I laughed bitterly. Then we each tried in turn, but vainly, and afterwards lay back panting and in great pain.
“I know,” I said. I called aloud to the sentries.
There was a rush, and a man appeared at once, his rifle rattling against the back of the wagon. I told him what we wanted, and in a grumbling way he climbed in and did as requested, spreading one karosse and drawing the other as a cover up to our chins.
“Now loosen the reins about our wrists,” I said; “they hurt dreadfully.”
The man laughed.
“It isn’t for long,” he answered brutally. “Do you want to try to escape, so as to be shot before morning?”
With this parting sally, he climbed out of the wagon, leaving us alone. We lay still for about half-an-hour, when the sentries looked in from front and back to see us lying as if asleep; but as soon as they had gone we began a hard struggle to get our wrists free. In this attempt we only gave ourselves excruciating pain, and found, to our despair, that the knots of the Boers were far too well tied to be loosened. At last, with a groan, Denham gave up the attempt. I desisted then, having only waited for him to set the example.
“What does that sound mean?” asked Denham after a time.
“Moving horses,” I replied.
“Yes; they’re going to take advantage of the darkness for an advance against the fort. Oh dear! We shall have to lie here and listen to the firing soon. Val, I don’t think I’d mind being shot in the morning if I could only warn the Colonel. Do you think you could gnaw through my rein?”