“Can’t be helped,” continued my fellow-trooper. “We’ve fought as plucky a fight as could be; but they’ve been too many for us, and I suppose we shall have to surrender at last, or all be shot down. Ah! there goes another,” he cried. “No; it’s only one of the empty saddle-horses.”
As we swept past it, I looked at the poor beast struggling to get upon its feet again; and then it was in our rear, and my companion said bitterly the one word, “Down!”
“Why, that’s the old fort and the kopje yonder, a mile ahead,” I said suddenly. “Are we going there?”
“Eh? Yes, I suppose so,” was the reply, “if the Doppies’ll let us. They’re coming on again.”
He was quite right, for upon glancing to my left I could see a perfect swarm of the Boers galloping as if to cut us off, while I learned from the right that they were also coming on there. Then came the news that they were advancing in force behind; and from that moment the crackling of rifle-fire ceased, and it became a hard ride for the haven of comparative safety ahead.
“They’ll reach the old place just about the same time as we do,” said my companion on the left, “unless something’s done.”
Something, however, was done, for the Colonel seemed to have recovered himself, so that he was ready for the emergency; and as we neared the place that offered safety he gave his orders, and these were cleverly carried out. Half of our flying troops drew rein and faced round, unslung the rifles from their shoulders, and proceeded to fire volley after volley with terrible effect upon the nearest of the Boers. Then this troop retired past the other one in reserve, who had halted to take their turn, and another half-dozen well-aimed volleys went hurtling through the Boer ranks with such terrible effect upon horse and man that, upon the repetition of the evolution, the pursuit was checked, and the enemy began firing in turn.
We were in rapid motion again, so their shots had no effect; and a little more firing enabled us to reach and dash round the great walls to the entrance to the old fort, where our men sprang from their horses, which filed into safety of their own accord, while their riders put in practice the Boers’ tactics, seeking the shelter of fallen stones and mounting the great walls, the steady fire from the ruins soon sufficing to send our enemies cantering back.
“Water for the horses at once,” cried the Colonel as he entered the court, where I was standing examining poor Sandho. “Ah, Moray!” he said as he saw me; “not hurt, I hope?”
“Only battered and bruised, sir,” I said. “Nothing serious.”