Part 18 (1/2)

It was the reflection as of a great fire on the brow of the hill where uered

'The camp is already attacked, and in flames,' I muttered Whither should I ride now--backwards or forwards?

While I yet hesitated the flames appeared to wax fiercer and fiercer, till presently--oh, joy!--a big round an slowly to climb the eastern sky

All fear fled now I ood horse's sides, and went on at the gallop

The time seeht upon the fort, and was challenged by the sentry

'_Aleese!_'

I dare say I was understood, for soon after lights appeared on the ralish, or for what passed as English I rode up under the ramparts, and quickly told my tale

In ten minutes more I was received within the fort A tumble-down place I found it, but I was overjoyed to be in it, nevertheless In the principal roo, while the coarette in his e it appeared to me--ere he answered Yes; he would couard the fort I could have e these words

How long would he be? One hour, no ot ready; and the hed and looked anxious Why, every uered friends It would be long past ain, for these ood little co his best, not only to expedite matters, but to treat ht forth food and wine, and forced me to eat and drink I did so to please hian to think the man was crazed He was not No; but possessed a soldierly virtue which I could not boast of--namely, patience

The work of entrenchment was soon co more to be done except to appoint the hest of the waggons, and wait

Ah, but this waiting is a weary thing under circu from what quarter the attack will come, what form it will take, or when it will commence

Except in the chief caravan itself, where Moncrieff and Donald sat for a tihts were lit

There was no singing to-night, hardly a smile on any face, and no one spoke one to sleep, as usual

'Wake me,' had been her last words 'Wake me, laddie, when the Philistines are upon us'

'The old lady's a marvel!' Moncrieff had whispered to aunt

Moncrieff was doing all he could to keep conversation alive, though, strange to say, Bombazo seldom spoke Surely he could not be afraid

Moncrieff had his suspicions Brave asmade her nervous

'Hark!' she would say every now and then; or, 'Listen! What was that?'

'Only the cry of a burrowing owl,' Moncriefffox' Oh, the waiting, the weary waiting!