"He didn't say it was butchery when that chap was knocking down our mounts at quarter this distance," said the sergeant to himself. "But, my word, he can shoot! I shouldn't like to change places with the Boers when he's behind a rifle." Just then the men cheered, for three more of the enemy who had been stalking them were seen to spring into the saddle, lie flat down over their willing mounts, and gallop away as hard as they could to join their comrades. "Well, we've stopped that game for the present, sergeant," said Dickenson. "Perhaps we may be able to keep them off till night.--But that's a long way off," he said to himself, "and we've to fight against this scorching heat and the hunger and thirst." "Hope so, sir," said the sergeant, in response to what he had heard; "but--" He ceased speaking, and pointed in the direction of the patch of scrub forest where they had passed the night. Dickenson shaded his eyes and uttered an ejaculation. Then after another long glance: "Ten--twenty--thirty," he said, as he watched two lines of mounted men cantering out from behind the patch right and left. "Why, there must be quite thirty more." "I should say forty of 'em, sir." "Why, sergeant, they're moving out to surround us." "Yes, sir," said the sergeant coolly; "but you won't surrender?" "Not while the cartridges last." "Well, there's enough to account for the lot, sir, if we hand in ours and you do the firing." The young officer burst into a forced laugh. "Why, sergeant," he cried, "what do you take me for?" "Soldier of the Queen, sir, ready to show the enemy that our march at the Jubilee wasn't all meant for show." Dickenson was silent for a time. "Ha!" he said at last, with a sigh. "I want to prove that; but there are times when holding out ceases to be justifiable--fighting becomes mere butchery." "Yes, sir, when forty or fifty men surround four and a wounded one, shoot down their mounts so as they can't retreat, and then try and butcher them. It's all on their side, sir, not ours; and the men think as I do." Dickenson was silent again, lying there with his teeth set and a peculiar hard look in his eyes, such as a man in the flower of his youth and strength might show when he knows the time is fast approaching for everything to end. Meanwhile the two fresh parties that had come on the scene were galloping hard to join the enclosing wings of the first comers, who stood fast, fully grasping what was to follow, and keeping the attention of their prey by firing a shot now and then, not one of which had the slightest effect. "Oh for some water!" groaned Dickenson at last. "Poor Mr Lennox! How he must suffer!" "Not he, sir. He's in that state that when he wakes up he'll know nothing about what has taken place. It's you that ought to have the drink, to steady your hand for what is to come."