nt.

Accompanied by one of the Haussas Wilmshurst hastened to inform his
commanding officer of the state of affairs. On the way he found big
Spofforth with the advance-guard. The latter greeted his missing chum
cordially.

"You're a lucky blighter!" he exclaimed, as he critically surveyed
Dudley's ragged and dishevelled appearance. "You always manage to see
some fun. Here are we, after two days' hard marching, sold completely,
and not a chance to fire a shot. Well, what have you been doing?"

"I'll tell you later," replied Wilmshurst. "I must report to the C.O.
Briefly, we've missed von Gobendorff, but we've had one of the toughest
little scraps I've ever experienced."

Colonel Quarrier was both delighted and disappointed with his junior
officer's report. His satisfaction at the news of the successful
defence of the kraal was unbounded; but his brow darkened when he
learnt of the escape of Ulrich von Gobendorff.

"We heard from native sources that you were in a tight corner, Mr.
Wilmshurst," he remarked in conclusion. "How the news got through in
so short a time is one of those unsolved mysteries appertaining to the
inhabitants of Central Africa. We pushed ahead with a column hoping to
catch Fritz sitting; but we were done. Well, ought you to rejoin your
temporary unit? If you prefer you can remain till dawn, for I do not
intend to move further till then. We don't want any exchange of shots
by mistake."

"I'll return, sir," replied the subaltern. "The men will be bucked to
hear the good news. I shouldn't wonder if they aren't getting a bit
anxious, for I was due back an hour ago."

Without mishap the subaltern traversed the intervening stretch of
scrub, crossed the open space and gained the kraal, where, as he had
expected, the good news was hailed with enthusiasm. For the first time
since the investment of the village the defenders were able to snatch a
few hours' undisturbed sleep unaccompanied by the intermittent reports
of rifles and the constant expectation of being called to arms.

Dawn was breaking when a squadron of Rhodesian Light Horse cantered up
to the bullet-torn stockade, their arrival being hailed with three
cheers by the undaunted patrol and a deafening clamour from the
natives, who had played no inconspicuous part in the defence of the
kraal. Twenty minutes later the Waffs marched in, followed by an
Indian battalion, which bivouacked in the open.

"Here we remain--so the C.O.