They had been moving towards the shelter of corrugated iron beneath which the officers lay, each of whom greeted them with a smile. They were all badly wounded, but looked restful and contented, as wounded men do who have achieved a victory. Roby seemed to be the most cheerful, and he beckoned to the colonel to come closer, while the doctor cocked his eye rather drolly and in a way that the chief did not understand. "Well, Roby," said the colonel, "you look better." "Well, for a man who has had the top of his head rasped by a bullet and got a hole right through his leg, I call myself a wonder." "Does your wound pain you much?" "Quite enough; but there, I don't mind. We've whipped." "Yes," said the colonel, smiling; "we've whipped, thanks to every one's gallant behaviour. You did splendidly, Roby." "Did my best, sir," said the captain quietly. "But I'm not quite as I should like to be," he continued confidentially. "Don't take any notice. I can't quite understand about my hurt on the head." "Indeed?" said the colonel, frowning. "I recollect, of course, getting the stinging pain in my leg, and going down, and then it seemed to me that one of the Boers kicked me at the top of the forehead with his heavy boot, and I was trampled on. After that I fainted, and didn't come to until the firing was going on and Lennox came running through it to pick me up. Colonel, that's about the bravest thing that has been done since we've been here." "Quite," said the colonel, watching the speaker curiously. "I want you to promise me that you'll mention it well in your despatch about the taking of the laager." "If I ever get a despatch to headquarters it shall contain that, I promise you." "Thank you," said Roby warmly, and with the tears now in his eyes. "I say, colonel, I'm sorry I went down; but the doctor says the lads got back after another skirmish, with plenty of cattle and stores." "Yes," said the colonel; "it was a splendid addition to our supplies and--" "Stop! stop! please, colonel," said the doctor. "Roby's weak yet." "Oh no, doctor." "My dear fellow, I say yes; and I say," said the doctor, bending down to whisper to his patient, "Lennox and Dickenson are both very feeble. Think of them." Roby took the doctor's hand and pressed it, accompanying the pressure with a significant look. "Thank you for coming, colonel," he said, "and you too, major. Emden's an awful tyrant when he gets us on our backs." "Right," said the doctor. "Nero was nothing to me.--Now, gentlemen, just a word or two with the rest of my nursery folk, and then I must order you off." The colonel nodded, passed on to Captain Edwards, and said a word or two; the same followed at Dickenson's side, where the young officer, forgetful of his wounds, gave his chief a look full of exultation, receiving a good-humoured nod in return, and Dickenson turned his face sidewise with a sigh of content.