"Call back the sentries, Major! The blacks have broken line! Hold there! They're in upon us!" Even as he spoke, I followed his eager pointing hand with my eyes, and just descried among the grass two gleaming objects, seen under the hollow of one of the waggons.

Two: then two; then two again; and behind, whole pairs of them.

They looked like twin stars; but they were eyes, black eyes, reflecting the starlight and the red glare of the camp-fire.
They crept on tortuously in serpentine curves through the long, dry grasses.

I could feel, rather than see, that they were Matabele, crawling prone on their bellies, and trailing their snake-like way between the dark jungle.

Quick as thought, I raised my rifle and blazed away at the foremost.