lying across his legs. I couldn't let him lie like that; so I pulled
up, leaped down, and, shouting to Sandho to stand, dashed at the fallen
and wounded horse's head, caught him by the bit, and dragged at him to
make him rise. The poor beast made a desperate effort, and got upon
three legs; but sank back again with a piteous groan, for it had stepped
into some burrow and snapped its off hind-leg right in two. However,
the horse's effort had saved its rider, who struggled to his feet, his
face blackened with powder and bleeding, and passed his hand across his
eyes. To my astonishment I saw who it was, the long drooping moustache
telling me in spite of his disfigured face.

"Well done!" he said hoarsely; "but I'm hurt, and you can't help me.
Mount and be off. I'm done."

I glanced behind me, and saw that the Boers were getting together again
as if to come in pursuit, while a long line was coming up from the left
at a steady trot, and bullets were whizzing by. It was only a momentary
glance to see what our chances were; and in answer to the Colonel's
words I shouted to Sandho to come round to my side.

"Poor wretch!" groaned the Colonel; "you've done your part. I can't see
you suffer like this;" and, to my horror, he took out his revolver,
placed it to his charger's forehead, and fired. The shot had a double
effect that was nearly fatal to our chance, for at the clear-cutting
report the Colonel's charger laid his head slowly down, and a quiver ran
through his frame; but Sandho reared up, made a bound, and was in the
act of dashing off. Almost instinctively I gave out a shrill whistle,
which brought him up, and he trotted back to my side.

"Now," I cried, half-wild with excitement and the feeling of exaltation
which had come over me, "mount and gallop after our men."

"What! No, boy, I can't do that," he said, smiling, as he clapped me on
the shoulder. "I've played my part, and if it means exit I'll go off
the stage like a man, for I suppose the brutes will shoot me for what
I've done."

"Nonsense!" I cried, wildly now. "Jump on, and gallop."

"No," he said, recocking his revolver. "Mount, my lad, and ride for
your life."

"I won't," I said. "You get up and go."

"What!" he shouted, with his face lowering. "Mount, sir. I order you."

"Don't be a fool," I yelled at him. "They'll be after us directly.
There, some of them are firing already. Get up, or you'll lose my poor
old horse."

He turne