I was just at my worst again, and picturing the looks of Denham, and his disappointment if I managed to get anywhere near where he was on the lookout for us, when I jumped violently, quite startled, for Joeboy seemed to rise out of the black earth on my light. "Um?" he said softly. "Joeboy getting tired. Couldn't find wagon." "Then it's all over?" I whispered, my heart sinking with despair. "Um? Couldn't find at first," he said. "Joeboy went behind um. All out before Doppies." "Then you did find them?" I whispered joyfully. "Um? Yes, Joeboy find um. Went long way and then come back." "But how did you manage to find them in the dark?" "Um? Smell um," he said quietly. "Now, wait bit. Boss Val know what to say?" "Oh yes, I know," I said. "Get up," he whispered. "No Doppie here." I was startled by his words, but I obeyed; and as soon as I was erect I felt his hands about me, feeling whether my rifle was slung across my shoulder, my bandolier in place, and my revolvers ready. Apparently satisfied, he gave a grunt, and taking my hand, he whispered again: "No Doppie here. Over this way and that way." I yielded to his guidance, with my heart throbbing heavily now; but the feeling of excitement returned as I began to act, and in a few minutes I found that something big and dark had loomed up in front, which I knew to be a great tilted wagon. Joeboy bore to the left, and we walked silently on together till we had passed the rears of six of the great vehicles drawn up at a fair distance apart, but pretty regularly side by side. I now realised that, though the wagons, as seen through the glass, had appeared to be in touch with the Boer troops, they really formed a line some distance in front. From that moment everything seemed to be like a curious waking dream, in which I was the chief actor; for, passing the last tail and going forward, I walked with Joeboy to the front, all being silent about the wagons. From beyond these came the peculiarly soft, chewing sound of working jaws; and I made out, partly by hearing and partly by the peculiar but not unpleasant odour, that there were the teams in their places, all the great oxen crouching down, from the pair on either side of the dissel-boom or pole to the foremost couple right in front, pair after pair, along the trek-tow--that is, the great rope which, for the team, serves as a continuation of the pole. "Um?" whispered Joeboy as I stood listening to the dull cud-chewing of the resting beasts. "Now make um come out."