you."

"Yes, do," I said; and we went out into the great court, where the
horses were fidgeting, and biting and kicking at one another, and being
shouted at by the men, who were brushing away at their coats to get them
into as high a state of perfection as possible. There were the bullocks
too, sadly reduced in numbers, and suggesting famine if some new efforts
were not made.

"Don't stop looking about," said Denham peevishly. "How worn and shabby
the men look! It gives me the horrors."

I followed him, but after his remark I gave a sharp look at the groups
of men we passed, especially one long double line going through the
sword exercise and pursuing-practice under the instructions of Sergeant
Briggs; and as, at every barked-out order, the men made their
sabre-blades flash in the sunshine, I felt a thrill as of returning
strength run through me; but I noticed how thin, though still active and
strong, the fellows looked.

We climbed up the rugged stones, which had gradually been arranged till
the way was pretty easy, and reached the top of the wall, now protected
by a good breastwork high enough to enable our sentries to keep well
under cover.

It was very bright and breezy up there; but Denham did not seem disposed
to sit down quietly and rest in the sun, for he stepped up at once to
where he could gaze over the breastwork, resting his elbows on the
stones and his chin upon his hands.

"Hi, Denham! don't do that," I said. "It's not safe."

"Bah! I want to look out for those ammunition-wagons old Briggs was
talking about."

"But--" I began, and then I was silent, for Joeboy had followed us up,
and seeing Denham's perilous position, he stepped up behind him, put his
hands to his waist, and lifted him down as if he had been a child.

"How dare--Oh, it's you, Blackie," he said, laughing.

It was a strange laugh, and I could see that the poor fellow had a
peculiar look in his eyes. For as Joeboy snatched more than lifted him
down, _ping, whiz_, the humming of two bullets went so close to his head
on either side that he winced twice--to right and to left; and _crack_,
_crack_ came the reports of the rifles fired from the Boer lines
opposite.

"Doppie want to shoot Boss Denham," said Joeboy coolly. "Shoot
straight."

"Yes, they shoot straight," said Denham; "but I didn't think--I don't
know, though; perhaps I did think. I say, Val," he added in a strange,
inconsequent way, as if rather ashamed of his