"if our numbers were double; but it
would weaken our attack by half--oh, by far more than half. No, Roby, I
shall keep to the original plan. We don't know enough of the kopje, and
in the darkness we could not ensure making the attack at the same
moment, nor yet in the weakest places. We must keep as we are. Get as
close as we can without being discovered, and then the bugles must
sound, and with a good British cheer we must be into them."

"Yes, yes, yes," was murmured, and Captain Roby was silent for a brief
space.

"Very well, sir," he said coldly. "You know best."

"I don't know that, Roby," replied the major; "but I think that is the
better plan--a sudden, sharply delivered surprise with the bayonet. The
enemy will have no chance to fire much, and we shall be at such close
quarters that they will be at a terrible disadvantage."

"Yes," said Captain Edwards as the major ceased speaking; "let them have
their rear open to run, and let our task be to get them on the run. I
agree with the major: no alterations now."

"No," said Dickenson in a low growl; "no swapping horses when you're
crossing a stream."

"I have done," said Roby, and all settled down into silence, the
officers resting like the men, but rising to creep along the line from
time to time to whisper a word or two with the non-commissioned
officers, whom they found thoroughly on the alert, ready to rouse up a
man here and there who was coolly enough extended upon his back
sleeping, to pass the time to the best advantage before it was time to
fight.

Every now and then there came a doleful, despairing yelp from some
hungry animal prowling about in search of prey, and mostly from the
direction of the Boer laager, where food could be scented. Twice, too,
from far off to their left, where the wide veldt extended, there came
the distant, awe-inspiring, thunderous roar of a lion; but for the most
part of the time the stillness around was most impressive, with sound
travelling so easily in the clear air that the neighing of horses was
plainly heard again and again, evidently coming from the Boer laager,
unless, as Lennox suggested, a patrol might be scouting round. But as
each time it came apparently from precisely the same place, the first
idea was adopted, especially as it was exactly where the enemy's camp
was marked down.

The two hours seemed very long to Lennox, who lay thinking of home, and
of how little those he loved could realise the ri