"Trouble? What do you mean, sir?" cried Roby. "I feel it is my duty to
speak."

"And I feel it is not; and if I were Colonel Lindley I would not stand
it."

He had hardly spoken when there was the crack of a rifle, followed by
another and another. The men turned out ready for anything, fully
expecting that the Boers were making an attack; but Dickenson came
hurrying to the colonel with the report of what had happened.

The two prisoners had been waiting their opportunity, and rising against
the sentry who shared their corrugated iron prison, had snatched his
bayonet from his side and struck him down, with just enough life left in
him afterwards to relate what had happened. Then slipping out, they had
tried to assassinate the sentry on duty, but failed, for he was too much
on the alert. He had fired at them, but they had both escaped into the
darkness, under cover of which, and with their thorough knowledge of the
country, they managed to get right away.

"Just like Lindley," said Roby contemptuous as soon as the alarm was
over and the men had settled down again. "Any one but he would have
made short work of those two fellows."

He had hardly spoken when an orderly came to the door of the hut where
he, Captain Edwards, and two more were talking, and announced that the
colonel desired to speak with Captain Roby directly. The latter sprang
up and darted a fierce look at Captain Edwards.

"You have lost no time in telling tales," he said insolently.

"You are on the wrong track," said the gentleman addressed, angrily. "I
have not seen the colonel to speak to since, and I have sent no
message."

Roby turned on his heel wrathfully and went straight to the colonel's
quarters, to face him and the major, who was with him.

To his intense astonishment and delight, the colonel made the
announcement that the south-west laager was to be attempted by surprise
that night by a hundred and fifty men with the bayonet alone, the major
in command, Captain Roby second, and Captain Edwards and the two
subalterns of Roby's company to complete the little force.

"When do we start, sir?" said Roby, with his heart beating fast.

"An hour before midnight," said the colonel; and the major added:

"Without any sound of preparation. The men will assemble, and every
precaution must be taken that not one of the blacks gets wind of the
attempt so as to warn the enemy of our approach."

"I have no more to add, Robson," said the c