"You brick!" he whispered. "Now then, send on your Joeboy.--Do you understand what for?" he now asked the black. "Um!" replied Joeboy. "Find the Doppies, and come back." "That's right," said Denham eagerly. "Creep up as close as you can, and then come and warn us. Oh, what a blessing to have a black skin, and no clothes to hide it!" "Joeboy go now?" "Yes. Off," whispered Denham, and the black uttered a peculiar click with his tongue, leaped out sidewise, and then bounded forward without a sound. One moment we saw his black figure dimly; the next he seemed to have melted away or been absorbed into the blackness right ahead, and for some time we were following the track of what had been like a shadow. I listened as our horses tramped quietly on through what was, now that the kopje had been left behind, like a sandy desert, whose soft surface completely muffled the hoofs. Once in a while there was a faint rustling as the horses brushed through a patch of thick bush or the yellow-flowered thorn; but not a stone was kicked away or sent forth a sharp metallic sound. So quiet was it that Denham turned to me and whispered: "Who'd ever think there were four hundred of our fellows on the march behind us?" "And somewhere about twelve or fifteen hundred of the enemy in a circle round about." "Yes; but they're standing still," he said. "Think your Joeboy will make them out?" "I'm sure of it," I said. "That's right. Then in a few minutes we shall be at them with a rush. I don't like this fighting in the dark." "It will be a shout, a rush, and we shall cut our way right through," I said. "Perhaps; but don't you cut, young fellow. If you come at any one there in front, you give point; don't waste time in cutting. I say, Val; if I don't get through, and you can get to where I'm found--" "What are you talking about?" I whispered sharply. "About my will," he said quietly. "I leave you my watch and my sword." "And I'll leave you my rifle and Sandho. He's a splendid fellow to go." "Stuff and nonsense!" said Denham, interrupting me. "You won't be hurt." "That's more than you know," I said peevishly, for his words upset me; and when he went on I made no reply. Even if I had replied I should not have been able to finish my speech, for Joeboy now came up at a long loping run. He caught at Denham's bridle, checking the horse, while Sandho and the three troopers on my right stopped short, and the whole line of horsemen suddenly halted. "What is it?" said Denham. "Doppies all along," said Joeboy. "All this way; all that way," he continued, gesticulating. "How far?" I whispered. Joeboy shook his head, and seemed to feel puzzled how to answer the question. At last he raised his face and whispered, as he pointed forward: "Far as two sojers over dah," he said, "and far again." "Twice as far as the advance-guard," I interpreted his words to mean. At that moment the Colonel rode up, and Denham repeated the black's words.