I see him, cried Drew; and as he followed the enemys movements and took aim, Dickenson,
who was in the better position for commanding them, followed his example.
Missed! cried Drew angrily as he fired and the Boer raised a hand and waved it derisively.
Hit! exclaimed Dickenson the next instant. For he too had fired, and with better aim, the Boer drawing himself together, springing up, and turning to run, but only to stagger the next minute and fall heavily among the bushes, which hid him from sight.
Now for the next, continued Dickenson, coolly reloading. Look out; Im going to watch the other end.
He turned sharply as a fresh shower of bullets came scattering around them, and looked keenly at the granite rock and its burden, half-expecting to see a fresh occupant taking aim. But apparently no one seemed disposed to expose himself anew to the rifles of such deadly shots, and the terrible peril to which the two fishermen had been exposed ceased for the time being, though the pair waited in momentary expectation of its recurrence.
But the enemy did not slacken their efforts to finish their task by easier means, and the firing from the front went on more briskly than ever, the young officers contenting themselves with holding theirs and displaying no excitement now, their shelter, so long as they lay close, being sufficient, the worst befalling them now being a sharp rap from a scrap of stone struck from the rocks, or the fall of a half-flattened bullet.
Thats right; dont fire until we are in an emergency, said Drew at the end of a few minutes.
In a what? cried Dickenson.
In regular peril.
Why, what do you call this? cried Dickenson, with a laugh. I made my will half-an-hour ago in fancy, of course.
Well, it is a hot corner, said Drew, joining in his companions grim mirth; but we havent got to the worst of it yet.
What! yelled Dickenson. Oh Drew, old man, you are about the coolest fish in the regiment. It cant be worse than it has been.
Cant it? Wait a few minutes, and the party who made for the ford will be at us.
But they cant get their horses down the way we came.
No; but they can leave them with a fourth of their fellows to hold while they get somewhere within shot, and then were done. What do you say to tying a handkerchief to a rifle-barrel and holding it up? Weve held out well.
Nothing! What do you say?
Same as you do; but I thought Id give you the option if you did not feel as obstinate as I do.
Obstinate? I dont call it obstinate to hold out now. Ive seen too many of our poor lads carried to the rear. Here, continued the speaker, after feeling, I havent used half my cartridges yet. Ask me again when theyre all gone, and then Ill tell you the idea Ive got.
What is it? Tell me now.
Very well. Well fire the last cartridge at the cowardly brutes fifty at least to two and then give them a surprise.
What! walk out and hold up your hands?
No; that would be a surprise, of course; but Ive got a better.
Lets have it.
Walk in.
What do you mean?
Well, crawl, then, into the river. Get quietly in from behind some of the overhanging bushes, and float down with the stream.
Wouldnt do, Bobby; they wouldnt trust us. Theyd see us floating.
Theyd think we were dead.
Not they. The Boers are too slim, as they call it, and would pump a few bullets into us. Besides, I have no fancy for being dragged down by a crocodile or grabbed by a hippo.
Think there are any crocs?
Plenty in some of the rivers.
But the hippos, wouldnt touch us, would they?
Very likely. They dont hesitate about seizing a canoe and crunching it in two. No, your plan wont do, lad. Id rather die ashore here.
Dry? said Dickenson quietly. Well, I dare say it would be nicer. But there, were not quite cornered yet.
Crack went a bullet overhead, and a report came from a fresh direction almost simultaneously.
Wrong! said Drew coolly. We are cornered now. Thats the first shot from the men who have crossed to our side.
All right; Im ready for them. Lets finish our cartridges.
We will, Bob, said Drew quite calmly, in spite of their extremity.
What do you want? said Dickenson. You havent used all your cartridges?
No; only about half.
Then why did you hold out your hand?
Shake! In case, said Drew laconically.
Shant! Im not going to look upon the business as having come to that pitch yet. Look out; we ought to see some of them soon.
For shots were beginning to come about them to supplement those sent from across the river, but so ill directed that it was evident that their fresh assailants
were guessing at their position below the perpendicular cliff-like bank.
This wont hurt us, said Dickenson coolly.
No; but some of them will be having their heads over the edge up there directly.
They cant while their friends are firing from the other side as they are. But when they do look down it will be rather awkward for the first two.
Here, quick, look out, Bob! cried Lennox, for the firing from the farther bank suddenly ceased, and the rustling and cracking of twigs somewhere overhead told that the fresh danger was very near.