Bang! went a rifle ahead of them. Bang! Bang! Bang! went the reply. The fight had commenced. Bill, who was in command of Doolan and Sandy, was right ahead. Claud was away on his right with another little squad. But it was Bill's keen eyes which had first seen little groups of the enemy ahead. One little group, grown tired of waiting, was snoozing peacefully on a sandy hollow. Bill and his cronies crept on their stomachs towards them. Nearer they drew, then, with a yell, leaped down on them.
"Hands up, boys; we've got you."
"Who are ye kiddin'?" said a Lancashire lad, jumping up with his pals.
"There's no kiddin' about this business," said Bill. "Chuck them rifles over here."
"All right, lad; thou can 'ave 'em—give us a fag," said the leader, glad to be out of the hurly-burly.
They were sent to the rear.
Meantime, the firing had become stronger. Away ahead, Bill's party saw a long line of men lying about on a ridge of sand. They were firing furiously at the advancing scouts.
"I reckon that's a patrol. We'd better scatter them," ordered Bill, going forward in the most brazen manner to capture about twenty men. According to the rules of war this was impossible. Hence the sudden appearance of a "Brass Hat" with a white band on his arm.
"Here—you!" he shouted to Bill and his men.
"Well, matey—what's wrong?"