"Ha!" sighed Dickenson; "that's good. The colonel must have started them to meet us the moment the firing was heard." He turned directly to shout his news to the watching major, who signed to him to come down; and he descended, meeting two men coming up, one of them carrying a field-glass. "To watch for the enemy, sir," said the latter as they met. "Which is the best place?" "Up yonder by that stone, my lad," replied Dickenson, pointing. "Any news of Mr Lennox?" "No, sir; I can't understand it. I think I saw him running down the side of the kopje just as we were getting on, but it was so dark then I couldn't be sure." "I can't understand his not being found," said Dickenson to himself, as he hurried down to where the major was posting the men in the best positions for resisting an attack, if one were made before the party could get away. Dickenson's attention was soon too much taken up with work waiting, for the wounded had to be seen to. Rightly considering that before long the enemy would advance to try and retake their old position, the major gave orders that the Boer wounded be rearranged so that they were in shelter and safety; and then, as there was still no sign of danger, the few injured of the attacking force were borne to the nearest spot where the ambulance party could meet them. Then the final work of destruction began. "Seems a thousand pities," said Captain Edwards, "badly as we want everything nearly here." "Yes," said the major; "but we can take no more, and we can't leave the stores for the enemy.--Here, Dickenson, take Sergeant James and play engineer. I have had the trains laid and fuses placed ready. You two must fire them as soon as we are a few hundred yards away." Dickenson shrugged his shoulders and said nothing. "Take care, and make sure the fuses are burning; then hurry away. Don't run any risks, and don't let Sergeant James be foolhardy." "I'll mind, sir," said Dickenson shortly. "The wagons will be fired before we start, so that the wind will keep them going." "What about the powder?" said Dickenson gruffly. "That is all together. There are three wagons wheeled down into the shelter of the rock, so that the blast will not reach the fire." "It'll blow it right up," growled Dickenson. "No," said the major; "the rocks will deflect it upwards. I've seen to that." "Couldn't we make the mules carry off the wagons? All three ambulances will not be wanted." "My dear boy, you mean well," said the major impatiently; "but pray be content with taking your orders. Edwards and I have thought all that out. The fire will not go near the wounded Boers, and the explosion will not touch the fire. As to carrying off these wagon-loads of cartridges that will not fit our rifles or guns, what is the use? Now, are you satisfied?" "Quite, sir," said Dickenson. "I was only thinking that--" "Don't think _that_, man; obey orders."