"Not such a very long time, sir. You see, the men have nothing but water to drink; tobacco's getting scarce; there's no bread, no coffee, no vegetables; and the men have very little to do but rub down their horses to keep 'em clear of ticks: the consequence is that they try to make up for it all by keeping on eating beef, and then sleeping as hard as ever they can." "I don't know what we can do unless we cut our way through the enemy," said Denham sadly. "I go on thinking the matter over and over, and always come back to the same idea." "No wonder," said the Sergeant. "That is the only way; so the sooner you two get fit to mount the better, for I don't see that anything can be done till then." "Are there any more--cripples?" said Denham bitterly. "Oh, there's a few who'd be off duty if things were right," said the Sergeant cheerfully; "but they make shift. The Colonel limps a bit, and uses his sword like a walking-stick; six have got arms in slings, and four or five bullet-scratches and doctor's patches about 'em; but there isn't a man who doesn't show on parade and isn't ready to ride in a charge." "But riding," I said, with the eagerness of one who is helpless--"what about the horses?" "All in fine condition, gentlemen," said the Sergeant emphatically, "but a bit too fine, and they look thin. The Colonel's having 'em kept down so that they shan't get too larky from having no work to do." "But they're not sent out to graze now?" I said. "Oh yes, regularly." "Then why don't the Boers shoot them, so as to make them helpless?" The Sergeant chuckled. "Colonel's too smart for them," he said. "The bullocks are sent out in the day with a strong guard on foot to keep behind the oxen, but the horses go out as soon as it's dark, every one with his man to lead him, and all ready for an attack. Ah! but it's miserable work, and I shall be very glad when you two gentlemen are ready to mount again, so that we can go." "You'll have to go without us, Briggs," said Denham sadly. "I don't suppose the Boers will shoot us if we're taken prisoners." "That's just what the Colonel's likely to do, sir. It's his regular way with his men. I must be off now, though. Time's up. You'll like to see this, though, Mr Denham?" The Sergeant began to fumble in his pouch, bringing out several cartridges before he found what he wanted--a dirty-looking piece of milky quartz. "What have you got there?" we asked in a breath. "Stuff the men are finding in a hole at the back of the cook's fireplace." "Why, it's gold ore," I said eagerly. "Nonsense! What do you know about it?" said Denham, turning the lump over in his hand. "I know because pieces like that are in the kopje near my home. Joeboy could find plenty like that. He took some to my father once, and father said it was gold." "Then you've got a mine on your farm?"