s rattling down on those
roofs and pouring off the eaves in cascades," replied Dickenson; "but I
never felt so strong a desire to listen before. Wonder what the old man
is saying to our smoky friend."

"Talking to the point, you may be sure, my lad," replied Lennox. "I
say, though, he is safe to tell Lindley that I suggested it."

"Well, what of that?"

"Suppose the expedition turns out a failure, and they don't get back
with the forage?"

"Ha! Bad for you, old man," said Dickenson, chuckling. "Why, we shall
all be ready to eat you. Pity, too, for you're horribly skinny."

"Out upon you for a gluttonous-minded cannibal," said Lennox merrily.
"Well, there, I did it for the best. But I say, Bob, we've come all
this way round the back of the houses here, and haven't been challenged
once."

"What of that? There are sentries all round the market-square."

"Yes; but out here. Surely a man or two ought to be placed somewhere
about?"

"Oh, hang it all, old fellow! the boys are harassed to death with
keeping post. You can't have all our detachment playing at sentry-go.
Come along. There's no fear of the enemy making a night attack: that's
the only good thing in fighting Boers."

"I don't see the goodness," said Lennox rather gloomily.

"Ah, would you!" cried Dickenson. "None of that! It's bad enough to
work hard, sleep hard, and eat hard."

"I always thought you liked to eat hard," said Lennox.

"Dear me: a joke!" said Dickenson. "Very bad one, but it's better than
going into the dumps. As I was about to say, we've got trouble enough
without your playing at being in low spirits."

"Go on. What were you going to say?"

"I was going to remark that the best of fighting the Boers is, that they
won't stir towards coming at us without they've got the daylight to help
them to shoot. We ought to do more in the way of night surprises. I
like the mystery and excitement of that sort of thing."

"I don't," said Lennox shortly. "It always seems to me cowardly and
un-English to steal upon sleeping people, rifle and bayonet in hand."

"Well, 'pon my word, we've got into a nice line of conversation," said
Dickenson. "Here we are, back in the market-square, brilliantly lighted
by two of the dimmest lanterns that were ever made, and sentries galore
to take care of us. Wonder whether Blackbeard has finished his confab
with the chief?"

"Let's go and see," said Lennox, and he walked straight across,
answeri