Sub. "Great Heavens! I call it murder to send us out like this."
A dragoon sergeant galloped in from the right flank.
Sergeant (in great state of excitement). "Please, sir, mounted men have just crossed our front."
Sub. "Which way?—how many were there?"
Sergeant. "About five thousand, sir!"
Sub. "Great Cæsar's ghost! Five thousand!—did you count them, sergeant?"
Sergeant. "No, sir; nobody saw them, sir: it was only their tracks. There are so many they are all over the place, so I think that there must be about four or five thousand!"
I. O. "I'll send my men to look at them!"
Sub. "Yes, do. I'll go too; but I will first send a note back to the column."
I. O. "I wouldn't do that yet. It may only be a herd of springbok!"