dvance-posts give the
alarm. Then gallop straight away. Not a shot to be fired. Forward!"

There was a low murmur as of many drawing a deep, long breath. Then the
column was in motion, and I felt a thrill of excitement running through
me like a wave, while unconsciously I nipped Sandho's sides so that he
began to amble. This brought back the knowledge that I must be cool, so
I gently checked the brave little horse, and softly patted his arching
neck, when he promptly slowed to a walking pace like the others. Then I
found that Joeboy had crept round to my right side, between me and the
next trooper, and, assagai in hand, was holding on to my saddle with his
left hand.

All was perfectly still; and though we had gone on fully a hundred
yards, there was nothing to be heard or seen of the enemy in front.

Suddenly Denham leaned towards me, and gripped my shoulder for a moment
before loosening his grasp and holding his right hand before me.

"Shake," he said in a low whisper.

Our hands pressed one another for a brief moment or two, and then we
both sat upright, listening.

All was yet silent. Then, far away, but so loudly that the air seemed
to throb, came the deep, thunderous, barking roar of a lion, followed
from out of the darkness ahead by the rush and plunge of a startled
horse.

"Quiet, you cowardly brute, or I'll pull your head off!" came loudly in
Dutch, as a horse somewhere to our left uttered a loud, challenging
neigh. This was answered directly by Denham's charger; and in an
instant a horse in front followed the first horse's example.

I heard a faint rustle as every man threw his right arm over the reins
to seize the hilt of his sabre, and the feeling of wild excitement began
to rush through me again as I gripped my own and waited for the order to
draw.

Now the darkness was cut by a bright flash of light right in front;
there was the sharp crack of a rifle, and right and left _flash, crack,
flash, crack_, ran along a line.

As the first report was heard Denham rose in his stirrups. "Draw
swords!" he yelled; and then, "Gallop!"

There was the rasping of blades against the scabbards, three or four
closely following digs into the soft sandy ground, with our horses'
muscles quivering beneath us, and then we were off at full speed,
tearing after the outposts, which had wheeled round and galloped back,
while with our sabres at the ready we went straight ahead.

"Keep together, lads," cried Den