o don't be disappointed."

"I shall not be. I'm ready for anything."

"Good, lad. That's the way to deal with the Boers. I've learnt that:
for they certainly are the trickiest fellows going. I say--"

"Hadn't you better leave off talking now?"

"Only whispering. I was going to say that the major's here with us, and
has put Edwards in command of both companies."

"But Roby's with him?"

"Yes; but Edwards is boss. I shouldn't have felt comfortable with our
convalescent at the head of affairs."

"You need not have minded. Roby's as brave as he is high."

"May be; but he has that bee in his bonnet still. I half believe that
old Emden's wrong after all."

"In what way?"

"He said the bullet just ploughed through Roby's scalp and pressed down
a bit of bone. I believe he has the bullet in his head."

"Absurd!" said Lennox.

"Oh no. Likely enough. They came buzzing along, too, like swarming
bees. That would account for what he said about you."

"Be quiet," said Lennox sharply. "If the enemy comes to-night I want to
tight, and not to think about that."

"All right. I hope they will come; it will be a waste of sleep if they
don't. Bah!" he added after a long-drawn yawn. "They won't come--they
know better. These nigger spies see a few men on ponies, and away they
run to say they've seen a big commando, and hold out their hands for the
pay. Take my word for it, there'll be no fighting to-night."

It seemed as if Dickenson was right in his surmise, for the time glided
on, with the stars rising to the zenith and beginning to decline. The
heavens had never seemed more beautiful, being one grand dome of
sparkling incrustations. The atmosphere was so clear that it seemed to
those who lay back watching as if the dazzling points of light formed by
the stars of the first magnitude stood out alone in the midst of the
transparent darkness, while the shape of the kopje was plainly marked
out against the vivid sky.

"Too light for them," said Dickenson after a long pause.

"They will not come till morning.--Who's this?"

"Roby."

He it was, the tall figure in a greatcoat coming close up to stop and
speak to Sergeant James about being watchful, and then passing on
without a word to his juniors. Roby came in the same quiet, furtive
manner three times over during the night, twice being in company with
Captain Edwards, who stopped to have a few words with Lennox and
Dickenson as to the probability of an