“No; but one shot was very near. Yes, I see what you mean: the Boers are mounting out in that direction. They’re coming closer. We shall perhaps have a chance now,” he cried, with more animation.
It seemed, though, that they were going to retire as they came, the circle being opened on the Groenfontein side and the men retiring in twos, to go on increasing in two groups, firing rapidly the while; but, to the surprise of the beleaguered party, the bullets ceased to whiz in their direction.
A dead silence fell upon the group, no one daring to speak the hope that was in him for fear of exciting his companions by an idea that might after all prove only to be imagination. Then all spoke together, and there was an excited cheer.
“Yes,” cried Dickenson; “there’s help coming. The Boers are retiring fast.”
“Why, of course, sir,” said the sergeant confidently. “The colonel would be sure to send out to see why we didn’t come back. There’s a lot of our fellows out yonder that the enemy is firing at, and we can’t see them for the haze. It is haze, and not giddiness and our eyes.”
“No, sergeant; we can see clearly enough. I can make out the advance of the relief party. Wait five minutes, and I’ll see what a few signal-shots will do.”
But before the time mentioned the Boers could be seen steadily retreating, and the puffs of smoke from the firing of an advancing party could be made out. Signals followed, and but a short time elapsed before the Boers were driven off and the rescued party were reviving under the influence of the water proffered from the relief party’s bottles.
The return to Groenfontein commenced at once, with Lennox carried by four men by means of scarfs; but he was not the only man who needed this aid, four more being hit during the return, the driven-off Boers hanging at a safe distance on flank and rear, sniping at every chance with the longest of shots, till the outposts were reached, and a cheer welcomed the rescued men as they marched in.
The motion through the air had gradually revived Lennox, so much so that when the party was met by the colonel and officers the young lieutenant was able to reply to a question or two before the doctor intervened.
“Leave him to me for a bit,” he said, and had Lennox borne toward the hut where Roby and the corporal were lying, Dickenson following close behind.