the moment I felt too weak to join.

"Here, get in, all of you," cried the Major as soon as he could make
himself heard. "You're sure there is no pursuit?"

"Quite," came in Denham's familiar voice. "We have had a very long
round since we wore cut off, and have not heard a soul as we came
through the darkness."

"How about wounds?" said the Major.

"Pretty tidy, sir," said Denham. "The poor horses have got the worst of
it. But we're all starving, and choked with thirst."

"We can manage water for you," said the Major; "but I'm afraid to say
anything about food."

"Never mind," said Denham cheerfully; and then he seemed to turn away,
for his voice sounded distant as he said--to the men with him, of
course--"Tighten your belts another hole, lads. We'll forage for food
to-morrow."

"That we will," cried the Major; and then out of the darkness came the
trampling of horses' feet, followed by a few neighs, which were answered
from where the horses stood together in the court. Meanwhile I tried to
get to the front, but could not, and had to wait till the men began to
file in after the homes; but at last I heard Denham's voice again.

"Not a bad wound?" he said.

"A nasty but clean cut from some Boer who had one of our swords."

"But tell me," said Denham eagerly--"young Val Moray? Did he get in
safely?"

"Any one would think he was a cousin or brother," said the Major
pettishly. "Yes, he managed all right, after giving up his horse to the
Colonel and getting him in after he had been down."

"Val did?" cried Denham eagerly. "I am glad!"

I did not wait to hear any more, and did not try to force my way through
the dense pack of our men, but worked hard to get back to the spot where
I had been lying down; and upon reaching it, with the satisfactory
feeling that there was to be no more fighting that night, I dropped into
my old place, after shifting hilt and belt so as not to lie upon them
again. Then, in spite of hunger and pain, a comfortable and
exhilarating sensation stole over me, which I did not know to be the
approach of sleep till I was roused by the reveille, and sprang up in a
sitting posture, when the first man my eyes fell on was Denham, who was
peering about among the troopers as if for something he had lost.

"Oh, there you are!" he cried as he caught sight of me; and the next
minute we were standing together, hand grasping hand.

"Denham, old fellow," I said huskily, "I thought you were