So sudden was their rush that they were knee-deep before the nearest
sentry fired, his ball whizzing over their heads as they threw themselves
face downward in the stream, and struck out under water.

Even when full the Goomtee is not more than ninety yards wide, and from
the point where they started to equally shallow water on the other side
was now not more than forty. The boys could both dive that distance; but
their guide, although a good swimmer, was a less expert diver, and had to
come twice to the surface for breath. He escaped, however, without a shot;
for, as they had expected, the report of the musket was followed by a
general volley in the direction of the splash, by all the sentries for
some distance on either side. Therefore, when the party rose from the
water, and dashed up the other bank, not a shot greeted them. It was clear
running now, only a hundred yards up the slope of the garden, to the
British earthwork.

"We are friends!" the boys shouted as they ran, and a cheer from the men
on watch greeted them. A few shots flew after them from the other side of
the river, but these were fired at random, and in another minute the party
had scrambled over the earthwork and were among friends.

Hearty were the hand-shakes and congratulations bestowed upon them all;
and as the news that messengers had arrived flew like wild-fire round the
line of trenches, men came running down, regardless of the bullets which,
now that the enemy were thoroughly roused up, sang overhead in all
directions.

"We won't ask your message," was the cry, "till you have seen the colonel;
but do tell us, is help at hand?"