with the rest of the
troopers," I said. "No, no. Set him on a horse."

"He can't possibly sit a horse," I said firmly; "and if you put him on
one it will take two men to keep him in his place."

"We can't spare them," cried the first man who had spoken. "We want all
our rifles to be speaking as we retire."

Just then a thought struck me.

"He must be carried," I said.

"It can't be done, sir," was the reply. "The men can't be spared. One
of us must have him in front of the saddle as we retreat."

"No, no," I said. "Here, wait a minute.--Joeboy!" I shouted, and,
shield and assagai in hand, the black dashed to my side as if to defend
me from some attack.

"Can you carry this officer on your back down the valley, Joeboy?" I
said.

"Um!" was the prompt reply. "You take my spears."

"Yes. Hang them to my saddle," I said. "Quick!"

The next minute I helped to raise the insensible man carefully on to the
black's broad back as he bent down on one knee, Denham's arms being
placed round Joeboy's neck; and then, at his request, the wrists were
bound together with a sash.

"Now," I said, "can you do it?"

"Um!" was the reply; and, without a word being uttered by way of order,
the man rose softly to his feet and set off at a slow, steady walk down
towards the little force of mounted rifles waiting, a couple of miles or
so away, to receive our news.

No sooner were we well out of the cover which had sheltered us than the
firing increased, showing that our movements were under observation; but
the pattering shots, which seemed to strike every spot save where we
moved at a pace regulated by Joeboy's steady walk, had no effect upon
the discipline of the little party. The sergeant, a middle-aged man,
like a Cornish farmer, now took the command. He ordered half the party
to follow close after their wounded officer, and halted the second half,
who stood dismounted and covered by their horses, to reply to the
enemy's fire.

Instead of checking the shots, our reply seemed only to increase them;
but we had the satisfaction of knowing that the fire was concentrated
upon us, and that Lieutenant Denham and his bearer were running no risk
of being brought down. This was kept up for fully ten minutes, during
which our friends had got some distance. Then the order was given to
mount; and, giving our horses their heads, we went in single file
clattering along the stone-strewn and often slippery track, followed by
a