Used to make little
cannons out of big keys, filing the bottoms to make a touch-hole. I was
a don at squibs and crackers; and the games we used to have laying
trains and making blue devils! Ha! It was nice to be a boy!"

"Yes, sergeant; and now we've got something big to do. But there,
you're used to it. Remember getting away the powder-bags with Mr
Lennox?"

"Remember it, sir? Ha! But I was in a fright then."

"Of being blown up?"

"Well, sir, if you'll believe me, I never thought of myself at all. I
was all in a stew for fear the powder should catch from the lantern and
make an end of Mr Lennox."

"I believe you," said Dickenson; and they stopped at the spot where the
ambulance-wagons had trotted up, and the leader of the mounted escort
had dropped from his panting horse to speak to the major.

"Then you've done it, sir?"

"Yes, as you see. What message from the colonel?"

"Covering party advancing, sir, to help you in. You are to get all the
provisions and cattle you can, and retire. But that I see you have
done. Enemy near, sir?"

The major glanced at the top of the kopje before replying, and then said
briefly, "Not yet."

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

ANOTHER EXPLOSION.

The wounded men--a couple of dozen all told, many of the injuries being
only slight--were rapidly lifted into the light wagons while the horses
and mules were given water, and all went well, the more slightly hurt
cheering and joking their bearers, and making light of their injuries in
the excitement of the triumph.

"Mind my head, boys," said one; "it's been knocked crooked."

"And my leg's loose, you clumsy beggar; it's there somewhere. Don't
leave it behind."

"I say, Joey, I've got a hole right through me; ain't it a lark!"

"Here, you, sir! Take care; that's my best 'elmet. I want it for a
piller." And so on, and so on.

Only one man groaned dismally, and that was Corporal May.

"I say, mate; got it as bad as that?" said one of the bearers.

"Oh! worse--worse than that," moaned the corporal. "I'm a dead man."

"Are you, now?" said one of his fellows in the company. "I say, speak
the truth, old chap; speak the truth."

"Oh!" groaned the corporal. "Why am I here--why am I here?"

"I dunno," said the bearer he looked at with piteous eyes. "I never was
good at riddles, mate. Can't guess. Ask me another.--There you are,
lifted as gently as a babby. You're only a slightly; I do know that."

The corpo