"Why, Joeboy," I cried excitedly, "how in the world did you manage to
get here?"
"Um! Walk very fas'. Then crawly till Doppies hear and shoot. Then
run very, very fas'. Water: Joeboy thirsty."
The faithful fellow had followed the troop as soon as he returned from
his mission; and as he afterwards told me, with a broad smile upon his
face, he tracked us by following the Boers.
"Joeboy know they try to ketch sojers," he said. Soon after this, the
Boers having withdrawn to their former position, as was carefully tested
by the scouts sent out, the Colonel and the officers held a little
council of war, at which Denham was present. And then the Colonel
announced his plans to this effect: He had made up his mind it was
impossible to hold the ruined fortress without provisions, though he
would have much liked to keep it as a base from which to make a series
of attacks upon the enemy. It was perhaps possible to get help; butt
this was doubtful, for the General's hands were very full. Then, by
sending out several messengers with a despatch, one of them would be
sure to reach headquarters; but, even if he did, the reply would
probably be to the effect that it would be madness to despatch a
detachment of infantry right out into the veldt at a time when the force
at disposal was so very small. So the Light Horse must make a dash to
extricate themselves from their awkward position. These, Denham said,
were the details of the Colonel's plan.
"`That's how matters stand,' said the Colonel in conclusion, `and I
propose starting about two hours before daylight, going due east in
column, and as quietly as possible, till we come in touch with their
outposts, and then charge and cut our way through them before they have
recovered from their surprise. Now,' he said, `I am open to consider
any better suggestion if either of the senior officers can propose
one.'"
"Did any one make a suggestion?" I asked.
"Of course not. Every one thought the plan splendid," replied Denham.
"Then we're going to try it?" I said.
"We're going to do it," cried my companion warmly; "but I don't like
giving up a rich gold-mine like this now we've found it."
"No," I said thoughtfully; "and, besides the gold, it is such a grand
archaeological discovery."
"Well, yes, I suppose it is," replied Denham; "but I was thinking of the
gold. I say, though, you'll have to sit fast, squire--regularly grow to
your saddle."
"Of course; but I'm afraid we shall leave a lot of our poor fellows
behind."
"Not we," cried Denham warmly. "Our fellows can ride, and there'll be
no firing. The Doppies won't try to shoot for fear of hitting their own
men, as it will be too dark for them to aim for us. Besides, we may
steal through without being discovered."
"Not likely," I said. "They'll be too cunning. Depend upon it, they'll
have vedettes out all along the line."
"Then the vedettes had better look out, for those we meet when we charge
through in column will be in a very awkward position."
"Yes, very," I said thoughtfully.
"The Colonel then said all those not on duty were to lie down and sleep
till they were roused up half-an-hour before the start."
"Oh yes," I said bitterly; "we shall all feel quite ready for and enjoy
a good sleep with a ride like this in prospect."
"Well, why not? I know I shall sleep," said Denham. "So will you. So
here goes."
As he spoke I noticed that the men were lying down in the soft sandy
patches among the stones; and, after seeing to my horse--just as a
matter of course, though there was no need, for Joeboy had gone to his
side--I returned to where I had left Denham, and found him wrapped in
his cloak, fast asleep, and announcing the fact gently to all around in
what sounded like an attempt to purr.
"I may as well lie down," I thought, after seating myself on a block of
stone, and gazing round at the high walls which encompassed us, and at
the bright stars overhead looking down peacefully upon our camp, as if
there were no such thing as war in the world. Then I began thinking
about home again, and wondered what they were all doing there, and
whether the Boers had interfered with my father because he was an
Englishman. This brought up the thought that if the war went against
the Boers they might go so far as to commandeer both my father and Bob.
The thought was horrible.
"It doesn't matter so much about me," I meditated; "but for them to be
dragged off, perhaps to fight against us--oh! it would be terrible."
There had until now been a sad feeling of restfulness about my position;
but as I drew a mental picture of two forces drawn up against each
other, with my father and brother forced to fight on one side, and
myself a volunteer on the other, the rock upon which I was seated began
to feel horribly hard, and I changed my position, to lie down on the
soft sand at my feet.
Well, I had been very hard at work all day; and Nature intended the
lying-down position to be accompanied by sleep. In less than a minute,
I suppose--in spite of home troubles, risks in the future, and, above
all, that one so very close at hand--my eyes closed for what seemed to
be about a moment. Then some one was shaking my shoulder, and the some
one's voice announced that it was Sergeant Briggs going round to all the
men of his troop.
"Come, rouse up, my lad! rouse up!" he whispered. "We're off in less
than half-an-hour."
I sprang to my feet, just as Denham came up. "Oh, there you are," he
said drowsily. "I was just coming to wake you. I say, get right up
beside me. We may as well go through it close together, and give one
another a help--if we can."
That was a weird and strange business, moving about in the darkness,
with the horses snorting and sighing as the saddle-girths were
tightened, and bits and curbs adjusted for a ride where everything
depended upon horse and man being well in accord; but the preparations
did not take long, and we were soon all standing in our places, bridle
upon arm, and in as regular order as the roughness of the stone-littered
court would allow.
I now learned that the men posted upon the walls had been withdrawn, and
that every one was in his place, waiting for the command to start upon a
ride at the end of which many would not answer to their names.
Then, from out of the darkness, the Colonel's voice rose low and clear,
giving the order "March!" and in single file the men moved off, leading
their horses towards the openings, through which they passed; then they
bore off to their right to take up position in line till all were out,
our troop being last. Next came the order, softly given to the first
troop, to mount; and the same order was quietly passed along from troop
to troop till it reached us, and we sprang into our saddles almost
without a sound.
"First come first served," said Denham to me in a whisper. "I should
have liked to be in front so as to do some of the scouting and feeling
for the enemy, besides having first go at them before they grew thick.
I say, Val, we must mind that we don't get cut off and taken prisoners."
"Ugh! Yes," I said, with a shiver. "I say, isn't it rather chilly?"
"Be warm enough presently," said Denham bitterly. "Bah! This is too
bad. I did want to be first in the column."
"Form fours--left!" came from the front.
I felt electrified as, quite accustomed to the command, the horses swung
round to the left.
Then came the word "March!" and our column moved off, with Denham
whispering to me.
"Talk about luck," he said. "Why, we're going round the other way, and
we are to open the ball after all."
For so it was. We had made up our minds that we were to be last, but
the Colonel's determination was to bear round to the left instead of the
right; and in consequence of the movement the rear troop led. We rode
on at a walk till we had passed round by the rocks which harboured the
baboons, and then on till we were nearly opposite the opening by which
we had entered the old stronghold.
Then the order came, "Right!" and we struck off straight away for the
Boer force opposite, an advance-guard and supports being sent out far
ahead; while the silence of the night was only broken by the
softly-muffled tread of the horses, and once in a way by an impatient
snort.
"That's the danger," said Denham to me softly. "Just at the nick of
time our nags 'll be telling the Doppies we're coming."
"Perhaps not," I replied. "Where they are they have horses about them
in all directions; and if they heard a snort, why shouldn't they think
it was from one of their own ponies?"
"I hope they will," said Denham impatiently. "But, I say, the chief
isn't going to keep us at this snail's-pace--is he? I want to gallop,
and get it done.--Hullo! old Dark Night; I didn't know you were there."
This was to Joeboy, who was walking with one hand on the cantle of my
saddle.
"Um!" said Joeboy; "come along take care of Boss Val."
"Good boy!" said Denham banteringly. "Take care of me too."
"Um! Yes! Take care too," replied the black; and just then an idea
struck me, and I hastened to communicate it to my companion at once.
"Why, Denham," I said, "we ought to send Joeboy right on in front, away
in advance of the guard. He wouldn't be noticed in the dark, and would
be able to get close to the outposts and let us know when it is time to
charge."
"Silence in the ranks there!" said a stern voice. "Not a word there!
Who's here?"
"Denham, sir," replied my companion.
"Then you had better go to the rear. I want trustworthy officers in
front during this emergency."
"Yes, sir," said Denham bitterly; and he was in the act of falling out
from his place when, feeling unable to contain myself, I broke out:
"I beg pardon, sir; it was my fault. I spoke to propose--"
"To propose what?--Silence!"