with another pair, as their ridersstood taking aim and resting their rifles across the saddles. 

But no order to fire came from Dickenson, who still remained quiet. Then all at once:

"Sergeant, " he said, "I've practised a great deal with the sportingrifle, but done very little of this sort of thing myself. I'm going totry now if I can't stop this miserable sneaking approach of the enemy. "

The men gave a hearty cheer. 

"I'm sorry for the poor ponies, " he said, "for I think this range willbe well within the power of the service arm. "

"Yes, sir, quite, " said the sergeant promptly. 

Dickenson was silent once again, and they saw him taking a long, carefulaim at the nearest Boer. The effect of his shot was that the pony hehad aimed at sprang forward, leaving a Boer visible, facing them inastonishment before he turned to run. 

"Fire!" said Dickenson, and three shots followed almost instantaneously, while the running Boer was seen lying upon the earth. 

"Be ready!" said Dickenson, aiming now at another of the ponies, andpaying no heed to six or seven replies from the exasperated Boers. 

The pony now fired at reared up, and in the clear sunshine the man whowas aiming across it was seen to be crushed down by the poor animal'sfall, and he did not rise again. 

Once more Dickenson's rifle rang out, and he shifted it back now to hisright, to fire his fourth shot almost without aiming. As the smokecleared away by the time the young officer had replaced the explodedcartridges, one pony could be seen struggling on the ground, another wasgalloping away, while two men were crawling backward on hands and knees. 

"It seems like butchery, sergeant, " said Dickenson, taking another longaim before firing again. "Missed!"

"No, sir: I saw the pony start, " said the sergeant eagerly. "There, look at him!"

For the two men cheered on seeing the pony limp for a few yards and thenfall, just beyond where his master was lying stretched out on his face. 

"Poor brute!" said Dickenson in a low voice. 

"He didn't say it was butchery when that chap was knocking down ourmounts at quarter this distance, " said the sergeant to himself. "But, my word, he can shoot! I shouldn't like to change places with the Boerswhen he's behind a rifle. "

Just then the men cheered, for three more of the enemy who had beenstalking them were seen to spring into the saddle, lie flat down overtheir willing mounts, and gallop away as hard as they could to jointheir comrades. 

"Well, we've stopped that game for the present, sergeant, " saidDickenson. "Perhaps we may be able to keep them off till night. --Butthat's a long way off, " he said to himself, "and we've to fight againstthis scorching heat and the hunger and thirst. "

"Hope so, sir, " said the sergeant, in response to what he had heard;"but--"

He ceased speaking, and pointed in the direction of the patch of scrubforest where they had passed the night. 

Dickenson shaded his eyes and uttered an ejaculation. Then afteranother long glance: "Ten--twenty--thirty, " he said, as he watched twolines of mounted men cantering out from behind the patch right and left. "Why, there must be quite thirty more. "

"I should say forty of 'em, sir. "

"Why, sergeant, they're moving out to surround us. "

"Yes, sir, " said the sergeant coolly; "but you won't surrender?"

"Not while the cartridges last. "

"Well, there's enough to account for the lot, sir, if we hand in oursand you do the firing. "

The young officer burst into a forced laugh. 

"Why, sergeant, " he cried, "what do you take me for?"

"Soldier of the Queen, sir, ready to show the enemy that our march atthe Jubilee wasn't all meant for show. "

Dickenson was silent for a time. 

"Ha!" he said at last, with a sigh. "I want to prove that; but thereare times when holding out ceases to be justifiable--fighting becomesmere butchery. "

"Yes, sir, when forty or fifty men surround four and a wounded one, shoot down their mounts so as they can't retreat, and then try andbutcher them. It's all on their side, sir, not ours; and the men thinkas I do. "

Dickenson was silent again, lying there with his teeth set and apeculiar hard look in his eyes, such as a man in the flower of his youthand strength might show when he knows the time is fast approaching foreverything to end. Meanwhile the two fresh parties that had come on thescene were galloping hard to join the enclosing wings of the firstcomers, who stood fast, fully grasping what was to follow, and keepingthe attention of their prey by firing a shot now and then, not one ofwhich had the slightest effect. 

"Oh for some water!" groaned Dickenson at last. "Poor Mr Lennox! Howhe must suffer!"

"Not he, sir. He's in that state that when he wakes up he'll knownothing about what has taken place. It's you that ought to have thedrink, to steady your hand for what is to come. "

Dickenson made no reply aloud, but he thought bitterly, "When he wakesup--when he wakes up! Where will it be: the Boer prison camp, or in theother world?"

The sergeant and the men now relapsed into a moody silence, as they lay, rifle in hand, with the sun beating down in increasing force, and aterrible thirst assailing them. Dickenson looked at their scowlingfaces, and a sudden impression attacked him that a feeling of resentmenthad arisen against him for not surrendering now that they were in such ahopeless condition. This increased till he could bear it no longer, andedging himself closer to the sergeant, he spoke to him upon the subject, with the result that the man broke into a harsh laugh. 

"Don't you go thinking anything of that sort, sir, because you're wrong. Oh yes, they look savage enough, but it's only because they feel ugly. We're all three what you may call dangerous, sir. The lads want to getat the enemy to make them pay for what we're suffering. Here, you askthem yourself what they think about surrendering. "

Dickenson did not hesitate, but left the sergeant, to crawl to the manbeyond him, when just as he was close up a well-directed bullet struckup the sand and stones within a few inches of the man's face, half-blinding him for a time and making him forget discipline and theproximity of his officer, as he raged out a torrent of expletivesagainst the Boer who had fired that shot. 

"Let me look at your face, my lad, " said Dickenson. "Are you muchhurt?"

"Hurt, sir? No! It's only just as if some one had chucked a handful ofdust into my eyes. "

"Let me see. "

A few deft applications of a finger removed the trouble from the man'seyes, and he smiled again, and then listened attentively to hisofficer's questions. 

"Oh, it's as you think best, sir, " he said at last; "but I wouldn't giveup. We don't want to. All we're thinking about is giving the enemyanother sickening for what they've done. "

Dickenson crawled away to the other man--away to his right--to find himliterally glowering when spoken to. 

"What do the others say, sir--the sergeant and my comrade?"

"Never mind them, " replied Dickenson. "I want to know how you feel. "

"Well, sir, " was the reply, "about an hour ago I felt regular sick ofit, and that it would be about like throwing our lives away to holdout. "

"That it would be better to surrender and chance our fate in a Boerprison?"

"Something of that sort, sir. "

"And how do you feel now?"

"Just as if they've regularly got my dander up, sir. I only want toshoot as long as we've got a cartridge left. I'd give up then, forthey'd never wait for us to get at them with the bayonet. "

Dickenson said no more, but returned to his old place, watching thegalloping Boers, who had now gone far enough to carry out their plans, and were stopping by twos to dismount and wait, this being continuedtill the little English party formed the centre of a very wide circle. Then a signal was made from the starting-point, and firing commenced. 

Fortunately for the party it was at a tremendously long-range, for, after the way in which the enemy had suffered in regard to their ponies, they elected to keep what they considered to be outside the reach of theBritish rifles; and no reply was made, Dickenson declining to try andhit the poor beasts which formed the Boer shelter in a way which wouldonly inflict a painful wound without disabling them from their masters'service. 

"It would be waste of our cartridges, sergeant, " he said. 

"Yes, sir, " was the reply; "perhaps it's best to wait. They'll betempted into getting closer after a bit. Getting tired of it if theydon't hit us, and make us put up a white flag for the doctor. Look atthem. Oh, it's nonsense firing at such a distance. Their rifles carryright enough, but it's all guesswork; they can't take an aim. "

The sergeant was right enough; but the bullets were dangerous, and theycame now pretty rapidly from all round, striking with a vicious _phit_!which was terribly straining to the nerves. And all the time the heatof the sun grew more painful. There was not a breath of air; and thepull's of smoke when the enemy fired looked dim and distant, as if seenthrough a haze. 

The sergeant made some allusion to the fact. 

"Looks as if there was a change coming. There, sir, you can hardly seethat man and horse. "

"No, " said Dickenson sadly, "but I think it's from the state of oureyes. I feel giddy, and mine are quite dim. "

"Perhaps it is that, sir, " said the sergeant. "Things look quitemuddled up to me. Now turn a little and look yonder, out Groenfonteinway. "

Dickenson turned wearily, and winced, for three bullets came almostsimultaneously, two with their vicious _whiz-z_! the other to cut up theground and ricochet. 

"Not hit, sir?" said the sergeant anxiously. 

"No; but one shot was very near. Yes, I see what you mean: the Boersare mounting out in that direction. They're coming closer. We shallperhaps have a chance now, " he cried, with more animation. 

It seemed, though, that they were going to retire as they came, thecircle being opened on the Groenfontein side and the men retiring intwos, to go on increasing in two groups, firing rapidly the while; but, to the surprise of the beleaguered party, the bullets ceased to whiz intheir direction. 

A dead silence fell upon the group, no one daring to speak the hope thatwas in him for fear of exciting his companions by an idea that mightafter all prove only to be imagination. Then all spoke together, andthere was an excited cheer. 

"Yes, " cried Dickenson; "there's help coming. The Boers are retiringfast. "

"Why, of course, sir, " said the sergeant confidently. "The colonelwould be sure to send out to see why we didn't come back. There's a lotof our fellows out yonder that the enemy is firing at, and we can't seethem for the haze. It is haze, and not giddiness and our eyes. "

"No, sergeant; we can see clearly enough. I can make out the advance ofthe relief party. Wait five minutes, and I'll see what a fewsignal-shots will do. "

But before the time mentioned the Boers could be seen steadilyretreating, and the puffs of smoke from the firing of an advancing partycould be made out. Signals followed, and but a short time elapsedbefore the Boers were driven off and the rescued party were revivingunder the influence of the water proffered from the relief party'sbottles. 

The return to Groenfontein commenced at once, with Lennox carried byfour men by means of scarfs; but he was not the only man who needed thisaid, four more being hit during the return, the driven-off Boers hangingat a safe distance on flank and rear, sniping at every chance with thelongest of shots, till the outposts were reached, and a cheer welcomedthe rescued men as they marched in. 

The motion through the air had gradually revived Lennox, so much so thatwhen the party was met by the colonel and officers the young lieutenantwas able to reply to a question or two before the doctor intervened. 

"Leave him to me for a bit, " he said, and had Lennox borne toward thehut where Roby and the corporal were lying, Dickenson following closebehind. 

"The colonel did not shake hands with him, " said the young officer tohimself, "and the major never spoke. Surely they don't think--"

He got no farther, for they had reached the hut, when, to the surpriseof all, Roby wrenched himself round to glare at Lennox being carried in, and then in a harsh, excited voice he cried:

"Lennox here? Coward! Cur!--coward! How dare you show your faceagain?"

And at these words Corporal May wagged his head slowly from side to sideand uttered a weary groan. 

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

AN UNPLEASANT BUSINESS. 

"Why, Roby!" cried Lennox, after standing for some moments gazing wildlyat his brother officer, and then going close up to his roughresting-place. "For goodness' sake, don't talk in that way!"

"Coward! Cur! To run away and leave me like that!" cried Roby. 

Lennox stared at him with his eyes dilating, and then he turned sharplyand looked from Dickenson to the doctor and back again, ending byclapping his hands to his forehead and holding his breath before gazingwildly at Roby once more as if doubting that the torrent of reproacheshe listened to were real. 

"Am I off my head a little, doctor?--the sun, and that dreadful thirst. Am I mad?"

"Mad? No, my lad; but you're in a parlous state. --Here, orderly, I musthave Mr Lennox in the next hut. He is exciting Captain Roby horribly. "

"Yes; horribly, " said Lennox. "Poor fellow! Is he so bad as that?"

"Oh yes, he's bad enough, " said the doctor gruffly. 

"Corporal May, too, " said Lennox, with a troubled look at the otherpatients occupying the hut. "Are you much hurt, May?"

For answer the man glared at him and turned his face away, making Lennoxwince again and look at the other patient. But he was lying fastasleep. 

"Rather a queer welcome, " said the young officer, turning now toDickenson, and once more his eyes dilated with a wondering look. "Why, Bob, you're not going to call me a coward too?"

"Likely!" said the young man gruffly. 

"Don't stand talking to him, Mr Dickenson, " said the doctorsharply. --"Here, lean on the orderly, sir; he'll help you into the nexthut. I want to try and diagnose your case. "

"Yes--please if it's necessary, " said Lennox, catching at the orderly asif attacked by vertigo. --"Thank you, old fellow, " he whispered huskilyas Dickenson started forward and caught him by the other arm. "Not muchthe matter. Gone through a good deal. Faint. The sun. Touch ofstroke, I think. "

He hung heavily upon the pair, who assisted him out into the next hut, while Roby's accusation was reiterated, the words ringing in his ears:"Coward!--cur!--runaway!" till he was out of sight, when Roby sank backexhausted. 

"Don't question him, and don't let him talk about what he has gonethrough, " said the doctor a short time later, when he had made his freshpatient as comfortable as circumstances would allow, and he was growingdrowsy from the sedative administered. "It's not sunstroke, but amingling of the results of exposure and overdoing it altogether. Idon't quite understand it yet, and I want to get at the truth withoutasking him. "

"Oh doctor! don't you join in thinking the poor fellow has been behavingin a cowardly way. "

"Tchah! Rubbish! What is it to me, sir, how the man has been behaving?He's all wrong, isn't he?"

"Yes; terribly. "

"Very well, then, I've got to put him all right. If he has committedany breach of discipline you can court-martial him when I've done. "

"But, hang it all, doctor!" cried Dickenson fiercely, "you don't believehe's a coward?"

"Humph! Very evident you don't, my lad, " said the doctor grimly. 

"Of course not. "

"That's right; then stick to it. I like to see a man back up hisfriend. "

"Who wouldn't back him up?" cried Dickenson. 

"Oh, I don't know. It's very evident that Roby won't. "

"Roby's as mad as a March hare, " cried Dickenson. 

"Well, not quite; but he's a bit queer in his head, and I'm afraid Ishall have to perform rather a crucial operation upon him. I don't wantto if I can help it, out here. It requires skilled help, and I shouldlike some one to share the responsibility. "

"Internally injured?" asked Dickenson. 

"Oh no. The bullet that ploughed up his forehead is pressing a piece ofbone down slightly on the brain. "

"Slightly!" said Dickenson, with a laugh. "Turned it right over, Ithink. "

"Yes, you fellows who know nothing about your construction do get a goodmany absurd ideas in your head. Here, talk softly; I want to get at thecause of his trouble. He's not wounded. "

"Why, his skull's ploughed up, and the bone pressing on his brain. "

"Do you mean that for a joke--a bit of chaff, Mr Dickenson?" said thedoctor stiffly. 

"A joke, sir? Is this a subject to joke about?" replied Dickenson. 

"Certainly not, sir; but you thoughtless young fellows are ready tolaugh at anything. "

"Well, sir, you're wrong. Roby and I were never very great friends, butI'm not such a brute as to laugh and sneer when the poor fellow's down. "

"Who was talking about Captain Roby?"

"You were, sir. You told me that his brain was suffering from pressure, and then you went on to say that you wanted to get at the cause of hishurt. "

"Bah! Tchah! Nonsense, man! I was talking then about Lennox. "

"I beg your pardon, sir. "

"Oh, all right, my lad. Now then; I'm talking about Lennox now. I sayI want to get at the cause of his trouble without questioning him andsetting his poor feverish brain working. Tell me how you found him. "

Dickenson briefly explained. 

"Humph! Utterly exhausted; been suffering from the sun, thirst, andevidently after exerting himself tremendously. Been in a completestupor more than sleep, you say?"

"Yes. "

"Well, it's very strange, " said the doctor thoughtfully. "He was in theassault, wasn't he?"

"Oh yes, of course. "

"Well, human nature's a queer thing, Dickenson, my lad. "

"Yes, sir; very, " said the young man gruffly, "or Roby wouldn't behavelike this and set that sneak May off on the same track. "

"And, " continued the doctor testily, as if he did not like beinginterrupted, "the more I examine into man's nature the more curious andcontradictory I find it--I mean, in the mental faculties. "

"I suppose so, sir. --What's he aiming at?" added the young officer tohimself. 

"Now, look here, Dickenson, my lad; between ourselves, that was rather ahorrible bit of business, eh?--that attack in the half-darkness. "

"Well, sir, it wasn't quite like an _al fresco_ ball, " said Dickensongruffly. 

"Of course not. Bayoneting and bludgeoning with rifle-butts?"

Dickenson nodded. 

"And all on the top of the excitement of the march and the long waitingto begin?"

"Just so, sir, " said Dickenson. 

"Enough to over-excite a young fellow's brain?"

"Well--yes, sir; it's not at all cheerful work. But, really, I don'tsee what you mean. "

"Just this, my dear boy, and, as I said, between ourselves. You don'tthink, do you, that just in the midst of the fight poor Lennox wasseized with what you vulgar young fellows call a fit of blue funk, doyou?"

"No, sir, I do not, " said Dickenson stiffly. "Certainly not. "

"Lost his nerve?"

"No, sir. "

"I've lost mine before now, my lad, over a very serious operation--whenI was young, you know. "

"May be, sir; but Drew Lennox is not the sort of fellow for that. "

"As a rule, say. "

"Yes, as a rule, sir, without a single exception. "

"And took fright and ran?"

"Rubbish, sir! He couldn't. "

"Just as Roby says?"

"Roby's mad. "

"And as Corporal May holds to in corroboration?"

"No, sir, no; and I should like to see Corporal May flogged. "

"Rather an unpleasant sight, my lad, " said the doctor quietly, "evenwhen a culprit richly deserves it. But about Lennox. He might, thoughas a rule brave as a lion, have had a seizure like that. "

"No, he mightn't sir, " said Dickenson stoutly. 

"You don't know, my lad. "

"Oh yes, I do, sir. I know Drew Lennox by heart. "

"But there is such a thing as panic, my lad. "

"Not with him, sir. "

"I say yes, my lad. Recollect that he had a terrible shock a littlewhile ago. " Dickenson's lips parted. "He was plunged into that awfulhole in the dark, and whirled through some underground tunnel. Why, sir, I went and looked at the place myself with Sergeant James, and helet down a lantern for me to see. I tell you what it is; I'm as hard asmost men, through going about amongst horrors, but that black pit mademe feel wet inside my hands. I wonder the poor fellow retained hisreason. "

"But he got the better of that, sir, " said Dickenson hoarsely. 

"How do you know, sir? He seemed better; but a man can't go throughsuch things as that without their leaving some weakening of the mentalforce. "

"Doctor, don't talk like that, for goodness' sake!"

"I must, my lad, because I think--mind you, I say I think--"

"Doctor, if you begin to think Drew Lennox is a coward I'll neverrespect you again, " cried Dickenson angrily. 

"I don't think he's a coward, my dear boy, " said the doctor, laying hishand upon the young officer's arm. "I think he's as brave a lad as everstepped, and I like him; but no man is perfect, and the result of thathorrible plunge into the bowels of the earth shook him so that in thatfierce fight he grew for a bit very weak indeed. "

"Impossible, doctor!" cried the young man fiercely. 

"Quite possible, " said the doctor, pressing his companion's arm; "andnow let me finish. I tell you, I like Drew Lennox, and if I am right Ishall think none the less of him. "

"_Ur-r-r-r_!" growled Dickenson. 

"It is between ourselves, mind, and it is only my theory. He lost hisnerve in the middle of that fight--had a fit of panic, and, as Roby andthe corporal say (very cruelly and bitterly), ran for his life--bolted. "

"I'll never believe it, sir. "

"Well, remain a heretic if you like; but that's my theory. "

"I tell you, sir--"

"Wait a minute, my lad; I haven't done. I suggest that he had thisseizure--"

"And I swear he had not!"

"Wait till I've finished, boy, " said the doctor sternly. 

Dickenson stood with his brow knit and his fists clenched, almostwrithing in his anger; and the doctor went on:

"I suggest, my dear boy, that he had this fit of panic and was awarethat it must be known, when, after running right away--"

"Yes, sir; go on, " said Dickenson savagely--"after running away--"

"He came quite to himself, felt that he would be branded as a coward byall who knew him, and then, in a mad fit of despair--"

"Yes, sir--and then?"

"You told me that he came back without his revolver. "

"Yes, sir, " said Dickenson mockingly--"and then he didn't blow hisbrains out. "

"No, " said the doctor quietly, "for he had lost his pistol, perhaps inthe fight; but it seems to me, Dickenson, that in his agony of shame, despair, and madness, he tried to hang himself. "

"Tried to do what?" roared Dickenson. 

"What I say, my dear boy, " said the doctor gravely. 

"I say, doctor, have you been too much in the sun?" said Dickenson, witha forced laugh, one which sounded painful in the extreme. 

"No, my dear fellow; I am perfectly calm, and everything points to thefact--his state when you found him, sorrowful, repentant, and utterlyexhausted by his sufferings in his struggles to get back to face it outlike a man. "

"Doctor, you are raving. His appearance was all compatible with astruggle, fighting with the Boers--a prisoner bravely fighting for hisescape. Everything points to your fact? Nonsense, sir--absurd!"

"You're a brave, true-hearted fellow, Dickenson, my lad, and I like younone the less for being so rude to me in your defence of your poorfriend. He must be sleeping now after the dose I gave him. Come withme, and I'll give you a surprise. "

"Not such a one as you have already given me, doctor, " said the youngman bitterly. 

"We shall see, " said the doctor quietly; and the next minute he wasstanding by Lennox's side, carefully lifting a moistened bandage laidclose to his neck. 

Dickenson uttered a faint cry of horror. For deeply marked in hisfriend's terribly swollen neck there was a deep blue mark such as wouldhave been caused by a tightened cord, and in places the skin was tornaway, leaving visible the eroded flesh. 

"Oh doctor!" groaned Dickenson, trembling violently. 

"Hold up, my dear boy, " whispered his companion. "No one knows of itbut my orderly, you, and myself. It will soon heal up, and I shall notfeel it my duty to mention it to a soul. "

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

THE TALE HE TOLD. 

"Look here, Roby, " said Dickenson, three or four days later, when, having a little time on his hands--the Boers, consequent upon their latedefeat, having been very quiet--he went in to sit with the captain ofhis company, finding him calm and composed, and ready to talk about theinjury to his head, which seemed to be healing fast. 

"Precious lucky for me, Dickenson, " he said; "an inch lower and therewould have been promotion for somebody. Narrow escape, wasn't it?"

"Awfully. "

"Such a nuisance, too, lying up in this oven. I tell Emden that Ishould get better much faster if he'd let me get up and go about; but hewill not listen. "

"Of course not; you're best where you are. You couldn't wear yourhelmet. "

"My word, no! Head's awfully tender. It makes me frightfully wildsometimes when I think of the cowardly way in which that cur Lennox--"

"Hold hard!" cried Dickenson, frowning. "Look here, Roby; you got thatcrotchet into your head in the delirium that followed your wound. You're getting better now and talk like a sane man, so just drop thatnonsense. "

"Nonsense?"

"Yes; horrible nonsense. Have you thought of the mischief you are doingby making such a charge?"

"Thought till my head has seemed on fire. He'll have to leave theregiment, and a good job too. "

"Of course, over a craze. "

"Craze, sir? It's a simple fact--the honest truth. Ask Corporal Maythere. --It's true, isn't it, May?"

"Oh yes, sir; it's true enough, " said the corporal, "though I'm sorryenough to have to say it of my officer. "

"It doesn't seem like it, sir, " said Dickenson in a voice full ofexasperation. 

"No, sir; you think so because you always were Mr Lennox's friend. Butit ain't my business, and I don't want to speak about it. I never dounless I'm obliged. "

"You--you worm!" cried Dickenson, for he could think of nothing betterto say. "Have you ever thought it would have been much better, afteryour lit of fright in the cavern, if Mr Lennox had left you to takeyour chance, instead of risking his life to save yours?"

"No, sir; I ain't never thought that, " whined the man; "but I was verygrateful to him for what he did, and that's what keeps me back and makesme feel so ill speaking about him. I wouldn't say a word, sir, but yousee I must speak the truth. "

"Speak the truth!" growled Dickenson as he turned angrily away. "Lookhere, Roby, if I stop here much longer I shall get myself into troublefor kicking a patient. Now, once more, look here. You've done an awfullot of mischief by what you said when your fit of delirium was on you, and you're in such a weak state now that as soon as you begin thinkingabout Lennox you make yourself worse by bringing the crazy feeling backagain. "

"Crazy feeling? Bah! I know what I'm saying. A coward! I wish theold days were back. I'd call him out and shoot him. "

"No, you wouldn't, for you'd have to wait till the doctor took you offhis list, and by that time you'd be quite back in your right senses. "

"Robert Dickenson!" cried Roby, flushing scarlet, and his featuresgrowing convulsed. 

"Yes, that's my name; but I'm not going to submit to a bullying from thedoctor for exciting his patient. Good-bye. Make haste and get well. Ican't stop here. "

"Stay where you are, " shouted Roby furiously. "Drew Lennox is--"

"My friend, " muttered Dickenson, rushing out. "Poor fellow! I supposehe believes it; but he doesn't know how bad he is. It's queer. Thatidea regularly maddens him. Hullo! here's the boss. "

"Ah, Dickenson, my lad! Been to cheer up Roby?"

"Yes, sir; I've been to cheer him up a bit, " said Dickenson. 

"That's right. Getting on nicely, isn't he?"

"Ye-es. "

"What do you mean with your spun-out `yes'?"

"I thought he seemed a little queer in the head yet. "

"Oh yes, and that will last for a while, no doubt. But he's mendingwonderfully, and I'm beginning to hope that there will be no need forthe operation: nature is doing the work herself. "

"That's right, sir, " said Dickenson dryly. "I'd encourage her to goon. "

The doctor smiled. 

"Going to see Lennox?"

"If I may. "

"Oh yes, you may go now. He's getting on too: picking up strength. Don't let him talk too much, and don't mention a word about that reportof Roby's. "

"Certainly not, " said Dickenson; and the doctor passing on, the youngofficer entered the next hut, to find his friend looking hollow-eyed andpulled down, the nerves at the corners of his eyes twitching as heslept. 

Dickenson sat down upon a box watching him, and it was as if hispresence there acted upon the patient, who, at the end of a few minutes, opened his eyes and smiled. 

"How strange!" he said, holding out his hand. 

"What's strange?"

"I was dreaming about you. How long have you been there?"

"Five or ten minutes. "

"How are things going on?"

"Pretty quiet. "

"No news of relief?"

"Not the slightest. We seem to be quite forgotten out here in thiscorner. "

"Oh--no, " said Lennox; "we're not forgotten. The country is so big, andour men are kept busy in other directions. "

He turned as he spoke to got into an easier position, and then winced, uttering an ejaculation indicating the pain he felt. 

"Why didn't you speak, and let me help you?" said Dickenson. 

"Because I want to be independent. It was nothing. Only my neck; it'sawfully sore still. "

Dickenson winced now in turn. A chill ran through him, and his foreheadcontracted with pain; but Lennox did not grasp the feeling of horror andmisery which ran through his friend. 

"I shall be precious glad when it's better, " continued Lennox. "Did Itell you how it got in this state?"

"No. Don't talk about it, " said Dickenson shortly. 

"Why not? I'm all right now. Have I been raving at all?"

"Not that I have heard. "

"I wonder at it, for until this morning I've felt half my time as if Iwere in a nightmare. "

"Look here; the doctor said that you were to be kept perfectly quiet, and that I was not to encourage you to talk. "

"Good old man. Well, I'm as quiet as a mouse, and you are not going toencourage me to talk. I haven't felt inclined to, either, since I gotback. I don't suppose it has been so, but I've felt as if all the veinsin my head were swollen up, and it has made me stupid and strange, andas if I couldn't say what I wanted, and I haven't tried to speak forfear I should wander away. But I say, Bob, did I go in to see Robylying wounded when I came back?"

"Yes. "

"Ah, then that wasn't imagination. It's like something seen through amist. It has all been like looking through glass cloudy and thick oversince we rushed the Boers. "

"Look here, " said Dickenson, rising; "I must go now. "

"Nonsense; you've only just come. Sit down, man; you won't hurt me. Dome good. --That's right. I want to ask you something. "

"No, no; you'd better not talk. "

"What nonsense! I'm beginning to suffer now from what fine people call_ennui_. Not much in my way, old fellow. You're doing me good. I say, look here. Something has been bothering me like in my dreams. You sayI did go in to see poor Roby?"

"Yes; but look here, Drew, old man, " cried Dickenson, "if you get onthat topic I must go. "

"No, no; stay. I want to separate the fancy from the real. I've got anidea in my head that Roby turned upon me in a tit of raving, and calledme a coward and a cur for running away and leaving him. Did I dreamthat?"

"No, " said Dickenson huskily. "He has been a good deal off his head. He did shout something of that sort at you. "

"Poor fellow!" said Lennox quietly. "But how horrible! Shot in theforehead, wasn't he?"

"Bullet ploughed open the top of his head. "

"I didn't see what was wrong with him in the rush. I can remember now, quite clearly, seeing him go down, with his face streaming with blood. "

"You recollect that?" said Dickenson excitedly, in spite of himself. 

"Oh yes. The light was coming fast, and we were near where a lot of theBoers were making for their mounts to get them away. One big fellow wasleading his pony, and as poor Roby was straggling blindly about, thisBoer ran at him, holding his rein in one hand, his rifle in the other, and I saw him shorten it with his right to turn it into a club to bringit down on Roby's head. "

"All!" cried Dickenson, with increasing excitement, and he waited byLennox, who ceased speaking, and lay gazing calmly at the door. Thenall the doctor's warnings were forgotten, and the visitor said hoarsely, "Well, go on. Why don't you speak?"

"Oh, I don't want to begin blowing about what I did, " said Lennoxquietly. 

"But I want to hear, " said Dickenson. "Go on--the Boer raised his rifleto bash it down on Roby's head. What then?"

"Well, he didn't. I was obliged to cut him down. Then the pony jerkeditself free and galloped off. "

"And you ran to catch it?" cried Dickenson excitedly. 

"Nonsense!" said Lennox, laughing. "Why should I do that? What did Iwant with the pony, unless it might have been to get poor Roby acrossits back? But I never thought of it. I only thought of getting him onmine. "

"And did you?" cried Dickenson. 

"Of course I did. I wanted to carry him to the rear, poor fellow. "

"Ha!" ejaculated Dickenson. 

"Well, don't shout. What an excitable beggar you are?"

"Go on, then. You keep giving it to me in little bits. What then?"

"Oh, I got him on my back, and it was horrible His wound bled so. "

"But you carried him?"

"Yes, ever so far; till that happened. "

"Yes! What?"

Lennox touched his neck, and his hearer literally ground his teeth inrage. 

"Will--you--speak out?" he cried. 

"Will you take things a little more coolly?" said Lennox quietly. "Didn't Emden say I was to be kept quiet?"

"Of course; of course, " said Dickenson hurriedly. "But you don't know, old chap, what I'm suffering. I'm in a raging thirst for the truth--Iwant to take one big draught, and you keep on giving me tiny drops in adoll's teaspoon. "

"It's because I hate talking about it. I don't want to brag aboutcarrying a wounded man on my back with a pack of Boers on horsebackchivvying me. Besides, I'm a bit misty over what did happen. An upsetlike that takes it out of a fellow. Since I've been lying here thismorning thinking it over the wonder to me is that I'm still alive. "

Dickenson pressed his teeth together, making a brave effort to keep backthe words which strove to escape, and he was rewarded for his reticenceby his comrade continuing quietly:

"It all happened in a twinkling. Roby was balanced on my back, and Iwas trying to get away from the retreating Boers, sword in one hand, revolver in the other; and I kept two off who passed me by pointing mypistol at them, when another came down with a rush, made a snatch at thelanyard, and, almost before I could realise what was happening, poorRoby was down and I was jerked off my feet and dragged along the roughground, bumping, choking, and strangling. For the brute had made asnatch at my revolver, caught the lanyard, and held on, with theslip-noose tight between the collar of my jacket and my chin, and hispony cantering hard. I can just remember the idea flashing to my brainthat this must be something like the lassoing of an animal by a cowboyor one of those South American half-breeds, and then I was seeingdazzling lights and clouds that seemed to be tinged with blood; andafter that all was dark for I can't tell how long, before I began tocome to, and found myself right away on the veldt, with the sun beatingdown upon my head, and a raging thirst nearly driving me mad. I supposeI was mad, or nearly so, " continued Lennox after a brief pause, "for myhead was all in a whirl, and I kept on seeing Boers dragging me over theveldt by the neck, and hearing horses galloping round me, all of whichwas fancy, of course; for at times I was sensible, and knew that I waslying somewhere out in the great veldt where all was silent, the horsesI heard being in my head. Then I seemed to go to sleep and dream that Iwas being dragged by the neck again, on and on for ever. "

"Horrible, " panted Dickenson. 

"Yes, old fellow, it was rather nasty; but I suppose a great part of itwas fancy, and even now I can't get it into shape, for everything was sodull and dreamy and confused. All I can tell you more is, that I wokeup once, feeling a little more sensible, and began to feel about me. Then I knew that my sword was by my side and my hand numb and throbbing, for the sword-knot was tight about my wrist. I managed to get thatloosened, and after a good deal of difficulty sheathed my sword, afterwhich I began to feel for my revolver, and got hold of the cord, whichpassed through my hand till I felt that it was broken--snapped off orcut. That was all I could do then, and I suppose I fainted. But I musthave come to again and struggled up, moved by a blind sort of instinctto get back to Groenfontein. I say I suppose that, for all the rest isa muddle of dreams and confusion. The doctor says you and a party cameand found me wandering about in the dark, and of course I must have beenmaking some blind kind of effort to get back to camp. I say, oldfellow, I ought to have been dead, I suppose?"

"Of course you ought, sir, " said the doctor, stepping in to lay a handupon the poor fellow's brow. "Humph! Not so feverish as you ought tobe, chattering like that. "

"Then you've heard, doctor?" cried Dickenson excitedly. 

"I heard talking, sir, where there ought to be none, " replied the doctorsharply. 

"But did you hear that your precious theory was all wrong?"

"No, sir; I did not, " said the doctor sharply. "I based my theory uponwhat seemed to be facts, and facts they were. I told you that mypatient here was suffering from the tightening of a ligature about hisneck. "

"And quite correct, too, doctor, " said Lennox, holding out his hand. "Isuppose if that lanyard had not broken I shouldn't be alive here to talkabout it. "

"Your theory, my dear boy, is as correct as mine, " said the doctor, taking his patient's hand, but not to shake it, for he proceeded to feelLennox's pulse in the most business-like manner, nodding his head withsatisfaction. 

"Much better than I expected, " he said. "But you must be quiet now. Iwas horrified when I came by and heard such a jabbering going on. Let'ssee: where are your duds?"

He went to the corner of the hut, where the orderly had placed thepatient's uniform, everything as neatly folded as if it had been newinstead of tattered and torn; while above, on a peg, hung belts, sword, pouches, and the strong cord-like lanyard stiffened and strained aboutthe noose and slipping knots, while the other end was broken and frayedwhere the spring snap had been. 

"Humph!" said the doctor. "I wonder this cord didn't snap at once withthe drag made upon it. All the same I don't suppose you were draggedvery far. "

He looked at his patient inquiringly, but Lennox shook his head slowly. 

"It may have been for half-an-hour, doctor, or only for a minute. Ican't tell. "

"Probabilities are in favour of the minute, sir, " said the doctor. "Well, it's a strange case. I never had but one injury in my experienceapproaching it, and that was when an artillery driver was dragged overthe plain by his horses. A shell burst close to the team, and this mansomehow got the reins twisted about his neck, and he was dragged forabout a mile before he was released. "

"Much hurt?" said Dickenson. 

"Yes, " said the doctor, with a short nod of the head. "He was very muchhurt indeed. "

"And I was not, doctor?" said Lennox, smiling. 

"Oh no, not in the least, " said the doctor sarcastically. "You onlywanted your face washed and you'd have been all right in a few hours, nodoubt. I've done nothing for you. The old story. Why, let me tellyou, sir, when you were brought in I began to wonder whether I was goingto pull you round. "

"As you have, doctor, and I am most grateful. "

Lennox held out both hands as he spoke, his right being still swollenand painful; and this time the doctor took them non-professionally, tohold them for a few moments. 

"Of course you are, my dear boy, and I'm heartily glad to see yougetting on so well; but, upon my word, I do sometimes feel ready toabuse some of our rough ones. I save their lives, and they take it allas a matter of course--give one not the slightest credit. But there, from sheer ignorance of course. You're getting right fast, and I'lltell you why: it's because you're in a fine, vigorous state of health. You fellows have no chance of over-indulging yourselves in eating anddrinking. "

"Not a bit, doctor, " said Dickenson, making a wry face. 

"Oh yes, I know, " said the doctor. "You have to go through a good manyprivations, but you're none the worse. Primeval man used to have hardwork to live; civilised man is pampered and spoiled with luxuries. "

"Especially civilised man engaged in the South African campaign againstthe Boers, " said Dickenson, while his comrade's eyes lit up with mirth. 

"Sneer away, my fine fellow; but though it's precious unpleasant, fasting does no man any harm. Now, look here, sir; if we were inbarracks at home you fellows would be indulging in mess dinners andwines and cigars, and sodas and brandies, and some of you in liqueurs, and you wouldn't be half so well, not in half such good training, as youare now. "

"The doctor hates a good cigar, Drew, and loathes wine, " said Dickensonsarcastically. 

"No, he doesn't, boys; the doctor's as weak as most men are when theyhave plenty of good things before them. But my theory's right. Now, look at the men. Poor fellows! they've had a hard time of it; but lookat them when they are wounded. I tell you, sir, that I open my eyeswidely and stare at the cures I make of awful wounds. I might think itwas all due to my professional experience, but I'm not such an idiot. It's all due to the healthy state the men are in, and the gloriousclimate. "

"And what about the fever, doctor?" said Lennox. 

"Ah, that's another thing, my dear boy. When the poor fellows are shutup in a horribly crowded, unhealthy camp, and are forced to drink waterthat is nothing less than poisonous, they go down fast. So they wouldanywhere. But see how we've got on here--the camp kept clean, and anabundant supply of delicious water bubbling out of that kopje. Then--Bless my heart! I forbade talking, and here I am giving you fellows alecture on hygiene. --Come along with me, Dickenson. --You, Lennox, go tosleep if you can. No more talking to-day. "

The doctor literally drove Dickenson before him, and hooked him by thearm as soon as they were outside. 

"I'm very glad we settled for that idea of mine to be private, Dickenson, my dear boy. But it did look horribly like it. "

"Perhaps, " said the young man. "But you give it up now?"

"Certainly, " said the doctor. 

"And you give up the idea too about his running away?"

"Of course. "

"Then the sooner you give Roby something that will bring him to hissenses the better. "

"I wish I could; but the poor fellow seems to have got it stamped intohis brain. "

"Yes; and the worst of it is he doesn't talk like a man touched in thehead. "

"No, he does not; though he is, without doubt. "

"Can't you talk quietly to the chief? There's he and the major andEdwards take it all as a matter of course. They don't give poor oldDrew the credit for all that he has done since we were here, but believeall the evil. It's abominable. "

"_Esprit de corps_, Dickenson, my lad. "

"Yes, that's all right enough; but they turn silent and cold as soon asthe poor fellow's name is mentioned; while that isn't the worst of it. "

"What is, then?" said the doctor. 

"The men sing the tune their officers have pitched, and that miserablesneak, Corporal May, sings chorus. Oh! it's bad, sir; bad. Fancy:there was the poor fellow knocked over when trying to save his captain'slife, and the man he helped to save turns upon him like this. "

"Yes, it is bad, " said the doctor; "but, like many more bad things, itdies out. "

"What! the credit of being a coward, doctor? No; it grows. _Ur-r-r_!"growled the speaker. "I should like to ram all that Corporal May hassaid down his throat. He'd find it nastier physic than any you evergave him, doctor. I say, I'm not a vindictive fellow, but when I keephearing these things about a man I like, it makes me boil. Do you thinkthere's any chance of the corporal getting worse?"

"No, " said the doctor sternly; "he hasn't much the matter with him, onlya few bruises. But if he did die it would be worse still for poorLennox. "

"No! How?"

"Because he'd leave the poison behind him. There, I'll do all I canwith the colonel; but all the officers believe Roby, and that Lennox wasseized with a fit of panic. There's only one way for him to clear itaway. "

"Exchange? How can he?"

"Exchange? Nonsense! Get strong, return to his company, and show everyone that he is not the coward they think. "

"There's something in that, certainly, " said Dickenson sadly; "but he'llwant opportunities. Suppose he had the chance to save the major's life;how do we know that he too wouldn't set it about that Lennox was morecowardly still? Saving lives doesn't seem to pay. "

"Nonsense, my lad! You're speaking bitterly now. "

"Enough to make me, sir. It isn't only Roby; Lennox saved Corporal Mayas well. "

"Never mind that. You tell Lennox to try again. Third time, they say, never fails. "

"Humph!" said Dickenson. "Well, we shall see. "

"Yes, " said the doctor; "we shall see. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

THE MUD THAT STUCK. 

"It's a bad business, Mr Lennox, " said the colonel sternly, some weekslater, when matters looked very dreary again in the camp, for thesupplies of provisions had once more begun to grow very short, and theconstant strain of petty attacks had affected officers and men to adegree that made them morose and bitter in the extreme. 

"But surely, sir, you don't believe this of me?" said Lennox, flushing. 

"As a man, no, Mr Lennox; but as your commanding officer I am placed ina very awkward position. The captain of your company makes the mostterrible charge against you that could be made against a young officer. "

"But under what circumstances? He was suffering from a serious injuryto the head; he was delirious at the time. "

"But he is not delirious now, Mr Lennox, and that which he accused youof in a state of wild frenzy he maintains, now that he is recoveringfast, in cold blood. "

"Yes, sir; it seems cold-blooded enough after what I did for him. "

"Unfortunately he maintains that this is all an invention on your part. "

"And my being dragged away for some distance by one of the Boers, sir?"

"Yes; he declares that he was not insensible for some time after hishurt, and that had what you say occurred he must have seen it. "

"Then it is his word against mine, sir?" said Lennox. 

"Unfortunately it is not, Lennox, " said the colonel gravely. "If itwere only that I should feel very differently situated. Your conductduring the war has been so gallant that, without the slightesthesitation, I should side with you and set down all that Captain Robyhas said to a hallucination caused by the injury to his head. But, yousee, there is the testimony of Corporal May, who declares that hewitnessed your conduct--conduct which I feel bound to say seems, whenweighed by your previous actions, perfectly inexplicable. "

"Then I am to consider, sir, on the testimony of this man, that I amunworthy of holding a commission in Her Majesty's service?" said Lennoxbitterly. 

"Stop, " said the colonel. "Don't be rash, and say things of which youmay repent, Lennox. "

"An innocent man defending himself against such a charge, sir, cannotalways weigh his words. Look at my position, sir. I am fit now toreturn to my duty, and I find a marked coldness on the part of mybrother officers and a peculiarity in the looks of the men which showsme plainly enough that they believe it true. "

"I have noticed it myself, " said the colonel, "save in two instances. Mr Dickenson is downright in his defence of you; and I freely tell youfor your comfort that the bravest non-commissioned officer in theregiment, when I was speaking to him on the subject, laughed the chargeto scorn, and--confound him!--he had the insolence to tell me he'd assoon believe that I would run away as believe it of you. "

"Ha!" ejaculated Lennox, with his eyes brightening. "Sergeant James?"

"Yes; Sergeant James. A fine, staunch fellow, Lennox. He'll have hiscommission by-and-by if I can help it on. "

"Well, sir, " said Lennox slowly, "I suppose it is of no use to fightagainst fate. Am I to consider myself under arrest?"

"Certainly not, " said the colonel firmly. "This is no time for dealingwith such a matter. I have enough on my hands to keep the enemy at adistance, and I want every one's help. But as soon as we are relieved--if we ever are--I am bound, unless Captain Roby and the corporal retractall they have said and attribute it to delirium--I am bound, I say, tocall the attention of my superiors to the matter. I shall do sounwillingly, but I must. Out of respect to your brother officers, andfor your sake as well, I cannot let this matter slide. It would beblasting your career as a soldier--for you could not retain yourcommission in this regiment. "

"No, sir, " said Lennox slowly, "nor exchange into another. But it seemshard, sir. "

"Yes, Lennox, speaking to you not as your colonel but as a friend, terribly hard. "

"Then the sooner I am arrested and tried by court-martial, sir, thebetter. I was ready to return to my duty, but to go on with every onein the regiment looking upon me as a coward is more than I could bear. "The colonel was silent. "Have I your leave, sir, to go back to myquarters?" said Lennox at last. 

"Not yet, " said the colonel. "Look here, Lennox; this wretched chargehas been made, and I cannot tell my officers and men what they shall andwhat they shall not believe. An inquiry must take place--by-and-by. Till it is held, the task rests with you to prove to your brotherofficers and the men that they have misjudged you. "

"And to you, sir, " said Lennox coldly. 

"I do not judge you yet, Lennox, " said the colonel gravely. "I amwaiting. "

"And how am I to prove, sir, that I am not what they think me?"

The colonel shrugged his shoulders and smiled sadly. 

"You need not go and publish what I say, Lennox, " he replied; "but Ihave very good reason to believe that the Boers are heartily sick ofwaiting for us to surrender, and that they have received orders to makean end of our resistance. "

"Indeed, sir?"

"They have been receiving reinforcements, and the blacks bring word inthat they have now two more guns. There will be plenty of chances foryou to show that you are no coward, and that before many hours arepast. "

"Do you mean, sir, that I can take my place in the company?"

"I do. "

"Thank you, sir. Something within me seems to urge me to hold aloof, for the coldness I have experienced since the doctor said I was fit forservice is unbearable. "

"Would not standing upon your dignity, Lennox, and letting your comradesface the enemy, look worse than manfully taking your place side by sidewith the men who are going forward to risk wounds or death?"

"Yes, sir; much, " said Lennox, flushing. "I will live it down. "

"Shake hands, Lennox, " said the colonel, holding out his own. "Now Ifeel that you have been misjudged. Those were the words of a brave man. Mind this: the matter must be properly heard by-and-by, but let itremain in abeyance. Go and live it down. "

The young officer had something more to say, but the words would notcome; and the colonel, after a glance at him, turned to a despatch hehad been writing, and began to read it over as if in ignorance of hisvisitor's emotion. 

"Oh, by the way, Lennox, one word before you go. About this man May. Have you ever given him any cause to dislike you?"

"No, sir, I think not. I must own to always having felt a dislike tohim. "

"Indeed, " said the colonel sharply. "Why?"

"I would rather you did not ask me, sir. "

"Speak out, man!" said the colonel sternly. 

"Well, sir, I have never liked him since he obtained his promotion. "

"Why?"

"I did not think he deserved it so well as some of the other men of hisstanding. "

"Humph! Let me see; he was promoted on Captain Roby's recommendation. "

"Yes, sir; he was always a favourite with his captain. "

"Have you been a bit tyrannical--overbearing?"

"I have only done my duty by him, sir. Certainly I have been rathersharp with him when I have noticed a disposition on his part to hangback. "

"Perhaps he has never forgiven you for saving his life, " said thecolonel, smiling. 

"Oh, surely not, sir. "

"I don't know, " said the colonel. "But think a minute. "

"I was certainly very sharp with him that time when we explored thecavern, for that was one of the occasions when he hung back as ifscared. But no, no, sir; I will not suspect the man of accusing me ashe has through spite. He believes he saw me run, no doubt. But I didnot. "

"There, Lennox, you've had a long interview, and I have my despatch towrite up. I have plenty to worry my head without your miserablebusiness. Now, no rashness, mind; but I shall expect to hear of youleading your men in the very front. "

"If they will follow me, sir, I shall be there, " said Lennox quietly. "If they will not, I shall go alone. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

COMPANY AT DINNER. 

"Why didn't you tell me you were going to have it out with the chief?"said Dickenson, encountering his comrade directly he had left thecolonel's quarters. 

"Because you told me never to mention the wretched business again. "

"Did I? Oh, that was when I was in a wax. Well, what does the old mansay?"

"That I am to go on as if nothing had happened. "

"That's good. Well, what else?"

"Take my place in my company, and wait till we're relieved, and then beready for a court-martial. "

"That's good too, for no one can prove you guilty. What else?"

"Keep well in the front, and get myself killed as soon as I can. "

"If he said that, he's a brute!" cried Dickenson. "Gammon! I don'tbelieve the old man would say such a thing. But look here, I'm preciousglad. This means you're going to live it down. "

Lennox nodded. "Here, " he said, "let's go into our hut. "

"No, not yet. I want to walk up and down in the fresh air a bit. "

"But the sun is terribly hot. "

"Do you good, " said Dickenson abruptly. "Let's go right to the end andback three or four times. "

"Bah!" said Lennox. "You want to do this so as to ostentatiously showthat you mean to keep friends with me. "

"Suppose I do. I've a right to, haven't I?"

"Not to give me pain. It does. Help me to live it down quietly. "

"Very well; if you like it better. But I say, you'll show up in themess-room to-night?"

"Why should I?"

"Because the place is wretched and the fare's--beastly. There, thatdoesn't sound nice, but I must say it. "

"I had rather stay away. It would only provoke what I should feelcruelly, and I could not resent it. "

"No, but I could; and if any one insults you by sending you to Coventry, I'll provoke him. I suppose I mustn't punch my superior officer's head, but off duty I can tell him what I think of him, and I'll let him haveit hot and strong. "

"Then I shall stay away. "

"No, you sha'n't. I will instead. "

"That would be worse, Bob. Look here; I want you to help me to livethis charge down, to treat it with quiet contempt. If you make yourselfso fierce a partisan you will keep the wound sore and prevent it fromhealing up. "

"Very well, then; I'll give it a good chance. There, I promise you Iwon't show my temper a bit; only play fair. "

"In what way?"

"Don't turn upon me afterwards and call me a coward for not taking yourpart. "

"Never fear. I don't want you to get into hot water for my sake. "

"My dear boy, " said Dickenson, chuckling like a cuckoo in a coppice inearly spring, "that's impossible. "

"Why?"

"Because I'm in hot water now with everybody, and have been ever since. "

"I am sorry. "

"And I am glad--jolly glad. Oh, don't I wish there was duelling still!"

"Haven't you killed enough men to satisfy you?" said Lennox sadly. 

"More than enough. I don't want to kill brother officers, only to givethem lessons in manly faith. But bother that! I say: you promise tocome and take your place this evening?"

"Yes; I promise, " said Lennox quietly. 

"Then I'll tell you something. Roby's coming too. "

"Roby!"

"Yes; for the first time since he got his wound. "

Lennox was silent. 

"There, I'm not going to try and teach you, old fellow, " continuedDickenson; "but if I were you I should ignore everything, unless theboys do as they should do--meet you like men. "

"Well, " said Lennox, "we shall see. "

That dinner-time came all too soon for Lennox, who had sat in his shabbyquarters thinking how wondrously quiet everything was, and whether afterwhat the colonel had hinted it was the calm preceding the storm. 

"Come along, " cried Dickenson, thrusting his head into the hut. 

Lennox felt his heart sink as he thought of the coming meeting, for thiswas the first time he had approached the mess-room since the night ofthe attack upon the kopje. He winced, too, a little as he passed twosentries, who seemed, he thought, to look curiously at him. But thenext moment his companion's rather boisterous prattle fell upon deafears, for just in front, on their way to the mess-room, were Roby andthe doctor walking arm in arm, and then they disappeared through thedoor. 

"Oh, won't I punish the provisions when the war is over!" saidDickenson. _Sniff, sniff_! "Ah! I know you, my friend, in spite ofthe roasting. I'd a deal rather be outside you than you inside me. Andyet it's all prejudice, Drew, old man, for the horse is the cleanest andmost particular of vegetable-feeding beasts, and the pig is thenastiest--cannibalistic and vile. "

They passed through the door together, to find the colonel present, andthe other officers about to take their places. Roby had evidently notbeen prepared for this, and he looked half-stunned when the doctorturned from him, advanced to Lennox, and shook hands. 

"I wish we had a better dinner in honour of my two convalescents. "

"This is insufferable, " said Roby in a voice choking with anger. 

"Let that wait, doctor, " said the colonel. 

"Come along, Lennox, " cried Dickenson, after darting a furious glance atRoby. "Very, very glad to see you once more in your place. "

No one else spoke for a few moments, and the dinner was about to becommenced, when Roby suddenly rose to his feet. 

"Colonel Lindley, " he said, in a husky voice full of rage, "are youaware who is present here this evening?"

"Yes, Captain Roby, " said the colonel sternly. "I desired Mr Lennox, now that he is convalescent, to return to his usual place at themess-table. "

Roby's jaw dropped, and he stared at the officers around as if silentlyasking them whether he heard aright. But every man averted his eyes andassumed to be busy commencing the miserable meal. 

"Well!" exclaimed Roby at last; and then in a tone which expressed hisutter astonishment: "Well. "

"Sit down, Captain Roby, " continued the colonel, raising his eyebrows ashe saw that his subordinate was still standing. 

"I beg your pardon, sir, " said Roby stiffly, after looking round in vainfor something in the way of moral support from his brother officers, whoall sat frowning at their portions. 

"Yes?" said the colonel calmly. 

"I have no wish to be insubordinate, but, speaking on behalf of allpresent here, I desire to say that we feel it impossible to remain atthe table in company with one who--"

"That will do, " said the colonel, fixing Dickenson with his eyes, forthat individual had suddenly given vent to a sound that was neithersigh, grunt, ejaculation, nor snort, but something that might have beenthe result of all these combined. 

"I beg your pardon, sir?" said Roby hotly. 

"I said that would do, Captain Roby, " replied the colonel. "I did notgather that you had been elected to speak for your brother officers upona subject about which I consider myself to be the proper arbiter. Moreover, if any officer feels himself aggrieved respecting any one whomI elect to join us at the mess-table, I am always open to hear hiscomplaint. "

"But really, sir, " began Roby indignantly, "this is an assembly ofhonourable gentlemen. "

"With an exception, " growled Dickenson. 

"Yes, " cried Roby passionately, "with an exception--I may add, twoexceptions. "

"Look here, Captain Roby, " cried Dickenson, springing up, "do you meanthis as an insult to me?"

"Silence!" cried the colonel, rising in turn. "Mr Dickenson, resumeyour seat. "

Dickenson dropped down so heavily that the empty cartridge-box thatformed his seat cracked as if about to collapse. 

"Captain Roby, " said the colonel, "I beg that you will say no more nowupon this painful subject. Resume your seat, sir. "

"Sir, " said Roby, "I must ask your permission to leave the mess-table. Whatever my brother officers may choose to do, I absolutely refuse tosit at the same table with a--"

"Stop!" roared Dickenson, springing up again in a furious passion. "Ifyou dare to call my friend Lennox a coward again, court-martial or nocourt-martial, I'll knock you down. "

Every man now sprang to his feet as if startled by the sudden verbalshell which had fallen amongst them. Then there was a dead silence, till Lennox said huskily, "Will you give me your permission to return tomy quarters, sir?"

"No, Mr Lennox, " said the colonel quietly. "Take your places again, gentlemen. --Captain Roby--Mr Lennox--if we are alive and uninjured inthe morning I will see you both at my quarters with respect to thispainful business. To-night we have other matters to arrange. I havejust received trustworthy information that another reinforcement hasreached the enemy. I have doubled the number of scouts sent out, and assoon as we have dined we have all our work to do in completing ourarrangements to meet what the Boers intend for their final attack. Gentlemen, sit down. Our duty to our country first; minor matters ofdiscipline after. "

There was a low buzz of excitement as every man resumed his seat, Robyalone hesitating, but dropping sharply back into his place in unwillingobedience to a sharp tug given at his tunic by the officers on eitherside. 

"What about your promise?" said Lennox in a whisper to Dickenson. 

"Hang my promise!" growled his comrade. "Do you take me for a stump?"

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

"WHAT A BRICK!"

Every one burst into the hurried flow of conversation that now followedthe colonel's announcement, the excitement growing at the thought of thedreary siege at last coming to an end, while, to judge from the remarks, the feeling at the table was one of relief at the prospect of at lasttrying final conclusions with the Boers. 

"Yes, " said Captain Edwards to those near him, "I am heartily glad. Letthem come on and give us a chance of some real fighting. All thismiserable sniping and lurking behind stones has been barbarous. Peoplesay that the Boers are patriotic and brave: let them act like soldiersand give us a chance. "

The conversation grew more and more exciting, till the meagre repast wasat an end, when the colonel rose and walked round to the back ofDickenson's seat. 

"Come to my quarters, " he said quietly, and he walked out, followed bythe young subaltern. 

The stars were out, shining brightly, and all looked peaceful and grandas the colonel led on to his hut, with Dickenson stringing himself upfor the encounter he was about to have with his chief, and growing moreand more determined and stubborn as the moment approached. 

"I don't care, " he said to himself. "I'll tell him I'll challenge Roby, whether it's allowed or not;" and then he felt as if some one had throwncold water in his face, for the colonel said quietly:

"What a grand night, Dickenson! I wonder what our friends are doing athome, and whether they are thinking about us. "

Dickenson stared at him, but it was too dark for him to distinguish theplay of his officer's countenance. 

"No light, " said the colonel as he turned into his quarters. "Have youa match?"

"Yes, sir, " said the young officer rather gruffly, and the little silverbox he took from his pocket tinkled softly as he searched for a matchand struck it, the flash showing the colonel turning up the lamp wick. 

"That's right, " he said; "light it. "

A minute later the mean-looking hut, with its camp table, lamp, andstools, was lit up, and the colonel seated himself. 

"I've very few words to say, Dickenson, " he said kindly, "but those areabout your conduct to-night. You are young, hot-headed, and unwise. "

"Can't help it, sir. My nature, " said the young man shortly. 

"I suppose so. But of course you are aware that you have been guilty ofa great breach of etiquette, and that your conduct cannot be passed oververy lightly. "

"I suppose not, sir. I'm ready to take my punishment. "

"Yes, " said the colonel; and then, after a pause, "You seem to attachyourself more than ever to Mr Lennox since this affair. "

"Yes, sir; we are very old friends. I should not be his friend if I didnot stick to him now he is under a cloud. "

"Rather unwise, is it not? You see, you cut yourself apart from yourbrother officers, who are bound to stand aloof till Mr Lennox hascleared himself. "

"I'm sorry not to be friendly with them, sir, " said Dickenson sturdily;"and if there is any cutting apart, it is their doing, not mine. I amready to do my duty in every way, sir; but I must stand by my friend. "

"Then you have perfect faith in his innocence?"

"Perfect, sir; and so would you have if you knew him as well as I do. "

"I do know him pretty well, Dickenson, " said the colonel quietly. "Well, I suppose you know that I ought to be very severe with you?"

"Yes, sir, of course. "

"And that I was bound to summon you to come to my quarters?"

"Or put me under arrest, sir. "

"I cannot spare any of my officers to-night, Dickenson, so I suppose itmust be deferred till after the attack. "

"Thank you, sir. I don't want to be out of the fight. "

"I suppose not. By the way, have you seen much of Roby since he hasbeen about again?"

"Oh yes; a great deal, sir, on purpose. I've been trying to get himinto a better frame of mind. "

"Well, I must say that you have not succeeded very well. "

"Horribly, sir. I thought he'd think differently as his wound healedup; but he is worse than ever. "

"Now then, " said the colonel, "tell me frankly what you think of CaptainRoby's state. "

"I think he puzzles me, sir. One hour I think he is as mad as ahatter--"

"Say as mad. "

"Yes, sir; one hour he's as mad as mad, and the next he's perfectlysane. "

"Perfectly sane, I should say, Dickenson, " said the colonel. 

"Yes, sir, in all things but one, and over that he's just like thatfellow in the story. "

"What fellow in what story?" said the colonel coldly. 

"That Mr Dick, sir, who couldn't write anything without getting KingCharles's head into it. "

"I see; and you think Captain Roby cannot help getting what he considersto be Lennox's cowardice into _his_ head?"

"Exactly, sir. "

"Humph! Well, there may be something in that. There, I have no more tosay to you now. No rashness to-night, but do your best with your men. I'd rather hear that you saved one of our lads than killed half-a-dozenBoers. "

"I understand, sir. "

"Understand this too. If you have any conversation with your brotherofficers, say I have had you here to give you a severe reproof for thepresent, and that probably something more will follow when we havecrushed the Boers. If they crush us you will get off. That will do, Dickenson. I expect our friends will visit us to-night, though moreprobably it will be just before daylight. Ask the major to step here asyou go. By the way, you and Lennox were at school together?"

"Yes, sir; and at Sandhurst too. "

"Well, I hope he has as good an opinion of you as you have of him. Good-night for the present. "

"Good-night, sir, " said the young man as he went out into the starlightto deliver his message. --"Well, I hope we shall win to-night, for thechief's sake! Hang it all, " he muttered, "what a brick he is!"

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

TO CLEAR THE KOPJE. 

As a rule, the garrison at Groenfontein after the posting of the watchsettled itself down for a quiet night's rest, for experience had taughtthat there was very little to fear in the shape of a night attack. Thiswas foreign at first to the Boers' idea of warfare. They knew wellenough that they were strongest in defence, and acted accordingly. Every place they held was turned into a hive of cells, in which theylurked, stings ready. It was generally some kopje covered with loosestones, cracks, and crevices, while the open portions were soon madeformidable with loopholed walls of loosely built-up stones. If theirresting-place was in the more open country, it was a laager whose wallswere the wagons, banked up and strengthened with stakes, thorn bushes, and a terrible entanglement of barbed galvanised iron wire. 

Attacks had been made on the fortified village and the kopje at earlymorning, but never pushed home; and all through the occupation thetactics of the general in command had been the harassing of the Britishregiment with shell fire and clever marksmanship from cover, so constantand so dangerous that the wonder to the English officers was that theenemy had not long before fired their last cartridge away. 

But upon this particular night something more was fully expected. TheEnglish scouting parties had brought in the information respecting thereinforcements to the Boer corps, so that when a Zulu, who had been avery faithful hanger-on to the British force, came in full of eagernessthat afternoon to announce that the Boers meant to attack in force, thecolonel, though always ready to doubt the information received and thepossibility of the black spies' surmises being correct, felt that he waswarranted in making every preparation; and this was set about in a calm, matter-of-fact way. 

Judging that the attack would be in the form of a surprise directed atthe kopje, possession of which would render the village perfectlyuntenable, the two field-guns posted in the most commanding position inthe village were hauled up to appointed places on the kopje tostrengthen the big captured gun, and the major portion of the troopswere marched up to the well-fortified lines there, the colonel intendingto hold the rocky elevation himself, leaving the defence of the villageto the major, who was to keep the enemy who attacked in play there aslong as seemed necessary, and then retire along the well-fortified pathwhich connected village and kopje, where the principal stand was to bemade. 

The great natural advantages of the rocky mount had not been neglected. From the first the colonel had looked upon it as a little inlandGibraltar in which he could bid defiance to ten times the number of theenemy that had been attacking him, so long as food and ammunitionlasted; and to this end he had, directly after the discovery of theentrance to the cavern, supplemented the stores found there by removingall they had from the village, and making additions from time to timewhenever suitable captures were made; while, greatest prize of all, there was the inexhaustible supply of pure cold water, easily enoughobtainable as soon as proper arrangements were made. 

Hence it was that the little English force was always ready, the plansfor the defence arranged, and nothing remained to be done but for thevarious defenders to march quietly to their appointed places. 

Consequently, after the watch-setting, the orders were given, and partyafter party moved silently through the soft darkness, till by thebrilliant starlight each battery was manned and the trenches whichcommanded the probable approaches to the kopje lined, while the sameprecautions were taken in the village, where wall and hut had beencarefully loopholed; and then all was ready. The men lay down in theirgreatcoats and blankets to snatch such sleep as they could get, as itwas anticipated that several hours would probably elapse before theattack--if any--was made. 

"I was in hopes, " said Dickenson when all was ready, "that we should beup yonder, ready to cover the gunners. It would be a treat to play Boerand show them what firing from behind stones is like. Something new forthem. "

"But we shall not stay here very long if they do come, " replied Lennox. 

"No; we understand all that. Been drilled into us pretty well. But itstrikes me that, according to the good old fashion of nothing occurringso likely as the unexpected, if they do come it will not be to where weare waiting, but from somewhere else. "

"Where else can they come from?" said Lennox sharply. 

"Oh, don't ask me, " said Dickenson, laughing. "I'm not a Boer: how canI tell? They'll have hatched out some dodge. Got a balloon all the wayfrom Komati Poort, perhaps, and about three o'clock they'll have itright over the top of the kopje, and if we had been up there I dare saywe should have found them sliding down ropes like spiders. "

"Highly probable, " said Lennox dryly. 

"Ah, you may jest; but you see if they don't come crawling right closeup like so many slugs on a wet night. The first thing we shall knowwill be that they are there. "

"Ah, now you are talking sense. "

"But I don't guarantee that it's going to be like that, " said Dickensonquickly, "so don't be disappointed. "

"I shall not be. I'm ready for anything. "

"Good, lad. That's the way to deal with the Boers. I've learnt that:for they certainly are the trickiest fellows going. I say--"

"Hadn't you better leave off talking now?"

"Only whispering. I was going to say that the major's here with us, andhas put Edwards in command of both companies. "

"But Roby's with him?"

"Yes; but Edwards is boss. I shouldn't have felt comfortable with ourconvalescent at the head of affairs. "

"You need not have minded. Roby's as brave as he is high. "

"May be; but he has that bee in his bonnet still. I half believe thatold Emden's wrong after all. "

"In what way?"

"He said the bullet just ploughed through Roby's scalp and pressed downa bit of bone. I believe he has the bullet in his head. "

"Absurd!" said Lennox. 

"Oh no. Likely enough. They came buzzing along, too, like swarmingbees. That would account for what he said about you. "

"Be quiet, " said Lennox sharply. "If the enemy comes to-night I want totight, and not to think about that. "

"All right. I hope they will come; it will be a waste of sleep if theydon't. Bah!" he added after a long-drawn yawn. "They won't come--theyknow better. These nigger spies see a few men on ponies, and away theyrun to say they've seen a big commando, and hold out their hands for thepay. Take my word for it, there'll be no fighting to-night. "

It seemed as if Dickenson was right in his surmise, for the time glidedon, with the stars rising to the zenith and beginning to decline. Theheavens had never seemed more beautiful, being one grand dome ofsparkling incrustations. The atmosphere was so clear that it seemed tothose who lay back watching as if the dazzling points of light formed bythe stars of the first magnitude stood out alone in the midst of thetransparent darkness, while the shape of the kopje was plainly markedout against the vivid sky. 

"Too light for them, " said Dickenson after a long pause. 

"They will not come till morning. --Who's this?"

"Roby. "

He it was, the tall figure in a greatcoat coming close up to stop andspeak to Sergeant James about being watchful, and then passing onwithout a word to his juniors. Roby came in the same quiet, furtivemanner three times over during the night, twice being in company withCaptain Edwards, who stopped to have a few words with Lennox andDickenson as to the probability of an attack; but Roby stood aloof. 

"And a good job too, " said Dickenson after the last occasion. "I don'twant to be malicious, though it seems so, about a man who has just gotover a bad hurt; but I do hope the Boers will come, and that he will bewounded again--"

"Shame!" said Lennox angrily. 

"Perhaps so; but you might have let me finish--wounded again; not abullet wound, but a good cut that will bleed well and take the bad bloodout of him. We should hear no more of his fancies. "

"Drop that, " said Lennox sternly; and then, to change the conversation, "Surely it must be getting near daybreak. "

"Oh no; not yet. Let's have another walk round, and a word with themen. "

This, one of many, was carried out, the young officers finding thatthere were no sleepers, the men not on the watch having, from theexpectation that if there were an attack it would be about daybreak, instinctively roused up, every one being fully on the alert. 

Lennox winced more than ever now as he stood in the trench they expectedto be the likeliest, from its position, for the attack, for its capturewould give the enemy a good point for further advances; and CaptainEdwards had pointed it out to the major as being likely to be rushed, with the consequence that this part was the most strongly held, and thesupporting party placed near. 

And now, as Dickenson began whispering to his men, Lennox felt morebitterly than ever how thoroughly Roby's charge had gone home. Forwhenever he spoke to one of the watch the answer was abrupt and cold, while with his companion the men were eager and ready to be questioned. 

Everything possible had been done to guard against surprise, and thecommunication with the chain of outposts was constant; but the surprisecame from where it was least expected, and just when the friends werestanding together in the redoubt, with Dickenson grudgingly owning thatthe stars were perhaps not so bright. 

"The night has passed more quickly than I expected it would, " whisperedLennox. "Can't you feel what a chill there is in the air?"

"Ugh--yes!" said Dickenson, with a shiver. "It's quite frosty outhere. "

"And a hot cup of coffee would be a blessing, " said Captain Edwards, who, with Roby, had returned again. 

"Yes, " said Dickenson; "a good fire would warm us up. "

"There it is, then, " said Captain Edwards excitedly, for without awarning from the outposts, between which the Boers had crawled in thedarkness unheard, a tremendous burst of firing was opened upon thekopje, the enemy having made their way up by inches till they were wellwithin reach of the defending lines--so close, in fact, that for thetime being the big guns were useless, their fire at such close quartersbeing as likely to injure friend as foe. 

"Stand fast, my lads!" cried Captain Edwards. "We shall have them heredirectly. --Now, gentlemen, you know what to do. Ah! I thought so;" fora scattering fire was opened by the outposts, who, according to theirinstructions, began to fall back to take their places in the line readyto resist the attack upon the village. 

Lennox felt stunned by the suddenness of the attack, and ready toconfess that their trained troops were in nowise equal to the enemy inthe matter of cunning; for, as if by magic, the wild fire ran completelyround the kopje, which, contrary to expectation, had become the mainobject of attack, and in a short time the flashing of the rifles and thecontinuous rattle told plainly enough that by their clever ruse theBoers had completely surrounded the kopje, cutting the British force intwo. 

Certainly a portion of them had been led between two fires--between thatof the village and that from the eminence; but the British fire washindered by the danger of injuring their friends, and in a very shorttime the major grasped the fact that it was waste of energy to try anddefend the village, which was only lightly attacked, and quite time forhim to retire and lead his men to the support of the colonel. 

His orders had hardly been given to the various centres to fall backfrom the trenches and houses held, when the agreed-upon signal flew upfrom the top of the kopje in a long line of light, followed by thebursting of a rocket, whose stars lit up the cloud of smoke rising roundthe mount. 

Everything had been so well planned beforehand that there was not theslightest confusion: the men fell back steadily to the village square, leaving the Boers still firing out of the darkness into the defensivelines; and then, as steadily as if in a review, the advance was made tocut through the investing crowd, which, facing the other way, waskeeping up a tremendous fire. 

The signal for the advance was given with another rocket fired from thesquare as a warning to the colonel to cease firing on their side; andthen the men steadily commenced their arduous task, the leading companygoing on in rushes, seizing the shelters, pouring in volleys, anddriving the Boers before them and to right and left, in spite of theirdetermined resistance to hold that which they had surprised by rising, as it were, as Sergeant James afterwards said, right out of the earth. 

The holders of the village under the major numbered pretty well half ofthe total force remaining to the colonel, and, led by the major himself, two companies went at the strong force of the enemy drawn across theirway, like a wedge, in spite of the concentrated fire delivered by thedesperate men, who had to give way. The second body was under CaptainEdwards, and Roby and Lennox and Dickenson had the dangerous post ofbringing on the single company that formed the rear-guard. 

The start was made without a man down. Three or four had slight wounds, but in the rear-guard not a man had been hit, while for some distanceafter quitting the redoubt they were still exempt. But the leadingcompany was beginning to suffer badly: men kept on falling or staggeringout to seek shelter in trench, rifle-pit, or behind boulder, and for awhile the battle raged fiercely and but little progress was made, acrowd of the enemy pressing up from either side to take the places ofthose who fell or were beaten back, till the order was given in a lullto fix bayonets. 

Then for a few brief moments the firing near at hand almost ceased, sothat the metallic rattle of the little daggers being affixed to therifle muzzles was plainly heard, to be followed by a hearty Britishcheer given by every throat from van to rear, the men's voices soundingfull of exultation as, with the bugle ringing out, they dashed forward. 

There was no working forward by inch or by foot now; the Boers gave wayat once, and the broad column dashed on, dealing death and destructionto all who, in a half-hearted way, opposed their progress. It was quickwork, for there was less than a couple of hundred yards to cover to bethrough the Boer line and reach the shelter of the rough stone walls andhuge boulders which formed on that side the first defences of the kopje. 

In the wild excitement of those minutes Lennox was conscious of cheeringhis men on, as with bayonets at the ready they dashed on toward the mainbody, driving back the Boers who were trying to close in again afterbeing beaten back by the first rushes. Men were trampled under foot inthe half-darkness, friends and foes alike, for it was a horriblebusiness; but the men, in their wild excitement, cheered and cheeredagain till they were brought up by the first rugged wall and receivedwith another burst of cheers from the holders of the bristling line ofrifles and bayonets who were lining it. 

"Through with you--over with you!" shouted the major. --"Here, help thosepoor fellows in. --Where's Captain Edwards?"

"Here he is, " panted Dickenson, as he half-carried, half-dragged hisbrother officer to an opening in the wall. 

"Tut, tut, tut!" ejaculated the major. "Here, Captain Roby, take fulllead there on the left. Captain Roby!--Who has seen Captain Roby?"

"I did, " said Captain Edwards faintly. "Shot down at the same time as Iwas. "

"Ah-h!" roared the major. Then excitedly: "Where about?"

"A hundred yards away, perhaps. Shot down leading the left company inthe charge. I--I was trying to help him along when I went down too. "

"Killed?" said the major. 

"No; bullet through the thigh. "

"We must fetch him in. Here; volunteers!"

Lennox leaped on to the wall in the pale grey light of the fast-comingday, and as he stood there, stooping ready to leap down, fully a scoreof rifles sent forth their deadly pencil-like balls from where to rightand left the Boers were crouching. 

Down he went, to pitch head first, and a sound like a fierce snarlingran along the sheltered side of the stone wall; but as the men saw himspring to his feet again and begin to run they were silent for a fewmoments, as if in doubt as to what their young lieutenant meant; forDickenson sprang on to the wall, trying hard to balance himself on theloose top where bullets kept on spattering, as he roared out, with hisvoice plainly heard above the rattle of the Boers' rifles, "Look at thecoward! Running away again! Volunteers, come on!"

There was a curious hysterical ring in his loud laugh as, with thebullets whirring and whistling about him and a cross fire concentratedupon where he stood, he too leaped down, to begin running, while aburly-looking sergeant literally rolled over the wall, followed by twomore men from the rear company, all plainly seen now dashing towardswhere Lennox was running here and there among the dead and wounded whichdotted the sloping ground, before stopping suddenly to go down on oneknee and begin lifting a wounded man upon his shoulder. 

"Well, " cried the major, "he's the queerest coward I ever saw. I wishthe colonel was here. "

His words brought forth a tremendous cheer from all who heard them, butthe major turned upon the men angrily. 

"Shoot, you rascals, shoot!" he cried; "right and left. Keep down thesavages' fire if you can. "

For, unmoved by the gallant actions going on in front, brave men settingdeath at defiance--as scores of others had done all through the war--inthe noble endeavour to save a wounded man's life, dozens of the Boersbegan firing at the rescue party, heedless of the fact that theirbullets crossed the narrow way traversed by the little force in theirdash from the village to the kopje, and now horribly dotted by thewounded and dying of both sides who had fallen in the desperateencounter. 

Yells and shouts arose from both sides as the bullets took effect amongfriends; but in their mad hate against those whom they called theBritish rooineks, the Boers fired on. Fortunately, for the most partthe wielders of the Mauser were not calmly lying down behind stones, with rests for their rifles, but were crowded together, nervous, agitated, and breathless with running, so that their bullets were badlyaimed during the first minute or two. Directly after, they werestartled by the hail poured upon them from the whole line of men behindthe great wall--a hail of lead beneath which many fell never to riseagain, while the greater part devoted themselves to seeking cover, crawling anywhere to get under the shelter of some stone. 

The roar, then, that greeted the little party struggling back was notfrom British throats but from British rifles, which for the time beingthoroughly kept down the enemy's fire, till Lennox and Dickenson borethe insensible form of Roby right up to the wall, followed by SergeantJames and his two companions, each carrying a wounded comrade on hisback. 

And now, without ceasing their firing, the line cheered till all werehoarse, while four men sprang over to Roby's help, the others beingtumbled over, to be seized by willing hands. 

It was quite time, for both Lennox and Dickenson were spent--the formersinking upon his knees to hold on by one of the stones; Dickensonbending forward to try and wave one hand, but dropping suddenly acrossRoby's knees. 

"Wounded?" cried the major excitedly, as he bent over Lennox directly hewas lifted in, the last of the four. 

Lennox opened his fast-closing eyes and stretched out his right hand tofeel for Dickenson's, in vain. Then, with a sigh, he looked up at themajor and touched his left arm, his breast, and his neck. "Yes, " hesaid faintly, "the coward has it now. "

"Bearers here, " cried the major, and he turned to direct his men, for hewas needed. 

The Boers were coming on again in short rushes, regardless of theterrific fire poured upon them in the faint light of day, and a perfecthail of bullets was flying to and fro. And not only facing the village, but all round the kopje, where the enemy had in several places secured afooting and were utilising the stone defences prepared by the colonel'smen, but of course from the reverse side. It had this good effect, though; it condensed the British force, giving them less ground todefend; and for the next two hours wherever a Boer dared to show enoughof himself to form a spot at which to aim, a bullet came. 

The losses were terrible on both sides, for the attack was as brave asthe defence; and even when the two small guns were brought into action, to send shells hurtling wherever the continually increasing enemy wereseen to approach in clusters, the attack went on. 

"It's of no use, major, " said the colonel at last, as they stoodtogether; "they mean to have the place. "

"What!" said the latter officer fiercely. "You don't mean surrender?"

"My dear fellow, no: not while there's a cartridge left. "

"Ha!" sighed the major. "You gave me quite a turn. "

"I meant, if this keeps on we shall lose as many men as if we brought itto a head. Besides, they'll hold on to the parts they've got, and keepcreeping nearer. "

"You mean the bayonet at once?"

"Exactly, " said the colonel. "Off with you; take one side and I'll takethe other. We must clear the kopje before the heat comes on. "

"Yes, " said the major, with a grim smile; "and the lads must want theirbreakfast now. "

The men in each trench rolled up their sleeves as they heard the ordergiven to fix bayonets again, and, leaping over the defences, rushedforward, to be staggered a little by the enemy's fire; then, with acheer, on they went, the sun glistening upon the line of pointed steel. 

It was more than the Boers could bear; defence after defence wasvacated, and, soon after, the result of charge after charge was followedby a headlong flight which soon spread into a panic. It was "_Sauve quipeut_, " uttered in Boer Dutch; while the failure of the daring attackwas completed fast by the emptying of the rifle magazines among flyingmen, and the shots from the three guns, which had their opportunity atlast. 

A stand was made in the village, which was obstinately held for a timeby two big commandos which had come upon the ground too late to be ofmuch service; but in spite of a pom-pom, a Maxim, and a heavy howitzer, the big gun on the top of the kopje silenced their fire before sundown, by which time their heaviest piece was destroyed, the village burning, and the two commandos in full flight. 

Then came the flag of truce for permission to carry off the wounded andbury the many dead. 

It was about this time that Doctor Emden looked to the colonel and said:

"Awful! Poor fellows! I don't know where to turn to first. "

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

THE DOCTOR'S DIPLOMACY. 

It was a couple of days later, when the kopje was dotted with the roughshelters that the uninjured men had worked hard to erect from the ruinsof the village, the principal being for the benefit of the wounded. Theposition was the same, or nearly the same, as it had been before. TheBoers had retreated to their laagers, which were more strongly held thanever, and the investment was kept up with more savage determination;while the defenders had only the kopje to hold now, the village being adesolation, and the colonel's forces sadly reduced. 

The doctor was in better spirits, and showed it, for he had managed toget something like order in his arrangements for his wounded men. Butthe colonel and the major were in lower spirits, and did not show it, for matters looked very black indeed, relief seeming farther off thanever. 

"My last orders were to hold this place, " said the colonel to the major, "and I'm going to hold it. "

"Of course! Keep on. Every day we shall be having another man or twoback in the ranks. Ah! here is Emden. --Well, how are the lads?"

"Getting on splendidly. My dear sirs, I have heard people abuse theMauser as a diabolical weapon. Nothing of the sort; it is one of themost humane. The wounds are small, cleanly cut, and, so long as a boneis not touched, begin to heal with wonderful rapidity. Come and have alook round. "

"Yes; we have come on purpose, " said the colonel. "By the way, though, before we go into the officers' shelter, I wish you had contriveddifferently about Roby and Lennox. It seemed very short-sighted, afterwhat has occurred, to place them next to one another. "

"My dear sir, " cried the doctor, "I did all I could to try and save thepoor fellows' lives as they were carried in to me, without thinkingabout their squabbles and quarrels and rank. "

"Yes, yes; of course, doctor. I beg your pardon. You have donewonders. "

"Thankye! Done my best, of course. But don't you worry about thosetwo; they'll be all right. Come and see. "

"But about the men? Nothing more serious, I hope. "

"N-n-no. Had to take that fellow's leg off to save his life. "

"What poor fellow? Oh yes--Corporal May?"

"Yes. He objected strongly, but it had to be done. He threatens tocommence an action against me when he gets home--so I hear. "

They had been moving towards the shelter of corrugated iron beneathwhich the officers lay, each of whom greeted them with a smile. Theywere all badly wounded, but looked restful and contented, as wounded mendo who have achieved a victory. 

Roby seemed to be the most cheerful, and he beckoned to the colonel tocome closer, while the doctor cocked his eye rather drolly and in a waythat the chief did not understand. 

"Well, Roby, " said the colonel, "you look better. "

"Well, for a man who has had the top of his head rasped by a bullet andgot a hole right through his leg, I call myself a wonder. "

"Does your wound pain you much?"

"Quite enough; but there, I don't mind. We've whipped. "

"Yes, " said the colonel, smiling; "we've whipped, thanks to every one'sgallant behaviour. You did splendidly, Roby. "

"Did my best, sir, " said the captain quietly. "But I'm not quite as Ishould like to be, " he continued confidentially. "Don't take anynotice. I can't quite understand about my hurt on the head. "

"Indeed?" said the colonel, frowning. 

"I recollect, of course, getting the stinging pain in my leg, and goingdown, and then it seemed to me that one of the Boers kicked me at thetop of the forehead with his heavy boot, and I was trampled on. Afterthat I fainted, and didn't come to until the firing was going on andLennox came running through it to pick me up. Colonel, that's about thebravest thing that has been done since we've been here. "

"Quite, " said the colonel, watching the speaker curiously. 

"I want you to promise me that you'll mention it well in your despatchabout the taking of the laager. "

"If I ever get a despatch to headquarters it shall contain that, Ipromise you. "

"Thank you, " said Roby warmly, and with the tears now in his eyes. "Isay, colonel, I'm sorry I went down; but the doctor says the lads gotback after another skirmish, with plenty of cattle and stores. "

"Yes, " said the colonel; "it was a splendid addition to our suppliesand--"

"Stop! stop! please, colonel, " said the doctor. "Roby's weak yet. "

"Oh no, doctor. "

"My dear fellow, I say yes; and I say, " said the doctor, bending down towhisper to his patient, "Lennox and Dickenson are both very feeble. Think of them. "

Roby took the doctor's hand and pressed it, accompanying the pressurewith a significant look. 

"Thank you for coming, colonel, " he said, "and you too, major. Emden'san awful tyrant when he gets us on our backs. "

"Right, " said the doctor. "Nero was nothing to me. --Now, gentlemen, just a word or two with the rest of my nursery folk, and then I mustorder you off. "

The colonel nodded, passed on to Captain Edwards, and said a word ortwo; the same followed at Dickenson's side, where the young officer, forgetful of his wounds, gave his chief a look full of exultation, receiving a good-humoured nod in return, and Dickenson turned his facesidewise with a sigh of content. 

"Wait a bit, " he said to himself. "I'll have it out with the old man assoon as I get better. He's bound to ask poor old Drew's pardon. Butfancy Roby turning like this. "

Meanwhile the colonel had passed on to Lennox's side, to find him farthe greatest sufferer of the party present, and unable to do more thansmile his thanks and lie back, extremely weak, but with a look of calmrestfulness in his eyes that told that there was nothing mental totrouble him and keep him back. 

"What do you think of them, colonel?" said the doctor as soon as theywere outside. 

"All much better than I expected, " said the colonel. 

"But what about Roby? He is quite delirious from his wound, is he not?"

"Perfectly calm, sir, with his _mens_ much more _Sana_ than his_corpus_. I thought he was all wrong at first, but he's only weak--pulse regular, temperature as cool as a hot iron roof will let it be. "[Note: _Mens sana in corpore sano_. ]

"But, hang it all, doctor! his head's all in a muddle about storming thelittle kopje and getting the cattle and stores away. "

"Yes; that's the comical part of it. He's a bit mixed, and in hispresent state I let him think what he likes, so long as it is not likelyto do him any harm. "

"But really, Doctor Emden, I fail to follow your reasoning, " said thecolonel rather stiffly. 

"Never mind, colonel; leave it. I don't follow all your militarymanoeuvres, so I leave them to you. Let the cobbler stick to his last. There, man, don't look mystified. Let me explain. Roby had badconcussion of the brain from that first shot. There was no fracture, but the bone was, so to speak, a little dented down, and the consequencewas that, though he rapidly recovered his health bodily, he did not gethis mental balance quite right at the same time. "

"Then you think that charge of his against Lennox was a triflingaberration that's now over. I hope you are right, doctor; but--"

"But me no buts, " said the doctor. "I stake my reputation upon it. Surely, man, you can see the proof? The poor fellow showed you that hehas not the slightest recollection now of what has been going on sincethe expedition to the laager. "

"To be sure, " said the major. "I see now. That explains it. He talkedas if he thought this was the result of being shot down there. "

"To be sure he does. He thinks, too, that Edwards is wounded from askirmish with the Boers during the retreat. "

"Then there was no nonsense, no unreality, in his display of interest inpoor Lennox?"

"Not a bit. He's delighted with the poor fellow's gallantry, and talksto me about how much he owes him. "

"But his charge of cowardice?"

"Wind, my dear sir; wind. Let it blow away. If any one were to tellhim of it now he would stare with astonishment and ask you if you meantto insult him. Take my word for it, the hallucination has completelypassed away. The fresh wound, with its loss by haemorrhage, and thereaction, has acted antagonistically to his mental trouble. He has, soto speak, stepped mentally from the attack on the Boers to their attackon us, and as soon as he recovers his strength he'll be as good a man asever. "

"But when we tell him about his charge?" said the colonel. 

"Why tell him, sir? Let it rest. If it ever comes out by accident, that's quite another thing. The trouble has settled itself, as sometroubles will. "

"I wish this one would, " said the major, "for I'm getting very sick ofbeing penned up here on very reduced rations. Have they quite forgottenus at headquarters?"

"No, " said the colonel. "Their hands are full. --Meanwhile, doctor, ourranks are very thin, so as fast as you can send the poor lads back tothe ranks, let us have them again. The Boers will not let us rest likethis for long. "

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

AT LAST!

But the Boers had received so severe a lesson that they did leave thegarrison severely alone for nearly a month, save that there were oftensharp encounters between patrols and the foraging parties which made adash whenever there was a chance of capturing something for the militarylarder. 

It had come to the colonel holding a private council, at which thedoctor was present to give his opinion how long it would be before thewounded men would be sufficiently strong to undertake a night march andthen push on to try and join hands with the nearest post held by ourforces. 

"If we could feed the lads as they ought to be fed, in about a month, "replied the doctor quietly. "Going on as we are now--never. " Thecolonel started from his seat. "Do you mean this, Emden?" he saidexcitedly. "The men's appearance speaks for itself. It is all thehealthy can do to keep body and soul together; the wounded are at astandstill. "

"No, no, " said the colonel warmly; "all of our officers, thoughcertainly weak, have returned to their duty. "

"Yes, " said the doctor; "but then they all partook more of a certainessence than the men do. The poor fellows had done marvellously well, and the more educated, better-class fellows compare wonderfully wellwith those of a lower station; but there is that difference. "

"And pray what is the wonderful essence, doctor?" said Captain Edwards, smiling. 

"_Esprit de corps_, my dear sir, " said the doctor. 

"Well, " cried the colonel, "then you have settled it, doctor. We arenot going to surrender. "

"No!" came in chorus. 

"We can't go and leave our weak ones behind. "

"No!" came with double the force. 

"We are too much reduced in available men to run any risks. " There wasno reply to this, and the colonel continued: "Then there is nothing elseto be done, gentlemen, but take up another hole in our belts, keep onsending messages when we can get a Kaffir runner, and wait patiently forhelp. "

As the officers sauntered away from the rough hut which had been builtin a niche for the colonel, Roby was limping along with the aid of astick and Lennox's arm, while Dickenson was rolling up a cigarettecomposed of the very last dust of his tobacco, ready to hand it to thecaptain, who suffered a good deal still from the bullet wound, themissile having passed right through his thigh. They had to pass two oftheir men, seated upon a rock in a shady corner, one of them being minushis right leg, which had been removed half-way between knee and hip; theother was recovering very slowly from a bullet wound in the face, aninjury which had mended very slowly and kept him low-spirited, fretful, and ready to affect the companionship of one as fretful and as great asufferer as himself. The group of officers stopped to say a few kindwords to the men, and then, having nothing hopeful to hold out for theircomfort, passed on. 

"See that Captain Roby?" said the one-legged man. 

"Of course I do. "

"Well, I did have some hopes of him as being a man, but he isn't. He'sa sneak, that's what he is--a sneak. "

"Better not let him hear you say so, " said the other. 

"Tell him if you like. "

"Tell him yourself. "

"You know how he let on about Mr Lennox running away in the fight?"

"Oh yes, of course; but it was all a mistake. He was off his head, Captain Roby was. "

"Tchah! Not he. It was all true, but the captain wouldn't hold to it. They hang together, these officers, and make things up, so that whentheir turn comes to be in trouble the others back them. I was out herethe other day, and old Roby came doing the civil and asking me how Iwas, so I rounded upon him about giving up saying Mr Lennox was acoward. What do you think he says?"

"Said you were cracked. "

"Yes; only he said mad. What do you think of that?"

"That he ought to have said you were a sneak and a cur, " said the man, getting up and walking away, but only to stop and turn round. "Lookhere, corporal, " he said; "take a bit of advice. Drop that altogether, or some day the chaps may turn upon you and forget that you're acrippled man, and give you what you don't like. "

"Why?" cried Corporal May wrathfully. 

"Because every one of us thinks Mr Lennox is about the pluckiest fellowin the regiment, and would follow him into the hottest fire the enemycould get up. "

Affairs, after gliding sluggishly along for months, began to moveswiftly now. Two weeks after there was an announcement that a Kaffir, adespatch-runner, had reached the kopje, and he was hurried before theofficers, to prove to be the Zulu who had brought in the warning of thelast attack. He had fresh news now--that once more the Boers had beenreinforced, and that they had received three heavy guns. Preparationswere again made for the reception of the enemy, but the men moved aboutlooking grave and stern. The old hopeful elasticity seemed gone. Dickenson noted this, and called Lennox's attention to it. 

"Yes, " he said; "but the first shouts will rouse them, and they'll fightas well as ever. "

"Of course, " said Dickenson. "Still, one can't help feeling dull. "

There was no attack that night; but the scouts had reports to make ofthe advance of the enemy from all the laagers, and the next morning soonafter sunrise half-a-dozen Boers rode up under the white flag--theirleader being blindfolded and led into the colonel's presence, with theother officers gathered round. 

"I have come from our general with a message, " said the Boer officershortly. "He knows that you are all nearly starved, and that the kopjeis covered with sick and wounded. He tells me to say he does not wishto attack and shoot you all down, though you deserve it. He says hewill be merciful, and gives you ten minutes to consider whether you willhaul down and surrender. What am I to tell him?"

"Tell the officer who sent you that we do not want ten seconds toconsider, and that we do not know how to haul down the British colours. Let him come here and drag them down himself. "

"What do you mean?" said the man roughly, and opening his eyes widerthan was his wont in wonder. 

"War!" cried the colonel sternly, and he signalled to those who hadbrought the messenger to re-tie the bandage across his eyes and lead himback through the lines. 

Two hours later a heavy gun began the attack, one which was to be nonight surprise entailing a heavy loss to the assailants, but a slow, deliberate shelling of the gallantly defended place to destruction;while now the difficulty was felt by the garrison for the first time ofhow to reply, for the new guns which had come upon the scene were servedwith smokeless powder, and the best glasses failed to show whence thebursting shells had come. 

The officers had nothing to do on the kopje but keep going about amongtheir men in the trenches and behind the walls, to say a few encouragingwords and insist upon them not exposing themselves, for it was waste ofcartridges to use a rifle; while the firing from the big gun and itssmaller brothers too was infrequent for the reasons above given. Henceit fell about that more than once the officers paid what may be calledvisits from time to time, just to exchange a few words, and on one ofthese occasions Captain Roby, who walked fairly well with a stick, joined Lennox and Dickenson. 

"This is cheerful, " he said. "Did you over know anything moreexasperating?"

"Horrible!" said the two young men in a breath. "What's the chief goingto do?" added Dickenson. 

"I've just come from him, " replied Roby. "Nothing. What can he do buthold the dogs of war in leash until the Boers think they have shelled usenough, and come on?"

"Nothing, of course, " said Dickenson, carrying on the captain's simile;"but the dogs are grinding their teeth, and when the enemy does come, byJingo! he'll find them pretty sharp. "

Hour after hour the Boers kept on throwing heavy shells on to the kopje, while the shelter was so good that not a single life was lost; but thecasualties from the shattering shells provided the doctor and his aidswith quite sufficient work, and it was with a sigh of relief that heceased attending to the last man brought in, for with darkness thefiring ceased. 

Then came the night full of alarms with the terrible anxiety andexpectation of the assault which did not come. For, as it proved, theBoers had been furnished with too awful a lesson in the former attack toventure upon another surprise, with its many accidents and risks tothemselves. They preferred to wait for daylight, and with the firstpale streaks of dawn the bombarding began once more, and went on brisklytill an hour after sunrise, when the lookouts from the top of the kopjepassed the words, "Here they come. "

Just about the same time the scouts came running in bearing the samewarning, and now the kopje guns began to play their parts moreeffectively. 

For from three directions, covered by their own pieces, quite a cloud ofthe Boers could be seen approaching fast to get within rifle-range, dismount, and then begin a careful skirmishing advance, seizing everyspot that afforded cover, completely surrounding the defenders, andsearching the kopje from side to side with a terrific fire. 

This was vigorously replied to; but the advance was never for a momentchecked, the manoeuvring of the enemy being excellent, and their skillin keeping hidden and crawling from place to place exasperating to thedefenders, for in spite of careful aiming and deliberation the Boerlosses were remarkably small. 

"They mean it this time, Bob, " said Lennox sadly. 

"Yes, they mean it; and somehow I don't feel up to the work at all. Ididn't know I was so weak. Feel your wounds much?"

"Horribly. I can only use my glass and watch the stubborn brutes comingon. "

"Same here. I've had six shots at 'em, and then I handed the rifle backto the Tommy who lent it to me. "

"How many times did you hit?" asked Lennox. 

Dickenson looked round to see if either of the men could hear him, andthen he whispered softly, "Not once. "

Lennox took no notice, for he was resting his field-glass upon the roughtop of the stone wall, looking outward over the veldt. 

"Well, didn't you hear what I said?"

"Yes. Don't worry, " replied Lennox shortly. "Here, quick!" he criedexcitedly. "Take your glass and look straight away yonder to the leftof the laager we took. "

"Eh? Yes! All right. I see. Here, send word to the chief. They'recoming on fast now; three clouds of them. Reinforcements. Why don'tthose fellows make the big gun begin to talk?"

"Because they can see what I can, Bob, " cried Lennox joyously. "Lookagain. Lance-tips glittering in the sun. Our men. Hurrah! Strongbodies of cavalry. Why, Bob, they'll catch the enemy in the open now. The siege is up. Hush! Don't shout. "

"Why, man? It will encourage the lads. "

"And warn the enemy that help is coming. Five minutes more ignorancewill be worth anything to the relief force. I'll go to the chief atonce. "

There was no need. Almost at that moment the colonel had caught sightof the lance-tips through his glass; but quite ten minutes more--minutescrowded with excitement--elapsed before the attacking party were awareof the danger in their rear, and then came the terrible reverse. Boersbegan running back to where their ponies were being held out ofrifle-shot, but running in vain, for the British cavalry were therefirst, spurring their steeds and stampeding the ponies, sending them inall directions prior to charging through and through the retreatingparties, and keeping up the pursuit until recalled. 

Others of the relief force had meanwhile been aiming at the threelaagers, into which the infantry dashed, the first warning of thisreceived at the kopje being through the cessation of the shelling, forthe guns were either silenced or put out of action, the whole of theBoer force literally melting away. 

It was one of the most brilliant episodes of the war; and that night, the supplies having come up, the relief party were hoarse with cheeringthe men whom they dubbed British heroes, and all was festivity and joy. 

No, not all; for during the long watches of that night, with the starslooking piercingly through the cold, clear air, parties were out, British and Boer, searching far and wide, and the ambulance-wagonscreaked and rattled with their terrible loads, while Doctor Emden, thedoctors of the relief expedition, and those working for the Boers werebusy till morning. 

It was Lennox and his comrade who, being still only invalids, had theforethought to make their way at sunrise to where the doctor had beenworking all the night, and they found him lying utterly exhausted uponan old greatcoat, fast asleep. 

Lennox touched him gently, and he sprang up. 

"Yes, all right, " he said; "I'll come. How many this time?--Eh? What!you, my dear boys? Hurt?"

"No, no, doctor; drink this, " said Lennox gently, and he held out asteaming tin. 

"Coffee! Eureka!" cried the doctor. "My dear boy, I began to think Iwas never to taste the--ha, delicious!--infusion of the berry--again. Ha! Another? Yes, please. No; wake up and give it to that poor fellowthere. He has been working with me all the night. --That's right, " saidthe doctor, after seeing his wishes fulfilled. "Ah, it's all very wellfor you, my fine fellows, who have the rush and dash and wild excitementof battle, but it's horrible for us who have all the cold-bloodedhorrors afterwards. You have the show and credit too, and the rewards. "

"But we have the wounds too, doctor, " said Lennox. 

"To be sure, my dear boy; to be sure. Don't take any notice of what Isay. I'm worn out. We get our rewards too, in the shape of the bravefellows' thanks. But if those people at home who shout for war onlyknew what it means when the fight is over, they'd alter their tune. ButI say, this day's work ought to bring it to an end. "

It did, in the Groenfontein district; and for Colonel Lindley'sbattle-scarred, hunger-weakened veterans there came a time of rest andpeace. 

By way of postscript to this narrative of South African adventure, hereis the letter received from Mark Roby by Drew Lennox soon after thevoyage home and the ovation which he and his comrades had received intheir march through London streets:

My Dear Lennox, --I have just seen the _Gazette_, and am of coursedelighted to find the word "Major" prefixed to my name. I do not writeout of vanity; it is from the sincere desire to be one of the first tocongratulate my brave old companion in arms, Drew Lennox, V. C. Bravo!You deserved it. May I live to see you a general, with a lot moreorders on your breast. But there is something more I want to say. Idined with Bob Dickenson and old Sawbones last evening, and in the chatafter dinner over the promotions Dickenson told me about that episodewhich occurred after I was bowled over by that shot and you saved mylife, according to your noble custom. When Bob D. Told me how I accusedyou of being a coward, I felt quite knocked over. Of course it is asEmden says--I was, in a way, mad as half-a-dozen hatters, and enough tomake me, with a part of my something or another--I forget what thedoctor called it, but he meant brain-pan--bent in on my thinkingapparatus. You a coward! Why, I confess now that a petty feeling ofjealousy often worried me, through every one thinking so much of you andthe way in which you always came up smiling after no end of bravedoings. A coward! My word! Why didn't you punch my head? There, Idon't say forgive me, because I know you do one who is proud to call youhis best and bravest friend. That last is what I told Bob Dickenson youwere, and he looked quite proud. You will be glad to hear that my woundis quite healed up; and as to the lump on my skull, the absolute truth, honesty, and sincerity of every word in this letter must show you thatthere is no trouble as to my knowing what I say. --Yours always, my dearLennox, Mark Roby. Captain Drew Lennox, V. C. 

THE END.