ere the horses were sheltered.
Then, on the performance of this evolution, there would be a double line
facing outward for the defence of the horses, in a position enormously
strong from the impossibility of there being any attack from flanks or
rear.

So far we had no news of any attack threatening from the Boers who held
the lower part of the pass; but scouts had been sent out in that
direction to get in touch with the enemy, and their return was anxiously
awaited where the men were in position; but the minutes glided by in the
midst of a profound silence, and I began to feel a doubt about the
correctness of Joeboy's announcement.

I was in the centre of the line which would receive the shock of the
descending Boers, and Joeboy had stationed himself behind me as soon as
he had bestowed his plunder in safety; and at last, as there was no
sound to indicate that the enemy was on the move, I began to grow
terribly impatient, feeling as I did that before long the Colonel and
his officers would be reproaching me for giving a false alarm.

"Are you quite sure, Joeboy?" I whispered, turning to him where he
squatted with assagai in hand and his shield spread across his knees.

"Um?" he whispered. "Yes, quite sure. Come soon."

They did not come soon, and I grew more and more excited and angry; but
I refrained from questioning the black any more, feeling as I did the
uselessness of that course, and being unwilling to bring down upon
myself the reproof of the officers for talking at a time when the order
had been passed for strict silence, so that the Boers might meet with a
complete surprise.

It seemed to me that an hour had passed, during which I stood behind the
natural breastwork of a stone upon which my rifle rested, gazing
straight away up the pass, and straining my sense of hearing to catch
something to suggest that the enemy was in motion; but there was not a
sound in the grim and desolate gap between the hills, and my beating
heart sank lower and lower as I glanced back at Joeboy, who reached
towards me.

"Doppy long time," he said, hardly above his breath.

"They won't come," I whispered back angrily. "You fancied it all."

"Um?"

"You fancied it all. They would not come on in the night."

"Boss Val wait a bit. Come soon."

"Ugh!" I ejaculated; and a voice somewhere near whispered, "Silence in
the ranks!" The command was needed, for a low murmur was beginning to
make itself heard.

All was sti