"I don't know, old fellow," he replied. "We ought to," I said, "because we could be of so much use to the General's troops." "Well, I don't know so much about that," said Denham as we neared the fortified gateway, with its curtain of empty wagons. "I'm beginning to think that we're being a great deal of help to the General here." "How?" I asked wonderingly. "Our corps is completely useless." "Oh no, it isn't, my little man. Look here; I'm of opinion that we're surrounded by quite a couple of thousand mounted men." "Yes, perhaps there are," I said, "at a guess." "Well, isn't that being of use to the British General? We're keeping these fellows fully occupied, so that they can't be harassing his flanks and rear with all this mob of sharpshooters, who know well how to use their rifles." "I say," I cried, "what's the matter yonder?" "Nothing! Where?" "Look at the baboons right at the far end of the kopje. They're racing about in a wonderful state of excitement." "Smell cooking, perhaps," said Denham. "Here, Sergeant," he continued, calling up Briggs, "take Mr Moray and a couple of men. Canter round yonder and see if you can make anything out. Scout. Perhaps the brutes can see the Boers advancing." In another minute we were cantering round the ragged outskirts of the great pile of stones, where they came right down to the plain, among which were plenty of grassy and verdant patches, little gorges and paths up amongst the tumbled-together blocks; and as we rode along we startled apes by the dozen from where they were feeding, and sent them shrieking and chattering menacingly, as they rushed up to the higher parts. It was away at the extreme end where the main body of the curious-looking, half-dog, half-human creatures were gathered, all in motion, and evidently much exercised by something below them on the side farthest from where we approached. "They're playing some game, Mr Moray," said the Sergeant, speaking quite respectfully to me, and, as I thought, slightly emphasising the "Mister," which sounded strange. "Tell you what it is: one of the young ones has tumbled into a gully and broken his pretty little self." "Give the order to unsling rifles, Sergeant," I said quietly, "and approach with caution." "Eh? What! You don't think there's an ambuscade--do you?" "No," I said as I watched the actions of the apes keenly; "but I do think there's a lion lying up somewhere." "A lion!" "Yes; one of the brutes that were feeding on the dead horses in the night. He has made for the shelter yonder, and is in hiding." "And the monkeys have found him, and are mobbing the beggar now he's sleeping off his supper?" "That's it, I think," I replied. "Then let's get his skin if we can. Steady, all, and don't fire till you get a good chance." We checked our horses so as to approach at a walk, the Sergeant sending me off a few yards to his left, and the other men opening out to the right.