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No; Boss Val mustn't make Doppie come. Joeboy say `Trek, and they no trek, he 'tick assagai in um back." "No, no; there must be no bloodshed." "Um? Blood? No; only 'tick in little way. Make um go like bullock. Make um go like what Boss Val call `'tampeed. Black Kaffir boy not say `Won't go. Be 'fraid o' Joeboy." I thought it very probable, and said no more.
Couldn't find at first," he said. "Joeboy went behind um. All out before Doppies." "Then you did find them?" I whispered joyfully. "Um? Yes, Joeboy find um. Went long way and then come back." "But how did you manage to find them in the dark?" "Um? Smell um," he said quietly. "Now, wait bit. Boss Val know what to say?" "Oh yes, I know," I said. "Get up," he whispered. "No Doppie here."
Cist!" he whispered. "Doppie coming." I could hear nothing, and it was too dark to see, so I stood listening for quite a minute, knowing well that the black must be right, for his hearing was wonderfully acute.
Every time they use a cartridge there ought to be one Doppie disabled and sent to the rear. I keep on telling them this fort isn't Purfleet Magazine nor Woolwich Arsenal; but it's no good." "But, Sergeant," cried Denham anxiously, "you don't mean to say that we're running out of cartridges?"
Go to sleep like. Doppie coming." He gave me a push towards the wagon and went forward at a trot. Yielding to his influence, I climbed in at the front, past the driver, and drew the curtains before me, only leaving a slit through which I could hear what passed. I was not kept waiting long.
"Um?" said Joeboy, who had come by me unheard. "Yes, all gone. Doppie big fool. No see, no hear. Joeboy hear; Joeboy see wagon and bullock long way off. Doppie got wool in um ear an' sand in um eyes." "So have I, as compared with you, my big black friend," I thought to myself; "but I don't want you to call me or think me a big fool, so I'll hold my tongue." "Doppie can't hear now," said Joeboy.
"Think Doppie talky, Boss Val take Joeboy and go in a dark night up to wagon. Stoop down and kick big black fool driver and big black fool vorloper. `Get up! he say. `Want sleep alway? Get up, big fool! Trek!" "What?" I cried excitedly. "Um? Talk like Doppie, Boss Val talk. Big fool get up an' inspan. Boss Val get up on box an' keep call driver big black fool, like Doppie.
"Um!" ejaculated Joeboy, with a look of satisfaction in his eyes; "rifle gun reach long way. Boss Val see boy not driving well, pretend to send bullet in um head, and make um jump along. Ha!" Noticing that the black was using his hands like a binocular glass, and looking back, I asked anxiously, "What is it?" "Um? See Doppie coming now?"
When Doppie see us Boss Denham see us too, and come along o' fighting boys." "Yes; I had half-forgotten that," I replied. Not thinking of anything more to say, I trudged on. At last, as the light grew stronger, Joeboy turned to me to say: "Boss Val see Doppie now?" I looked back in the direction of the enemy's lines and shaded my eyes; but nothing was discernible. "I can't see them yet," I said.
I said. "Um? Did," he replied, "soon as Doppie captain went away. Going straight home now." "Ah!" I ejaculated. "Capital! But we shall be stopped again and sent back." "Um? Joeboy don't think so. Doppie over there, and Doppie over there," he said, pointing in opposite directions with his assagai. "You think we shall not meet another party, then?" "Um? Can't hear any," he replied.
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