Many a thrilling tale of sport and war, of peril by flood and field, was told that evening; and the circle round the watch-fire would not have broken up until the small hours of the morning had not the commanding officer reminded them that they must be on the move by cock-crow. So the officers lay down to rest with their weapons beside them, ready for aught that might occur; and before midnight the camp was hushed in slumber, no sound being heard save the measured tramp of the patrol or the hoarse challenge of the sentinels. CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. THE 18TH APRIL--A FIGHT AGAINST TERRIBLE ODDS--NUMBERED WITH THE SLAIN!--THE MARCH TO BLOCK DRIFT. The stars were still bright in the heavens, and the grey dawn of day had not yet appeared in the east, when the camp at Burns Hill was once more astir with the final preparations for the march to Chumie Hoek; and so soon as the waggons were ready and the draught cattle inspanned, the troops paraded without blast of bugle or beat of drum, and the order to form column-of-route was given. The advance-guard moved off just as the morning broke, and was presently followed by the long train of bullock-waggons--one hundred and twenty in number--and the guns and caissons of the Royal Artillery; but the day had "begun its broiling course" before the rear-guard, of which Jamieson's Horse formed part, was clear of the camping ground. As daylight grew more distinct, thousands of Caffre warriors were descried pouring down from the mountains; and it became palpable to all concerned that the way would be disputed by a determined and--so far as numbers went--an overwhelming force. Said old Captain Jamieson, as he brought his glass to bear on the distant hordes, "Mark my words, G--! the 18th April will become famous in the annals of South African warfare. Those fellows yonder mean business; they have no doubt been excited to the verge of madness by their witch doctors, and will attack us with maniacal fury." "We shall have hard work to get through them," the major replied, somewhat gloomily, for he felt much his responsibility; "and I fear many a good soldier amongst us will never see another sunrise. Still, were it not for the `impedimenta,' I would not mind encountering double the number; and if we could only get them in the open for half an hour our cavalry should read them a lesson they'd never forget--a lesson that should be handed down to posterity! But I must move on to the front. _Au revoir_, Jamieson! I trust we shall meet again at Chumie Hoek before many hours have passed."