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Updated: June 29, 2025
Just a steady advance under such cover as they could find, and then a sharp run in with a good old British cheer, and the Doppies would begin to run. Then we ought to be loosed at them, and every blessed Boer among them would make up his mind that it was quite time he went home to see how his crops are getting on."
"Then you actually went foraging up there, and got back safely with this load?" "Um!" said Joeboy. "Boss Val must have plenty to eat. Doppies nearly caught um." "So I should expect," I said. "But you nearly got shot, stealing up to the lines like this." He laughed softly. "Boss Val wouldn't shoot Joeboy. Doppies nearly ketch him. Big lot coming down now." "What!" I said excitedly.
"The Doppies can't be coming on, or they'd have been seen before now." Almost as he spoke the two officers strode to one end of the rampart and began to inspect the veldt again. The next minute they were making for the opposite side of the great building, to examine the country in that direction; and here they stood for a long time. "Oh dear!" groaned Denham at last.
"That's only what the Doppies would call it, and they're idiots." "If a fellow is going to be shot," I said, "it doesn't make much difference to him whether he's shot by a wise man or a fool." "Oh, I don't know," said Denham quickly. "I'd rather be shot by a wise man than by a Boer pig. But there was no risk.
We're getting better fast, and news spurs us on to get better as fast as we can. Now then, don't make us worse by keeping us in suspense. Tell us the worst news at once." "That's soon done, sir. These Doppies, as they call 'em these Boers shoot horribly well." "Yes," sighed Denham; "they've had so much practice at game."
Commenting on the condition of our mounts, I remarked that, as the Boers had come in so close, the horses would have but little opportunity for stretching their legs. "Oh, don't you be afraid about that; the chief isn't the man to let the Doppies come close like this without having something to say on his side.
"Joeboy run after him all away among the Doppies; when they shoot, Joeboy lie down, and then follow um till he see um. Then he shoot, and look here." Joeboy held up his left arm, smiling, and I saw that it was roughly tied up with a piece of coarse homespun. "He wounded you?" "Um? Yes. Shot pistol, and make hole here." "And he got away unhurt?" "Um? Yes; this time," said the black.
"Next time Joeboy make hole froo um somewhere. Hate um." "But your wound?" I said. "Is it bad?" "Um? Only little hole. Soon grow up again." "Now tell me, how are all the people at home my father, my aunt, and Bob?" Joeboy shook his head. "What do you mean?" I said. "Haven't you seen them?" "Um? No; all gone right away. Doppies been and burnt all up. All gone."
I'm not going to run down the cavalry; they're splendid in war when they can get their chance to come to close quarters. You see, we haven't done much with our swords, for the Doppies won't stand a charge. Where we've had them has been dismounted, as riflemen, and that's what our trouble is now. We can't get at the enemy; what we want is a regiment of foot with the bayonet.
"I say, young fellow," he said, "you're in for a bullying. The Colonel's horribly wild about your false alarm. Are you sure the Doppies were coming on?" I told him what I had learned, and that I had felt obliged to report it. "Humph! Yes, of course; but it's a great pity, when the men wanted rest."
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