cried Dickenson, as both the young men sprang to their feet
and seized belts and weapons. For the report of a rifle was followed by
others, coming apparently from the direction of the kopje near to where
the stream came rushing out between two rugged natural walls of piled-up
stone. Every one was on the alert directly, fully in the expectation
that the enemy we're about to act in non-accordance with their regular
custom and make an attack in the dark.

But the firing ceased almost as suddenly as it had begun; and after a
time the alarm was traced back to a sentry who had been on duty at the
lower part of the west side of the kopje, near by where the water gushed
up at the foot of a huge mass of granite, where the most precipitous
part stretched upward half-way to the summit.

Captain Roby's company held the kopje that night, and consequently both
of the young officers were present at the tracing of the cause of the
alarm, when it seemed to have been proved that it was only false.

The sentry who fired was examined by Captain Roby, and was certain that
he had not given any alarm without cause, for he said he had heard steps
as of more than one person approaching him as if going to the water.

"And you challenged?" asked the captain.

"Yes, sir; and then all was quite quiet for a few moments, but I heard
the sounds again as if they were coming closer to me, and I fired, and
there was a rush of feet."

"A party of baboons going down to drink," said the captain
contemptuously.

"There have been no baboons seen since we occupied the kopje," said
Lennox.

"Perhaps not; but when they were driven off they must have gone
somewhere, and what more likely than that they should come back to the
spot where they could get water?--Come, my man, you felt frightened,
didn't you?"

"Yes, sir," said the sentry; "I was a bit scared."

"And you think now that all you heard was a party of those big dog-like
monkeys--eh?"

"No, sir; it was men, and only three or four."

"Ha! How do you know?"

"Because the baboons go on all fours, sir; and I could make out one man
standing up as he ran off along the rocky bit of path."

"What! You saw one man?"

"Yes, sir."

"But it was dark?"

"I could see the figure of a man for a moment just against the sky,
sir."

"But mightn't that have been one of the apes reared up for the time?"

"Oh no, sir," said the sentry. "I shouldn't mistake a monkey for a man;
and besides, they do