m during the war. We suffered enough in carrying the
kopje by surprise; this time we have not lost a man."

These last words haunted Dickenson all the way back to the camp, which
was reached in safety, the men being tremendously cheered by the
comrades they had left behind. But in spite of his elation with the
grand addition to their supplies and the two great triumphs achieved by
his men, the colonel looked terribly down-hearted at the long array of
wounded men; while with regard to Lennox he shook his head.

"A sad loss," he said. "I looked upon Drew Lennox as one of the
smartest young fellows in the corps. It's very hard that misfortune
should have befallen him now."

"But you think he'll get back to us, sir?" said Dickenson excitedly.

The colonel gave him a quick look.

"I hope so, Mr Dickenson; I hope so," he said. "There, cheer up," he
added. "We shall soon see."

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX.

"A COWARD!--A CUR!"

It was about an hour later, when the wounded had been seen to by the
surgeon--who reported very favourably on the men, whose injuries were
for the most part the result of blows from rifle-butts received in the
struggle on the kopje--that two of the scouts who had been left to watch
the Boers came in with a sufferer dangerously injured by a rifle-bullet.

Dickenson's heart gave a throb as he saw the men, and being off duty, he
hurried to meet them, in the hope and belief that they had found Lennox.
But it was one of their companions.

The men's report was that the Boers had come steadily on as the British
force retreated, and had then been busily engaged collecting their dead
and wounded, paying no heed to the little outpost watching them till
their task was done, when, as the last of their wagons moved off, they
began firing again, till one of the outposts fell, and the others
remained too well covered, staying till the firing had ceased, and then
hurrying back.

"Poor old Lennox!" said Dickenson to himself. Then, seeing that
Sergeant James was watching him, he shook his head.

"I was hoping that they were bringing in Mr Lennox, sir," said the
sergeant gloomily. "Of course, seeing the temper the enemy is in after
their defeat, it would be like getting some of our fellows murdered if
the colonel gave me leave to go out with a white flag."

"I'm afraid so too," said Dickenson.

"But what about as soon as it's dark, sir? Think the colonel would let
us go to make a better search? He mu