"We're going to do it," cried my companion warmly; "but I don't like giving up a rich gold-mine like this now we've found it." "No," I said thoughtfully; "and, besides the gold, it is such a grand archaeological discovery." "Well, yes, I suppose it is," replied Denham; "but I was thinking of the gold. I say, though, you'll have to sit fast, squire--regularly grow to your saddle." "Of course; but I'm afraid we shall leave a lot of our poor fellows behind." "Not we," cried Denham warmly. "Our fellows can ride, and there'll be no firing. The Doppies won't try to shoot for fear of hitting their own men, as it will be too dark for them to aim for us. Besides, we may steal through without being discovered." "Not likely," I said. "They'll be too cunning. Depend upon it, they'll have vedettes out all along the line." "Then the vedettes had better look out, for those we meet when we charge through in column will be in a very awkward position." "Yes, very," I said thoughtfully. "The Colonel then said all those not on duty were to lie down and sleep till they were roused up half-an-hour before the start." "Oh yes," I said bitterly; "we shall all feel quite ready for and enjoy a good sleep with a ride like this in prospect." "Well, why not? I know I shall sleep," said Denham. "So will you. So here goes." As he spoke I noticed that the men were lying down in the soft sandy patches among the stones; and, after seeing to my horse--just as a matter of course, though there was no need, for Joeboy had gone to his side--I returned to where I had left Denham, and found him wrapped in his cloak, fast asleep, and announcing the fact gently to all around in what sounded like an attempt to purr. "I may as well lie down," I thought, after seating myself on a block of stone, and gazing round at the high walls which encompassed us, and at the bright stars overhead looking down peacefully upon our camp, as if there were no such thing as war in the world. Then I began thinking about home again, and wondered what they were all doing there, and whether the Boers had interfered with my father because he was an Englishman. This brought up the thought that if the war went against the Boers they might go so far as to commandeer both my father and Bob. The thought was horrible. "It doesn't matter so much about me," I meditated; "but for them to be dragged off, perhaps to fight against us--oh! it would be terrible." There had until now been a sad feeling of restfulness about my position; but as I drew a mental picture of two forces drawn up against each other, with my father and brother forced to fight on one side, and myself a volunteer on the other, the rock upon which I was seated began to feel horribly hard, and I changed my position, to lie down on the soft sand at my feet.