"You idiot!" I said in a low tone, for I was afraid now that I had alarmed the sentries on either side; but though Joeboy's load on one side bumped against my companion sentry, he was so utterly wearied out that he did not stir. "Um? Idiot?" said Joeboy. "Boss Val going to be hungry. Joeboy hungry. Been to get all these." "What are they--forage-bags?" "Um!" he said. "But where did you get them--whose are they?" "Doppies'. All in a heap. Brought them all along." A little further questioning made it all clear--that under cover of the darkness the plucky fellow had crept up the valley, taking advantage of the shelter afforded by the stones, passed the lines of the Boers, and hunted about till he came upon something worth having in the shape of a pile of canvas forage-bags containing the men's provender, which they had left together and in charge of a sentinel, so as to be unencumbered in their attack upon us. "But what about the sentry?" I said suspiciously. "Um? Fast asleep," said Joeboy. "What! all the time you were loading yourself with these bags?" "Um!" "You did not send him to sleep, did you?" I said suspiciously. "Um? Killum?" "Yes." "No," said Joeboy coolly. "Didn't wake up. Lot more couldn't carry. Plenty to eat now." "Then you actually went foraging up there, and got back safely with this load?" "Um!" said Joeboy. "Boss Val must have plenty to eat. Doppies nearly caught um." "So I should expect," I said. "But you nearly got shot, stealing up to the lines like this." He laughed softly. "Boss Val wouldn't shoot Joeboy. Doppies nearly ketch him. Big lot coming down now." "What!" I said excitedly. "Some of them coming down?" "Um! Big lot coming down to fight." I began to grasp now that after all there was some night expedition on the way, and that the pile of haversacks Joeboy had found had been deposited there to leave the men free and unfettered. "Look here," I said sharply; "are you sure that the Doppies are coming down?" "Um! Great big lot." "Here, you," I whispered, "wake up!" and I shook and shook the sentry roughly, making him spring up and make a snatch at his rifle. "Thank ye," he said. "I say, I was nearly dropping off to sleep." "Very," I said dryly; "but keep awake now. My man here has just brought in news that the enemy are coming on down the pass." "What--for a night-attack?" "Yes." "The beasts!" he cried, and he raised his rifle to fire and give the alarm. "No, no," I said; "don't fire unless you see them. I'll go and give the alarm. Stand fast till reinforcements come.--Here, Joeboy, bring your load into camp." I led the way straight to the Colonel, being challenged twice before I reached the side where he, in company with his officers, lay sleeping in their horsemen's heavy cloaks.