The Kopje Garrison: A Story of the Boer WarFenn, George Manville
General
The Kopje Garrison: A Story of the Boer War
Fenn, George Manville
South African War, 1899-1902 -- Fiction
The sergeant was quite right, for all of a sudden Lennox exclaimed:
"Why, it's light! Here, where am I?"
But it was directly after the Boer leader had shouted the order to
advance, and the little body of active Bechuana ponies sprang forward,
eager to begin cantering over the plain, not a man the worse for his
narrow escape, as they burst out chatting together, Lennox's exclamation
passing quite unnoticed, even if heard.
"Ha!" ejaculated Dickenson, exhaling his long-pent-up breath. "I doubt
if any of them will be nearer their end again during the war."
And then, after making sure that the Boer party were going off at a
sharp canter, and that the risk of speaking or being seen was at an end,
he crawled quickly to where Lennox lay upon his back, his eyes once more
closed, and sleeping as soundly as if he had never roused up into
consciousness since early in the night.
"Lennox--Drew," whispered Dickenson, catching him by the arm, but only
eliciting a low, incoherent muttering. "Well, you can sleep!"
"It's not quite natural, sir," said the sergeant. "He must have been
hurt somewhere, and the sooner the doctor has a look at him the better."
"Yes," said Dickenson thoughtfully.--"That was a close shave, sergeant."
"Yes, sir--for the enemy. If we had fired they'd have gone off like
frightened sheep, I feel sure now."
"Yes, I think so too. But we must not stir yet."
"No, sir; I'd give those fellows time to get out of sight. We don't
want them to see us. If they did, they'd come swooping down to try and
cut us off. What do you say to trying if we can make out what's wrong
with Mr Lennox? I think he must have been hit in the head."
"Yes; let's look," said Dickenson: and after planting a sentry to keep a
sharp lookout from a sheltered spot on each side of the little woodland
patch, he set to work, with the sergeant's help, to carefully examine
his rescued comrade, but without the slightest result, save finding that
his head was a good deal swollen in one part, and, lower down, his left
shoulder was puffed up, and apparently excessively tender from either a
blow or wrench.
"It's beyond us," said Dickenson, with a sigh. "We'll make a start now,
and get him into the doctor's hands."
"Yes, sir; we might make a start now," said the sergeant. "Wait a few
minutes, sir, while I saddle up the ponies. I'll be quite ready before
you call the sentries, sir."
"I'll try and wake Mr Lennox, then," said Dickenson, "and we'll get him
on to the pony first."
"I wouldn't, sir, if you'll excuse me," said the sergeant. "If he's
half-insensible like that from a hurt to his head, it'll be best to let
him wake up of himself."
"Perhaps so," said the young officer; "but I don't like his being so
stupefied as this."
The preparations were soon made, and the sergeant led the horses
together, just as Dickenson rose from Lennox's side, took out his glass,
and joined the sentry on their side.
"Can you make out anything?" he said.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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