“Yes,” replied Dickenson.
“Mightn’t it be a big gun?”
“It might,” said Dickenson dubiously; “but what, could a big gun be doing out there on the open veldt?”
“Lying still in its carriage, and letting itself be drawn to the place where it was to be mounted.”
“Yes, of course it might be; but it couldn’t.”
“Why not? Bob, old fellow,” whispered Lennox in an excited whisper, “I believe the Boers are stealing a march upon us.”
“Well, they won’t, because we’re on the watch. But out with it: what is it you think?”
“They don’t know that we are occupying the kopje to-night.”
“No; we came after it was dark.”
“Exactly. Well, they’re bringing up a big gun to mount up here and give us a surprise in the morning.”