We were one! One with the night and with the work ahead! One red light swinging near the corner of the forest was to mean BE READY! We were ready as the fuse is for the match! Two red lights would mean that the sidewise movement by the infantry was under way.
Three lights swinging together were to be our signal to begin.
Sahib, I saw three red lights three thousand times between each minute and the next! The shell-fire increased from both sides.

Where the British infantry lay was such a lake of flame and din that the very earth seemed to burst apart; yet the answering rifle-fire was steady--steady as the roll of drums.

Then we truly saw one red light, and "EK!" said we all at once.

EK means ONE, sahib, but it sounded like the opening of a breech-block.

"Mount!" ordered Colonel Kirby, and we mounted.
While I held my breath and watched for the second light I heard a new noise behind me, different from the rest, and therefore audible--a galloping horse and a challenge close at hand.