His officers were present, and Drew Lennox and Bob Dickenson exchanged glances at the word gentlemen, for the embassy looked like anything but that; and they departed in an insolent, braggart way, and very soon after began to shoot, using up a great many cartridges, but doing very little harm. Then, growing weary, they gave up, and the colonel set one part of his men to work with the spade till dark, making rifle-pit and trench; while as soon as it was dark he despatched fully half of his force to occupy the precipitous mound at the back of the village, making a natural stronghold which he intended to connect with the camp by means of stone walls the next day, having a shrewd notion that if he did not the Boers would, for the mound commanded the place, and would soon make it untenable.
Captain Robys company and another were sent to this duty, and the men were carefully posted Lennox and Dickenson on the highest part, which was naturally the most windy and cold. Their orders, which they conveyed to the men, were to keep the strictest lookout, though the enemy had retired far enough away; for the Boers had at that early period of the war already acquired the credit of being slim and clever at ambush and night attack.
But the night was well advanced, and the two friends, after visiting post after post, were sitting huddled up in their greatcoats, longing for hot coffee or cigarettes, and feeling obliged to rub their sleepy and tired eyes from time to time, weary as they were with straining to see danger creeping up over the black, dark veldt, but straining in vain.
B-r-r-r! What humbug it is to call this Africa! growled Dickenson.
What do you mean? replied Lennox.
Mean? Why, its so cold. Wheres your blazing heat and your sand? One might be at the North Pole. Ow! dont do that.
He started violently, for Lennox had suddenly stolen out a hand and pinched his arm sharply.
Quiet! Listen!
Dickenson drew his breath hard and strained his ears instead of his eyes.
Well? Cant hear anything.
Hist! Listen again.
There was a pause.
Hear anything?
Yes; but I dont know what it is, said Dickenson, laying a hand behind one ear and leaning forward with his head on one side.
What does it sound like?
Something like a heavy wagon coming along a road with its wheels muffled.
Heavy wagon drawn by oxen?
Yes, replied Dickenson.
Mightnt it be a big gun?
It might, said Dickenson dubiously; but what, could a big gun be doing out there on the open veldt?
Lying still in its carriage, and letting itself be drawn to the place where it was to be mounted.
Yes, of course it might be; but it couldnt.
Why not? Bob, old fellow, whispered Lennox in an excited whisper, I believe the Boers are stealing a march upon us.
Well, they wont, because were on the watch. But out with
it: what is it you think?
They dont know that we are occupying the kopje to-night.
No; we came after it was dark.
Exactly. Well, theyre bringing up a big gun to mount up here and give us a surprise in the morning.
Phe-ew! whistled Dickenson. Oh, surely not!
I feel sure that they are.
Well, lets send word on to the old man. Send one of the sergeants.
And by the time he got there with his news, and reinforcements could be sent, the enemy would have the gun here.
Lets tell Roby, then.
Yes; come on.
In another minute they had told their officer their suspicions, and he hummed and had a little after listening.
It hardly seems likely, he said, and I dont want to raise a false alarm. Besides, the outposts have given no notice; and hark! I can hear nothing.
Now?
They listened in the darkness, and it was as their captain suggested: all perfectly still.
There, he said. It would be horrible to rouse up the colonel on account of a cock-and-bull story.
But it would be worse for him to be warned too late. There it is again; hark! whispered Lennox, stretching out a hand in the direction farthest from the village.
Cant hear anything, said the captain.
I can, growled Dickenson softly.
Yes, so can I now. Its a wagon whose drivers have missed their way, I should say. But well see.
Or feel, grunted the captain. Its as black as ink. Here, Lennox, take a sergeants guard and go forward softly to see if you can make anything out. I dont know, though; it may be as you say, and if it is
We ought to bring in that gun, whispered Lennox.
Yes, at all hazards. I dont know, though. There, take five-and-twenty of the lads, and act as seems best. If you can do it easily, force the drivers to come on, but dont run risks. If the Boers are in strength fall back at once. You understand?
Quite, said Lennox softly.
Let me go with him, Roby?
No; I cant spare you.
Yes, do; I can help him.
He can do what there is to do himself, and would rather be alone, for it is only a reconnaissance.
I should like him with me, said Lennox quietly, and he felt his arm nipped.
Very well; but dont waste time. I can hear it quite plainly now. Mind, fall back at once if they are in force. Ill be well on the alert to cover you and your party.