Two miserable shells whizzed over my head, obviously aimed only at the balloon which was just coming down.

"Call that a performance ?" we grumbled.

We left our seats.

We went on to the stage of the town.

What was the matter?
Was "Long Tom" ill?
Had the Basutos overrun the Free State?
Had Buller really advanced?
Lieutenant Hooper, of the 5th Lancers, had walked through from Maritzburg, passing the Royal Irish sentries at 2 a.m.