"Yes; but what are they laden with?" "I dunno," he said, peering through the glass. "Corn for the horses; provisions for the Boers' camp." "Of course! Oh dear, if we could only get one of them across here!" "Well, could it be done?" I said. Denham shook his head. "It could only be done in the dark. You mean stampede the bullocks; but they'd be outspanned at night, and we could never get them inspanned and away without being beaten off.--Can't see it, Solomon the Wise." "It does seem difficult," I assented. "Yes; and, suppose we had got a team hitched on all right, see how they move: two miles an hour generally. But it does look tempting." "But we might get a team of oxen away without a wagon by making a bold dash." "Might," replied Denham; "but bullocks are miserably obstinate brutes to drive. It would mean a good supply of beef, though--wouldn't it?" "Splendid." "Yes; but we want meal too. I say, I dare say there's coffee and sugar in those wagons as well." "Most likely," I said; "the Boers like eating and drinking." "The pigs! Yes, and we're to starve. I say, couldn't we make a bold night-attack and drive them away, compelling them to leave their stores?" "Well, after last night's experience I should say, `No; we could not,'" I replied. "You're quite right, Val," said Denham, with a sigh. "Hullo! here's your black Cupid come up to have a look at us." For Joeboy, whom a good hearty meal had made very shiny and happy-looking, came climbing up to where we sat, and stood looking down at us as if waiting for orders. "Here, Joeboy," I said; "look through this." "Um? Yes, Boss," he said; and, from long usage when out hunting with my father or with me, he took the glass handily and sat down to scan the distant Boer line. "Lot o' Doppie," he said in a low tone, as if talking to himself. "Lot o' horse feeding; lot o' wagon and bullock. Plenty mealie, coffee, sugar." "Yes, Joeboy," I said; "and we want one of those wagons and teams." "Um? Yes, Boss," he said thoughtfully, without taking his eyes from the glass. "Joeboy know how." "You do?" said Denham quickly. "Tell us, then." "Boss Colonel send Boss Val and hundred sojer fetch um." "It wouldn't do, Joeboy," I said sadly. "There would be another big fight, and we should lose a lot of men and horses without getting the wagon." "Um? Yes. Too many Doppie." "That's right, Shiny," said Denham. "Yes," I said; "we must wait till we see a team making for the kopje, and then the Colonel can send out a party and cut them off." "Then the Boer General will send out a bigger party and cut us off," said Denham bitterly. "I don't want another set-to like yesterday's for a week or so. So we must take to horse and water for the present, I suppose." "Joeboy know," said the black, with his eyes still fixed on the glass. "You know?" I cried, staring at the black's calm, imperturbable countenance. "Um? Yes."