"No, but you're going to get it," he said confidently; "and I want to be able to come to you with fifty men, and to make sure of bringing you in. Now then, what will your signal be? Because, if I hear it out on the veldt we can ride straight off to you. Can you yell like a hyena?" "No," I said promptly. "Joeboy can." "Wouldn't do," said my companion, upon second thoughts. "Those beasts are singing all over the place sometimes, and they might lead us wrong." "So would the cry of any animal." "Yes," said Denham thoughtfully. "I don't know, though. Here, can you suggest something?" "I can't do it; but Joeboy can roar like a lion splendidly." "Wouldn't that scare and stampede the bullocks?" "Oh no," I said; "the cry would cheat the Boers, perhaps; the bullocks would know better--wouldn't they, Joeboy?" "Um? Big trek-ox laugh, and say `Gammon,'" replied the black, showing his glistening teeth. "Very well, then; when you are getting within earshot let Joeboy give three roars half-a-minute apart." "Right," I said.--"You understand, Joeboy?" "Um? Yes, Boss Val." "Here, give us a specimen," said Denham. "Don't make a bully row. Just roar gently so that I shall know it again." Joeboy dropped upon his hands and knees, placed his lips close to the surface of the wall, and a low, deep, thunderous roar seemed to make the air quiver and shudder. Directly afterwards there was an excited stamping and neighing amongst the horses. "That'll do splendid," whispered my companion. "Three times, mind. Hark! they're talking about it all over the place. There'll be an alarm directly about a lion getting into the laager." By the time we had reached the spot where the officers made their bare, unsheltered camp, the alarm had already died away; and, after being challenged, we had leave to advance. The Colonel heard what we had to say in silence, and then remained for a minute or two without speaking. "It is a very risky and daring business, Moray, my lad," he said; "but we are in a desperate strait. I did mean to make another dash for liberty to-night; but since this piece of good fortune has turned up I'll wait twenty-four hours and see what you do. If you succeed I promise you that--" "Please don't promise me anything, sir," I said quickly. "Let me go and try my best. If I fail--" "And the Boers take you prisoner," said the Colonel quickly, "I shall, like every one in the corps, thank you all the same for a very dashing and plucky venture.--As for you, Denham; yes, certainly. Take fifty men, and go out to meet him and bring him in. You need not, of course, start till well on towards morning; and when you are gone I shall order out nearly all the rest of the force to your support, so as to bring you all in, if you are pressed." "Thank you, sir," I said eagerly; but Denham replied in rather a grumpy tone, for he was all on fire to begin doing something almost at once. "Then I may start when I like, sir?"