“Ay—ay!” cried the men eagerly.
“Oh, never mind our hurts.”
“But we must, sir. I didn’t know you were an orfficer at first,” said the Sergeant. “I say, look at your head.”
“I can’t,” said Denham, with a faint attempt at mirth which was very pitiful.
“Well, I can, sir, and you can look at your comrade’s. Did the Boers do that too?”
“No,” cried Denham fiercely; “it was a brute of a renegade Irishman serving with the Boers.”
“Is he out yonder now, sir?” said the Sergeant, giving his head a side jerk in the direction from which, in the darkness, came the sound of cheering and scattered shots.
“Yes, I believe so,” said Denham.
“Then I’m sorry for him, that’s all,” said the Sergeant dryly.
“Ah! Do you think your men are whipping them?”