hopes.

"The cattle will screen our advance," he said, "and the enemy are bound
to ride right round on account of cover for their horses. I believe
even now that we can get to this side as soon as the Boers get to the
other, and we must clear the bush at the point of the bayonet."

The men soon knew what was required of them, and they kept on steadily
at the double. But minute by minute it grew more evident that the fast,
strong ponies of the enemy, long as the sweep being taken on either side
proved to be, must get to the cover first; and, to the despair of the
officers, while they were still far distant in the deceiving, clear air,
they saw the two big clouds of the enemy, as if moved by one order like
a well-trained brigade of cavalry, swing round right and left and dash
for the thick patch of dwarf trees dotted with rocks.

"We're done, sergeant," said Dickenson breathlessly.

"Yes, sir," said the man coolly; "they've six legs to our two. I'm
sorry about that beef, for I'd set my mind on a good meal at last."

At that moment the bugle rang out, for it was madness to press on, and
the men, disappointed of their bayonet-charge to clear the little open
wood, began to draw breath ready for their next order to turn off right
or left and continue the retreat out of rifle-fire as soon as they
could.

"Oh, it's maddening!" cried Dickenson passionately as he unfastened the
cover of his revolver holster.

"Oh no, sir," said Sergeant James. "Case for a cool head. You'll see
now how neatly the major will get us out of fire and take us round. I
wish, though, that our covering party had been within reach."

An order rang out directly for the party to advance left incline, which
meant the giving up of their loot, and the men went on with set teeth as
they saw the two great clouds of Boers growing darker as they pressed in
for the patch of trees; and then there was a cheer bursting from every
throat--a cheer that was more like a hoarse yell, for from both ends of
the little wood, still some five hundred yards away, there was a puff of
smoke, followed by the rattle of a Maxim-gun on the right, a small
field-piece, shrapnel charged, on the left, and directly after a couple
of volleys given by well-concealed men.

The effect was instantaneous: riders and fallen horses and men were
struggling in wild confusion, falling and being trampled down, and those
unhurt yelling in wild panic to get clear. And all the while, as f