“Yes, I heard them,” I said, “but I thought they came from behind.”
“Some of them did, my lad, and I’m afraid we’ve left a good many poor fellows behind. But them, it can’t be helped. The thing now to be settled is which way we are to go next. Listen; the officers are nearly all with the chief now, and the whole plain seems to be dotted with the enemy.”
Denham had hardly done speaking when a movement a short distance from us resulted in the officers joining their troops and squadrons. Then the order to mount was passed softly from troop to troop, and we waited for the little force to be put in motion again.
“It’s of no use for the chief to try the same ruse again,” whispered Denham. “It was right enough as a surprise; but the enemy is on the alert now. It seems to me we are as completely surrounded as before.”
“Never mind,” I said, as cheerily as I could; “we shall do it yet.”
“Oh yes, we shall do it yet,” replied my companion; “but it must be done quietly and quickly, while it’s dark. I say, though, what about your black boy? He couldn’t have kept up with our mad gallop.”
“Joeboy?” I said in an excited whisper. “Joeboy? I forgot all about him;” and a pang of misery shot through me.
“He was holding on by your saddle—wasn’t he?”
“Yes,” I said huskily; “but from the moment I drew my sword and we charged, I never thought about the poor fellow till you spoke.”
“Advance at a walk!” was the next order; and as we started, the Colonel came up to where Denham and I rode at one end of the leading troop.