“No; I can’t spare you.”
“Yes, do; I can help him.”
“He can do what there is to do himself, and would rather be alone, for it is only a reconnaissance.”
“I should like him with me,” said Lennox quietly, and he felt his arm nipped.
“Very well; but don’t waste time. I can hear it quite plainly now. Mind, fall back at once if they are in force. I’ll be well on the alert to cover you and your party.”
The requisite number of men were soon under the young officer’s orders, and they followed him softly down the rock-encumbered slope of the natural fortress—no easy task in the darkness; but the men were getting used to the gloom, and it was not long before the party was challenged by an outpost and received the word. They passed on, getting well round to the farther side of the kopje before they were challenged again.
“Glad you’ve come, sir,” said the sentry; “I was just going to fire.”
“Why?” asked Lennox softly.
“I can hear something coming out yonder in the darkness. You listen, sir. It’s like a heavy wagon.”
The man spoke in a whisper; then for some moments all was perfectly still.