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"Some of them coming down?" "Um! Big lot coming down to fight." I began to grasp now that after all there was some night expedition on the way, and that the pile of haversacks Joeboy had found had been deposited there to leave the men free and unfettered. "Look here," I said sharply; "are you sure that the Doppies are coming down?" "Um! Great big lot."
"Well, as I told them, sir, it isn't good for their hats; but, as they said, it wastes the Doppies' cartridges, and pleases the lads to make fools of 'em. You can hear them cheer sometimes when a hat is suddenly pulled down. They think they've killed a man bless 'em! They're very nice people." "But, Sergeant, you were telling me about Joeboy," I said. "Can't you think when you saw him last?"
Go in and win; and when you're half-way back, or if you're pursued, make old Joeboy fill his bellows and roar. I'll come to your help, even if there's a thousand Doppies after you." "I know you will," I said warmly as I returned the pressure of his hand. "There, good-bye." "Good-bye, old boy! You'll do it. Oh! I wish I were coming too."
"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?
"Splendid!" said the Sergeant to me, as we waited to take our turn at the defence. "But we shall be attacked on both sides," I said. "Oughtn't we to get in there with the horses?" "No, you recruit, you," said the Sergeant. "We shall be between two fires; but don't you see how the enemy will be crippled? Every shot that goes over us, whether it's upward or downward, goes among the Doppies.
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.
Very well; say you lead that charger of yours out. The Boers see what's going to happen directly, and the minute you're up in the saddle they begin to fire at you the whole seven." "You said six," cried Denham. "Six or seven, sir. Well, let it be six. Don't you think it very likely that one out of the six Doppies would manage to hit you?"
"The Colonel says they're ten to one, Val; and as we've plenty of water and provisions, he will leave all `acting on the aggressive' to the Doppies." This remark was made by my companion Denham when we had been in possession of the old fortress for nearly a fortnight.
Joeboy walk 'long o' vorloper. Tell 'im Joeboy 'tick assagai in um back if he talk, and drive right 'way." "Ha!" I said, with a heavy expiration of the breath. "But do you understand what he means?" "Oh yes, I understand," said Denham, laughing; "but where are the Doppies going to be all the while?"
"No," I said coolly. "Well, it doesn't matter, because I don't believe you could play it. But a banjo would be better for the Doppies, or I have it an accordion! Haven't one in your pocket, I suppose?" "Why can't you be serious?" I said. "I am, old fellow.
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