there were three things to do?"

"Yes; and now it's one of two."

"Isn't it only one, sir? I think the lads feel as I do, right-down
savage, and ready to fight to the last."

"Very well," said Dickenson; "then we'll light to the last."

The sergeant smiled, and then for a time all lay perfectly still, fully
expecting that one or other of the many bullets which came whizzing by
would find its billet; but though there were several very narrow
escapes, no one was hit, and though the enemy in front had greatly
lessened the distance, their bullets struck no nearer. But the men grew
very impatient under the terrible strain, and all three kept on turning
their heads to watch their officer, who lay frowning, his rifle in front
and his chin supported by his folded arms.

"Ah!" came at last, in an involuntary sigh of relief from all three, as
they saw Dickenson alter his position after the enemy had made a fresh
and perceptible decrease in the distance between them by urging their
ponies forward, the men's legs being strongly marked, giving the ponies
the appearance of being furnished with another pair, as their riders
stood taking aim and resting their rifles across the saddles.

But no order to fire came from Dickenson, who still remained quiet.
Then all at once:

"Sergeant," he said, "I've practised a great deal with the sporting
rifle, but done very little of this sort of thing myself. I'm going to
try now if I can't stop this miserable sneaking approach of the enemy."

The men gave a hearty cheer.

"I'm sorry for the poor ponies," he said, "for I think this range will
be well within the power of the service arm."

"Yes, sir, quite," said the sergeant promptly.

Dickenson was silent once again, and they saw him taking a long, careful
aim at the nearest Boer. The effect of his shot was that the pony he
had aimed at sprang forward, leaving a Boer visible, facing them in
astonishment before he turned to run.

"Fire!" said Dickenson, and three shots followed almost instantaneously,
while the running Boer was seen lying upon the earth.

"Be ready!" said Dickenson, aiming now at another of the ponies, and
paying no heed to six or seven replies from the exasperated Boers.

The pony now fired at reared up, and in the clear sunshine the man who
was aiming across it was seen to be crushed down by the poor animal's
fall, and he did not rise again.

Once more Dickenson's rifle rang out, and he shifted it back now to