"It was right enough as a surprise; but the enemy is on the alert now.

It seems to me we are as completely surrounded as before." "Never mind," I said, as cheerily as I could; "we shall do it yet." "Oh yes, we shall do it yet," replied my companion; "but it must be done quietly and quickly, while it's dark.

I say, though, what about your black boy?
He couldn't have kept up with our mad gallop." "Joeboy ?" I said in an excited whisper.

"Joeboy?
I forgot all about him;" and a pang of misery shot through me.
"He was holding on by your saddle--wasn't he ?" "Yes," I said huskily; "but from the moment I drew my sword and we charged, I never thought about the poor fellow till you spoke." "Advance at a walk!" was the next order; and as we started, the Colonel came up to where Denham and I rode at one end of the leading troop.
"Here," cried the Colonel; "where's that Matabele fellow?
He may lead us out of this crowd." "Gone, sir," said Denham quietly.

"We lost him in the gallop." "Tut, tut, tut!" muttered the Colonel; "he would have been more useful than ever now.