There was no hurry or bustle; but our trumpeter had buckled his sword-belt and taken down his instrument from where it hung, and then stationed himself upon one of the blocks of stone in the great courtyard, watching his chiefs, and holding his instrument ready, while his eyes seemed about to start out of his head in his excitement. Everywhere it was the same. Men glided about here and there, after a glance at the ranges of rifles against the wall, with their well-filled bandoliers, and only paused at last where each could dart to his horse, ready to saddle and bridle the tethered beast. The officers were also silently preparing--buckling on their swords, taking revolvers from their belt-holsters, and filling the chambers from their cartridge-pouches, quite mechanically, without taking their eyes off the watchers on the wall. But in spite of all these preparations no sounds were heard save those made by the horses--an impatient stamp or pawing at the stones, followed by a snort or a whinnying neigh. I did as the rest had done. Meeting Denham after his return from the sheltered spot occupied by the officers, we stood together, looking up at the wall. "What a long time they are taking!" whispered Denham impatiently. "The Doppies can't be coming on, or they'd have been seen before now." Almost as he spoke the two officers strode to one end of the rampart and began to inspect the veldt again. The next minute they were making for the opposite side of the great building, to examine the country in that direction; and here they stood for a long time. "Oh dear!" groaned Denham at last. "What's-its-name deferred makes the heart sink into your boots. It's a false alarm." "Not it," I said, "for there has been no alarm." "Well, you know what I mean. It's all over. I did hope the chief would be so busy that he'd forget all about what I said. There never was such a miserably unlucky beggar born as I am. Now we shall--" Just then the Major left the Colonel's side, came to the edge of the wall, and looked down into the court, gave a nod of satisfaction, and made a sign to the trumpeter, whose bugle went with a flip to his lips, and there was a sound as if the pent-up breath of some four hundred men had been suddenly allowed to escape. Then the walls were echoing to the call "Boot and Saddle," and every man sprang to his hung-up saddle and then to his horse, the willing beasts seeming all of a tremor with an excitement as great as that of their riders. Long practice had made us quick; and in an incredibly short time I was standing like the rest with my rifle slung across my back, holding Sandho's bridle ready to lead him out through the gateway, military fashion, though he would have walked at my side like a dog. "We're only going for a bit of a reconnaissance," said Sergeant Briggs gruffly as, after a sharp, non-com glance at his men, he settled down close to my side.