t, then; run down and get behind that piece of rock. I'll do
it directly."

"No, no, sir; let me do it," pleaded the sergeant.

"'Tention!" roared Dickenson. "Quick! No time to lose. Off at once."

The sergeant's lips parted as if he were about to say something, but
Dickenson gave him a stern look and pointed downward towards the stone,
when discipline ruled, and the man doubled away to it, grumbling and
growling till he was lying down panting as if he were out of breath.

"I could have done it better myself," he said hoarsely; and then, "Oh,
poor lad, poor lad! If--if--"

There was a sharp crack, followed by a pause filled up by the shrieking
and yelling of the wounded Boers. Then the sergeant felt that he must
raise his head and see how matters were going on; but he refrained, for
there was a peculiar hissing noise. Dickenson had taken about twenty
matches out of the box he carried, held them ready, and ignoring the
fuse, he struck the bundle vigorously, stretched out his hand, which was
almost licked by the flash of flame, and applied it to the thickly-laid
train.

For a few moments there was no result, the wind nearly blowing out the
blazing splints; but just as the young man was hesitating about getting
out more matches--_phitt_! There was a flash as the powder caught and
the flame began to run in its zigzag course right along the ground
towards the nearest ammunition-wagon.

Turning sharply, Dickenson laid his hands upon a block of loose stone,
vaulted over it, and dropped flat upon his face, conscious the while of
the piteous cries of the wounded men.

The next instant there was a tremendous concussion, the stone giving him
a violent blow, and as the sky above seemed to blaze there was a roar
like thunder, then a perceptible pause, another roar, again a pause, and
another roar.

Then for a few moments the young officer lay deafened and feeling
stunned, till beneath the pall of smoke which hung over him he opened
his eyes and saw the sergeant kneeling by his side with his lips moving.

Dickenson stared at him wonderingly, while he saw the horrified look in
the man's face and its workings as he kept on moving his lips, and
finally half-raised his young officer and laid him down again.

"What's the matter?" said Dickenson--at least he thought he did--he felt
as if he had said so; but somehow he could not hear himself speak for
the crashing sound of many bells ringing all together.

He did not f