scattered shower of bullets, horribly badly aimed, for we had taken
our enemies by surprise.

We could not go very fast; but the pace was fast enough to overtake our
companions soon, who formed up under the best cover they could find,
leaving us room to pass and ride on to where Joeboy trudged manfully on,
and then draw rein and walk our horses, listening to the pattering of
the Doppers' bullets and the steady and regular reply of our men.

"Has he moved or spoken, Joeboy?" I said anxiously as I rode alongside.

"Um!" replied Joeboy.

"'Fraid he gone dead, Boss Val."

"No, no!" I said, laying my hand against Denham's neck. "I believe he
is only stunned. Are you getting tired?"

"Um!" growled the great black. It seemed wonderful what expression he
could put into that one ejaculation, which sounded now as if he were
saying, "Tired? No: I could go on like this till dark."

I said no more, but fell back into my place, where I found the next man
eager enough to talk.

"They brag about the Boers' shooting; but I don't think much of it, nor
of ours neither, if you come to that. I don't wish any harm to them who
made all this trouble; but I should like for our boys to bring down a
man at every shot. It would bring some of the rest to their senses. I
say, you don't think young Mr Denham's going home, do you?"

"No," I said sharply. "I think he only wants getting on to a bed, to
lie till the shock of his hurt has passed away."

"Yes, that's it," said the trooper; "bed's a grand thing for nearly
everything. I never knew how grand it was till I came on this business
and had to sleep out here on the stones. You haven't begun to find out
what it is to be away from your bed at times."

"I've slept out on the veldt or up in a kopje scores of times," I
replied, "and have grown used to it."

"Oh!" said my companion, glancing at me to see if I was telling the
truth. Then, apparently satisfied, he continued: "I wish those who made
this war had to do all the fighting. I'm sick of it."

"Already?" I said.

"Yes; I was sick of it before we began to hit out. What's the sense of
it? Here am I, five-and-twenty, hale, hearty, and strong, trying to get
shot. But of course one had to come. I mean to make some of them pay
for it, though."

"But you volunteered."

"Of course. I say, though, I don't wonder at you making a run for it.
Nice game to have to fight on the enemy's side! I should like that--oh
yes, v