ight to take up position in line till all were out,
our troop being last. Next came the order, softly given to the first
troop, to mount; and the same order was quietly passed along from troop
to troop till it reached us, and we sprang into our saddles almost
without a sound.

"First come first served," said Denham to me in a whisper. "I should
have liked to be in front so as to do some of the scouting and feeling
for the enemy, besides having first go at them before they grew thick.
I say, Val, we must mind that we don't get cut off and taken prisoners."

"Ugh! Yes," I said, with a shiver. "I say, isn't it rather chilly?"

"Be warm enough presently," said Denham bitterly. "Bah! This is too
bad. I did want to be first in the column."

"Form fours--left!" came from the front.

I felt electrified as, quite accustomed to the command, the horses swung
round to the left.

Then came the word "March!" and our column moved off, with Denham
whispering to me.

"Talk about luck," he said. "Why, we're going round the other way, and
we are to open the ball after all."

For so it was. We had made up our minds that we were to be last, but
the Colonel's determination was to bear round to the left instead of the
right; and in consequence of the movement the rear troop led. We rode
on at a walk till we had passed round by the rocks which harboured the
baboons, and then on till we were nearly opposite the opening by which
we had entered the old stronghold.

Then the order came, "Right!" and we struck off straight away for the
Boer force opposite, an advance-guard and supports being sent out far
ahead; while the silence of the night was only broken by the
softly-muffled tread of the horses, and once in a way by an impatient
snort.

"That's the danger," said Denham to me softly. "Just at the nick of
time our nags 'll be telling the Doppies we're coming."

"Perhaps not," I replied. "Where they are they have horses about them
in all directions; and if they heard a snort, why shouldn't they think
it was from one of their own ponies?"

"I hope they will," said Denham impatiently. "But, I say, the chief
isn't going to keep us at this snail's-pace--is he? I want to gallop,
and get it done.--Hullo! old Dark Night; I didn't know you were there."

This was to Joeboy, who was walking with one hand on the cantle of my
saddle.

"Um!" said Joeboy; "come along take care of Boss Val."

"Good boy!" said Denham banteringly.