Charge! Part 27

"Not a bad plan either," said the Colonel, his face wrinkling up.

"No, sir; just the exciting rush I love."

"Humph!" said the Colonel. "Well, gentlemen, we may as well go down."

"'Well, gentlemen,'" whispered Denham to me, with a laugh, as soon as he had the opportunity. "I say, recruit-private-whatever you call yourself-why don't you blush?"

No more was said then, as orders were given for every man to make a good meal from his haversack; and as soon as the order was pa.s.sed along, the men looked at one another and began to whisper.

"We're not going to stop here for to-night," said one. "I had picked out my corner for a good snooze."

"The Colonel was afraid the ruin would be too draughty for us, and didn't wish to see his boys getting up in the morning with stiff necks," said another; and plenty of laughing and banter went on amongst the men, who in all probability would be engaged in a deadly struggle before many hours had pa.s.sed.

I thought of this for a time, and I ate my bread and cold salt pork slowly and without appet.i.te, for the thoughts of the pleasant old farm came back; and I began to wonder how father and Bob were, and what Aunt Jenny would be thinking about. Then, between the mouthfuls, a vision of Joeboy's black face and grinning white teeth seemed to rise up; and I fell to thinking how disappointed he would be when he returned from the foraging expedition to find that the corps had been suddenly called out.

"Poor old Joeboy!" I thought to myself; "it's a pity father didn't keep him at home. It would be horrible if he were to be shot by the Boers." But I was eating again heartily soon, the conversation of the men taking up my attention, for they were discussing what was to be done that evening.

"It's only a reconnaissance," said one. "We're going to give the Doppies a stir-up to show them we're 'all alive, oh!'"

"Nonsense," said another. "We shan't do anything; the Colonel don't care about working in the dark."

"That's right," said another voice. "It would be absurd to move from such a strong place as this. Why, we could laugh at twice as many as they could bring against us."

"Don't you talk nonsense, my lads," said a familiar voice which made me turn my head sharply.

"Who's talking nonsense, Sergeant?" said one of the troopers.

"The man who spoke," was the reply. "What's the good of a strong place like this to us if we've got no provisions for selves and horses?"

"The horses might be driven out to graze under the fire of our rifles."

"How long would the scanty gra.s.s round here last? No: the chief's right enough, and as soon as it's dark the orders will come, 'Boot and saddle.' We've got to cut our way through that mob of Dutchmen to-night."

"Oh, very well," said one of the men who had not yet spoken; "this is rather a dreary sort of place, so by all means let us cut."

The men grew very quiet afterwards as the twilight began to fall, and I noticed that most of them, after finis.h.i.+ng their meal and getting a draught of water freshly drawn up out of the old mine, walked up to their horses and began to make much of them, patting and smoothing, and then examining girths, bridles, and every buckle and strap.

The night was coming on fast now, and the Boers began to mingle with the haze in the distance. We saw they had filled up all the gaps between their lines, opening out till they formed a complete hedge of dismounted hors.e.m.e.n around our stronghold; and they looked a very formidable body of men.

"Yes," said Denham, who had drifted to my side again, according to what had now become a custom of his-for I could not go to him-"we're regularly ringed round, Val."

"Yes, they're very strong," I said.

"No, they're not, lad, for a ring's very weak, and bends or breaks if it's pushed from the inside; but if pushed from the outside it takes a deal to break it. We'll both bend and break it to-night."

We sat talking for a bit, and watched the Boers till they were quite invisible. Then we could do nothing but wait for orders, no one believing that any attack would be made by our mounted enemy. However, about an hour after it was quite dark an alarm was suddenly given; but every man was on the alert, and the entrances to our fort were doubly strengthened. For there was the sound of shouts and horses thundering over the plain towards the fort; and at last the order was given to fire, a sharp fusillade ringing out in the hors.e.m.e.n's direction. It had its effect, for the enemy turned and galloped away, the sounds of their retreat rapidly dying out; and all seemed quiet till one of the defenders of the gap in the wall challenged, with the customary "Halt! or I fire!"

"Um!" cried a familiar voice. "Don't shoot. On'y Joeboy. Want Boss Val."

Chapter Nineteen.

Bathing in Hot Water.

"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; b.u.t.t 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 encompa.s.sed 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.