“That’s more than you know,” I said peevishly, for his words upset me; and when he went on I made no reply. Even if I had replied I should not have been able to finish my speech, for Joeboy now came up at a long loping run. He caught at Denham’s bridle, checking the horse, while Sandho and the three troopers on my right stopped short, and the whole line of horsemen suddenly halted.
“What is it?” said Denham.
“Doppies all along,” said Joeboy. “All this way; all that way,” he continued, gesticulating.
“How far?” I whispered.
Joeboy shook his head, and seemed to feel puzzled how to answer the question. At last he raised his face and whispered, as he pointed forward:
“Far as two sojers over dah,” he said, “and far again.”
“Twice as far as the advance-guard,” I interpreted his words to mean.
At that moment the Colonel rode up, and Denham repeated the black’s words.
“That’s right,” he said in a low tone, with his face turned so that as many of the troop as possible should hear. “Lieutenant Denham, I shall not alter our formation. Your orders are, ‘Forward’ at a walk, and as silently as if the horses were grazing, till the advance-posts give the alarm. Then gallop straight away. Not a shot to be fired. Forward!”
There was a low murmur as of many drawing a deep, long breath. Then the column was in motion, and I felt a thrill of excitement running through me like a wave, while unconsciously I nipped Sandho’s sides so that he began to amble. This brought back the knowledge that I must be cool, so I gently checked the brave little horse, and softly patted his arching neck, when he promptly slowed to a walking pace like the others. Then I found that Joeboy had crept round to my right side, between me and the next trooper, and, assagai in hand, was holding on to my saddle with his left hand.