ossibly can, for if all goes well we
shan't have a wink to-night."

"Perhaps you're right," said Denham.

"There's one more thing to think about."

"What's that?"

"Our going off without leave," I said--"you an officer, I a private."

"Oh! I say, don't get raising up obstacles."

"I don't want to," I said; "but this is serious."

"Very, for us to run such risks; and of course it isn't according to
rule. But it's an exception. Let's argue it out, for it does look
ugly."

"Go on," I said, "for I want my conscience cleared."

"Look here, then; what are we going to do?"

"Try and get help, of course."

"Then I consider that sufficient excuse for anything--in a corps of
irregulars. Old Briggs would say it was mutinous in the regular army.
To go on: if we asked leave, the Colonel or Major would say we were mad,
and that we are not fit. Then--Oh, look here, I'm not going to argue,
Val. I confess it's all wrong, only there's one thing to be said: we're
not going to desert our ranks, for we're both on the sick-list; and,
come what may, I mean to go and bring help somehow. You're not shirking
the job after sleeping on it?"

"No," I said emphatically. "Now for breakfast, and then we'll have a
talk with Joeboy."

CHAPTER FORTY.

JOEBOY IS MISSING AGAIN.

"What a breakfast!" groaned Denham half-an-hour later.

"Never mind," I said; "we'll get something better, perhaps, to-morrow."

"That we will, even if we commando it at the point of the sword, which
is another way of saying we shall steal it. I say, though, the thought
of all this is sending new life into me."

"I feel the same," I said; then we sat back waiting till the doctor
visited us, examined our injuries, and expressed himself satisfied.

"Another week," he said, "and then I shall dismiss you both. Nature and
care will do the rest."

The doctor then left us; and, watching for an opportunity, we called to
one of the men passing the hospital, and told him to find the black.
However, ten minutes later we found that this might have been saved, for
the Sergeant paid us a morning call, and on leaving promised to go round
by the horses and send Joeboy to us.

"What news of the messengers?" we asked. The Sergeant shook his head
sadly, and replied, "Don't ask me, gentlemen. It looks bad--very bad.
The Boers ain't soldiers, but they're keeping their lines wonderfully
tight."

"That's our fault," said Denham. "We gave them such lessons by