his pannikin, raised
it to his lips, and took a long deep draught before setting the vessel
down and taking up the cake.

"Come, Val," he said firmly, "if you leave yours the Boers will think
you are too much frightened to eat."

"So I am," I said gravely, "It is very awful to face death like this."

"Yes; but it would be more awful if we stood before the enemy trembling
and ready to drop."

I nodded now. Then catching up the tin in desperation, I raised it to
my lips and held it there till it was half-empty. Setting the pannikin
down, I took up the cake, broke a piece off, and began to eat. The
animal faculties act independently of the mental, I suppose; so, as I
sat there thinking of our home and our approaching fate, I went on
eating slowly, without once glancing at my companion, till the big cake
was finished; then I raised and drained the pannikin.

It was while I was swallowing the last mouthful or two that Denham spoke
in a low tone. Looking in his direction, I noticed that he had also
finished the rough breakfast.

"They're watching us, Val," he said softly.

I glanced round to back and front, and saw that the big Boer and four
others were looking in, the sight making the blood flush to my face.

Directly after the big fellow climbed in, to stand by us with a grim
smile.

"Have some more?" he asked.

"No, thank you," I replied.

"Hungry--weren't you?" was his next question.

I bowed my head.

"Well, it'll put some courage into you."

He picked up the two pannikins, and stepped out again.

"I'm glad we took it," said Denham. "It's better than looking ready to
show the white feather."

"I don't think we should have faltered even without the food," I
replied.

We both relapsed into silence now, for talking seemed to be impossible.
We had to think of the past and of the future. One minute I felt in
despair, and the next I was filled with a strange kind of hope that was
inexplicable.

It was during one of these oft-recurring intervals, as the time wore on,
that Denham turned to me suddenly and said, just as if in answer to
something I had said, for his thoughts were very much the same as mine:

"There, I can't make anything else of it, Val: we were doing our duty,
and trying to save the lives of our friends."

"Yes," I said quietly; then, both shrinking from speaking again, we sat
listening to the sounds outside. From time to time one or other of the
men on guard looked in to see tha