d in charge of a sentinel, so as to be unencumbered
in their attack upon us.

"But what about the sentry?" I said suspiciously.

"Um? Fast asleep," said Joeboy.

"What! all the time you were loading yourself with these bags?"

"Um!"

"You did not send him to sleep, did you?" I said suspiciously.

"Um? Killum?"

"Yes."

"No," said Joeboy coolly. "Didn't wake up. Lot more couldn't carry.
Plenty to eat now."

"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. "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."

"Here, you," I whispered, "wake up!" and I shook and shook the sentry
roughly, making him spring up and make a snatch at his rifle.

"Thank ye," he said. "I say, I was nearly dropping off to sleep."

"Very," I said dryly; "but keep awake now. My man here has just brought
in news that the enemy are coming on down the pass."

"What--for a night-attack?"

"Yes."

"The beasts!" he cried, and he raised his rifle to fire and give the
alarm.

"No, no," I said; "don't fire unless you see them. I'll go and give the
alarm. Stand fast till reinforcements come.--Here, Joeboy, bring your
load into camp."

I led the way straight to the Colonel, being challenged twice before I
reached the side where he, in company with his officers, lay sleeping in
their horsemen's heavy cloaks.

All sprang up at once, and each started to rouse his following, with the
result that in a few minutes the whole force was under arms and divided
in two bodies to join the line of sentries who paced up and down the
pass.

It was only now I became aware of the Colonel's plan of strategy, which
was to defend the position as long as seemed wise, and then for each
line to fold back, making the pivot of the movements the ends of the
lines by the niche in the hillside wh