CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.
ANOTHER DISCOVERY.
Denham and I went out early next day with a small party and an empty wagon to go over the ground between our laager and the Boer lines, following the route taken with the captured wagons, to make sure that no wounded and helpless men were left on the veldt, and to collect such rifles and ammunition as had been left.
A sharp lookout was kept against surprise; but there was no need.
Denham's glass showed that the Boers, probably satisfied with their reverses of the previous day, were keeping to their lines.
We went as far as the spot where the first attack on us was made, finding only a few rifles as we went, noticing on our way sixteen dead horses--ghastly-looking objects, for near every one numerous loathsome birds rose heavily, flying to a short distance; and footprints all around in the soft earth showed that hyenas had been at the miserable banquet.

The ground here and there also showed the unmistakable tracks of lions; but I am not sure they had been partakers.
"Well, I'm precious glad there's no burying of the dead, or bringing in wounded Boers as prisoners," said Denham as we rode back slowly side by side.

"I don't mind the fighting when my monkey's up--it all seems a matter of course then; but the afterwards--the poor dead chaps with all the enemy gone out of them, and the suffering wounded asking you for water, and whether you think they'll die--it makes me melancholy." "It's horrible," I said; "but it was none of our seeking." "No; it's the Boers' own fault--the beasts! Fighting for their liberty and patriotism, they call it.

They won't submit to being slaves to the Queen.

Such bosh! Slaves indeed! Did you ever feel that you led the life of a slave under the reign of our jolly good Queen ?" "Pooh!" I exclaimed.
"Pooh! puff! stuff!--that's what it is, old fellow.