But, alas! it was a dearly-bought victory. Three out of the twelve were dead, and three more, including Gentleman Craig, grievously wounded.
The rest followed up the blacks for some little way, and more than one of them bit the dust. Then they returned to help their fellows.
Craig's was a spear wound through the side, none the less dangerous in that hardly a drop of blood was lost externally.
They drew the killed in under a tree, and having bound up the wounds of the others, and partly carrying them or helping them along, they resumed the march.
All that day they dragged themselves along, and it was far into the early hours of morning ere they reached the boundaries of Burley New Farm.
The moon was shining, though not very brightly, light fleecy clouds were driving rapidly across the sky, so they could see the lights in both the old house and in the lower windows of Archie's own dwelling. They fired guns and coo-ee-ed, and presently Bob and Winslow rushed out to bid them welcome.
Diana went bounding away to meet him.
"Oh, daddy, daddy!" she exclaimed, "what a time we've been having! but mind, daddy, it wasn't all fun."
Bob could not speak for the life of him. He just staggered in with the child in his arms and handed her over to Sarah; but I leave the reader to imagine the state of Sarah's feelings now.
Poor Craig was borne in and put to bed in Archie's guest room, and there he lay for weeks.