"Oh, come now, Lamont," objected the latter, with a forced laugh. "You're humbugging, you know. You wouldn't be so jolly cool and contented if it was really as you say." "As to being cool, you've got to be in these fixes. As for contented--I tell you I'm most infernally discontented. D'you think it's any fun to have my place burnt down, and all sorts of things in it for which I still have a use? Well, it isn't." "But ourselves--our lives?" urged Ancram wonderingly. "We're not going to lose those if we can help it. We're going to skip." "But how? When?" "Soon as it gets dark enough. Buck up, man. You're in luck's way. Why, you've got here just in the nick of time to see some of the fun you were hankering after that first night you arrived." "In luck's way! Fun!" At that moment Ancram would have given a great deal more than he had ever possessed to find himself back safe and sound within even the doubtful security afforded by Gandela. "You remember," went on Lamont cruelly, "that night you arrived? It would be a jolly good job if we did have a war. It would be no end fun, and you'd enjoy it. Well, there's a whole heap of enjoyment sticking out for you on those terms--if we get through to-night, that is." "What are our chances, then?" "About one in three. Stand back. You're getting into line with that window again." Ancram stepped aside with wondrous alacrity. "Er--I say, can't you lend me a gun of some sort?" he said. "A gun? Done any rifle shooting?" "Not much--in fact very little." "Then a bird gun is the thing for you. With buckshot cartridges it's a terror--especially at close quarters. By Jove, Ancram! that last shoot we had at Courtland, you little thought that next time you and I were fellow guns it wouldn't be as against the harmless homely rocketer, but the whole real live Matabele?" "No, rather not," answered Ancram, a little more confidently, for the cool, devil-may-care fearlessness of the other two was beginning to infect him. "And--er, Lamont, I think I'll have another peg, if I may." The hot afternoon drowsed on, and the assailants, or besiegers rather, after the first few volleys made no further sign. It was clear that Lamont had accurately sized up their programme. Once, Peters had thought to descry the head of a savage peering round a bush, and had promptly sent a bullet where he judged the body should be, but there was nothing to tell with what success or not. Clearly they were playing a waiting game, for they made no attempt to occupy the cattle kraal, and rake the house from there. Those awful magazine rifles had established within them a wholesome fear. But they had no idea of abandoning their plan, for all that. That house would be worth plundering. Its owner was known as one of the well-to-do settlers, and there would be stores of all kinds, and ammunition and firearms--good ones too. For the rest, they had already lost several warriors and thirsted for revenge.