clasp of the hand, and the boys parted, one going, as previously arranged,
each way. Ned rose very quietly by the side of the gun, keeping his head,
however, below its level, and running his hand along it until it came to
the breech. The touch-hole was covered by a wad of cloth to keep the
powder dry from the heavy dew. This he removed, put up his hand again with
the wet sponge, gave a squeeze, and then cautiously replaced the covering.

Dick did the same with the gun on the right, and so each crept along from
gun to gun, until the six guns were disabled. Then they crawled back and
joined each other.

A clasp of the hands in congratulation, and then they were starting to
return, when they heard a dull tramp, and the head of a dark column came
along just ahead of them. The boys shrank back under the guns, and lay
flat among the bodies of the dead. The column halted at the guns, and a
voice asked:

"Is the colonel here?"

"Here am I," said a voice from behind the guns, and a native officer came
forward.

[Illustration: THE WARRENERS DROWNING THE PRIMING OF THE SEPOY GUNS.]

"We are going to make an attack from the house of Johannes. We shall be
strong, and shall sweep the Kaffirs before us. It is the order of the
general that you open with your guns here, to distract their attention."

"Will it please you to represent to the general that we have fought this
evening, and that half my gunners are killed. The fire of the sons of