tion,
glass in hand. As we mounted, it was to see the horses led in, with the
guard behind them; the lines of the enemy being descried very distinctly
in the horizontal rays of the low-down sun. Denham was using the glass
and making comments the while.

"There's a famous great gap out yonder," he said, "just to the right of
where we saw those unlucky wagons, Val. I will just go and tell some
one. The enemy will not be likely to fill it up; and I believe we might
go softly that way and make a dash through.--Oh, you disgusting,
sybaritish, gluttonous brutes! I always did think the Boers were pigs
at eating. Look at their fires all along their lines. Here are we
starving, and they're doing nothing but cook and eat--eat--eat."

I took the glass and looked at the opening he had noticed, but said
nothing, remembering how terrible was our experience on the previous
occasion. I saw too--as enviously as my companion, but in silence--how
the fires were sending up their clouds of smoke in the clear, calm air
all along the line, telling of preparations for the coming meal.

"The empty wagons are gone," I said at last.

"If you say wagon again I shan't be able to contain myself," cried
Denham passionately. "I don't want to kick you, Val; but I shall be
obliged. Look here, if I feel as bad to-morrow evening as I do now,
I'll mount and desert to the Boer ranks."

"Not you," I said.

"But I will, just for the sake of eating as much as ever I can. Then
I'll desert again and join our own ranks."

"Why, Denham--" I exclaimed excitedly, and then I was silent.

"Why, Denham--" he replied.

"Wait a minute," I cried; "let me make sure."

"Sure of what?" he said, growing excited in turn on hearing the elation
in my voice.

"Wagons!" I cried.

"Ah, would you?" he shouted. "Didn't I say that if you spoke of wagons
again--"

"One--two--three--four--five--six!" I cried, with the glasses to my
eyes. "Hurrah! There's a fresh lot coming into camp, right into that
opening you saw. Be quiet and let me watch"--for Denham had given me
such a slap between the shoulders that I nearly dropped the glass.

"Say it again, old man--say it again."

"There's no need," I replied. "Yes, I can make them out quite plainly--
six wagons, with their long teams of oxen and black drivers and
forelopers. You can see the black bodies and white cloths."

"I don't want to see them," cried Denham wildly. "I'll take your word.
Six teams