A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn. 

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The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war. Two young men aresent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get backto the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, and meeting with many mishaps. Just before they finally arrive they areboth severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight. Luckily thedespatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy andblood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the ideathat the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn'tat first anywhere to be found. 

There are other threads in the story, for instance there's one aboutillicit-diamond-dealing, and of course we meet Boers and Kaffirs, aswell as English people. 

There is the usual well-written sequence of tense moments we get fromthis author. A good read, and a nice audiobook if you prefer that. NH________________________________________________________________________

A DASH FROM DIAMOND CITY, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. 

CHAPTER ONE. 

THREE WHITE ONES. 

Tick, _tap, tap_--_tap, ticker_--_ticker--tapper_--_tapper_;_tick_--_teck, tacker--tap_ went a typewriting machine, and_scratch_--_scratch_ went two pens, in one of the minor officesconnected with that vast wealth-producing industry known as the De BeersDiamond-Mines, where, seated at desk and table, three young men werehard at work, one manipulating the typewriter, one writing a letter, andthe third making entries in a fat leather-covered book with broad bandsand a big letter distinguishing it upon the back. 

The words: "minor office in a diamond-mine, " naturally suggest wealth, Turkey carpets, french-polished furniture, and plate-glass; but theoffice in question was an example of simplicity, for its walls were mudand its roof corrugated-iron, while the roughness of the interior wasonly slightly softened down by a lining of what a carpenter callsmatchboarding. In spite of its vast wealth, Kimberley is still littlebetter than a moving camp, and holds out few prospects of ever becominga magnificent town. 

The interior of that newly-created office, allowing for the tapping ofthe typewriter and the scratching of the pens, was very quiet; butoutside there was the strange sound produced by the mingling of voiceswith trampling feet and the distant whirr and rattle of machinery, tilla clock began striking, followed by the clangour of a bell, and then allwas changed. 

"Time!" shouted the manipulator of the typewriter, springing from hisstool to stretch his wiry six feet of length, at the same time spoilinga keen, manly face by distorting it with a yawn. The clerk who had beenbending over the thick account-book ceased making entries, applied theblotting-paper, and closed the book with a bang, to turn round anddisplay a pink-and-white, fat, smooth face, disfigured by nearly whiteeyebrows and lashes and curly whitey-brown hair. As he stood up heyawned and wrinkled his fat face a good deal; but the wrinkles died downinto a smile which gave him a meek and mild appearance, the said smilebeing doubled directly after by his taking a little round shaving-glassout of his desk, propping it up by means of a contrivance behind, andthen, by the help of a pocket-comb, proceeding to rearrange his hair, which, from the resistance offered, appeared to be full of knots andkinks. 

The last to leave his desk was a manly-looking young fellow who appearedto be twenty, but who possessed documentary evidence that he was onlyeighteen. He neither stretched nor yawned, but drew himself up with asigh of relief, and, after carefully locking up the letters he hadwritten, he turned to the typist. 

"Going out, Ingleborough?" he said. 

"Yes; I shan't be long. I must go on to the compound. Back in--"

"Five minutes?" dashed in his questioner. 

"No; that I shan't, " said the young man smartly; "but I will not exceedfifteen. Get out my rifle and belts, West. "

"All right, " was the reply, and as the door closed the young clerkcrossed to a plain deal cupboard in the corner of the office, threw openthe broad door, and revealed an arms-rack with some twenty of thenewest-pattern rifles standing ready for use, and bayonets andbandoliers to match each breech-loading piece. 

A peculiarly innocent baby-like look came over his companion's face ashe opened his desk and took out a little flat oblong mahogany case andsaid softly:

"Going to play at soldiers again? Only to think of Oliver West, Esquire, learning to shoulder arms and right-about face when adrill-sergeant barks at him. "

"Look here, Anson, " cried the young fellow warmly; "is that meant for asneer?"

"Me sneer?" protested the plump-looking cherubic clerk. "Oh dear, no!I never indulge in sneers, and I never quarrel, and I never fight. "

"Humph!" ejaculated the rifle-bearer. 

"I only think it's all braggadocio nonsense for a lot of fellows to gowasting time drilling and volunteering when they might acquire such anaccomplishment as this. "

As the speaker addressed his warlike companion he tapped the lid of hiscase, opened it, and revealed three joints of a flute lying snugly inpurple-velvet fittings, and, taking them out, he proceeded to lick theends all round in a tomcat sort of way, and screwed them together, evidently with a great deal of satisfaction to himself, for he smiledsoftly. 

"Bah! It's a deal more creditable to be prepared to defend the placeagainst the Boers. Better join us, Anson. "

"Me? No, thank you, unless you start a band and make me bandmaster. "

"We shall want no music, " said West, laughing. "The Boers will give usplenty of that with their guns. "

"Nonsense! It's all fudge, " said the flautist, smiling. "There'll beno fighting, and even if there were I'm not going to shoulder a rifle. I should be afraid to let it off. "

"You?" cried West, staring into the smooth, plump face. "Why, you oncetold me you were a first-rate shot. "

"Did I? Well, it was only my fun, " said the clerk, placing his flute tohis lips and beginning to run dumb scales up and down, skilfully enoughas to the fingering, but he did not produce a sound. 

"I say, don't you begin to blow!" cried West, looking rathercontemptuously at the musician and forcing himself to restrain a laughat the grotesque round face with the eyes screwed-up into narrow slits. 

"Oh, no one will come here now, " was the reply. "I get so littlepractice. I shall blow gently. " Directly afterwards he began to run upand down, playing through some exercise with which he was familiarextremely softly; and then by way of a change he began what istechnically known as "double-tonguing. "

This was too much for Oliver West. He had stood rubbing first one rifleand then the other with a slightly-oiled rag to get rid of specks ofrust or dust, every now and then stealing a glance at the absurdlyscrewed-up face, feeling the while that a good hearty laugh would do himgood, but determined to maintain his composure so as not to hurt theperformer's feelings. But the double-tonguing was too much. 

_Tootle-too, tootle-too, tootle, tootle-too_ went the performer, runningup the gamut till he reached the octave and was about to run down again, but he stopped short, lowered his instrument, and turned from a warmpink to a deep purply crimson, for West suddenly burst out into ahalf-hysterical roar of laughter, one which he vainly strove to check. 

"I--I--I--I beg your pardon, " he cried at last. 

"Thank you, " snorted out Anson; "but I don't see anything to laugh at. "

"I couldn't help it, Anson. You did look so--so comic. Such a face!"

"Did I?" cried the musician angrily. "Such a face, indeed! You shouldsee your own. Your grin looked idiotic: half-way between a bushman anda baboon. "

"Thank you, " said West, calming down at once, and feeling nettled inturn. 

"Oh, you're quite welcome, " said Anson sarcastically. "I have heardabout casting pearls before swine; but I never saw the truth of thesaying before. "

"Thank you again, " said West, frowning. "But if I were you I would notwaste any more of my pearls in such company. "

"I do not mean to, " said Anson, with his eyes glittering. 

He got no farther, though he was prepared to say something crushing, forthe door was flung open and their fellow-clerk came back quickly. 

"Hullo!" he cried, "flute and hautboy. I say, Sim, put that thing awayand don't bring it here, or I shall have an accident with it some day. You ought to have stopped him, Noll. But come out, both of you. There's some fun in the compound. They're going to thoroughly searchhalf-a-dozen Kaffirs, and I thought you'd like to see. "

"Been stealing diamonds?" cried Anson excitedly. 

"Suspected, " replied Ingleborough. 

"I'll come too, " said Anson, and he began to rapidly unscrew his flute, but so hurriedly that in place of separating the top joint from the nexthe pulled it open at the tuning-slide, changed colour, and swung himselfround so as to turn his back to his companions, keeping in that positiontill his instrument was properly separated and replaced in its case, whose lid he closed, and then turned the key. 

"I'm ready, " he cried, facing round and buttoning his jacket over thelittle mahogany case. 

"Do you take that shepherd's pipe to bed with you?" said Ingleboroughscornfully. 

"Generally, " replied the fat-looking clerk innocently. "You see, it'sso nice when one wakes early, and I have learned to blow so softly nowthat I can often get an hour's practice before I have my morning'sbath. "

"How delightful for the other boarders! You're at Dick Tomlin's house, aren't you?"

"Yes, " said Anson. 

"Have they any room for another boarder, Sim?"

"I--I really don't know, but I'll ask, if you like, this evening. "

"No, no; don't, please, " cried Ingleborough. "Perhaps it might be toostrong for me. I ought to go through a course of bagpipes first. "

Anson had fastened two buttons of his jacket so as to hold theflute-case from slipping, and now he fastened another button, smilingpleasantly the while. 

"That's meant for a joke, " he said. 

"Quite right, " cried Ingleborough abruptly. "Come along. "

He stepped out, closely followed by West, and Anson called after them:"With you directly, " as the door swung to. 

"Don't do that again, " whispered West. 

"What?"

"Say anything to chaff old Anson. Did you see how he behaved?"

"I saw him smile like a Chinese mandarin ornament. That's all. "

"I saw him smile and look smooth; but he can't bear a joke. His handswere all of a tremble as he buttoned up his jacket, and there was apeculiar look in his eye. It's not good policy to make enemies. "

"Nonsense! He's a poor slack-baked animal. I wonder they ever had himhere. "

West glanced back; but Anson had not yet left the office. 

"Relative of one of the directors, " said West quickly; "and I've noticedseveral things lately to make me think he does not like us. "

"Oh, if you come to that, " said Ingleborough, "so have I. That's quitenatural, for we don't like him. One can't; he's so smooth and soft. But why doesn't he come? I'll just give him a minute after we get up tothe compound gate, and if he is not there then he'll have to stayoutside. "

"Here he comes, " cried West, and the next minute their fellow-clerkjoined them, just as they got up to a gate in the high fence of theenclosure where the Kaffir workers about the diamond-mines were kept toall intents prisoners till they had served the time for which they hadengaged. 

"Haven't kept you two waiting, have I?" said Anson, with a pleasantsmile directed at both. 

"No, no, all right, " replied West, and directly after they were admittedto the compound, just in time to find that half-a-dozen of the stalwartKaffir workers were standing perfectly nude awaiting the examinationabout to be made by some of the officers--an examination which theyseemed to look upon as a joke, for they laughed and chatted together. 

"Looking as innocent as old Anson, only not so white, " whisperedIngleborough. "But we shall see. "

CHAPTER TWO. 

BLACK INNOCENTS. 

The examination of the men was not a pleasant duty, but it was carriedout in the most matter-of-fact way by a couple of experienced white men, who began at once. 

"Now, you, " cried the one who seemed to be the head; "this way. "

The big black spoken to stepped forward at once, smilinggood-temperedly, and stopped by a heavy wooden stool, upon which heplanted a foot, and in obedience to orders separated his toes in turn toshow that he had no diamonds hidden between them. Then he was seized bythe searchers, the first holding the black's head on one side while hiscompanion took hold of the lobe of the right ear and twisted it about, ending by thrusting in a small wooden scoop and afterwards turning it toact as a sound. 

"Don't seem to have a diamond in there, " said Anson, smiling and lookingvery innocent, but deeply interested. "Turn him over. "

But the searchers had not waited for Anson's words, and were alreadyturning the black's head over, the man yielding himself to every pushand thrust, smiling good-humouredly the while, though the treatment wasdecidedly rough. 

"Nothing in the other ear, " said Anson, smiling at West. "Shouldn'twonder if he's got ever so many tucked in his cheeks, like a monkeypouches nuts. "

This time it seemed as if the same idea had struck the searchers, forthe black was ordered to open his mouth, and a big coarse finger wasthrust in, and the interior of the mouth was carefully explored, withoutresult. 

"Here, I know, " whispered Anson, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, theartfulness of the beggar!"

"Where are they, then, old Double-cunning?" cried Ingleboroughcontemptuously. 

"Stuck with gum in amongst his woolly hair--I say, isn't it fun?"

"Rather disgusting, " replied West. "I shouldn't like the job. "

"Oh, I don't know, " said Anson; "it sets me thinking, and it'sinteresting. Hah! I was right. "

He stood rubbing his hands together in his childish enjoyment, while oneof the searchers carefully passed his hands all over the black's head, but found no small diamonds tangled up amongst the curly little knots ofhair. 

"Well, I did think he'd got some there, " continued Anson. --"Oh, ofcourse! One might have guessed it before. "

This was upon the black's head being forced back a trifle, while a pinchof snuff was blown through a pea-shooter right into the prisoner's nose, making him sneeze violently. 

But still no diamonds made their appearance, and after a little furthersearch the man was set at liberty, giving place to another supposedculprit. 

This man came up smiling and confident, opening his mouth wide, todisplay its state of innocency and a magnificent set of teeth at thesame time. 

"Take care! he bites, " said Ingleborough banteringly; and Anson, who hadpressed to the front, started back in horror, to be greeted with a burstof laughter. 

"How fond you are of a joke!" he cried, smoothing his face. 

At the same moment one of the searchers sent a puff of snuff in theblack's face, with the result that he was seized with a violent burst ofcoughing and sneezing. 

"Two--three--four!" cried Anson excitedly, and, springing forward, hepicked up three of the diamonds ejected by the black, who, after alittle further search, yielded up a couple of very small stones from oneear, and was marched off for punishment. 

"I do like this!" said Anson, rubbing his hands together. "What brutesof thieves they are!"

"Yes, you ought to take to searching, " said West, smiling. "You'd makea capital detective. "

"Think so?" said the young man, growing serious directly. "You're notchaffing me, are you?"

"Chaffing? Not at all! I mean it, " replied West. 

"Well, do you know, " said Anson, in a confidential way, "I don't think Ishould make a bad one. I know I should like it better than the work Ido now. But look what a big strong fellow this one is. I wonderwhether he has any. "

"Half-a-dozen, I daresay, " said West, looking curiously at anotherstalwart black, who came forward slowly and unwillingly to take theplace of the second man, set aside for punishment. 

"N-n-no, " said Anson thoughtfully. "I don't think this one has any. "

"Why?" asked West. 

"I can't say, " replied Anson dreamily. "I only know that I don't thinkhe has any. " And, as it happened, the most rigid examination failed todiscover any of the gems. But, all the same, the culprit was set asidefor punishment, two of the watchers present at the examination declaringthat they had seen him put his hand to his mouth and swallow something. 

The next man, upon being summoned to the stool, came up boldly anddisplayed a child-like eagerness to prove his innocence, opening hismouth widely and passing his fore-fingers round between gums and cheeks, thrusting his little fingers into his ears, and then bending down andgoing through the motion of one washing his head. 

But he did not wash any gems out of his shock of little nubbly curls. 

"No got no dymons, boss, " he cried. "Me go now, boss?"

"No, " said the chief searcher sharply. "Clap that foot of yours uponthe stool. "

The black stared at him hard and shook his head. 

"Do you hear?" cried the searcher. "Clap that right foot upon thestool. "

The black stared at him vacantly, shook his head again, and turned tothe second searcher, who translated the order into the man's own tongue. 

At this the black smiled and nodded. Then, turning to the chiefsearcher, he placed his bare left foot upon the stool. 

"No, no: the other, " cried the stern official, pointing to the rightfoot, and the order was emphasised by his assistant. 

Once more the black looked intelligent, placed both his feet upon theground, changed them several times by shuffling them about, and oncemore placed his left foot upon the stool. 

Anson chuckled with delight, and turned to West. 

But this act on the part of the black was too much for the chiefsearcher's composure. 

"Up with the black scoundrel's foot!" he roared, and his assistantseized the black's ankle, and gave it such a vigorous hoist that theman's equilibrium was upset, so that, though the foot was planted firmlyon the stool, he fell over backwards, leaving his support upon thestool, where it was probed by the searchers, who were not at allsurprised to find a large stone hidden between the little and the nexttoe. 

"There's a blackguard!" cried Anson excitedly, turning to hiscompanions. "He ought to be well flogged, and no mistake. Well, Inever!"

The last words were uttered in disgust at the man's behaviour, for heburst into a hearty laugh as if thoroughly enjoying the discovery, professing at the same time to be utterly astonished. 

"How come there?" he cried. "'Tick 'tween um toe--so. "

He illustrated "so" by stamping his foot down over and over again andraising it up, the last time cleverly picking an ordinary pebble fromthe ground with his toes, and holding it out as easily as if he had usedhis fingers and thumb. 

But his action had no effect upon those around, who were well used tothe Kaffirs' tricks, and received everything with the grimmest of looksas they passed their prisoner along for punishment, and finally orderedforward the last man. This prisoner took West's attention from thefirst, for he was a well-built, keenly intelligent-looking fellow, whoseemed quite awake to his position and behaved throughout with a calmair of conscious innocence. 

It struck West, too, that the Kaffir kept on gazing very hard at Anson, as if attracted by his gently-smiling, innocent-looking face, and as ifhe were silently pleading to the most amiable-looking personage of theparty to intercede for him and save him from punishment. 

Anson, however, did not appear to notice the man's eager looks, beingtoo much interested in the search for illicitly-acquired stones, andeagerly watching every phase of the proceedings, his eyes sparkling andcheeks flushed with pink at every fresh discovery, while he rubbed hishands and looked from one to the other with all the pleasure of somebig, fat, stupid child. 

"Now then, " cried the chief searcher roughly; "come along. "

The Kaffir quietly submitted to the rough handling he experienced inbeing forced up to the stool, and, anticipating the order, he opened hismouth; but the under-searcher roughly told him to "shut up, " and heclosed his fine white teeth with an audible snap, while the search wascommenced at his feet, the toes being carefully examined without result. 

Then his closely-knotted hair, which looked as if it would have made, ifhe were scalped, good trimmings of astrachan wool for the collar andcuffs of an English gentleman's overcoat, was carefully searched bywell-trained fingers; the ears were probed and inspected; nostrilssearched and given a final wring between thumb and finger as if he werebeing insulted in old-fashioned style by pulling his nose; and lastly, his cheeks were felt outside and in, and the searchers, who lookedpuzzled, made the black kneel down and remain for some time in thatposition, with his mouth wide open and head thrown back so that the sunshone right into his great mouth. 

"He's all right!" said Anson enthusiastically. "You've got the wrongpig by the ear this time. I thought this fellow looked honest. "

The Kaffir darted a grateful look at the speaker, which told plainlyenough that he comprehended the words, and Anson replied with a smile. 

"Ah, you ought to be on this job, Mr Anson, " said the chief searchersarcastically. "You'd be invaluable here. "

Anson laughed good-humouredly. 

"You're bantering, " he said; "I know. But I should like it, and I fancyI could find the diamonds quickly enough if a man had hidden any. "

"Find them then now, " said the man who had spoken. "Come on. "

There was a general laugh here, in which Anson joined. 

"Nay, " he said good-humouredly; "get another subject who has somehidden. That chap has none, unless he has swallowed some. "

"What would you do then, squire?" said the man. "Shoot him, and make a_post-mortem_ exam?"

"Ugh! horrid!" cried Anson, with a look of the most intense disgust. "But I say, I mean it. Fetch another chap, and let me examine him. Ishould like to, really. "

"Why don't you search this one?" said Ingleborough contemptuously, andWest laughed. 

Anson winced and turned upon them half-angrily. But he changed hismanner before he had finished speaking, and his face broke up into abroad smile. 

"Because I don't want to be laughed at by you chaps and called a fool, "he said. "I'm not stupid enough as it is to believe he has any diamondshidden. "

"Well, I am, " said Ingleborough coolly. 

"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Anson mockingly. "You go on with the search then, and find them. "

"There is no need, " said Ingleborough coldly; "those two know whatthey're about. "

He was wrong in saying "two, " for the under-searcher now continued theexamination, and Anson's eyes were screwed-up and twinkled again uponseeing the man give up at the end of another two minutes and shrug hisshoulders. 

"No go, " he said, turning to his companion. "Someone has been tooclever here. "

"Look again, " said his chief. 

"No: I shan't look any more. I've done. "

West's eyes were resting upon the Kaffir, and he saw the man draw in adeep slow breath which made his broad chest expand, retaining the airfor a minute and then slowly ejecting it. 

"Ah! you'll never make a first-class searcher, Jem, " said the head man. 

"I never did profess to be so smart as you are, " retorted the othersharply. 

"No, Jemmy, you never did, " said his chief; "but you ought to have foundsomething here. "

"Why, you don't think he has any about him, do you?" cried the man, whowas staggered by his chief's cool, confident way of speaking. 

"Yes, I do, " said the chief, "and so does Mr Ingleborough there. Don'tyou, sir?"

Ingleborough nodded shortly, and West saw the Kaffir's eyes flash, whilewhen he turned to Anson he saw that his fellow-clerk's face looked coldand hard. 

But Anson's aspect changed the next moment, as soon as he saw he wasobserved, and he said, with a broad grin: "Wish I was a betting man: Icould easily win half-a-crown or two over this. "

But it struck West that there was a ring of insincerity in the tone ofhis voice, and the hard look began to come like a grey shadow over hisfat pink cheeks as he saw the chief searcher go closer up to the Kaffir, bring his hands down heavily upon the man's shoulders, and stand facinghim and looking him full in the eyes. 

There was utter silence now. The Kaffir stood for a moment firmlygazing back into his white holder's eyes; but it manifestly required astrong effort, and West felt sure that he saw a quiver like a shadow ofdread run down the black, making his knees slightly shake. 

The whole thing was momentary, and the looker-on could not feel sure. Then the searcher spoke. 

"You're a clever one, " he said, with a harsh laugh, "and you don't mindhurting yourself to do a bit of the illicit. Turn round. "

He gave the Kaffir a sharp thrust with one hand, a pull with the other, and the man stood with his back to the lookers-on. 

CHAPTER THREE. 

RATHER SUSPICIOUS. 

What followed was performed with the quick dexterity of a cleversurgeon, the searcher bending down, grasping the great firm muscles ofthe Kaffir's right leg about mid-way between hip and knee, and pressinghard with his two thumbs, when to the surprise of West a smallperpendicular slit opened and a good-sized diamond was forced out, tofall upon the ground and be received by the under-searcher, while thewound closed up again with all the elasticity of a cut made in a pieceof indiarubber. 

"Bravo!" cried West, and then he held his breath as he saw the clevermanipulation performed upon the Kaffir's other leg, a second diamondbeing forced out of the man's elastic muscle, to be secured in turn. 

"That will do, " said the chief searcher, after a quick glance down theKaffir's arms, the man scowling and looking depressed as he was marchedaway. 

"Almost a pity you didn't back your opinion heavily, Mr Anson, eh?"added the official. 

"Well, I am deceived, " said Anson, wrinkling up his forehead. "Who'dever have thought of that?"

"The Kaffirs, seemingly, " said Ingleborough coolly? and he smiled inAnson's disconsolate face. 

"But it's wicked, " cried Anson, "downright wicked for a man to cuthimself like that for the sake of a bit of glittering glass. I say, mustn't it hurt very much?"

"Can't say, " said West merrily. "Try!"

"What, me?" cried Anson, looking startled and involuntarily thrustinghis hands down to touch the parts in question. "Oh no! It's horriblewhat people will do for the sake of gain. "

"Quite sure you wouldn't like to try, Mr Anson?" said the searcher. "I'll do it for you if you like. Only wants a very sharp knife and agood hard pinch to numb the muscle; then it's done in a few minutes--onegood cut, the stone pressed in, and the cold surface makes the skincontract. "

Anson's face seemed to curdle up, and two creases formed, one round eachcorner of his mouth, as if putting it between parentheses, as he shookhis head. 

"Look here, " he said, "what's the good of bantering so? Are you goingto search any more men?"

"No, " said the official; "that's the lot. "

"But are you going to punish them?"

"Oh yes! They'll have to take their dose for it, sir; you may be sureof that. We're going to be more and more severe over thisillicit-diamond-dealing. "

"Are you?" said Anson innocently. 

"We just are. It'll be a shooting matter soon if it can't be stoppedotherwise. "

"How horrid!" said Anson. "But I say, these men don't deal illicitly, do they?"

"They wouldn't if a set of scoundrels did not set them on to steal, sothat they could buy of the poor ignorant savages, giving them shillingsfor what they sell for pounds. "

"How sad it seems!" said Anson thoughtfully. 

"And how innocent you seem!" said West, laughing. 

"Yes, it's charming, " cried Ingleborough. "Why, you know all about it. "

"I?" cried Anson. "Oh, of course I know something about it. I've heardof the illicit-diamond-dealing, and read about it; but it has all gonein at one ear and out at the other. You see, I devote so much time tomusic. That and my work at the office keep me from taking much noticeof other things. Politics, for instance, and the rumours of war. Doyou think it at all likely that there will be any fighting, West?"

"I can't say, " was the reply; "but we're going to be perfectly ready forthe Boers in case there is, and it's quite time we were off, Ingleborough, if we intend to answer at the roll-call. "

"Hah! Yes, " cried the young man addressed. "Better come with us, Anson. "

The latter shook his head, and his companions separated from him at thegate. 

"Better come, " said Ingleborough again. "Join, and then you'll be onthe spot if we do form a band. "

"Oh no!" said Anson, smiling. "You make up your minds at headquartersto form a band, and then, if you like, I'll come and train it. "

"He's a rum fellow, " said West, as the two young men fell into step. 

"Ah, " said Ingleborough roughly, "I am afraid Master Anson's more R. Than F. "

"More R. Than F?" said West questioningly. 

"If you must have it in plain English, more rogue than fool. "

"Well, I fancy he isn't quite so simple as he pretends to be. "

"Bah! I'm not a quarrelsome fellow, but I always feel as if I must kickhim. He aggravates me. "

"Nice soft sort of a fellow to kick, " said West, laughing. 

"Ugh!" ejaculated Ingleborough, and his foot flew out suddenly as ifaimed at the person of whom they spoke. "Don't know anything aboutdiamonds! What things people will do for the sake of a bit ofglittering glass! Look here, West, for all his talk I wouldn't trusthim with a consignment of stones any farther than I could see him. "

"Don't be prejudiced!" said West. "You don't like him, and so you canonly see his bad side. "

"And that's all round, " replied Ingleborough laughing. "No; I don'tlike him. I never do like a fellow who is an unnatural sort of a prig. He can't help being fat and pink and smooth, but he can help hissmiling, sneaky manner. I do like a fellow to be manly. Hang him! Puthim in petticoats, with long hair and a bonnet, he'd look likesomebody's cook. But if I had an establishment and he was mine, Ishould be afraid he'd put something unpleasant into my soup. "

"Never mind about old Anson, " said West merrily, "but look here. Whatabout that illicit-diamond-buying? Do you think that there's much of ittaking place?"

"Much?" cried his companion. "It is tremendous. The company's losinghundreds of thousands of pounds yearly. "

"Nonsense!"

"It's a fact, " said Ingleborough earnestly; "and no end of people arehard at work buying stolen diamonds, in spite of the constant sharplook-out kept by the police. "

"But I should have thought that the licences and the strict supervisionwould have checked the greater part of it. "

"Then you'd have thought wrong, my boy. I wish it did, for as we aregoing on now it makes everyone suspicious and on the look-out. Ideclare that for months past I never meet any of our people withoutfancying they suspect me of buying and selling diamonds on the sly. "

"And that makes you suspicious too, " said West quietly. 

Ingleborough turned upon him sharply, and looked him through andthrough. 

"What made you say that?" he said at last. 

"Previous conversation, " replied West. 

"Humph! Well, perhaps so. "

CHAPTER FOUR. 

RUMOURS OF WAR. 

The Diamond-Fields Horse had drilled one evening till they were tired, and after it was all over, including a fair amount of firing, the smellof blank cartridges began to give way to the more pleasant odour oftobacco smoke, the officers lighting their cigars, and the privatesfilling up their pipes to incense the crisp evening air. 

"I'm about tired of this game, " said one of a group who were chattingtogether; "there's too much hard work about it. "

"Yes, " said another. "Someone told me it was playing at soldiers. Idon't see where the play comes. "

"Look at the honour of it, " said another. "We shall be defending thetown directly from an attack by the Boers. "

There was a burst of laughter at this, and when it ended the firstspeaker broke out contemptuously with: "The Boers! We shall have towait a longtime before they attack us. "

"I don't know so much about that, " said the man who had spoken of theattack. "I believe they mean mischief. "

"Bosh!" came in chorus. 

"Ah, you may laugh, but they've got Majuba Hill on the brain. Theidiots think they fought and thrashed the whole British Army instead ofa few hundred men. Here, Ingleborough, you heard what was said?"

The young man addressed left off chatting with West and nodded. 

"You went to Pretoria with the superintendent of police about thatdiamond case, and you were there a couple of months. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough. "What of that?"

"Why, you must have seen a good deal of the Boers then!"

"Of course I did. "

"Well, what do you say? Will they fight if it comes to a row?"

"Certainly they will!" replied Ingleborough. 

There was a derisive laugh at his words, and West flushed a little onhearing it, as the volunteers gathered round. 

"Bah! It's all bluff!" cried a voice. "They know that by holding outthey can get what they want. They'd cave in directly if we showed abold front. "

"Moral, " said West; "show a bold front. "

"That's what we're doing, " said one of the men; "but there's too much ofit. Some of the officers have war on the brain, and want to force thesoldiering element to the very front. We've done enough to show theDoppers that we should fight if there was any occasion. There was nodrilling going on when you were at Pretoria, eh, Ingleborough?"

"Yes, there was, a good deal, " said the young man slowly. "They did notmake any fuss, but in a quiet way they were hard at work, especiallywith their gun drill. "

"Gun drill!" cried one of the group contemptuously. "What, with a fewrusty old cannon and some wooden quakers?"

There was a roar of laughter at this, and West coloured a little moredeeply with annoyance, but Ingleborough shrugged his shoulders, turnedhis little finger into a tobacco-stopper, and went on smoking. 

"The Boers are puffed-up with conceit, " he said gravely, "and theybelieve that their victory at Majuba Hill has made them invincible; butall the same they've got some level-headed men amongst them, and Ibelieve before long that it will come to a fight and that they willfight desperately. "

His hearers laughed. 

"What for?" shouted one. 

"To drive the British out of South Africa, seize Cape Colony and Natal, and make the country a Dutch republic. "

There was a momentary silence before someone cried: "I say, Ingleborough, are you going mad?"

"I hope not, " said the young man quietly. "Why?"

"Because you are talking the greatest bosh I've heard for months!"

"I don't think I am, " said Ingleborough gravely. "I know that the Boersare terribly inflated with vanity and belief in themselves, but theyhave wisdom in their heads as well. "

"I've never seen any of it!" said the previous speaker. "Bah! Rubbish!They drive us out of South Africa! Why, that would mean takingRhodesia too. "

"Of course, " replied Ingleborough, "and that's what they believe theyare going to do. "

"With popguns?"

"No, " said Ingleborough gravely; "but with their rifles. Do you knowthat they can at any time arm a hundred thousand men with the bestmagazine-rifles in the world?"

"No!" came in chorus. "We don't. "

"And that they have a magnificent force of artillery, which includessuch guns as would dwarf any that we could bring against them, thoroughly outrange ours, and that in addition they have a great numberof repeating-cannon--Maxims and Nordenfelts? Above all, they have avast supply of ammunition. "

"Where did they get it from?" cried one. 

"The moon, " shouted another, and there was a roar. 

"The fellow's a regular Boer himself, " shouted a man behind; and therewas a hiss raised, followed by a menacing groan, which made West's bloodtingle as he closed up to his friend's side. 

"The old story, " said Ingleborough contemptuously, "You can't bear thehonest truth. "

"Yes, we can, " cried one of the men; "but we can't bear lies. Do youthink we are fools to believe your cock-and-bull stories aboutmagazine-rifles and guns that would dwarf all that the British Armycould bring up against the Boers?"

"You can do as you like about believing, " said Ingleborough coldly. "Ihave only told you what I learned for myself when I was staying inPretoria. "

"And do you mean to tell us that the Boers have guns like that?"

"I do, " said Ingleborough. 

"Then where did they get them?"

"From the great French and German makers, From Creusot and Krupp. "

"And how did they get them up to Pretoria?"

"From the Cape and Delagoa Bay. "

"What nonsense!" cried another voice. "Their arms and ammunition wouldhave been stopped at once. What do you say to that?"

"The Boers are slim, " said Ingleborough. "Hundreds of tons of warmaterial have been going up-country for years as ironmongery goods andmachinery. They have a tremendous arsenal there, and they mean tofight, as you'll see before long. "

The hissing and threatening sounds ceased, for there was so muchconviction in the tone adopted by the speaker that his hearers began tofeel uneasy and as if there might be something in the declarations, while, upon Ingleborough turning to West with: "Come Oliver, let's gethome!" the little crowd of volunteers hedged the pair in, and the manwho had been the most ready to laugh laid a hand upon his arm. 

"Hold hard a minute, " he cried frankly. "I felt ready to laugh at youand chaff all your words; but I'm not going to be a dunder-headed fooland shut my eyes to danger if there really is any. Look here, Ingleborough: are you an alarmist, or is there really any truth in whatyou have said?"

"It is all true, " replied the young man calmly. 

"Well, then, I for one will believe you, my lad; for, now you havespoken out as you have, I begin to put that and that together and I feelthat the Boers have been playing dark. "

"They have been playing dark, " said Ingleborough warmly, "and I shouldnot be surprised to hear any day that they had declared war and found usanything but prepared. "

"They only want to be free, " said a voice. 

"Free?" cried Ingleborough. "Yes, free to do exactly what they please:to tax every stranger, or outlander, as they call us, for their ownbenefit: to rob and enslave the unfortunate natives, and even murderthem if it suits their hand. Free? Yes, look at their history from thefirst. Why, their whole history has been a course of taking land fromthe original owners by force. "

That very night rumours reached Kimberley which sent a tingle into thecheeks of every man who had joined in the demonstration againstIngleborough: though the greatest news of all had not yet arrived, thatthe Transvaal Government had thrown down the glove and made the advance. 

CHAPTER FIVE. 

AN UGLY CHARGE. 

As everyone knows, the declaration of war was not long in coming, andthe news came like a thunderclap to all in Kimberley, where those whohad been in doubt as to the wisdom of the preparations previously madewere the loudest in finding fault because more had not been done. 

"But do you think it's true, Ingle?" said West. 

"Think what is true?"

"That the Boers have invaded Natal. "

"I'm sure it is, " was the reply; "and before very long we shall havethem here. "

"Why should they come here?" said West. 

"Because they have plenty of gold at Johannesburg, and they want toutilise it for settings to our diamonds, my lad. They're a nice, modest, amiable people, these Boers, with very shrewd eyes for the mainchance. They'll soon be down here to take possession, so if you feel atall uncomfortable you had better be off south. "

"Is that what you are going to do?" asked West quietly. 

"I? Of course not! I shall keep with the volunteers. "

"Of course, " said West; "and I shall too. "

Ingleborough smiled grimly and went on with his work, West followingsuit, and they were busy enough till "tiffin-time" that morning. 

Their "tiffin" went on as usual; but out in the town there was a buzz ofexcitement which resembled that heard in a beehive when some mischievousboy has thrust in a switch and given it a good twist round beforerunning for his life. 

So eager and excited did everyone seem that West could hardly tearhimself away from the main street, which was full of talking groups, everyone seeming to be asking the same question--"What is to be donefirst?"--but getting no reply. 

"We ought to fortify the place, " said West to himself, and full of thisidea, which he intended to propound to Ingleborough and Anson as soon ashe reached the office, he hurried in that direction, all the faster fromthe fact that he had been so interested in the busy state of the streetsthat he had overstayed his time. 

On approaching the office door the conscious blood rose to his cheeks, for he could hear an angry voice speaking, upon which he could onlyplace one interpretation--namely, that one of the principals was findingfault severely because he, the guilty one, was not back to his time. 

"What a fool I am!" muttered West. Then, pulling himself together, hestepped forward, muttering again: "Must take my dose like a man. "

The next moment he had opened the door quickly, entered and closed it, and then stood staring in wonder at the scene before him. 

For there was no angry principal present--only his two fellow-clerks:Ingleborough stern and frowning, and Anson with his ordinarily pink faceturned to a sallow white, and, instead of being plump and rounded, looking sunken and strange. 

"What's the matter?" said West, for Anson, who had the moment beforebeen talking rapidly, suddenly ceased. "You're not quarrelling, areyou?" he continued, for no one replied. "Oh well, I'll be off tillyou've done. "

"No, don't go, " cried Anson, springing forward and grasping his arm. 

"Let go!" cried West. "I don't want to be mixed up with any quarrels;but you might have got them over outside. There, I'm off. "

"Stop where you are!" cried Ingleborough. "You have a perfect right tohear what I have said, and you're welcome. "

"Yes, stop where you are, West, " cried Anson, clinging to the youngfellow's arm. "I believe that the war scare has sent Ingle off hishead. You never heard such a bit of scandal as he is trying to hatchup. I believe it's all out of jealousy. "

"No, you do not, " said Ingleborough coldly. 

"But I do, " cried Anson. "It's scandalous. He's trying to ruin me. "

"How?"

"By hatching up a story which, if it got to the principals' ears, wouldmean me being turned off neck and crop, no matter how innocent I am. "

"How what?" replied Ingleborough ironically. "Innocent? Why, I'vesuspected you for some months past. "

"Oh, my gracious!" cried Anson. "Hark at him! He does mean it--he mustmean it, unless we can bring him to his senses, West. You will help me, won't you?"

"How can I tell till I know what it's all about? What's the quarrel, Ingle?"

"Ask him, " answered the young man addressed, frowning. 

"Very well, then; I'll ask him. What's the row, Anson?"

"I have hardly patience to tell you, West, " was the reply. "But Isuppose I must, though it makes my face burn with shame. "

"Humph!" grunted Ingleborough. 

"Then it is something you are ashamed of?" said West quickly. 

"Me? Oh no, West; I'm not ashamed. I've nothing to be ashamed of: onlybeing accused by a fellow-clerk, a brother-clerk, I might say, of doinga terrible thing. "

"And did you?" said West sharply. 

"I? Good gracious, no! I was out in the main street about half-an-hourago, being of course interested in the news, when I saw a couple ofKaffirs talking, and it made me wonder what would become of them if itcame to fighting, and I naturally enough asked the poor fellows whetherthey'd stay in Kimberley or go back to their own country. "

"Well?" said West, for the speaker stopped. 

"Well, that's all as far as I'm concerned, " said Anson; "only just thenIngleborough, who is never happy without he's mixing himself up somehowwith the police folk, and who must have been watching me in a miserableunderhanded way, suddenly pounced upon me; and you'll never believe it, my dear West, he actually accused me of illicit-diamond-buying from theKaffirs. "

"And that means very severe punishment, " said West. "Well, were youdoing it?"

"Was I? Oh, for shame, West! How could you think such a thingpossible? My dear fellow, I couldn't do such a thing? Is it likely?"

"Ingleborough says it is, " replied the young man addressed, shortly. 

"Yes, but only because he is absurdly jealous of me, and dislikes to seeme in the office. It would ruin me for ever if it were reported, and hesays he is going to, although I have been begging and praying him not todo such a thing. What do you say?"

"If it's true, and Ingleborough says it is, I don't see how he couldhelp, reporting your conduct to the directors. "

"But it isn't true!" cried Anson, almost in a whine. "Oh, West, how canyou? You know I couldn't do such a thing!"

"Do you mean to say that you are quite innocent?"

"Oh, quite!" cried Anson. "It was as I told you. I only asked the twopoor hard-working fellows what they meant to do, and then to my utterastonishment Ingleborough pounced upon me with that terrible charge. Help me, my dear friend, to make him see that he has deceived himself!"

"Do you hear, Ingle?" cried West sympathetically. "It is a terriblecharge to bring against a fellow. "

"Terrible!" said Ingleborough sternly. 

"And you have thought what it means?"

"Of course. "

"His dismissal and imprisonment?"

"Yes. "

"But--"

"There is no room for buts, my lad, " said Ingleborough harshly. "Diamond-buying from the natives is, as we all well know, penal; and weknow, too, that it is our duty to help to protect the property of ouremployers, and to see that the laws are obeyed. "

"Of course, my dear Ingleborough, " said Anson; "and that's what I havealways tried to do, as you know. "

"I know that you have been playing a false game for months--that is, Ifeel perfectly sure you have, though I cannot prove it. But this I canprove: that you were buying stolen diamonds from two natives thisafternoon, all parties choosing the time because you believed theexcitement would secure you from notice. "

"Oh, West, hark at him!" cried Anson, in a piteous tone. "Ingleborough, you don't know how wrong you are!"

"That's true!" said their fellow-clerk. 

"Look here, Anson, " cried West angrily; "what's the good of going onlike a great girl--oh-ing, and making weak appeals? Why don't you speakout like a man? Is it true, or is it not, that you bought thesediamonds?"

"It's all a mistake of Ingleborough's and as false as false can be! Icouldn't do such a thing!"

"Nor yet throw them away as soon as you found that you were seen?"

"Of course not!" cried Anson excitedly. 

"What are these, then?" cried Ingleborough sternly, as he took a coupleof rough crystals from his trousers pocket and held them out in his handto the astonished gaze of his comrades. 

"Those?" said Anson, whose face began to turn of a sickly green; "theylook like diamonds. "

"Yes: they are the two that you threw away, and which I went and pickedup. "

"Oh!" cried Anson, with a piteous groan; "hark at him, West! I wouldn'thave believed that a man could have been so base as to hatch up such aplot as this to ruin his brother-employe. West, I assure you that Inever set eyes upon those diamonds before in my life. It's all a cruel, dastardly plot, and I--Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! Is it possible thata man can be so base?"

He took out his handkerchief and applied it to his eyes, uttering a lowpiteous groan the while. 

"You hear this, Ingleborough?" said West. 

"Yes, I hear, " said Ingleborough sourly, as he thrust the gems back inhis pocket. "So do you, and you know now what it is my duty to do. "

West was silent. 

"Oh, do speak and help me!" cried Anson. "Don't stand by and see meruined, West! You know how he has taken up lately with the newsuperintendent of police, and been always with him, and watching thepoor natives till he is half a detective himself, and goes aboutsuspecting innocent people. I am innocent, West, and it's all ahorrible mistake of his, or a cruel trick to ruin me; and I'm afraidI've been mistaken in him altogether, and that it is a wickedconspiracy. "

"Ingleborough wouldn't do a mean thing!" said West warmly. 

"That's what I want to believe, " whined Anson; "but he's got hold of twodiamonds, and he's going to charge me with buying them, and he'll get mesent to Cape Town breakwater. "

"Not if you are innocent!" said West. 

"Well, that's what I am, and he can't prove that I've any of theprecious stones about me. Come and search me if you like!"

"You will be searched by the police authorities, " said Ingleboroughsternly. 

"What!--Oh, it's abominable!" cried Anson. "Here, West, aren't yougoing to do anything to help an innocent man?"

"What can I do, " said West, "but look on? I'll tell you this, though: Idon't believe it possible of you! There must be some mistake!"

"Thank you for nothing, " cried Anson bitterly. "It's the old story--andyou call yourself a friend! Well, I'm not going to be bullied. I'vegiven you both a chance to own that you are all wrong; but you alwayswere both of you dead against me. I'll do now what I ought to have doneat once--go to the principals. I shall get justice there. "

Saying this, he clapped on his hat, giving it a fierce cock on one side, passed out, and banged the door after him. 

Ingleborough paid no heed to his companion's enquiring look, but crossedquickly to the window and looked out. 

"Anson thinks he is going to make a bolt, " said Ingleborough, half tohimself; "but he'll soon find out his mistake. "

"How?" said West eagerly. 

"Norton is outside with a couple of the police, " Ingleborough replied. 

"But this is very horrible!" cried West. "Once more, are you quite surethat you have not made a mistake?"

"Quite! I am certain!"

"But is it wise to be so certain?"

"Yes, " replied Ingleborough quietly. "Surely I can believe my owneyes!"

"But might he not have been questioning the Kaffirs, as he said?"

"Certainly, " replied Ingleborough, with a grim smile; "but I do not seewhy he should receive two diamonds from them and give them money inexchange, and lastly why he should flick the two diamonds away into thedust as soon as he caught sight of me. Do you?"

"No, " said West thoughtfully. "Well, I am very sorry. What will be thenext proceeding?"

"The next thing in an ordinary way would be that the scoundrel wouldbolt; but, as he must have found out by this time that he is carefullywatched, he will no doubt go straight to the principals and brave it outby telling them his own tale and trying to persuade them that I havehatched up a conspiracy against him. "

"And of course he will not be believed, " replied West thoughtfully; "forit is next door to high treason for anyone to be found buying diamondsillicitly from the natives. "

"High treason?" cried Ingleborough, laughing. "Why, my dear boy, it'smuch worse than regicide. The authorities in Kimberley look upondiamond-smuggling or stealing as the blackest crime in the calendar. "

"Hallo!" cried West just then. "So soon?"

For there was a sharp rap at the door, and a man entered to announcethat the principals of the great company desired the presence ofIngleborough and West directly. 

"I don't see why they want me!" said West. "I know nothing about thematter. "

"You'll have to go all the same, " said Ingleborough. "He has draggedyour name into the case, and he trusts to you to speak in his behalf. "

"And of course I shall, " said West; "for I'm horribly sorry for the poorfellow. He couldn't withstand the temptation to buy the diamonds for amere nothing and sell them at a heavy price. "

"I don't want to be malicious, Noll, " said Ingleborough; "but I've forsome time been under the impression that Master Anson was a humbug. There, come along! Of course I don't like a piece of business likethis; but we must make rogues go to the wall. You're too soft-hearted, Noll, my boy. "

"Perhaps so, " replied the lad; "but I'd rather be so than toohard-hearted. "

CHAPTER SIX. 

A VAIN SEARCH. 

West saw at once upon entering the presence of the principals thatthings appeared bad for Anson, who stood facing a table at which threeof the directors of the great company were seated, all looking verystern. They signed to Ingleborough and West to stand upon their right--Anson was facing them to the left. 

Then there was a brief colloquy in a low tone between the threedirectors, ending in one of them saying aloud: "You speak. "

The gentleman thus addressed turned to Ingleborough. 

"Mr Anson has sought this interview with the directors, MrIngleborough, to inform us that you have made up a malicious tale abouthis having been engaged in illicit-diamond-buying. Of course, if youcould prove such a charge, it was your duty to inform us. "

"Of course, sir, " replied Ingleborough; "but, though I have for sometime suspected him, this affair only occurred during our tiffin-timethis morning, and as soon as we returned to the office I felt bound toaccuse him as my fellow-clerk, and tell him what I intended to do. "

"So as to give him, if guilty, a good chance to conceal the diamonds orescape?"

"Oh no, sir, " said Ingleborough quietly. "I took proper precautionsagainst that. "

"Indeed?" said the director. "What did you do?"

"Mr Superintendent Norton is a friend of mine, sir, and I went to himat once. He and two of his keenest men have been carefully watchingAnson ever since. "

"Humph! Quite right, " said the director, and he glanced at Anson, whowas smiling contemptuously then; but West had seen him wince sharplywhen Ingleborough mentioned the superintendent's name. "Well, "continued the director, "let us hear your version of this business. "

"Really, gentlemen, " cried Anson, "I ought to have the assistance of alaw officer and--"

"Stop, Mr Anson, " said the director sharply; "we have heard you allthrough. Have the goodness to be silent now while Mr Ingleboroughgives us his statement. "

"But legal assistance, sir. "

"You can have as much as you like, sir, as soon as the matter is broughtbefore the magistrates. We must first of all hear what Mr Ingleboroughhas to say. Now, sir, have the goodness to tell us everything you knowabout this business. "

Ingleborough made his statement perfectly clearly, and it was listenedto in silence, and the diamonds were produced. 

Afterwards the three directors spoke together in a low tone of voice fora few minutes, ending by turning to Anson to tell him that he mustconsider himself for the present as suspended from all further duty inconnection with the company's business. 

"We have no desire to proceed to extremities, Mr Anson, " he said inconclusion, "and every opportunity will be given you to clear yourself;but in the meantime you must consider yourself under supervision, andyour lodgings will be searched. "

"I protest, sir, " cried the young man warmly. "You have no right toorder such a thing to be done without magisterial authority. "

"Then we will assume the right, Mr Anson, as it is a question of ourproperty being stolen by our black employes and finding a purchaser inone of our clerks. Mr West, as the superintendent is keeping an eyeupon Anson, I presume he is here?"

"I passed him at the door as I came in, sir, " answered West. 

"Have the goodness to call him in. "

Anson winced; but he faced the tall stern-looking officer of police ashe entered and heard the reason for his being called in. 

"Then you wish a search to be made, gentlemen?" said the superintendent. 

"Certainly. "

"Look here, " cried Anson fiercely; "there's law for everybody. I'm notyour servant any longer, for I refuse to stay with such a pack oftyrannical dividend-making scoundrels. "

"That will do, " growled the superintendent, in a low, deep voice. "Keepa civil tongue in your head. You'll do no good for yourself by this. "

"You mind your own business, " cried Anson, turning upon the officer sofiercely that West wondered at the change in his fellow-clerk's manner. 

"All right: I will, " said the officer, seizing him sharply. 

"Here, what are you going to do?" cried Anson, in alarm. 

"Search you, my lad, " was the reply. 

"Then I call everyone present to witness that this is illegal. I'm notgoing to stand quietly by and be treated like a worm. "

"Leave off wriggling, then, " said the officer. 

"I won't. I refuse to be treated like one of the black labourers. "

"Look here, sir, " said the officer sternly; "I don't want to treat youlike a Kaffir unless you behave like one. You are charged with illicitbuying, and your game's up; so the best thing you can do is to produceeverything you have on you and have done with the matter. "

"Search me if you dare, " cried Anson, still keeping up his defiantmanner. 

"Right: I dare, " said the officer. "Mr Ingleborough, be ready to lenda hand if I want it. "

"If John Ingleborough dares to lay a hand on me I'll send a bulletthrough him. "

In an instant Ingleborough's hand came down heavily upon Anson'sshoulder and gripped him fast. 

"Never mind him, Norton. It's all bluff. He is unarmed. "

"Armed or unarmed, " said the superintendent, "I'm going to search him, "and directly after a quick pair of hands were busy going through thesuspect's pockets. 

"Urrr!" he growled, showing his white teeth between his thick red lips, as he cast off thoroughly the mask of servile humility he had previouslyworn; "it's lucky for you that I am unarmed. But search away. Go on. I'll have heavy damages for this dastardly assault and defamation ofcharacter, and the public shall know all about the games carried on bythis beautiful diamond syndicate. Curse you all--masters and men! Youshall pay for it, and, as for you, John Ingleborough, look out foryourself. Yes, and you too, Oliver West, you miserable sneak. I alwayshated you. "

"Hadn't you better save your breath, Anson?" said West quietly. "You'reonly making everybody believe you guilty. "

"Let 'em, " cried the suspect, whose plump round face was now distortedwith impotent rage. "I'll be even with all of you for this. "

"Humph! Nothing in his pockets; nothing sewn in the seams of hisclothes, nor in the band of his trousers, " muttered the searcher. Thenaloud: "Now then, hold up!"

Anson behaved like a horse, or, as West and Ingleborough afterwardslaughingly said, like an ass, lifting to order each foot in turn for thebottoms of his trousers to be examined and the heels of his boots, whichhad not been bored nor plugged. 

"He has nothing upon him, gentlemen, " said the officer, at last. 

"But you have not thoroughly searched him, " said one of the directors, frowning. 

"Oh yes, sir, " replied the officer; "a party like this wouldn't carrydiamonds about him same as a Kaffir would. He wouldn't play any trickswith his person by slitting or swallowing: he knows too much about therisks. You can be perfectly satisfied that he has nothing about him. Iwas, as soon as I had turned out his pockets. "

"They'll be satisfied before they've done, " sneered Anson. 

"I should like to see his desk and stool in the office where he hasworked, gentlemen, " continued the officer. 

"Yah!" snarled Anson. "Yes: go on; search everywhere. Perhaps you'dlike to search the place where I lodge?"

"Afterwards, " said the officer quietly. 

CHAPTER SEVEN. 

ANSON REBOUNDS. 

West saw his fellow-clerk wince slightly again, though it passedunnoticed by the others, and directly after the whole party adjourned tothe office, the superintendent's men following them, and, without doinganything to excite attention, forming a guard at the door. 

"There's nothing here, " said the superintendent in a low tone toIngleborough and West. 

"How do you know?" said the former. 

"By his manner. He's all brag and bounce!"

"Yes, " said Ingleborough; "but you don't know your man. "

"Look here!" cried Anson; "none of that! Search if you like, but noplotting and planning there! I don't see why they shouldn't be chargedtoo. Search their desks as well as mine. Perhaps you'll find someillicit-diamonds there. "

West started, for a strange suspicion shot through his breast. 

"If you do they'll swear I put 'em there, and the superintendent willbelieve them. "

"You scoundrel!" cried West passionately, and Anson uttered a lowsneering laugh; but his face grew set directly, as the officer turnedupon him. 

"Which is your desk, sir?" he said sharply. 

"Search them all!" was the reply. 

"Which is his desk?" said the superintendent to West now. 

The young man made no reply, and Ingleborough pointed it out. 

"Friends and brother-workers!" said Anson, in a sneering manner. "Lookhere, noble employers, play fair! Let's have all the desks and thewhole place searched. "

No one spoke, and after a cursory examination of the tall stool in frontof the desk the officer picked up a thick silver-mounted rattan canethrust in a stand by the side of the desk in company with threeumbrellas. 

"Yours?" he said, turning to the suspect. 

"Yes, and one of the umbrellas too. The worst one's mine. That dandysilk one is West's. The handles of all three are sure to unscrew andare hollowed out to hold diamonds, no doubt. "

"Of course, " said the officer, and after a glance at the umbrellas heturned the thick heavy cane over in his hands, noticing that in additionto a silver cap there was a thick silver ring about six inches from thetop. 

"Oh yes, that's hollow too, " cried Anson mockingly, "and stuffed full ofdiamonds, I daresay. --Ah! mind you don't cut your fingers!"

For the officer, as he held the thick cane in both hands, tried tounscrew the top part, thickest by the ring, and, after yielding alittle, he gave it a sharp tug, drawing out about a foot of a brightblue damascened sword, and then thrusting it back with an impatient"Pish!"

"A sword-stick, " said the officer. 

"Well, why not?" cried Anson. "I don't carry a revolver. "

The officer thrust the cane into the stand, and then, with Ansonwatching him keenly, raised the lid of the broad flat desk, turned oversome books and papers, measured its depth outside and in to make surethat there was no false bottom, and then brought out the clerk's littleflat mahogany box, Anson grinning sneeringly as the lid was opened andthe joints of the flute lay exposed to view. 

"Now you've got 'em, sir!" cried Anson, with a mocking laugh. "Blowthrough them, and you'll find it's all wind. "

The superintendent turned the box upside down, and the joints were leftupon the top of the desk, except that the top joint with its gapingmouth-hole stuck in the velvet fitting, but looked the most hollow ofthe set. 

"There's nothing here, gentlemen, " said the officer, replacing the otherjoints and gravely closing the desk. 

"Oh, nonsense!" cried Anson, jeering. "You haven't half looked. Perhaps, though, young West has the whole swag in his desk. "

"Would you like to examine the other desks, gentlemen?" said theofficer. 

"No, certainly not, " said the leading director sharply; "we have no wishto insult our employes. "

"Only one, " snarled Anson. "Do you call this fair play?"

West drew a breath full of relief, and glanced at Ingleborough, who madeno sign, but stood looking stolidly at the officer. 

"I'm quite satisfied, gentlemen, " said the latter. "There is nothinghere. Do you charge Mr Anson with illicit dealing?"

"You have not searched his apartments yet, " said the chief director. "We wish to have further proofs first. "

Anson opened his mouth a short distance as his chief spoke, and closedit again with a sharp little snap. 

"You wish the prisoner's rooms to be searched then, gentlemen?"

"I'm not a prisoner, " cried Anson angrily. "I've neither been chargednor taken into custody. "

"Certainly!" said the director sternly. "Search Mr Anson's roomspreliminary to his being charged and taken into custody. Mr West, goin front with the superintendent to show the way. I do not wish to makea procession, to create excitement and make us the observed of all. "

"I understand, sir. Mr Anson will walk in advance with me, and you canfollow as you please. There is no need for Mr West to walk with us. Iknow the way!"

"Of course!" snarled Anson. "Mr Ingleborough's doing, I suppose. ThenI have been watched. "

"Yes, my doing, " said the person named. "As soon as I suspected you ofillicit dealing I kept an eye upon you and told Mr Norton here what Ithought. "

"Cowardly, sneaking cur!" cried Anson, grinding his teeth. 

"No, sir, " cried the director sternly: "faithful servant of thecompany. "

"Where are your proofs that I am not?" cried Anson fiercely. 

"Not found yet, " said the officer; "but with all your cunning I daresaywe shall trace them. "

"Go on, " said Anson. "I'm ready for you. "

The next minute the whole party were straggling through the camp-liketown towards the outskirts, to gather together at the very ordinaryshed-like house of mud wall and fluted corrugated-iron roofing, wherethe wife of one of the men at the mine stared in wonder at the party, and then looked in awe at her lodger, her eyes very wide open andstartled as she grasped what the visit meant. 

"Oh, Mr Anson, what have you been a-doing of?" she cried, and burstinto tears. 

West looked at the poor woman with a feeling of pity, and then feltdisposed to kick Anson for his brutality, for the clerk's gesture wasthat of an ill-tempered cur: he literally snapped at her. 

"Out of the way, you idiot!" he cried, "and let this police-constableand his party come by. "

West saw the directors exchange glances before following thesuperintendent into the little house, leaving the two clerks to thelast, the police-constables remaining watchfully at the door. 

"Master Anson is regularly cutting the ground from under him, Ingle, "said West softly. 

"Yes: the fool! I take it to be a tacit confession. You don't thinkI've made a mistake now?"

West shook his head and looked distressed, but said nothing. 

"Of course he'll never come back to us, and he knows it, or he'd neverput on this defiant manner. Hark at him!"

For at that moment the object of their thoughts shouted loudly: "Here, you two spies, what are you waiting behind for? Come in and help searchthe place. "

West frowned and hung back, but Ingleborough laid a hand on hisshoulder. 

"Come along, " he said; "you must help me to see it through! It isn'tpleasant, but it's part of one's duty. "

The next minute they were in Anson's combined bed and sitting room, avery ordinary-looking place, with the simplest of furniture and plentyof suggestions all round of spots where an ingenious man might havehidden a little fortune in diamonds; for the mud walls were lined withmatchboard, the ceiling was of the same material, and then there was thefloor, where in any part a board could have been lifted and a receptaclemade for the precious crystals, without counting the articles offurniture, including the bedding. 

"I'm sorry I have no more chairs, gentlemen, " said the tenantbanteringly. "Sit on the table, and three of you can make a sofa of thebed. Never mind tumbling it! You'll do nothing compared to MrSuperintendent Norton when he begins. I say, though, you should havegiven me notice of all this, and then I'd have had a carpenter here toskin the walls and ceiling so as to have made everything nice and easyfor you. I say, Mr Norton, you'll want a pickaxe and shovel directly, won't you?"

The directors had paid no heed to the speaker's bantering remarks, butthe superintendent was getting hot, tired, and annoyed by the constantchatter of the man he was longing to arrest; and, though he had treatedeverything so far with calm indifference, his lack of success in hissearch for something incriminating in such places as experience hadtaught him were in favour with those who carried on diamond-smugglingbegan now to tell upon his temper, and he turned sharply upon thespeaker: to snap out words which showed that his thoughts ran onall-fours with those of Ingleborough. 

"Look here, young man!" he said; "I don't know whether you are aware ofit, but you are hard at work building up a black case against yourself, and if you're not careful you'll find yourself before long working outyour two years as a convict on the Cape Town breakwater. "

"I shall!" cried Anson. "What for? Where's your evidence? You've gota jumped-up cock-and-bull story made by a fellow-clerk who says onething while I say another. You've only his word for it. You've foundno diamonds on me, and you've found none in my lodgings. "

"Not yet, " said the superintendent meaningly. 

"Oh, I see! Not yet! Go on, then, pray! I'm not paid by time, so Ican afford to lose a few hours. Search away! Perhaps our clever friendIngleborough can tell you where to look. Perhaps he wouldn't like to, though. It would hurt his feelings to accuse a brother-clerk of beingan illicit trader. But don't mind me, Ingle. It's good sport for you. Why don't you help, and think you're a good little boy playing at `hotboiled beans and very good butter' again? Now then, Norton's goingacross to the other side. You should call out `colder' when he's goingaway from the place, and `warmer' when he gets nearer. Then `hot, ' andlast of all `burning. ' Come, keep up the game!"

"I should just like to ram that pair of clean socks between your teeth, my fine fellow, and keep it there with a leather strap, " muttered theofficer; and, as if about to put his wish into practice, he stooped andpicked up the closely rolled-up pair of socks lying with some otherarticles of attire placed freshly washed upon a shelf by Anson'slandlady. 

"Now then, " cried Anson boisterously, "cry `burning, ' somebody: theremust be some diamonds inside that!"

The directors frowned, and Ingleborough and West looked on angrily asthe officer dashed the soft woollen ball back upon the heap and thenwent on with his search for nearly an hour. 

By this time the lookers-on were as much disgusted as thesuperintendent. 

"I'm very sorry, gentlemen, " he cried; "but I can do no more. There isnothing else to be done unless we have my men in and regularly strip thewood-work down. "

"Oh, pray have them in, then, " cried Anson. "If I were you I'd--"

"Silence, sir!" cried the chief director fiercely, and Anson stared. "We have not the slightest doubt of your guilt. Your conduct allthrough has proved it. That will do, Mr Norton. "

"You think the evidence sufficient to justify an arrest, gentlemen?"

"We will consult together, " replied the director who had just spoken, "and communicate our decision to you. "

"What, aren't you satisfied yet?" cried Anson mockingly. 

"Quite, " replied his chief; "and of course, sir, your post is vacant. For the present, Mr Norton, you will keep an eye upon this man, and seethat he does not leave the town. "

"Unless I'm very much mistaken, sir, " said the superintendent, "neitherour friend here nor anyone else will leave Kimberley for some time tocome. "

"Is it so bad as that?"

"Yes, sir. The Boers are gradually closing in, I am told. But I'llkeep an eye on Mr Anson here all the same. "

Five minutes later the party were on their way back to the minebuildings, where the first thing that West heard was that the Boers weregathering in great force, and, as far as could be judged, were makingthe Diamond City their objective. 

Troubles were gathering fast, and news kept on coming hotter and hotter. 

West and Ingleborough were back in their places at the office, talkingover the war news and mingling with it the scenes they had just gonethrough. 

"Norton promised me he'd call in here when he left the governors, " saidIngleborough. 

"Then he must have forgotten it, " replied West, "for he has been withthem quite an hour. I say, I didn't know that you were such a friend ofthe superintendent. "

"Well, I'm not in the habit of talking much, " said Ingleborough, smiling. "But I do like him; he's such a straightforward, manly fellow, and I take so much interest in the way he runs down criminals. I oftenwish I had joined the detectives who have this diamond-smuggling inhand. "

"Pst! here he is!" said West quickly, for there were steps outside, anddirectly after a sharp rap at the door. 

"May I come in, Ingleborough?"

"Yes. _Entrez_! West said you'd gone. "

"Did he? You knew I was not?"

Ingleborough nodded. 

"What have they decided?" he asked. 

"To let the matter drift for the present: only I'm to keep an eye on thescoundrel. They say that we shall all have our hands full enoughdirectly in strengthening the town, and they're right. I'm afraid we'regoing to have a warm time. "

"Think they'll attack us?" asked West. 

"Safe to. Now's the time for you volunteers to show what you're madeof, for I believe that the enemy will make straight for Kimberley. Ourgetting the diamond-fields has always been a sore point with them, andwe shall have our work cut out to save them. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough thoughtfully, "and if I'm not mistaken, you'llhave more cause to watch Anson than for smuggling. He has his knifeinto the company. "

"Exactly, " said Norton; "and if he can make friends with and help theenemy, he will. "

"You mean he'll be a dangerous spy in the camp?" said West excitedly. 

"That's it, Mr West; but if he plays that game and is caught hispunishment will not be a couple of years on the breakwater. "

"No, " said Ingleborough: "the military will deal with him then. "

"How?" asked West, whose veins began to tingle and a cold shudderingsensation to run down his spine. 

"A couple of lines of infantry, a volley of musketry, and--"

"Finis, " said the superintendent. "Good day. I don't wish him anyharm; but I feel pretty sure he'll run straight into some trap. Thatsort of fellow always does. "

The next minute the door had closed upon the superintendent, and the twoyoung men sat thoughtfully looking in each other's eyes. 

"Only a few hours ago, and we three were calmly working together, " saidWest sadly; "and I looked upon Anson as an unsatisfactory fellow whom Inever could like, but whose worst faults were being a cringing kind ofbore and a perfect nuisance with his flute. "

"And I as a smooth hypocrite whom one ought not to trust, " saidIngleborough. 

"And now he's gone, and we're to have the Boers at us and most likelyhave to soldier in real earnest. Hallo! Here's Norton back again. "

For there was a quick step outside, and the door was thrown open. Butit was not the superintendent's face that met their eyes, for their latefellow-clerk stepped boldly in. 

"How are you, gentlemen?" he said, with a strong emphasis upon the lastword. "So I've got the sack; but I'm not going to leave my propertybehind. "

He stepped to his desk and took out his flute-case, tucked it under hisarm, and then drew the sword-cane and umbrella from the stand, givingthe pair a maliciously triumphant look. 

"Can't afford to leave the sword-stick as a memento for you, Ingle, northe flute for sneaky West. Goodbye, both of you. Look out for our nextmerry meeting. Ta, ta!"

Neither of the young men replied, but sat gazing fixedly at the speakertill he passed out, banging the door. 

But only to open it again to look in and utter the one word: "Cads!"

Then the door was banged, and West leaped from his stool and made adash. 

"Stop, stupid!" thundered out Ingleborough, supplementing his words by abound and flinging his arm round his companion's chest. "Let the brutego. You don't want to kick him?"

"But I do, " shouted West, struggling. "Let go. "

"Keep still, " growled Ingleborough, and then, "Why, Noll, " he cried, "Ido believe--"

"What?" said West, cooling down and looking wonderingly in hiscompanion's excited eyes, for Ingleborough had stopped short. 

"That flute--that sword-cane--"

"Well, he has got them. Bah! I'm glad you stopped me from punching hishead. Let him have them; they're his. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough; "but the handle of the cane and the top jointof the flute. There was room for a dozen big diamonds in each. "

"What! Then let's go and stop him!"

"Yes; we could but be wrong. Come on. "

"Hah! Listen, " cried West, and a sound arose which turned theirthoughts in a different channel, for it was like the first note of thecoming war. 

The trumpet rang out the "assemblee" and thrilled both through andthrough, sending them to the arm-press for rifle and bandolier. 

Clerking was over for many months to come. The pen was to give way tothe modern substitute for the sword. 

CHAPTER EIGHT. 

VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER. 

Rumours that proved to be false and rumours that proved to be true wereplentiful enough during the following fortnight; and in that timeKimberley was transformed from a busy mining camp in which the black andwhite inhabitants were constantly going and coming like ants in a hillto a town whose siege was imminent, and whose people thought of nothingbut preparing for the enemy, and whose talk was of rifle, cartridge, andtrench. 

But there was something done beside talk, the people loyally joiningwith the small military garrison in preparing for the defence of theplace; and, while one portion worked to strengthen every spot that wouldform a redoubt, the other strove as long as was possible to get instores to enable the defenders to hold out if they were besieged. Forthe determination was strong to save the enormous wealth of the placefrom the enemy whose borders were so short a distance from their lines. 

Drilling and instruction in the use of arms were carried on almost nightand day, and in a very short time the military element seemed to havepretty well swallowed up the civil, while each hour found the peoplemore ready to meet the first rush of the dogs of war. 

It was a most unsuitable place for defence, being a mere mining camppitched in a wide bare plain, the only part suitable for turning into akeep being the huge mound cast up by the excavations in the search fordiamonds; and this was fortified to the best of the defenders' abilityalmost from the first. But the situation had its advantages as well asfailings, for the flat, open, desert-like land stretched right away onall sides, giving an enemy no undue advantages in the shape of kopje orravine to turn into a natural fortress from which the town could beattacked. 

The place, then, was a fair example of weakness and strength, thelatter, however, daily growing, in the shape of a stern determination togive the Boers a very warm reception when they did attack. 

So the days glided rapidly by, with authentic news at first fairlyabundant, but invariably of a very serious nature, and whenever theywere off the new duties they had to fulfil, the said news was amplydiscussed by the two young men, who from their prior preparation hadstood forward at once as prominent members of the semi-military force. 

"Be patient, " said Ingleborough laughingly, one evening; "there'll beplenty of fighting by-and-by. I'd no idea you were going to developinto such a fire-eater. "

"Fire-eater? Absurd! I only feel deeply interested in all we aredoing. "

"That's right, Noll! So do we all; but let's have no rashness. Remember all the drill and discipline. That's where we shall be able totell against the enemy. They can use their rifles well enough; but theyare an undisciplined mob at the best. By the way, have you run againstthe flute-player lately?"

"No, but I met the people with whom he lodges yesterday. They knew meagain, and came up as if wanting to speak. "

"What about?"

"Oh, they began by talking about the war and asking me whether I thoughtit would last long. "

"To which you said _No_, eh?"

"I only said that I hoped not, and then they volunteered the informationthat they believed Anson was going to leave the town for the south. "

"Indeed?" said Ingleborough sharply. "What made them think that?"

"Because their lodger had packed up all his little belongings and hadbought a wagon and a span of oxen, which he kept just outside. "

"Well, he'll lose them if he doesn't look out. He'll find himselfbetween two fires. Either the oxen will be seized for stores, or theBoers will cut them off. The fellow must be either desperate or mad. "

"In a fright, I should say, " said West. "I don't think he would stomachthe fighting. "

"Oh, it's all nonsense! The report this evening was that the Boers areclosing round us fast. He'll be stopped by one side or the other. Norton ought to know of this, though. "

"I daresay he does know already, " said West; "for he told me the otherday that he was keeping his eye on our friend. "

"So he did, " said Ingleborough thoughtfully. "He has some idea ofcatching him trying to communicate with the enemy. If he does, MasterSimon will not get off so easily as he did over the diamond business. Well, I'm tired, and I shall go to bed. Let's sleep while we can. There's no knowing what a day will bring forth!"

"You are right, " said West. "You think we shall really come to closequarters?"

"Yes, and very close quarters too. I've expected it before now. "

Nothing happens so surely as the unexpected, someone once said; and itwas so the very next day. 

Military drill was, as intimated, constantly going on; but that nextmorning there was a larger gathering than usual, the principal part ofthe regulars being drawn up in lines with the volunteer defenders--inall, a goodly show. 

It was to some extent a general inspection; but after it was over themen were formed up as three sides of a hollow square, and the Colonel incommand addressed the men, complimenting them upon their behaviour, andthen giving them the contents in a great measure of the despatches hehad received from headquarters, in combination with the reports of thescouts and from the outposts. He concluded by saying that in a fewhours they would, in all probability, be completely shut off fromcommunication with the south, for the Boers were closing round them ingreat force, and that until they were relieved they would be called uponto hold Kimberley, making a brave defence to save so important a townfrom falling into the hands of the invader. 

Here he was stopped by a tremendous burst of cheering, which hinderedhim from saying, as he intended, that they must be of good heart andfull of trust that the General in command would soon send help. 

But the enthusiastic cheering taught the Commandant plainly that the menbefore him needed no "heartening up, " and he smiled with satisfaction ashe felt convinced that every call he made upon them would be answered. 

What followed was short and to the point. He thanked them, made a fewremarks about his determination that no Boers should drag the Britishflag from where it fluttered, told the garrison that he was proud to saythat they had an ample supply of provisions and military stores, andthat the Boers had only to make their first attack to find how they haddeceived themselves about the British surrender at Majuba Hill. 

Here there was another deafening burst of cheers. 

Finally he made a fresh allusion to the well-known town farther northwhich was being surrounded by the enemy even as they were being shut inthere. 

"It will be a race, " he said, "between us as to which town will firstbeat the Boers off; and the victors will then have the glorious task ofgoing to the relief of the others. "

After this the regulars were marched off to their quarters, leaving thevolunteers standing fast; and the Commandant now summoned their officersto his side. 

As it happened, this was within a few yards of the spot where West andIngleborough were drawn up in the line, and every word the Commandantspoke came to them clear and plain. 

"I have another little business to speak about, gentlemen, " he said, "inconnection with a second despatch which was enclosed to me this morningwithin my own. It is a letter of instructions I am ordered to convey toour brave brother-in-arms now in command at Mafeking; and, on thinkingthe matter over, I concluded that it would be unwise to select one of myown men to carry that despatch, from their want of knowledge of thecountry and people, and far better to apply to you gentlemen torecommend to me a thoroughly trustworthy man or two, who, regardless ofall obstacles, would carry the despatch, bringing to bear force orcunning so as to evade the enemy's scouts, for the road is sure to swarmwith them, even if it is not occupied by the Boers in force. It ispossible, too, that Mafeking may be completely invested when he or theyreach its neighbourhood; but I must have a despatch-rider who will lookupon even that as a trifle to be overcome or crossed, and who will notrest until the despatch is safely placed in Colonel Baden-Powell'shands. Let me be fully understood: I want messengers who will be readyto fight if necessary or fly if needs be, but only to rebound and try inanother direction--in short, men who will button up this despatch andsay: `It shall be placed in Baden-Powell's hands by hook or crook assoon as a swift horse can cover the ground. ' This is what I want, andit is urgent, or it would not be placed in my hands to deliver with suchstern commands. It means life or death to hundreds, if not thousands. So now then, whom do you know that will, with the assistance of a bravecomrade, risk his life and carry my despatch?"

A dead silence, which lasted many seconds, fell upon the group, but atlast the volunteer Colonel spoke out. 

"I am not prepared to name anyone, sir, " he said, "and I flinch fromsending any man in my regiment upon so terribly perilous a journey, forit means almost to a certainty being shot down, for the bearer of thedespatch will be bound to hurry on and pay no heed to challenges tostop. "

"Certainly, " said the Commandant, frowning; "but surely--"

"One moment, sir; I was about to say that the fairest way would be tocall for volunteers, and then select the two most likely men. "

"Well, " said the Commandant, "do that then, and let the men fullyunderstand that it is a most dangerous task. Mind, too, that he must bea good and a rather reckless rider, able to bear fatigue, and above alldetermined to do this thing for the honour of his country and the savingof his brother men. --Yes, my lad, what is it?"

For West, whose face had flushed deeply and whose blood tingled in hisveins, had taken four steps forward out of the ranks, and now stood withhis hand raised to the salute. 

"Give me the despatch, sir, " he said. "I'll take it. "

"You?" cried the Commandant wonderingly, as his eyes ran over thespeaker. "You are very young. But are you a good rider?"

"I think I can ride anything well enough, sir. "

"Splendid rider, " said a deep voice, and Ingleborough strode to theyoung man's side. "He'll do it, sir, if any man can; and I'll go withhim to help him in the task if you'll give me orders. "

"Hah!" ejaculated the Commandant. "Yes, I know you, Mr Ingleborough. You belong to the police?"

"Oh no, sir; I am only on friendly terms with the superintendent, andhave been on expeditions with him. "

"And you think your young friend would be a good man to carry thedespatch?"

"I would trust him if I were in power, sir. "

"Then I will, " said the Commandant, after a long and searching look atWest. "Be at my quarters in fifteen minutes' time, both of you, and wewill have further talk on the matter. "

The young men exchanged looks as they resumed their places in the ranks, West's countenance betokening the wild excitement he felt, whileIngleborough, who looked perfectly calm and contented, just gave him asmile and a nod. 

A few minutes later they were dismissed, and the two young men had hardwork to get free from their brother volunteers, who surrounded andcheered them loudly, one of the officers proposing that they should bechaired back through the town. But they escaped this on the ground oftheir orders to go to the Commandant's quarters, and were at last setfree, to hurry away. The next minute they encountered Anson, who hadheard and seen all, and passed them without a word, but wearing apeculiarly supercilious and meaning smile which broadened into a grin ofcontempt that made West writhe. 

"Bless him!" said Ingleborough. "Do you know what the pleasant lookmeans?"

"That he will not be happy till I've thrashed him. "

"No, " said Ingleborough; "he has evidently heard all, and has made uphis mind that he is going to have a pleasant revenge. "

"How? In what way?" cried West. 

"He thinks the Boers will shoot us: that's all. "

"Ah!" cried West. 

"But we will not let them, my dear boy, " said Ingleborough coolly. "They're slim, as they call it; but two can play at that game. "

"Yes, but look: here's Mr Allan coming to say that we can't go, " saidWest excitedly, for the chief director was approaching and raised hishand to stop them, signing to them directly after to come to his side. 

"Looks as if he is going to put a stopper on our patriotism, " growledIngleborough. "We've been reckoning without our host. "

CHAPTER NINE. 

FOUR-LEGGED HELP. 

"Here, you two boys, " cried the director; "I've just heard of this wildproject. Are you mad, West?"

"I hope not, sir. "

"But, my good lad, I really--I--that is--bless my soul! It's very braveof you; but I don't think I ought to let you go. "

"I heard you say, sir, that everyone ought to be ready to devote hislife to the defence of the country. "

"Eh?" cried the director. "To be sure, yes, I did--in that speech Imade to the volunteers; but then you're not everybody, and--er--er--yousee, what I said was in a speech, and sometimes one says more then thanone quite means. "

"There'll be no work doing in the office, sir, " said Ingleborough; "andI hope you will not place any obstacles in the way of our going. "

"Oh no, my dear boys! I feel that I must not; but I don't like you torun such a terrible risk. "

"We must all run risks, sir, " said West gravely. 

"And I beg your pardon: our time is up for seeing the Commandant, " saidIngleborough, referring to his watch. 

"Yes, I heard you were to go to him, " said the director. "But it soundsvery rash. There, go on, and come to me afterwards. "

They parted, and a few minutes later the young men were ushered into theCommandant's room. 

"Then you have not repented, my lads?" he said, smiling. 

"No, sir, " replied West, speaking for both; "we are quite ready to go. "

"Then I must take you both at your word. But once more I give you boththe opportunity to draw back if you like. "

"Thank you, sir, " replied West; "but if you will trust us we will takethe despatch. "

"Very well, " said the Commandant, turning very stern and business-like. "Here is the despatch. It is a very small packet, and I leave it toyour own ingenuity to dispose of it where it cannot be found if you havethe bad luck to be captured. It must be sewn up in your pockets, orfitted into your hats, or hidden in some way or other. I leave it toyou, only telling you to destroy it sooner than it should fall into theenemy's hands. "

"We'll consult together, sir, and decide what to do, " replied West, looking frankly in the officer's eyes; "but--I have heard of such athing being done, sir--"

"What do you mean?" said the Commandant sternly. 

"That to ensure a despatch not falling into the enemy's hands the bearerlearned its contents carefully and then burned it. "

"Hah! Yes. That would make it safe, " cried the officer, with asatisfied look. "But, no, it could not be done in this case. I have noright to open the despatch, and I do not know its contents. You musttake it as it is, and in the event of disaster burn or bury it. Destroyit somehow. It must not fall into the enemy's hands. Here. "

"I understand, sir, " said West, taking the thick letter in its envelope, as it was extended to him; and the Commandant heaved a sigh as if ofrelief on being freed of a terrible incubus. 

"There, " he said, "I shall tie you down to no restrictions other thanthese. That packet must somehow be placed in the hands of the ColonelCommandant at Mafeking. I do not like to name failure, for you are bothyoung, strong, and evidently full of resource; but once more: if you aredriven too hard, burn or destroy the packet. Now then, what do you wantin the way of arms? You have your rifles, and you had better takerevolvers, which you can have with ammunition from the military stores. Do you want money?"

"No, sir; we shall require no money to signify, " said Ingleboroughquietly. "But we must have the best horses that can be obtained. "

"Those you must provide for yourselves. Take the pick of the place, andthe order shall be made for payment. My advice is that you select asgood a pair of Basuto ponies as you can obtain. They will be the bestfor your purpose. There, I have no more to say but `God speed you, ' forit is a matter of life and death. "

He shook hands warmly with both, and, on glancing back as soon as theywere outside, they saw the Commandant watching them from the window, whence he waved his hand. 

"He thinks we shall never get back again, Noll, " said Ingleborough, smiling; "but we'll deceive him. Now then, what next?"

"We must see Mr Allan, " replied West. 

"Then forward, " cried Ingleborough. "We must see old Norton too beforewe go, or he'll feel huffed. Let's go round by his place. "

They found the superintendent in and ready to shake hands with them bothwarmly. 

"Most plucky!" he kept on saying. "Wish I could go with you. "

"I wish you could, and with a hundred of your men to back us up, " saidWest laughingly. 

"You ought to have a couple of thousand to do any good!" said thesuperintendent: "but even they would not ensure your delivering yourdespatch. By rights there ought to be only one of you. That wouldincrease your chance. But it would be lonely work. What can I do foryou before you go?"

"Only come and see us off this evening. "

"I will, " was the reply, "and wish you safe back. "

"And, I say, " said Ingleborough: "keep your eye on that scoundrel. "

"Anson? Oh yes: trust me! I haven't done with that gentleman yet. "

Directly after they were on their way to the director's room, and asthey neared the door they could hear him pacing impatiently up and downas if suffering from extreme anxiety. 

The step ceased as they reached and gave a tap at the door, and MrAllan opened to them himself. 

"Well, " he said, "has the Commandant decided to send you?"

"Yes, sir, " replied West. 

"I'm very sorry, and I'm very glad; for it must be done, and I know noone more likely to get through the Boer lines than you two. Look here, you'll want money. Take these. No questions, no hesitation, my lads;buckle on the belts beneath your waistcoats. Money is the sinews ofwar, and you are going where you will want sinews and bones, bones andsinews too. "

In his eagerness the director helped the young men to buckle on the twocash-belts he had given them. 

"There, " he said; "that is all I can do for you but wish you good luck. By the time you come back we shall have sent the Boers to theright-about, unless they have captured Kimberley and seized thediamond-mines. Then, of course, my occupation will be gone. Goodbye. Not hard-hearted, my boys; but rather disposed to be soft. There, goodbye. "

"Now then, " said West, "we've no time to spare. What are we going to doabout horses?"

"We've the money at our back, " replied Ingleborough, "and that will doanything. We are on Government service too, so that if we cannot pay wecan pick out what we like and then report to headquarters, when theywill be requisitioned. "

But the task proved easy enough, for they had not gone far in thedirection of the mines when they met another of the directors, whogreeted them both warmly. 

"I've heard all about it, my lads, " he said, "and it's very brave of youboth. "

"Please don't say that any more, sir, " cried West appealingly, "for allwe have done yet is talk. If we do get the despatch through there willbe some praise earned, but at present we've done nothing. "

"And we're both dreadfully modest, sir, " said Ingleborough. 

"Bah! you're not great girls, " cried the director. "But you are not offyet, and you can't walk. "

"No, sir, " said West; "we are in search of horses--good ones that we cantrust to hold out. "

"Very well; why don't you go to someone who has been buying up horsesfor our mounted men?"

"Because we don't know of any such person, " said West. "Do you?"

"To be sure I do, my lad, and here he is. "

"You, sir?" cried Ingleborough excitedly. "Why, of course; I heard thatyou were, and forgot in all the bustle and excitement of the comingsiege. Then you can let us have two? The Commandant will give an orderfor the payment. "

"Hang the Commandant's payments!" cried the director testily. "Whenyoung fellows like you are ready to give their lives in the Queen'sservice, do you think men like we are can't afford to mount them? Comealong with me, and you shall have the pick of the sturdy cob ponies Ihave. They're rough, and almost unbroken--what sort of horsemen areyou?"

"Very bad, sir, " replied Ingleborough: "no style at all. We rideastride though. "

"Well, so I suppose, " said the director, laughing, "and with your facesto the nag's head. If you tell me you look towards the tail I shall notbelieve you. But seriously, can you stick on a horse tightly when atfull gallop?"

"Oliver West can, sir, " replied Ingleborough. "He's a regular centaurfoal. "

"Nonsense! Don't flatter, " cried West. "I can ride a bit, sir; butIngleborough rides as if he were part of a horse. He's accustomed totaking long rides across the veldt every morning. "

"Oh, we can ride, sir, " said Ingleborough coolly; "but whether we canride well enough to distance the Boers has to be proved. "

"I'll mount you, my boys, on such a pair of ponies as the Boers haven'tamongst them, " said the director warmly. "Do you know my stables--therough ones and enclosure I have had made?"

"We heard something about the new stabling near the mine, sir, " saidWest; "but we've been too busy to pay much heed. "

"Come and pay heed now, then. "

The speaker led the way towards the great mine buildings, and halted ata gate in a newly set-up fence of corrugated-iron, passing through whichtheir eyes were gladdened by the sight of about a dozen of the rough, sturdy little cobs bred by the Basutos across country, and evidentlyunder the charge of a couple of Kaffirs, who came hurrying up at thesight of their "baas, " as they termed him. 

Here Ingleborough soon displayed the knowledge he had picked up inconnection with horses by selecting two clever-looking muscular littlesteeds, full of spirit and go, but quite ready to prove how little theyhad been broken in, and promising plenty of work to their riders if theyexpected to keep in their saddles. 

"Be too fresh for you?" said the owner. 

"We shall soon take the freshness out of them, poor things!" saidIngleborough. "Would you mind having them bridled and saddled, sir?"

The order was given, and, after a good deal of trouble and narrowlyescaping being kicked, the Kaffirs brought the pair selected up to wherethe despatch-riders were standing with the director. 

Ingleborough smiled, and then bade the two Kaffirs to stand on the farside of the ponies, which began to resent the Kaffirs' flank movementsby sidling up towards the two young men. 

"Ready?" said Ingleborough, in a low, sharp tone. 

"Yes. "

"Mount!"

They both sprang into their saddles, to the intense astonishment of theponies, one of which made a bound and dashed off round the enclosure atfull speed, while the other, upon which West was mounted, rearedstraight up, and, preserving its balance upon its hind legs, kept onsnorting, while it sparred out with its fore hoofs as if striking atsome imaginary enemy, till the rider brought his hand down heavily uponthe restive beast's neck. The blow acted like magic, for the ponydropped on all-fours directly, gave itself a shake as if to rid itselfof saddle and rider, and then uttered a loud neigh which brought itsgalloping companion alongside. 

"Humph!" ejaculated their new friend; "I needn't trouble myself aboutyour being able to manage your horses, my lads. Will these do?"

"Splendidly, sir, " cried West. 

"There they are, then, at your service!" And, after a few directions tothe Kaffirs about having them ready when wanted, the party left theenclosure and separated with a few friendly words, the despatch-bearersmaking once more for the Commandant's quarters to report what they haddone so far, and to obtain a pass which would ensure them a readypassage through the lines and by the outposts. 

They were soon ushered into the Commandant's presence, and he nodded hissatisfaction with the report of their proceedings before taking up a penand writing a few lines upon an official sheet of paper. 

"That will clear you both going and returning, " said he, folding andhanding the permit. "Now then, when do you start?"

"Directly, sir, " said Ingleborough, who was the one addressed. 

"No, " said the Commandant. "You must wait a few hours. Of course it isimportant that the despatch be delivered as soon as possible; but youmust lose time sooner than run risks. If you go now, you will be seenby the enemy and be having your horses shot down--perhaps share theirfate. So be cautious, and now once more goodbye, my lads. I shall lookforward to seeing you back with an answering despatch. "

This was their dismissal, and they hurried away to have another look totheir horses, and to see that they were well-fed, before obtaining ameal for themselves and a supply of food to store in their haversacks. 

"There's nothing like a bit of foresight, " said Ingleborough. "We musteat, and going in search of food may mean capture and the failure of ourmission. "

The time was gliding rapidly on, the more quickly to West from the stateof excitement he was in; but the only important thing he couldafterwards remember was that twice over they ran against Anson, whoseemed to be watching their actions, and the second time West drew hiscompanion's attention to the fact. 

"Wants to see us off, " said Ingleborough. "I shouldn't be surprisedwhen we come back to find that he has eluded Norton and gone. "

"Where?" said West. 

"Oh, he'll feel that his chance here is completely gone, and he'll makefor the Cape and take passage for England. "

"If the Boers do not stop him. "

"Of course, " replied Ingleborough. "It's my impression that he hassmuggled a lot of diamonds, though we couldn't bring it home to him. "

"I suppose it's possible, " said West thoughtfully. "But isn't it likelythat he may make his way over to the enemy?"

Ingleborough looked at the speaker sharply. 

"That's not a bad idea of yours, " he said slowly; "but, if he does andhe is afterwards caught, things might go very awkwardly for hislordship, and that flute of his will be for sale. "

"Flute for sale? What do you mean? From poverty?--no one would employhim. Oh! I understand now. Horrible! You don't think our peoplewould shoot him?"

"Perhaps not, " said Ingleborough coldly; "but they'd treat him as arebel and a spy. But there, it's pretty well time we started. Comealong. "

Within half an hour they were mounted and off on their perilous journey, passing outpost after outpost and having to make good use of their pass, till, just as it was getting dusk, they parted from an officer who rodeout with them towards the Boers' encircling lines. 

"There, " he said, "you've got the enemy before you, and you'd bettergive me your pass. "

"Why?" said West sharply. 

"Because it has been a source of protection so far: the next time youare challenged it will be a danger. "

"Of course, " said Ingleborough. "Give it up, Oliver. "

"Or destroy it, " said the officer carelessly: "either will do. "

"Thanks for the advice, " said West, and they shook hands and parted, theofficer riding back to join his men. 

"You made him huffy by being suspicious, " said Ingleborough. 

"I'm sorry, but one can't help being suspicious of everything andeverybody at a time like this. What do you say about destroying theCommandant's pass?"

"I'm divided in my opinion. "

"So am I, " said West. "One moment I think it best: the next I am forkeeping it in case we fall into the hands of some of our own party. Onthe whole, I think we had better keep it and hide it. Let's keep ittill we are in danger. "

"Chance it?" said Ingleborough laconically. "Very well; only don'tleave it till it is too late. "

"I'll mind, " said West, and, as they rode out over the open veldt andinto the gloom of the falling night, they kept a sharp look-out tillthey had to trust more to their ears for notice of danger, taking careto speak only in a whisper, knowing as they did that at any moment theymight receive a challenge from the foe. 

"What are you doing?" said Ingleborough suddenly, after trying to makeout what his companion was doing. "Not going to eat yet, surely?"

"No--only preparing for the time when I must. Look here. "

"Too dark, " said Ingleborough, leaning towards his companion. 

"Very well, then, I'll tell you: I'm making a sandwich. "

"Absurd! What for?"

"I'll tell you. You can't see, but this is what I'm doing. I've twoslices of bread here, and I'm putting between them something that is notgood food for Boers. That's it. I've doubled the pass in half, andstuck it between two slices. If we have the bad luck to be takenprisoners I shall be very hungry, and begin eating the sandwich and thepass. I don't suppose it will do me any harm. "

"Capital idea, " said Ingleborough, laughing. 

"That's done, " said West, replacing his paper sandwich in his haversack, and a few minutes later, as they still rode slowly on, Ingleboroughspoke again. 

"What now?" he said. 

"Making another sandwich, " was the reply. 

"Another?"

"Yes, of the Mafeking despatch. "

"Ah, of course; but you will not eat that?"

"Only in the last extremity. "

"Good, " said Ingleborough, "and I hope we shall have no last extremes. "

He had hardly spoken when a sharp challenge in Boer-Dutch rang out, apparently from about fifty yards to their left, and, as if in obedienceto the demand, the two Basuto ponies the young men rode stoppedsuddenly. 

Ingleborough leaned down sidewise and placed his lips close to hiscompanion's ear. 

"Which is it to be?" he said. "One is as easy as the other--forward orback?"

"One's as safe as the other, " replied West, under his breath. "Forward. "

They were in the act of pressing their horses' sides to urge them onwhen there was a flash of light from the position of the man who haduttered the challenge, and almost immediately the humming, buzzing soundas of a large beetle whizzing by them in its nocturnal flight, and atthe same moment there was the sharp crack of a rifle. 

CHAPTER TEN. 

ANSON'S BLESSING. 

"Bless 'em!" said Anson to himself that same evening, "I don't wish 'emany harm. I only hope that before they've gone far the Boers willchallenge them. 

"I can almost see it now: getting dark, and an outpost challenges. `Come on, gallop!' says old Ingle, and they stick their spurs into theirnags and are off over the veldt. Then _crack, cracky crack_, go therifles till the saddles are emptied and two gallant defenders ofKimberley and brave despatch-riders lie kicking in the dust. 

"Ugh! How. I should like to be there with my flute. I'd stand andlook on till they'd given their last kick and stretched themselves outstraight, and then I'd play the `Dead March' in `Saul' all over 'emboth. Don't suppose they'd know; but if they could hear it theywouldn't sneer at my `tootling old flute'--as Ingle called it--any more. 

"Urrrr! I hated the pair of 'em. Ingle was a hound--a regularsniffing, smelling-out hound, and Noll West a miserable, sneaking cur. Beasts! So very good and nice and straightforward. Hundreds ofthousands of pounds' worth--yes, millions' worth of diamonds beingscraped together by the company, and a poor fellow not allowed to have ahandful. I don't say it's the thing to steal 'em; but who would steal?Just a bit of nice honest trade--buy in the cheapest market and sell inthe dearest. It's what the company does, but nobody else ought to, ofcourse. Who's going to ask every Kaffir who comes to you and says: `Buya few stones, baas?' `Where do you get 'em from?' Not me. They've asgood a right to 'em as the company, and if I like to do a bit of honesttrade I will, in spite of the miserable laws they make. Hang theirlaws! What are they to me? Illicit-diamond-buying! Police force, eh?A snap of the fingers for it!

"A bit sooner than I expected, " mused the flute-player. "A few monthsmore, and I should have made a very big thing if the Boers hadn't upsetit all and Master Ingle hadn't been so precious clever! Never mind: itisn't so very bad now! I'll be off while my shoes are good. I don'tbelieve the Boers have got round to the south yet, and, if they have, Idon't believe it'll matter. Say they do stop me, it'll only be: `Whoare you--and where are you going?' Down south or west or anywhere, todo a bit of trade. I'm sloping off--that's what I'm doing--because theBritish are trying to force me to volunteer to fight against my oldfriends the Boers. I'll soft-soap and butter 'em all over, and play 'ema tune or two upon the flute, and offer 'em some good tobacco. Theywon't stop me. "

The quiet, plump, thoughtful-looking muser was on his way to a farm justbeyond the outskirts of Kimberley, as he walked slowly through thedarkness, hardly passing a soul; and he rubbed his hands softly at lastas he came in sight of a dim gleaming lantern some distance ahead. 

"All ready and waiting, " he said softly, and now he increased his pace alittle in his excitement, but only to stop short and look back once ortwice as if to make sure that he was not followed. But, neither seeingnor hearing anything, he rubbed his hands again, muttered to himselfsomething about wiping his shoes of the whole place, and went onquickly. 

"Das you, baas?" said a thick guttural voice just above the lantern. 

"Yes, this is me, " replied Anson. "Team in-spanned?"

"Yaas, baas: big long time ago. Not tink baas come. "

"But I said I would, " replied Anson. "Got the water-barrel slungunderneath?"

The man grunted, Anson gave an order or two in a low tone, and inresponse to a shout a dimly-seen team of great bullocks roughlyharnessed to the dissel boom and trek tow of a long covered-in wagonbegan to trudge slowly along over the rough track which led to the mainroad leading south. A second man led the way, while the Kaffir with thelight swung himself up onto the great box in front of the wagon and drewout an unusually long whip, after hanging his horn lantern to a hook inthe middle of the arched tilt over his head. 

"Baas come alon' heah?" said the man. 

"No, go on, and I'll walk behind for a bit, " said Anson, in a low toneof voice. "Go on quietly, and keep off the track. Go straight awaytill I tell you to turn off. "

The Kaffir grunted, and the oxen plodded on at their slowtwo-mile-an-hour rate, leaving the last sign of occupation far behind, Anson twice over giving instructions to the man who was leading whichway to steer, the result being that the creaking wagon was driven rightaway south and west over the open veldt, avoiding the various farms andplaces till Kimberley was left far behind. 

It was a bright starlit night, and the long procession of big bullockslooked weird and strange in the gloom, for at times they seemed to bedrawing nothing, so closely did the tilt of the great lightly-loadedwagon assimilate with the drab dusty tint of the parched earth and thedusky-coloured scrub which the great wheels crushed down. 

The driver sat on the box with his huge whip, his shoulders well up andhis head down, driving mechanically, and seeming to be asleep, while thevoorlooper kept pace with the leading oxen, and hour after hour passedaway without a word being spoken. 

So the night wore on, the only watchful eyes being those of Anson, whokept on straining them forward right and left, while his ears twitchedas he listened for the sounds which he knew would be uttered by a Boervedette. 

But no challenge came, and the fugitive breathed more freely as thestars paled, a long, low, sickly streak began to spread in the east, andthe distance of the wide-spreading desolate veldt grew more clear. 

"I knew they wouldn't be on the look-out, " said Anson to himself, in anexulting fashion. "Hah! I'm all right, and I wonder how West and Inglehave got on. "

It was growing broad daylight when the thoughtful-looking ex-clerkclimbed up to the side of the driver. 

"How far to the fontein?" he said. 

"One hour, baas, " was the reply. 

"Is there plenty of grass?"

"Plenty, baas. Bullock much eat and drink. "

The information proved quite correct, for within the specified time--theteam having stepped out more readily, guided as they were by theirinstinct to where water, grass, and rest awaited them--and soon afterthe great orange globe had risen above what looked like the rim of theworld, the wagon was pulled up at the edge of a broad crack in the dustyplain, where the bottom of the spruit could be seen full of rich greengrass besprinkled with flowers, through which ran the clear waters of anabundant stream. 

A fire was soon lighted, a billy hung over it to boil, and Anson, afterwatching the team, which had dragged their load so well and so far, munching away at the juicy grass, began to get out the necessariesconnected with his own meal. 

"Hah!" he said softly, as he rubbed his hands; "sorry I haven't got mytwo fellow-clerks to breakfast: it would have been so nice and Ugh!" hegrowled, shading his eyes to give a final look round, for there in thedistance, evidently following the track by which he had come through thenight, there was a little knot of horsemen cantering along, and fromtime to time there came a flash of light caused by the horizontal beamsof the sun striking upon rifle-barrel or sword. 

Anson's hands dropped to his sides, and he looked to right, left, andbehind him as if meditating flight. Then his eyes went in the directionof his oxen, freshly outspanned, but he turned frowningly away as hefelt that even with the team already in their places, the lumberingbullocks could not have been forced into a speed which the horses couldnot have overtaken in a few yards at a canter. 

Then he shaded his eyes again to have a good look at the party ofhorsemen. 

"Police, " he said, in a hiss. "Yes, and that's Norton. _Hfff_!"

He drew in his breath, making a peculiar sound, and then, as ifsatisfied with the course he meant to pursue, he went back to the fireand continued his preparations for his meal, apparently paying no heedto the party of mounted police till they cantered up and came to a haltby the wagon. 

"Hallo, constables!" cried Anson boisterously; "who'd have thought ofseeing--Why, it's you, Mr Norton!"

"Yes, " said the superintendent. "You seem surprised!"

"Why, of course I am. Got something on the way? Anyone been smugglingstones?"

"Yes, " said the officer shortly. 

"Sorry for them then, for I suppose you mean to catch 'em. "

"I do, " said the officer warningly. 

"That's right; I'm just going to have some breakfast: will you have asnack with me?"

"No, thank you. I'm on business. "

"Ah, you are a busy man, Mr Norton; but let bygones be bygones. Have asnack with me! You're welcome. "

"I told you I was on business, Master Anson. Now, if you please, whereare you going?"

"Where am I going?" said Anson warmly. "Why, down south. What's thegood of my staying in Kimberley?"

"I can't answer that question, sir. Where's your pass?"

"Pass? What pass?"

"Your permit from the magistrate to leave the town. "

"Permit? Nonsense!" cried Anson. "I'm turned out of the mine offices, and I'm not going to sit and starve. No one will give me work without acharacter. You know that. "

The superintendent nodded. 

"Perhaps not, " he said; "but you are still a suspect, and you have noright to leave the town. "

"I'm not a prisoner, " said Anson defiantly, "and I'm going on my lawfulway. What have you to say to that?"

"In plain English, that I believe you are going off to escape arrest andto carry off your plunder. "

"My what? Plunder? Why, it's sickening! Didn't you come to my placeand thoroughly search it?"

"I did search your room, but found nothing, because I believe you hadeverything too well hidden. Now then, if you please, what have you gotin your wagon?"

"Nothing but provisions and my clothes! Why?"

"Because of your sudden flight. "

"My sudden what?" said Anson, laughing. 

"You know what I said, sir. Your sudden flight!"

"My sudden nonsense!" cried Anson angrily. "I have told you why I cameaway. "

"Yes, " said the superintendent; "but I'm not satisfied that this movedoes not mean that you have smuggled diamonds here with you to carry towhere you can dispose of them. "

"Well, it's of no use to argue with a policeman, " said Anson coolly. "You had better make another search. "

CHAPTER ELEVEN. 

ANOTHER SEARCH. 

"That's just what I'm going to do, Master Anson, " was the reply, givensternly. 

"All right, " said Anson nonchalantly. "Search away; but, if I was inthe police and had a good tip given me as to where the plunder I wasafter had been planted, I don't think I should waste time hunting blindleads, and letting the real culprits have plenty of time to get away. "

"But then you are not in the police, sir, " said the superintendent, witha nod. "So first of all I'll let my men run over you and your Kaffirs. "

"Wait till I've lit a cigar first, " said Anson, taking out a case, andthen laughing, for the police officer was watching him keenly. "That'sright; there are three or four diamonds in every one of these cigars, and as I smoke you'll notice that I don't burn much of the end I light, but that I keep on biting off bits of the leaf till I get to thediamonds, and then I swallow them. "

He held out his cigar-case, and the superintendent took it and began tofeel the cigars, till Anson burst out laughing. 

"Don't pinch them too hard, " he cried, "or you'll break them, and thenthey won't draw. "

The officer returned the cigar-case with an angry ejaculation, andglanced round as if hesitating where to begin, while the horses of hismen began to imitate the action of the oxen, nibbling away at the richgrass surrounding the pleasant spring. 

"I say, Robert, " said Anson, and the superintendent started at thefamiliar nickname: "I'd look smart over the business, for the Boers havebeen here lately to water their horses, and if they should by any chancecome back it might mean a journey for you and your men to Pretoria. "

"And you too, if they did come, " said the officer surlily. 

"Oh, I don't know, " said Anson airily. "I don't believe they would stopa man with an empty wagon going south on a peaceful journey. "

"They'd take you and your wagon and span, sir, " said the officersternly. 

"Look here, I don't believe the Boers would behave half so badly to meas my own people have done. But aren't you going to search?"

"Yes, " said the superintendent sharply. "Your rifle, please. "

Anson unslung it from where it hung in the wagon, and the officer tookit, examined the stock and the plate at the end of the butt, to be surethat there were no secret places scooped out of the wood, before heopened the breech and withdrew the ball cartridges, holding the emptybarrels up to his eyes. 

"That's right, " cried Anson; "but have a good look round for squalls--Imean Boers. Gun-barrels don't make half bad things to squint throughwhen you haven't got a binocular. "

"Bah!" said the superintendent angrily, replacing the cartridges andclosing the breech with a snap. "But you have a pair of glasses slungacross your shoulder, sir. Have the goodness to pass the case here. "

Anson obeyed willingly enough, giving his slung case up for the riflethat was returned. 

"There you are, " he said, "and when you've done I suppose you'd like tosearch my clothes and my skin. But I haven't anything there, and Ihaven't cut myself to slip diamonds inside my hide, and there are nonein my ears or boots. "

"It's my duty to have you searched all the same, " said thesuperintendent. "Here, two of you go carefully over Mr Anson, whileyou three hitch up your horses there and make a close search throughoutthe wagon. "

Anson chuckled as the men began promptly to pass their hands over hisclothes, turn out his pockets, and haul off his boots, their chief, after satisfying himself that the binocular case had no false bottom orprecious stones inside the instrument itself, looking searchingly on. 

Satisfied at last that his captive had nothing concealed about him, andfrowning heavily at the malicious grin of contempt in which Ansonindulged, the superintendent turned to the men examining the oxen so asto satisfy himself that none of the heavy dull brutes had been providedwith false horns riveted over their own and of greater length so as toallow room for a few diamonds in each. 

Then the dissel boom was examined to see if it had been bored outsomewhere and plugged to cover the illicitly-acquired diamonds thrustin. 

But no: the great pole of the wagon was perfectly solid; there were nostones stuck in the grease used to anoint the wheels; there was no signanywhere outside the wagon of boring or plugging; and at last thesuperintendent, after carefully avoiding Anson's supercilious grin, turned to give a final look round before giving up the search. 

Was there anywhere else likely?

Yes; there were the bags of mealies and the water-cask slung beneath thewain, both nearly full, the cask to give forth a sound when it wasshaken, and the sacks ready to be emptied out upon a wagon sheet andshed their deep buff-coloured grains, hard, clean, and sweet, in a greatheap, which was spread out more and more till they were about two deep, but showed not a sign of a smuggled stone. 

"Fill the bags again, my lads, " said the police superintendent, "andlet's have a look at what's inside the wagon. "

"We've searched everything there, " said a sergeant gruffly. 

"I have not, " replied the superintendent sharply. "Let me see. "

"But you haven't looked in the water-cask, " said Anson mockingly; "turnthe water out on to the wagon sheet. It won't stay there, of course;but we can easily get some more. Do you think diamonds would melt inwater?"

"Try one and see, " cried the superintendent angrily, as he turned away, to stand looking on while every article that could by any possibilityhave been made to act as a vehicle to hide smuggled diamonds had beenexamined and replaced. 

"We've been sold, eh?" said the sergeant, looking up in hissuperintendent's eyes at last. 

"It seems like it, " was the reply. "There's nothing here. "

Just then Anson, who had been lighting a fresh cigar, came up to himsmilingly. 

"Haven't done, have you?" he said. 

"Yes: quite, " was the gruff reply. 

"Oh, I am sorry you haven't had better luck, " said Anson, in a mocksympathetic tone. "It must be terribly disappointing, after expectingto make a big capture. "

"Very, " said the superintendent, looking the speaker searchingly in theeyes. 

"Well, I said something to you before, but you took no notice. "

"Oh yes, I did. "

"But you didn't act on my tip. It seems like playing the sneak, butthat's what they did to me, so I don't mind paying them back in theirown coin. "

"Pay whom?"

"The two who informed on me to save their own skins. "

"I do not understand you. "

"Oh dear, what fools you clever men are!"

"What do you mean?"

"Bah! And you call yourself a police officer. I'd make a better oneout of a Dutch doll. "

"Once more, what do you mean?"

"Rub the dust out of your eyes, man. "

"There's none there. "

"Tchah! Your eyes are full of the dust those two threw there. Can'tyou see?"

"No. "

"Well, I am surprised at you, " cried Anson; "and after such a hint too!Can't you see that they've been a-playing upon you--setting you off on ablind lead to keep your attention while they went off with a big parcelof diamonds?"

"What! West and Ingleborough?"

"To be sure! What should they want to volunteer for, and risk captureby the Boers, if they hadn't something to gain by it?"

"Well, they had something to gain--honour and promotion. "

"Pish!" cried Anson; "they want something better than that! You've beenhad, squire. You've been set to catch poor innocent, lamb-like me, andall the while those two foxes have been stealing away with the plunder. "

"What!" cried the superintendent. 

"I spoke plainly enough, " said Anson, smiling pleasantly. 

"Yes, you spoke plainly enough, " said the superintendent; "but it'snothing to laugh at, sir. "

"Why, it's enough to make a cat laugh. Well, I wish you better luck, "said Anson, "and if you do catch up to Oliver West I hope you'll slipthe handcuffs on him at once and make him part with his smuggled swag. "

"You may trust me for that, " said the superintendent grimly. 

"I shall, " said Anson, smiling broadly. "Glad you came after me, sothat I could put you on the right track. "

"So am I, " said the police officer, with a peculiar look. 

"And I'm sorry I cut up so rough, " continued Anson, smiling, as heapologised; "but you know, it isn't nice to be stopped and overhauled asI have been. "

"Of course it isn't, " said the officer drily; "but in my profession onecan't afford to study people's feelings. "

"No, no, of course not. But don't apologise. "

"I was not going to, " said the superintendent; "I'm sorry, though, tofind out that West is such a scamp. Why, Ingleborough must be as bad. "

"Or worse, " said Anson, grinning. 

"Yes, because he's older. Why, I quite trusted that fellow. "

"Ah, you're not the first man who has been deceived, sir. "

"Of course not; but by the way, Mr Anson, why didn't you say somethingof this kind in your defence when Ingleborough charged you before thedirectors?"

"Why didn't I say something about it? Why, because I didn't know. Itonly came to me too late. But there, you know now; and, as I saidbefore, I wish you luck and a good haul, only unfortunately they've gota good start and you'll have your work cut out. Going? Goodbye then. "

"Goodbye?" said the superintendent, using the word as a question. 

"Yes, of course. I'm going to chance it. I don't suppose we shall meetany Boers. "

"No; I don't think you'll meet any Boers, " said the officer, in someaning a way that Anson grew uneasy. 

"Why do you speak like that?" he said sharply. 

"Only that it isn't goodbye, Mr Anson. "

"Not goodbye? Yes, it is. I'm off to the south at once. "

"No, sir; you're going north with me. You area suspected person, MrAnson. I am not altogether satisfied with my search, nor yet with yourvery ingenious story. "

"Then search again?" cried Anson excitedly. 

"Not here, sir. I'll have a careful look over the wagon when we getback to Kimberley. "

"You don't mean to say you are going to drag me back to Kimberley?"

"I do, sir, and you ought to be thankful, for you'd never pass throughthe Boers' lines further south. "

"But you have thoroughly searched me and my wagon. "

"I have told you that I am not satisfied, " said the officer coldly;"and, even if I were, I should take you back with me all the same. "

"Why? What for?"

"To face this Mr West and his companion if we capture them and bringthem back. "

"But what's that to me?"

"Only this: you are the informer, and will have to give evidence againstthem when they are examined. Now, please, no more words, Mr Anson; youare my prisoner. Quick, boys! Get the team in-spanned and the wagonturned the other way. "

"But breakfast, " said Anson, with a groan. "I must have something toeat. "

"The billy is boiling, " said the sergeant to his chief, in aconfidential tone, "and the bullocks would be all the better for anhour's feed, sir. "

The superintendent looked sharply towards the fire and the prisoner'sprovisions, and shaded his eyes and gazed for some minutes south. 

"You're right, " he said. "Send two men off a good mile forward asoutposts, and let the oxen feed. --Now, Mr Anson, I'll take breakfastwith you if you'll have me for a guest. "

"Yes; I can't help myself, " said the prisoner bitterly; "and suppose Ishan't have a chance given me to make your tea agreeable with somethingI have in the wagon. "

"No; I don't think you will, sir, thanks. "

"But I can sit and wish you luck, my friend, and my wish is this--that acommando may swoop down upon you and your gang. "

"Thanks once more, " said the superintendent grimly. "There, sit down, sir, and I'll preside and send you your breakfast. "

This was done, the repast made, and, as soon as two of the constableshad finished, they were sent off to relieve their rear-guard, sendingthem on to have their meal, and with orders to fall back towards thewagon a quarter of an hour after the relief had been made. 

All this was duly carried out, the oxen in-spanned, and the wagon beganits lumbering course back towards Kimberley, the black driver andvoorlooper taking their places in the most unconcerned way, as if itwere all in the day's work, while Anson, after eating voraciously, had afit of the sulks, watching narrowly the movements of the police. Aftera moment's indecision he climbed upon the box in the front of the wagonand in doing so glanced at his rifle, which hung in its slings close tohis head. 

"Six of them, " he said to himself, as he smiled pleasantly. "I couldbring down the chief and one more easily; but that wouldn't scare therest away. Odds are too heavy, and one don't want to be taken andhanged. They are so particular about a policeman being hurt! Nevermind; I daresay my luck will turn--fool as I was to try that dodge onabout those two going off with the smuggled loot. I'll wait. Here goesto whistle for the Boers, as the sailors do for wind. "

Saying this, he drew out the little mahogany case which held his flute, and coolly took the pieces and fitted them together, before crossing hislegs upon the rough seat and beginning to blow, keeping up a series ofthe most doleful old Scotch and Irish laments, while the oxen plodded onand the police rode by the wagon side, listening and looking in vain forany sign tending to point out the fact that the flautist was a dishonestdealer in the coveted crystals which were so hard to get, but all thesame keeping a keen look-out for danger in the shape of advancing Boers. 

CHAPTER TWELVE. 

IN THE THICK OF IT. 

The report of the rifle was magical in its effect upon the Basutoponies, each rearing up on its hind legs and striking out with itsforefeet; but the same punishment was meted out by the riders--namely, asharp tap between the ears with the barrels of the rifles--and theresult was that beyond fidgeting they stood fairly still, while _flash, flash, flash_, three more shots were fired. The bullets whizzed by withtheir peculiar noise, sounding quite close, but probably nowhere nearthe riders--those who fired judging in the darkness quite by sound. 

"Let's keep on at a walk, " whispered West; but, low as his utterancewas, the sound reached an enemy's ears. 

"Mind what you're about!" said someone close at hand, evidentlymistaking the speaker for a friend; "one of those bullets went prettyclose to my ear. Whereabouts are they?"

"Away to the right, " whispered Ingleborough, in Dutch. 

"Come on then, " said the former speaker. "_Ck_!"

The pony the man rode made a plunge as if spurs had been suddenly duginto its sides, and the dull beat of its hoofs on the dusty soil told ofthe course its rider was taking. 

West was about to speak when the rapid beating of hoofs came from hisleft, and he had hard work to restrain his own mount from joining aparty of at least a dozen of the enemy as they swept by noisily in thedarkness. 

"What do the fools think they are going to do by galloping about likethat?" said Ingleborough gruffly. 

"If they had kept still they might have caught us. Hallo! Firingagain!"

Three or four shots rang out on the night air, and away in front of thepair the beating of hoofs was heard again. 

"Why, the country seems alive with them, " whispered West. "Hadn't webetter keep on?"

"Yes, we must chance it, " was the reply. "No one can see us twentyyards away. "

"And we ought to make the most of the darkness. "

"Hist!" whispered Ingleborough, and his companion sat fast, listening tothe movements of a mounted man who was evidently proceeding cautiouslyacross their front from left to right. Then the dull sound of hoofsceased--went on again--ceased once more for a time, so long that Westfelt that their inimical neighbour must have stolen away, leaving thecoast quite clear. 

He was about to say so to Ingleborough, but fortunately waited a littlelonger, and then started, for there was the impatient stamp of a horse, followed by a sound that suggested the angry jerking of a rein, for theanimal plunged and was checked again. 

As far as the listeners could make out, a mounted man was not fortyyards away, and the perspiration stood out in great drops upon West'sbrow as he waited for the discovery which he felt must be made. For amovement on the part of either of the ponies, or a check of the rein tokeep them from stretching down their necks to graze, would have beenenough. But they remained abnormally still, and at last, to thesatisfaction and relief of both, the Boer vedette moved off at a trot, leaving the pair of listeners once more free to breathe. 

"That was a narrow escape!" said West, as soon as their late companionwas fairly out of hearing. 

"Yes. I suppose we ought to have dismounted and crawled up to him andput a bullet through his body, " answered Ingleborough. 

"Ugh! Don't talk about it!" replied West. "I suppose we shall haveplenty of such escapes as this before we have done. "

"You're right! But we can move on now, and--Hist! There are some moreon the left. "

"I don't hear anyone. Yes, I do. Sit fast; there's a strong partycoming along. "

West was quite right, a body of what might have been a hundred going bythem at a walk some eighty or ninety yards away, and at intervals ashort sharp order was given in Boer-Dutch which suggested to Westcommands in connection with his own drill, "Right incline!" or "Leftincline!" till the commando seemed to have passed right away out ofhearing. 

"Now then, " said West softly, "let's get on while we have the chance. "

The words were hardly above his breath, but in the utter stillness ofthe night on the veldt they penetrated sufficiently far, and in aninstant both the despatch-riders knew what the brief orders they hadheard meant, namely that as the commando rode along a trooper wasordered to rein up at about every hundred yards and was left as avedette. 

For no sooner had West spoken than there was a sharp challenge to leftand right, running away along a line, and directly after the reports ofrifles rang out and bullets whizzed like insects through the dark nightair. Many flew around and over the heads of the fugitives; for themoment the discovery was made West and Ingleborough pressed theirponies' sides and went forward at full gallop to pass through the firein front of them. 

It was close work, for guided by the sounds of the ponies' hoofs, theBoers kept on firing, one shot being from close at hand--so close thatthe flash seemed blinding, the report tremendous. This was followed bya sharp shock, the two companions, as they tore on, cannoning againstthe vedette, West's pony striking the horse in his front full upon theshoulder and driving the poor beast right in the way of Ingleborough's, with the consequence that there was a second collision which sent theBoer and his horse prostrate, Ingleborough's pony making a bound whichcleared the struggling pair, and then racing forward alongside of itsstable companion, when they galloped on shoulder to shoulder. They werefollowed by a scattered fire of bullets, and when these ceased Westturned in his saddle and listened, to hear the heavy beat of many hoofs, telling of pursuit; but the despatch-riders were well through the line, and galloped on at full speed for the next half-hour, when theyslackened down and gradually drew rein and listened. 

"Can't hear a sound!" said West. 

"Nor I, " replied Ingleborough, after a pause. "So now let's breathe ournags and go steadily, for we may very likely come upon another of theselines of mounted men. "

A short consultation was then held respecting the line of route to befollowed as likely to be the most clear of the enemy. 

"I've been thinking, " said Ingleborough, "that our best way will be tostrike off west, and after we are over the river to make a good longdetour. "

West said nothing, but rode on by his companion's side, letting his ponyhave a loose rein so that the sure-footed little beast could pick itsway and avoid stones. 

"I think that will be the best plan, " said Ingleborough, after a longpause. 

Still West was silent. 

"What is it?" said his companion impatiently. 

"I was thinking, " was the reply. 

"Well, you might say something, " continued Ingleborough, in an ill-usedtone. "It would be more lively if you only gave a grunt. "

"Humph!"

It was as near an imitation as the utterer could give, and Ingleboroughlaughed. 

"Thanks, " he said. "That's a little more cheering. I've been thinking, too, that if we make this detour to the west we shall get into somerougher country, where we can lie up among the rocks of some kopje whenit gets broad daylight. "

"And not go on during the day?"

"Certainly not; for two reasons: our horses could not keep on withoutrest, and we should certainly be seen by the Boers who are crowding overthe Vaal. " West was silent again. 

"Hang it all!" cried Ingleborough. "Not so much as a grunt now! Lookhere, can you propose a better plan?"

"I don't know about better, but I was thinking quite differently fromyou. "

"Let's have your way then. "

"Perhaps you had better not. You have had some experience in your ridesout on excursions with Mr Norton, and I daresay your plan is a betterone than mine. "

"I don't know, " said Ingleborough shortly. "Let's hear yours. "

"But--"

"Let's--hear--yours, " cried the other imperatively, and his voicesounded so harsh that West felt annoyed, and he began:

"Well, I thought of doing what you propose at first. "

"Naturally: it seems the likeliest way. "

"But after turning it over in my mind it seemed to me that the Boerswould all be hurrying across the border and scouring our country, looking in all directions as they descended towards Kimberley. "

"Yes, that's right enough. But go on; don't hesitate. It's yourexpedition, and I'm only second. "

"So I thought that we should have a far better chance and be less likelyto meet with interruption if we kept on the east side of the Vaal tillit turned eastward, and then, if we could get across, go on norththrough the enemy's country. "

"Invade the Transvaal with an army consisting of one officer and oneman?"

"There!" cried West pettishly. "I felt sure that you would ridicule myplans. "

"Then you were all wrong, lad, " cried Ingleborough warmly, "for, so farfrom ridiculing your plans, I think them capital. There's success inthem from the very cheek of the idea--I beg your pardon: I ought to sayaudacity. Why, of course, if we can only keep clear of the wanderingcommandos--and I think we can if we travel only by night--we shall findthat nearly everyone is over the border on the way to the siege ofKimberley, and when we stop at a farm, as we shall be obliged to forprovisions, we shall only find women and children. "

"But they'll give warning of our having been there on our way toMafeking. "

"No, they will not. How will they know that we are going to Mafeking ifwe don't tell them? I'm afraid we must make up a tale. Perhaps you'llbe best at that. I'm not clever at fibbing. "

"I don't see that we need tell the people lies, " said West shortly. 

"Then we will not, " said his companion. "Perhaps we shall not be asked;but if we are I shall say that we are going right away from the fightingbecause we neither of us want to kill any Boers. "

"Humph!" grunted West. 

"What, doesn't that suit you? It's true enough. I don't want to killany Boers, and I'm sure you don't. Why, when you come to think that weshall be telling this to women whose husbands, sons, or brothers havebeen commandoed, we are sure to be treated as friends. "

"We had better act on your plan, " said West, "and then we need make upno tales. "

"Wait a minute, " said Ingleborough. "Pull up. "

West obeyed, and their ponies began to nibble the herbage. 

"Now listen: can you hear anything?"

West was silent for nearly a minute, passed in straining his ears tocatch the slightest sound. 

"Nothing, " he said at last. 

"Nothing, " said his companion. "Let's jump down!"

West followed his companion's example, and swung himself out of thesaddle. 

"Now get between the nags' heads and hold them still. You and they willform three sides of a square: I'm going to be the fourth. "

"What for?"

"To light a match. "

"Oh, don't stop to smoke now, " said West reproachfully. "Let's get on. "

"Who's going to smoke, old Jump-at-conclusions? I'm going to carry outour plan. "

_Scratch_! and a match blazed up, revealing Ingleborough's face as hebent down over it to examine something bright held in one hand--something he tried to keep steady till the match burned close to hisfingers and was crushed out. 

"Horses' heads are now pointing due north, " he said. "Keep where youare till I'm mounted. That's right! Now then, up you get! That'sright! Now then! Right face--forward!"

"But you're going east. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, with a little laugh, "and I'm going with Westor by West all the same. We must keep on till we get to the railway, cross it, and then get over the border as soon as we can. "

"What, follow out my plan?"

"Of course! It's ten times better than mine. Look here, my dear boy, you are a deal too modest. Recollect that you are in command, and thatmy duty is to obey. "

"Nonsense!"

"Sense, sir; sound sense. I've got enough in my head to know when athing's good, and you may depend upon my opposing you if I feel that youare going to act foolishly. Once for all, your idea's capital, lad; solet's get on as fast as we can till daybreak, and then we can lie up insafely in the enemy's country. "

In due course the railway was reached, a breeze springing up andsweeping the sky clear so that they had a better chance of avoidingobstacles in the way, and as soon as they were well over the line theponies were kept at a canter, which was only checked here and there overbroken ground. This, however, became more plentiful as the night glidedaway, but the rough land and low kopjes were the only difficulties thatthey encountered on the enemy's side of the border, where they passed afarm or two, rousing barking dogs, which kept on baying till thefugitives were out of hearing. 

At last the pale streak right in front warned them that daylight wascoming on fast, and they searched the country as they cantered on tillaway more to the north a rugged eminence clearly seen against the skysuggested itself as the sort of spot they required, and they now hurriedtheir ponies on till they came to a rushing, bubbling stream running inthe right direction. 

"Our guide, Noll, " said Ingleborough quietly; "that will lead us rightup to the kopje, where we shall find a resting-place, a good spot forhiding, and plenty of water as well. "

All proved as Ingleborough had so lightly stated; but before theyreached the shelter amongst the piled-up masses of granite andironstone, with shady trees growing in the cracks and crevices, theirglasses showed them quite half-a-dozen farms dotted about the plain. They were in great doubt as to whether they were unseen when they had todismount and lead their willing steeds into a snug little amphitheatresurrounded by rocks and trees, while the hollow itself was rich withpasturage such as the horses loved best, growing upon both sides of theclear stream whose sources were high up among the rocks. 

"You see to hobbling the ponies, Noll, " said Ingleborough, "while I getup as high as I can with my glass and give an eye to the farms. Ifwe've been seen someone will soon be after us. We can't rest till weknow. But eat your breakfast, and I'll nibble mine while I watch. Don't take off the saddles and bridles. "

West did as he was requested, and ate sparingly while he watched thehorses browsing for quite an hour, before Ingleborough came down fromthe highest part of the kopje. 

"It's all right, " he said. "Let's have off the saddles and bridles now. Have you hobbled them well?"

"Look, " said West. 

"Capital. I didn't doubt you; but you might have made a mistake, and ifwe dropped asleep and woke up to find that the ponies were gone it wouldbe fatal to your despatch. "

"Yes; but one of us must keep watch while the other sleeps. "

"It's of no use to try, my lad. It isn't to be done. If we're going toget into Mafeking in a business-like condition we must have food andrest. Come, the horses will not straggle away from this beautiful moistgrass, so let's lie down in this shady cave with its soft sandy bottomand sleep hard till sunset. Then we must be up and away again. "

"But anxiety won't let me sleep, " said West. "I'll sit down and watchtill you wake, and then I'll have a short sleep while you take myplace. "

"Very well, " said Ingleborough, smiling. 

"What are you laughing at?" said West, frowning. 

"I was only thinking that you had a very hard day yesterday and that youhave had an arduous time riding through the night. "

"Yes, of course. "

"Well, nature is nature! Try and keep awake if you can! I'm going tolie flat on my back and sleep. You'll follow my example in less than anhour. "

"I--will--not!" said West emphatically. 

But he did, as he sat back resting his shoulders against the rock andgazing out from the mouth of the cave where they had made themselvescomfortable at the beautiful sunlit veldt, till it all grew dark as if aveil had been drawn over his eyes. 

It was only the lids which had closed, and then, perfectly unconscious, he sank over sidewise till he lay prone on the soft sand, sleepingheavily, till a hand was laid upon his shoulder and he started intowakefulness, to see that the sun had set, that the shadows weregathering over the veldt, and then that Ingleborough was smiling in hisface. 

"Rested, old man?" he said. "That's right. The nags have had asplendid feed, and they are ready for their night's work. I haven'tseen a soul stirring. Come on! Let's have a good drink of water and afeed, and by that time we ought to be ready to start. "

"We ought to cross the Vaal before morning, " said West. 

"I doubt it, " was the reply, "for it will be rather a job, as we shallfind the enemy about there. If we get across to-morrow night we shallhave done well. "

"But we shall never get to Mafeking like this. "

"It's going to be a harder task than you thought for when youvolunteered so lightly, my dear boy; but we've undertaken to do it, anddo it we will. It isn't a work of hours nor days. It may take usweeks. Come along! I'm hungry, and so are you. "

"But tell me, " said West, "how long have you been awake?"

"Not above a quarter of an hour. We must have sleep and rest as well asfood. When we've had the last we shall be ready for anything throughthe night. "

And so it proved as they rode on properly refreshed, meeting with noadventure, but being startled by the barking roars of lions twice duringthe night, which came to an end as they reached a very similar kopjeoffering just such accommodation as they had met with on the previousmorning. 

"Hah!" said Ingleborough. "Just enough prog left for a rough breakfast. To-morrow we shall have to begin travelling by day, so as to pay avisit to some farm, for we can't do as the nags do, eat grass when theycan get it and nibble green shoots when they can't. Now then, my dearNoll, the orders for to-day are: sleep beneath this projecting shelf. "

"But I say, " said West, a minute or so later, "is your rifle charged?You were wiping the barrels as we rode along. "

There was no reply, for Ingleborough was fast asleep, and West soonfollowed his example. 

CHAPTER THIRTEEN. 

AFTER A LAPSE. 

Oliver West was sleeping soundly that night from sheer fatigue; but allthe same his slumber was not pleasant, for though his body was restinghis brain was hard at work. 

Before an hour had passed he was conscious of being cold, and in adreamy way he felt that he ought to do what under the circumstances wasimpossible: that is to say, put more clothes over him, or, failing them, as he had no more, roll himself over and over in the blanket that he hadbrought strapped to his saddle-bow and only thrown over him when he laydown to sleep. But his body was so steeped in sleep that he did notstir, and suffered from the freezing air of the night--so tremendous achange from the torrid heat of mid-day out on the veldt. 

Later on, about midnight, the impression came upon him that he couldhear a lion far away, seeming to make the earth quiver beneath him bygiving forth in the fierce beast's strangely ventriloquial way itsawe-inspiring roar, so puzzling to the listener as to whether it is faroff or near. And even in his dreamy state West found himself doubtingthat it could be a lion's roar that he heard so near to wherecivilisation had driven off most of the savage beasts of the plain. Butthe roar came again, nearer, and in his dreams he felt sure that he wasright, and he recalled, still sleeping, the fact that now and then theking of beasts followed one or other of the straggling herds ofantelopes quite close to the Boers' farms. Then the curious barkingroar ceased, and with it consciousness for some time. 

All at once he found himself wide awake, lying upon his back, and gazingstraight up through the transparent darkness at the stars. He lay forsome moments wondering what had awakened him, perfectly still, andlistening intently for steps or the trampling of horses, feeling surethat the Boers were close at hand. 

Instinctively his hand was reached out to grasp the rifle, which he hadlaid by his side and covered from the dew or hoar frost, whichever mightcome, by throwing over it part of his blanket. 

As he touched it the cold perspiration began to start from every pore, for there was a whiff of hot breath upon his face, and he could dimlysee that some large animal was stretching down its muzzle towards him, and for a few brief moments he lay as if paralysed, expecting to feelhimself seized and dragged away, for now came back with keen clearnessthe recollection of having heard the distant roaring of a lion. 

He had hardly grasped this when once more, from somewhere near, thelion's terrifying cry arose, evidently, as he thought in a flash, one ofthe companions of the huge beast at his side. In an instant now he hadgrasped the truth, for as the distant lion roared there came from hisright the peculiar stumbling movement of one of the hobbled horsesstriving to get closer to where there would be human companionship, ifnot protection. "Poor beast!" thought West, as his fascinated eyesstared at the dim shape above him, so close that it shut out from himthe light of the stars. 

Then the half-paralysed listener saw clearly, for the beast raised itshead and uttered a low whinnying cry, which was answered from thedirection where the other hobbled pony was moving. 

"Woho, my boy!" whispered West, with the blood now tingling through hisveins, and as the pony whinnied softly again West raised himself up withhis rifle in his right hand and stretched out his left for it to come incontact with the soft warm muzzle of his pony, which pressed against it, the poor brute uttering a low sigh. Quite a minute then passed, the twoponies remaining motionless, and West listening with every nerve on thestrain, knowing as he did that a lion must be in very close proximity, and fully expecting every moment that there might be a tremendous boundand the savage brute would alight either upon him or upon one of thepoor shivering beasts. 

Then, from evidently pretty close at hand, there was a low mutteringgrowl, the barrel of West's rifle fell into his left hand as he held theweapon pistol-wise and fired low down in the direction of the sounds. 

At the flash and in company with the report there was a yelping snarland a couple of angry roars in quick succession. 

West fired again as nearly as he could judge where the beast would be, and the next moment Ingleborough was kneeling by his side. 

"What is it--lions?" he panted. 

"Yes, " whispered West, whose fingers were busy re-loading, and helistened for the next sound, but only to hear a deep sighing breath oneither side, telling that the horses had been too much terrified tostart away, or else felt that they would be safer with their masters, and that to try to gallop off meant the springing of a savage enemy upontheir backs. 

The silence continued for nearly a minute, and then there was a vicioussnarling, apparently some fifty yards away, while without a moment'shesitation Ingleborough raised his rifle to his shoulder and fired asnearly as he could judge at the spot from whence the noise came. Hefired twice, the shots being so close together as almost to be like onefor a while. Then after a perceptible interval they were echoed fromthe walls of a distant kopje, and again from another, before they diedaway. 

"That has startled the lions, " said Ingleborough; "but I'm afraid itwill startle the Boers and bring them to see what's the matter. "

"Yes, the lions are gone, " said West. "Hark at that! Who says horseshave no sense?"

For the _crop, crop, crop_ of the browsing animals had begun again fromclose at hand, and the comrades stood listening for some little timewhile the otherwise unbroken stillness once more reigned. 

"What's to be done?" said West. "Shall we make a start at once, or waitfor daylight?"

"I was thinking, " replied Ingleborough. "If we start now we have theadvantage of the darkness to hide us, but the disadvantage too, for wemay go blundering right into the midst of some commando. I don't thinkthe firing could do us any harm, after all, for the enemy would not beable to tell where the sounds came from. I think we had better staywhere we are and wait for morning. "

"I think so too, " said West, with a sigh of relief; "but one of us oughtto watch in case the lions come back. "

"They will not come back!" said Ingleborough decisively. "From what Iknow of their habits they'll have been too much scared to risk theirlives again. You hit one of them; there's no doubt about that. "

"You think there was more than one?"

"I should say it was a family party of an old lioness and two or threehalf-grown cubs. "

"Then we may lie down and sleep again?"

"Yes; we must trust to our luck, Noll; there's a good deal of chance inthese affairs. "

West hesitated for a few minutes, and then followed his companion'sexample, lying awake for some time thinking of what a strange changethis was from his quiet life in the offices of the company; and then, ashe began to ponder over what might be to come, the subject grew toodifficult for him and he fell fast asleep. 

But he was the first to awaken in the grey dawn, to find that the horseswere close at hand, browsing away contentedly enough, and ready to neighsoftly and submit to his caress when he walked up to them; while, assoon as he had satisfied himself that they had not suffered in any way, he walked in the direction in which he had fired during the night, tofind footprints in several directions, and in one place the dust amongsome stones torn up and scattered, as if one of the brutes had fallen onits side and scratched up the earth. Plainer still in the way of proofof what had happened, there were spots and smudges of blood, givingthorough evidence that one of the lions had been wounded by the chanceshot, and had fallen, and struggled fiercely to regain its feet. 

He had just arrived at this conclusion when Ingleborough found him. 

"Hallo!" cried his companion; "that was a good blind shot, Noll. Welldone, lad! A full-grown lion too! Look at its pads. It must have hada nasty flesh-wound to have bled like this. "

"Do you think it'll be lying anywhere near, half-dead, or quite?"

"No! A cat has nine lives, they say; and really this kind of beast isvery, hard to kill. Look, there are the pugs, along with those of threemore, all half-grown, going right away yonder into the open veldt. Wemight hunt 'em down, but we don't want to, eh?"

"Absurd! We want to get on at once. Can you see any pug, as you callit, of Boers?"

"No. I've had a good look round, and as soon as we've had a mouthfulwe'll be off. I say, it's wonderful, isn't it, how one can sleep outhere on the veldt?"

"Surrounded by dangers!" replied West. Then laconically: "Yes. "

Their scanty meal was soon eaten and washed down with a draught of purewater, after which they both climbed to the top of the highest part ofthe kopje to take a good survey of the surrounding plain. 

"There's nothing in sight, " said Ingleborough quietly; "so we'll hurryon at once while our shoes are good. "

The ponies looked as fresh as ever when they were saddled and ready tostart, and after an examination of the compass Ingleborough pointed outthat they ought to keep along north-east to strike the Vaal somewherethat evening, and then go along its southern bank till a ford wasreached, after which their journey would be north by west. 

"But we must be on the look-out for some lonely farm to-day, " said West. "We ought to well fill our haversacks before we start again. "

"Never fear; we shall find plenty of food for sale so long as we havemoney to show the Boer ladies. Ready?"

"Yes, " replied West, and together they sprang into their saddles androde down the slope, their horses carefully picking their way among thestones, till the open veldt was reached. They then struck off at aquiet canter towards a rocky ridge so as to put that between them andthe kopje where they had slept, in case by any possibility their shotshad been heard and a party of the enemy should ride up to it to make asearch and in the course of it see them in the distance riding away. 

"And that would mean pursuit, a race, and the fastest horses to win, "said West. 

"As they generally do when there is fair play, " replied Ingleboroughquietly. "Keep a sharp look-out forward, and I'll keep on casting aneye back at the kopje. "

The ridge was only about a couple of miles distant from their previousnight's resting-place, proving to be fairly high, but with a gradualslope: while just as they reached the spot where the ascent beganIngleborough turned in his saddle from a long look-out backwards. 

"This is like wringing one's own neck, " he cried. "Now then, let'scanter up this bit, and as soon as we have topped it we need not be socautious. Ready?"

"Yes, " cried West. 

"Then off! Steady! No galloping; a gentle canter. "

It was fortunate for the pair that they did not breathe their horses, but rode up the gentle slope at a regular lady's canter, to find theridge pleasantly fringed with a patch of open woodland, through whichtheir steeds easily picked their way, and on to the farther slope, whichwas more dotted with forest growth; but there was nothing to hindertheir rate of speed--in fact, the horses began to increase the pace as abroad grassy stretch opened before them. 

The moment they passed out of the woodland on to the open space Westuttered a word of warning and pressed his pony's side, for the firstglance showed him that they had come right upon a Boer laager which wasin the course of being broken up. Oxen were being in-spanned, men weretightening the girths of their ponies, and preparations were in progresseverywhere for an advance in some direction. 

CHAPTER FOURTEEN. 

MAN-HUNTING. 

Whatsoever this may have been, the sudden appearance of the two freshhorsemen decided the course of some thirty or forty, who stood about fora few moments staring wonderingly at the pair flying down the descent, before mounting in some cases, in others seizing their rifles andflinging themselves upon the ground to load rapidly and take aim. 

"Mind how you go, Noll!" shouted Ingleborough. "A fall means beingtaken prisoner now!"

He had hardly shouted the words before the bullets came buzzing abouttheir ears like bees after disturbers on a hot swarming day in oldEngland. 

"Take care!" cried West excitedly. "It will be a long chase; so don'tpress your nag too hard. Lie down on your horse's neck; the bullets arecoming more and more, and we shan't be safe for another mile. "

"Bah! It's all nonsense about their marksmanship, " cried Ingleborough, who seemed to be suffering from a peculiar kind of elation in whichthere was no feeling of fear. "Let them shoot! We're end on to them, and have a clear course! They're trained to shoot springbok, I suppose, when they get a chance; but they haven't had much experience ofgalloping men. Fire away, you cowardly brutes!" he roared, as if hefancied that the enemy could hear him. "I don't believe you could hit arunaway railway truck or a cantering furniture-van, let alone a horsewith a man on its back. "

"Ah!" cried West, at that moment, as he turned from looking back andsnatched off his broad-brimmed hat. 

"Noll, boy, don't say you're hit!" cried Ingleborough passionately. 

"No, " said West, drawing his breath with a peculiar sound. "I'veescaped; but I thought I'd got it! I felt as if my hat was beingsnatched off, and something touched my ear. "

"Turn your head this way!" said Ingleborough huskily. 

"Wait a moment!" replied West, who had passed his hat into his reinhand, to afterwards clap his right to his head and draw it away. 

"First blood to them!" he said, with a mocking laugh. 

"Here, we must ease up and let me bandage it, " said Ingleborough. 

"No, thanks: that's a likely tale with the bullets flying like this!Keep on, man; we've got a fair start! Let's get past those treesforward yonder; they'll shelter us a bit!"

"But your wound, my lad?"

"They've only nicked the edge of my ear. It will stop bleeding ofitself. There's nothing to mind!"

Ingleborough watched him eagerly as he spoke, and seeing for himselfthat there was only a feeble trickle of blood from the cut ear, hepressed on in the required direction. 

"Give me warning, " he cried, "if you feel faint, and we'll pull up, dismount, and cover ourselves with our horses while we try what practicewe can make if they come on. "

"_If_ they come on!" said West bitterly. "Look for yourself; they'realready coming!"

Ingleborough turned his head sharply, to see that a line of gallopingmen had just been launched from the Boer laager to the right and left, and were streaming in single file down the slope, leaving ample roombetween them for their dismounted companions to keep up a steady fireupon the fugitives. 

"That's their game, is it?" said Ingleborough, between his teeth. "Verywell, then, we must make a race of it and see what our picked ponies cando. "

"That's right!" cried West. "Let's open out a little!"

"Right, and give them less to aim at! The bullets are flying wildlynow. Ten yards apart will do. "

They separated to about this distance, and at a word from West eachnipped his pony's flanks with his knees and rose a little in thestirrups, with the result that the wiry little animals stretched outgreyhound fashion and flew over the veldt as if thoroughly enjoying thegallop. 

"Steady! steady!" shouted West, at the end of ten minutes. "We'releaving the brutes well behind, and the bullets are getting scarce. Don't let's worry the brave little nags! With a start like this we canleave the Boers well behind. "

Ingleborough nodded after a glance backward and followed his companion'sexample, drawing rein so that their steeds settled down into ahand-gallop, still leaving their pursuers farther behind. The groundwas now perfectly level, stretching for three or four miles without anobstacle, and then the horizon line was broken by one of the many kopjesof the country, one which lay right in their line of flight. 

"What about that?" said West. "Shall we make for it and get intoshelter ready for using our rifles?"

"I don't like it!" replied Ingleborough. "There might be another partythere, and then it would be like galloping into another hornets' nest. "

"I don't like it either, " said West; "but we must think of our horses, and by the time we get there half of this pursuing lot will have tailedoff, while I don't believe the rest will come on if we shoot pretty truefrom behind some rock. "

"That's right!" said Ingleborough. "We mustn't let them keep us on therun, for the horses' sake. "

"Look out!" said West, in warning tones. 

"What is it?"

"They're pulling up and dismounting, " replied West. "Here come thebullets again. "

For as he spoke the buzzing, whizzing notes of danger overhead, whichhad for some minutes ceased, began to utter their warnings again, but ina very irregular way, which brought forth the remark from Ingleboroughthat their enemies' hands were unsteady from their sharp ride. 

"The more need then for us to get into a sheltered place where we canrest a few minutes before they can come up, " said West. "Let's haveanother sharp gallop and get well among the rocks: it will be riding outof range and getting more in advance before they mount again. "

"Right, general!" cried Ingleborough banteringly; and once more theytore over the veldt, pursued only by the bullets, for the followingBoers had dismounted to a man. 

"Keep a little wider, " said West, laughing outright at his companion'sword "general. "

"Don't let's give them a chance by riding so close together!"

"Right! Fine manoeuvre!" replied Ingleborough; and they went on towardsthe kopje at full speed, both feeling a wild kind of exhilaration as thewind rushed by their cheeks, and the plucky little horses stretched outmore and more as if enjoying the race as much as their riders. 

Strange terms "exhilaration" and "enjoying, " but none the less true. For there was no feeling of dread, even though the bullets kept onwhizzing by them to right, to left, in front, far behind; now highoverhead, and more often striking up the dust and ricochetting intospace, to fall neither knew where. Every leaden messenger, it itreached its mark, meant a wound; many would have resulted in death hadthey struck the fugitives. But the excitement made the rush one wildgratification, combined with a kind of certainty that they would escapescot-free; and they laughed aloud, shouting words of encouragement totheir ponies and cries of defiance and derision at the unsuccessfulriflemen. 

"Why, we could do better ourselves, Noll!" cried Ingleborough. "Sothese are your puffed-up Boers whom writers have put in their books andpraised so effusively! My word, what a lot of gammon has been writtenabout rifle-shooting! I believe that Cooper's Deerslayer with hisold-fashioned rifle was a duffer after all, and the wonderful shots ofthe trappers all bluff. "

"Perhaps so!" shouted West, rather breathlessly; "but these fellows canshoot!"

"Not a bit!"

"Well, my ear has stopped bleeding; but it smarts as if someone wastrying to saw into the edge. "

"Never mind; it's only gristle!" said Ingleborough. 

"I don't mind, but if the Boer who fired that bullet had only held hisrifle a hair's breadth more to the left the scrap of lead would havegone into my skull. "

"Of course; but then he did not hold his rifle a hair's breadth more tothe left. By jingo!"

"What's the matter?"

"Don't quite know yet. It feels quite numb and free from pain. I don'tthink I'm hit. I half fancy the poor pony has it, for he gave atremendous start. All right; keep on! The bullet struck my rolled-upblanket, and it has gone into the saddle. I can feel the little hole. "

"What a narrow escape!" cried West anxiously. "Come, you must own thatthey can shoot straight! If that bullet had gone a trifle higher itwould have gone through your loins. "

"To be sure! and a little higher still, through between my shoulders; atrifle more, through the back of my head; and again a trifle more, andit would have gone above me. As it is, there's a hole in my saddle, andI'm all right. "

"Thank Heaven!" cried West. 

"I did, " said Ingleborough, "but in a quiet way! Yes, lad, they canshoot; but it's a hard mark to hit--a galloping man end on. They'd bebetter if we were going at right angles to the shot!"

"Now then, another five minutes, and we shall be beyond the range oftheir rifles. "

"And in another you had better give the word to slacken speed, for theground will be getting rough. Why not give it now? They've ceasedfiring. "

"Ease down then to a gentle canter, " cried West, in reply, and theirpanting steeds were checked so that for the last mile of their retreatthey progressed at an easy ambling pace which enabled the horses torecover their wind, while the precipitous sides of the eminence in frontgrew clearer to the eye and gave ample proof of being able to furnishnooks which would afford them and their horses security, while enablingthe friends a good opportunity for returning the compliment to the Boersas far as bullets were concerned. 

West said something to this effect after taking his glass from where itwas slung and looking back, to see that the enemy was remounting andcontinuing the pursuit. 

"Not they!" replied Ingleborough. "They're too fond of whole skins torun risks! They'll lie down in holes and corners to fire at us, butthey will not attack us if we are well in cover, and they find we canhold our rifles straight. "

"Then we must!" said West quietly. "Only we shall want a bit of restfirst, for my nerves are all of a quiver, and the blood feels as if itwas jumping in my veins. "

"Come along then! We'll soon find a place where we can lie down behindthe stones! The sooner the better too, for I'm beginning to feel rathermurderous. "

"Murderous!" cried West. 

"Yes: don't you? I'm not going to be shot at for nothing! Look here, Nolly, my lad, life's very sweet, and I value mine. I'm peaceablydisposed enough, but these brutes have invaded our country, and you'vehad proof that they are trying their level best to make us food for thecrows. Under the circumstances don't you think it's time for thelambs--meaning us--to turn upon the butchers--meaning the Boers--and let_them_ feed the crows instead?"

"Don't talk in poetical metaphors, Ingle, " said West, with a grim smile. "If it comes to the point, we'll make our rifles speak in a way thatwill keep the enemy from stopping to hear the end of what they have tosay. "

"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Ingleborough; "who's talking metaphorically now?"

"I've done, " said West. "Walk!" he cried loudly, and they drew rein, tolet the ponies pick their way up the commencement of a slope dotted withsmall stones, while but a short distance farther on the front of thecastle-like kopje was gashed with little gorges and ravines, offeringplenty of places where horses and men might hide. 

"Rather awkward if we were to find that there were some more of theenemy here!" said West, as the nature of the ground forced him to followhis companion, instead of their riding abreast. 

He had hardly spoken when it was as if a trumpet had rung out achallenge from one of the little gorges in front, and West answered byshouting: "Right-about face!" and leading the way back. It was notrumpet, but the loud neigh of a Boer horse, while shot after shot wasfired as they galloped away, fortunately being able to shelterthemselves from the fire by striking off to the right as soon as theywere clear of the stones, the higher ones proving their salvation, beingin the way of the enemy's aim. 

"Out of the frying-pan into the fire!" cried Ingleborough; "and thefire's going to be hotter than the pan. "

"Yes, " cried West. "Give them their head! Gallop right for the rivernow. "

CHAPTER FIFTEEN. 

A DESPATCH-RIDER'S WORK. 

"Hurrah!" cried West, as soon as they were once more well out in theopen, their horses breathed, and ready to answer to any demand made uponthem by their riders. "Keep abreast, and open out more. Faster!faster! We have only a short start this time. "

"But we'll make the best of it, " cried Ingleborough, between his teeth. "Bend down well! The firing has begun!"

"It is speaking for itself, " said West grimly, as the buzzing whirr ofthe bullets began again, while faintly heard there came, half smotheredby the thudding of their own horses' hoofs, the clattering of Boermounts being led out over the stones of the ravine in which they hadbeen hid. 

"See any more of the old party?" cried West, as they rode well out nowon to the level. 

"No; we've turned off so much that they are quite in our rear. "

"Then the way's clear for the river?"

"If we can reach it, lad, " said Ingleborough; "and if we do it may be inflood, or impassable where we hit it. "

"Or a hundred other things, " cried West angrily, as they tore along atfull gallop now, with the bullets flying round them. 

"Don't begin to prophesy evil! I say we're going to leave the Boers farbehind and escape. "

"I can't look at our chance in the same flowery light as you do, myboy, " replied Ingleborough. "My breakfast wasn't good enough to inspireme with so much hope, and I should advise you to open your haversack. "

"Nonsense! I could not eat now!"

"But you must be ready to if you don't begin, my lad. My advice is thatyou get ready to eat those sandwiches, for you mustn't let the goodverbal meat inside get into the enemy's hands. "

Ingleborough had hardly spoken before his horse suddenly checked, throwing him forward upon its neck and nearly sending him off. But heclung to it desperately, while the poor beast's next act was to rear up, pawing hard at the air. In spite of the difficulty, Ingleboroughshuffled himself back into the saddle, speaking encouraging words to theshivering animal, which kept on pawing at the air for a few moments andjust gave its rider time to throw himself off sidewise before it wentright over backwards, struck out with all four legs in the air, and thensubsided--motionless. 

West drew rein instantly as he tore by, and cantered back, reckless ofthe whistling bullets which were flying around. 

"Beg their pardon!" cried Ingleborough, struggling to his feet after aheavy fall. "I retract my words. "

"Hurt?" cried West excitedly. 

"Rather! Ground is pretty hard!"

"Here, " cried West, leaping off; "jump into my saddle, and I'll hold onby the mane and run. "

"Nonsense! Absurd! Don't be a fool!" cried Ingleborough angrily. "Thegame's up for me! Jump up and gallop again! Don't let the brutes takeyou too. "

"Likely!" said West, taking out his handkerchief and beginning to foldit bandage fashion. "Your head's bleeding. Let me tie this round. "

"Let it bleed!" cried Ingleborough angrily, and picking up his soft felthat, which had fallen in the dust, he stuck it on tightly. "That'sbandaged!" he said. "Now then, be off before it's too late. "

"Of course; that's just what you would have done!" said West quietly. 

"Never mind what I would have done, " cried Ingleborough angrily. "Ridefor your life!"

"Do you take me for a Dutchman?" said West coolly. 

"Oh, you fool--you fool!" cried Ingleborough, stamping his foot angrily. "You'll be too late! No, they're dismounting. Now then, up with youand make a dash. "

West gave a glance to right and left, to see that some twenty of theenemy had leaped from their horses and were advancing, while twice asmany more, who covered them with their rifles, came slowly on, shoutingto him the Dutch for "Hands up!"

The position was perilous, though the chances were even still aboutbeing taken or riding clear if he went at full gallop; but West did notstir. 

"No, thankye, old fellow, " he said. "It would be such dull work ridingalone. What do you say to taking cover amongst the bushes?"

"Bah! Cover for the front, and none for flank or rear!"

"We could squat down back to back, " said West coolly, "and shoot a fewof them first. I want to fight the brutes with their own weapons. "

"Once more, will you make a bolt of it?" cried Ingleborough faintly. 

"No--I--will--not!" said West slowly and distinctly, and then, making adash, he caught his comrade round the waist, letting him sink gentlydown upon the sand and stones, for his legs had given way and his faceturned ghastly. 

"Thanks, old man, " said Ingleborough, with a feeble smile and his eyeslooking his gratitude. 

He lay still now, with his countenance seeming to grow fixed and hard;but West opened his water-flask and poured a few drops between the poorfellow's lips, when he began to revive at once, and lay perfectly stillwhile his comrade removed his hat and proceeded to bind the ready-foldedhandkerchief tightly about the bleeding wound, caused by sharp contactwith a stone when he fell. 

"West, " groaned Ingleborough, recovering now a little, "once more, lad, think, think; never mind me! Mount; never mind the firing; ride foryour life!"

"Once more, old fellow, " said West, through his teeth, "I won't leaveyou in the lurch!"

"But the despatches, lad. I am only one, and they are to save athousand. "

"Ah!" cried West, springing to his feet as if the object of his journeyhad been driven out of his head by the excitement of the moment, and hetook a step towards his horse, just as, to his intense surprise, Ingleborough's mount suddenly threw up its muzzle, made a plunge, andfound its feet, shook itself violently, and whinnied, as if it had justrecovered from being stunned. 

"Here, make one effort, " cried West, seizing the steed's bridle andleading it to where its rider lay. 

"Look--your pony's all right again! Can you mount?"

"No, " said Ingleborough faintly, as he made an effort to struggle to hisknees, but only fell back with a groan. "Can't! Feel as if my neck'sbroken and my shoulder numbed. Now will you make a dash while you can?"

West hesitated, and duty mastered friendship and humane feeling for hiscompanion. He was but one, and the despatch might deal with the livesof a thousand men in peril of their lives. 

"Yes, I must go!" he groaned, making for his horse; but he was too late. 

For though the Boers, apparently from a feeling that they were quitesure of their prey, had advanced slowly and cautiously, each man withhis rifle presented and finger on trigger, their movements showed plentyof cunning. They had opened out so as to get round the horses, watchingthe young man's actions all the time, and when he at last made for hismount they were close up, and rifle-barrels bristled around, everymuzzle threatening and grim. 

"Throw up your hands!" came in chorus from a score of throats, anddirectly after the same order was given in fair English by two of theragged, unkempt, big-bearded enemy. 

West looked fiercely round like a hunted animal brought to bay by thehounds, waiting to seize the first one that sprang, and ground his teethwith rage; but he paid no heed to the men's words. 

"Throw up your hands!" roared one of the men. 

"Throw up your own!" said West defiantly, and then to his bitterannoyance he started on one side, for there was a flash, simultaneouslya whizz close to his face, and instantly the sharp report of a rifle. 

Recovering from the sudden shock to his nerves caused by his previousunbelief that the enemy would be so cowardly as to fire upon a perfectlyhelpless prisoner, West swung himself round to face the man who hadfired at him from such close quarters that the flash of the powder hadscorched his cheek. 

The Boer was busily thrusting a fresh cartridge into the breech of hispiece, and as he met the young man's eyes he burst out into a coarse andbrutal laugh. 

"Throw up your hands, then, you cursed rooinek!" he cried, "or I'll blowout your brains!"

"Not if I die for it!" cried West. "You cowardly cur!" And turning asthe Boers closed him in, he continued, with bitter contempt, andspeaking in their own tongue: "I suppose you are a specimen of the bravepeasant farmers making a struggle for their liberty!"

"You keep a civil tongue in your head, young man, " growled out one ofthe party in English, "unless you want to feed the crows!"

"You keep your cowardly gang in order first before you dictate to me!"cried West, turning upon the speaker sharply. "Do you call it manly tofire at close quarters upon a party of two?"

"No!" said the man shortly, as he turned round and said a few angrywords in the Boer jargon--words which were received by some with angrygrowls, while the major portion remained silent and sullen. 

"You're not our cornet! Mind your own business, before you're hurt!"cried the man who had fired, taking a few steps towards the spot whereWest stood, and, seizing him savagely by the throat, he tried to forcehim to his knees. 

But he tried only with one hand--his left--his right being engaged byhis rifle, and to his utter astonishment the prisoner retorted bykicking his legs from under him and flinging him upon his back. 

A yell of anger arose from some, and of delight from others, all lookingon while the discomfited Boer sprang up with a cry of rage, cocked hisrifle, and, taking quick aim, would have fired point-blank at theprisoner had not his act been anticipated by the Boer who had beforespoken. Quick as thought he sprang upon his companion, striking thepresented rifle upwards with a blow from his own, and then grasping theinfuriated man by the collar. 

"None of that!" he cried fiercely in Dutch. "Cornet or no cornet, I'mnot going to stand by and see a cowardly murder done! We've got tofight, brother burghers, but we'll fight like soldiers and men. Ourname's been stained enough by what has been done already. "

"Here, you'd better go and fight for the rooineks, " cried thediscomfited Boer fiercely. 

"I'm going to fight for my home and country, brothers, " cried West'sdefender, "the same as you are: not help to murder a helpless boy whohas behaved like a brave man. "

The portion of the force who had seemed disposed to side against thespeaker were disarmed by his words, and there was a general cheer atthis, while the cause of the trouble growled out: "You're a traitor toyour country, and the commandant shall hear of this. "

"No, no, no, no!" came in chorus. "Serves you right. "

West made no resistance now, as his defender signed to him to give uphis rifle, which, plus the bandolier, was handed over with a sigh, Ingleborough's having already been taken away. 

The next thing done was to search the prisoners' pockets--watch, purse, and pocket-book being taken away, but the inner belts containing thegreater part of their money were entirely overlooked, while West stoodbreathing hard, his face wrinkled up and an agonising pain contractinghis heart, for the Boer who had defended him unbuttoned the flap of hishaversack, thrust in his hand, and brought out a couple of cake loaves, and then, one after the other, two carefully wrapped-up sandwiches, standing for a few moments with them in his hand, hesitating, whileIngleborough, who had recovered his senses, darted a meaning look at hissuffering companion. 

"It's all over with our expedition!" he said to himself. "Why didn'tpoor Noll eat his sandwiches?"

The moments were as agonising to him as to West, who could only stand insilence; but, having become somewhat versed in the tricks of those whofought the law through his friendship with Norton, an idea crossed hismind, and turning in a faint appealing way to the Boer who seemed to beholding in suspense the scales of success and failure, he said: "Don'ttake our bit of provisions away! We're prisoners; isn't that enough?"

The Boer fixed him with his eyes, noted his pallid face and the bloodtrickling down from the cut caused by his fall, and then, as ifsatisfied and moved by a feeling akin to compassion, he nodded his head, thrust the cake and the sandwich-like papers back into West's haversack, and let it swing again under the young man's arm. 

"Lucky for them we're not hungry!" he said, in his own tongue, "or weshouldn't have left them much. "

"Why don't you make them eat it?" cried the man who had fired. "Foraught we know, it may be poisoned. "

"Bah!" cried their friend, who had done the pair so good a turn; "letthem be!"

A couple of the Boers then approached with reins, but, in spite of theopposition that had taken place, the man who had taken West's part againinterfered, just as they proceeded to raise Ingleborough to bind hishands behind his back. 

"There is no need!" said the man sharply. "Can't you see that he is tooweak to stand? Help him upon his horse, and one go on either side tokeep him in the saddle. "

Then turning to West, he continued: "Mount; but you will be shot downdirectly if you attempt to escape. "

"I am not going to leave my friend, " said West coldly. "I could havegalloped away had I wanted to. Let me walk by his side to help him. "

The man looked at the speaker searchingly and then nodded, West takingthe place of one of the Boers, who placed himself just behind him withrifle ready. Then the little party moved off towards the kopje wherethe prisoners had been surprised. 

"How are you?" asked West, as soon as they were in motion. 

"I feel as if I were somewhere else!" was the half-laughing, half-bitterreply. "All use seems to have been completely knocked out of me, andthe hills and kopjes go sailing round and round. "

"That will soon pass off, " said West, and then after a short pause:"Well, we're prisoners after all. It does seem hard now we have got sofar! I wonder where they'll send us?"

"It does not much matter!" said Ingleborough. "Anywhere will do, if Ican lie down and rest till this dreadful swimming and confusion passesoff. As soon as it does we'll escape--to eat the sandwiches, " he addedmeaningly. 

"If we can, " said West; "but don't talk about them again! Oh, Ingle, Iwish I had your sharp wits. "

"Pooh! Where there's a will there's a way, " said Ingleborough faintly. "You might have escaped, but as you insisted upon being taken to sharemy lot I was obliged to do something, and now I must do nothing butthink of how to get away. "

The effort of talking was evidently too much for the poor fellow, andWest confined himself to keeping him upright in the saddle, from whichhe would certainly have fallen but for his comrade's willing arm. 

West was so fully occupied by his task, the two Boers offering not theslightest aid, that he paid no heed to the fact that their captors ledthem right round to the far side of the kopje, and then through a narrowgap of the rocks into a natural amphitheatre, wherein there was ampleroom for the formation of a great laager, the wagons being arranged inan irregular ellipse, thoroughly hidden from the veldt outside, whilethe rocks of the kopje roughly formed a rampart of vast strength, andapparently quite impregnable. 

West took in all he could as he and his companion in misfortune were ledthrough and within the barricade of wagons to where the horses andcattle were securely tethered, while a burst of cheering saluted thereturning party as soon as it was seen that they had prisoners and acouple of likely-looking mounts. It was a surprise, for no onejourneying across the veldt could for a moment have supposed that sosecure a natural stronghold existed behind the rocky barriers. 

The next minute the prisoners saw their sturdy ponies tied up to thetail of one of the great wagons, so near that West began to wonderwhether when darkness came it would be possible to creep to their side, cut them free, mount, and make a old dash for liberty. 

But a glance at Ingleborough showed him that this would be impossible, for the poor fellow had sunk over sidewise as soon as he had been liftedout of the saddle, and lay perfectly inert and with his eyeshalf-closed. West knelt down by him and, taking his slung water-bottle, he raised his injured companion's head a little and began to trickle, afew drops at a time, a little water between the sufferer's lips. 

He was occupied in this way when he noted that a large group of theBoers had approached, one of whom, a short sturdy-looking individual, with swarthy skin and thick black beard plentifully sprinkled with grey, suddenly said, in good English: "What is the matter with him--shot?"

"No, " replied West. "His horse was struck, and reared up, and my friendwas thrown heavily upon his head. "

"Oh, is that all?" said the Boer nonchalantly. "Let him sleep it off!But listen, you: we shoot prisoners who try to escape. "

"I shall not try to escape and leave him, " said West coldly. 

The Boer commandant, for such he proved to be, gave him a keen look andthen turned away to speak to one of the men, the result of the orders hegave being that Ingleborough was carried to one of the wagons formingthe laager, and West ordered to follow and wait upon his friend, who, after his injury had been carefully bathed and bandaged, sank into aswoon-like sleep, leaving West to sit thinking of their position andpondering upon the fact that the two Basuto ponies were tethered insight of where he sat, and that he still had the treasured-up despatchessafe. 

His great trouble now seemed to be whether he should conceal the papersabout his person or leave them in the haversack carelessly hung from theside of the wagon-tilt, lest he should be searched again and with a moreserious result than the loss of watch and purse. 

Night came at last, with the difficulty still unsolved, and a yet moreserious one to keep him awake. 

It was this: Ought he to wait till well on in the night, and then creepout by the sentry on duty outside, get to one of the ponies, and try andsteal away?

And the time glided on, with the question still unanswered. There wasthe horse, and there was the despatch; but there were also the Boers bythe hundred, hemming him completely in, and, even if he were disposed toleave Ingleborough to his fate, any attempt seemed to be mad to adegree. 

CHAPTER SIXTEEN. 

AFTER A REST. 

West started up into wakefulness the next morning from a dream in whichhe was galloping for his life with the Boers in full pursuit, and thenhe sighed and wondered when and how he had dropped asleep, for he couldonly recall being miserable, awake, and puzzled as to what to do, andthen all seemed to have become blank till he was awakened by hiscaptors' busy stir and the crackling of the fires being lighted. 

West's first steps were to see to his companion, who did not seem tohave moved, and the first feeling was one of satisfaction; but directlyafterwards he felt uneasy, for Ingleborough seemed to be unnaturallystill, and a shiver ran through him as he leaned over where his friendlay on the floor of the wagon, to place a hand upon the injured man'sforehead below the bandage which made him look so ghastly. 

Then came reaction as it was proved that the sufferer had only been in adeep sound sleep. 

For Ingleborough's eyes opened, to gaze at him wonderingly. 

"What's the matter? Oh, it's you, Noll!"

"Yes; you startled me!"

"Eh? What did I do?"

"You lay so still!"

"Did I? Oh, of course. I've been very fast asleep, I suppose. Whattime it is--nearly sundown?"

"No, it's morning--sunrise. "

"I'm blessed! What, have I slept all night?"

West nodded and smiled. 

"Soundly, I suppose!" he said. "But how are you?"

"Horribly stupid and muddled! I don't quite make out! Oh yes, I donow. I came down such a quelch that it knocked all the sense out of me, and my head feels all knocked on one side. But tell me: what about thedespatch?"

"I have it all right so far!"

"That's good. Where are our ponies?"

"Tied up yonder to the wheel of a wagon. "

"That's good, too, lad! Then all we've got to do is to help ourselvesto them the first chance and ride away. "

"Yes, " said West drily, "the first chance; but will there be a firstchance?"

"Why not? It's of no use to look at the black side of things! Wherethere's ill luck there's always good luck to balance it, and we're boundto have our share of both. We had the bad yesterday; the good will cometo-morrow, or next day, or the day after--who knows? We were notkilled. You had your ear nicked and I had a bad fall which will cureitself as fast as the slit in your ear grows up. I call it grand tohave saved the despatch! Are they going to give us any breakfast?"

"Hah!" sighed West; "you've done me good, Ingle. I was regularly in thedumps. "

"Keep out of them, then!" was the reply. "You didn't expect to get yourmessage delivered at Mafeking without any trouble, did you?"

"No, no, of course not! Then you think we might make a dash for it sometime?"

"Of course I do; but I don't suppose the chance will come to-day. Let'shope that our next move may take us nearer our goal, for I don't supposethe Boers will take us with them. They'll send us prisoners toPretoria, I suppose; and we must make our dash somewhere on the road. "

Ingleborough was right: the chance for the dash did not come that day, nor the next, nor the next. For the Boer commando did not stir from thenatural stronghold which had been made its halting-place. In fact, twofresh parties, for which there was plenty of room, joined them, and agood deal of business went on: men going out on expeditions andreturning: wagons laden with provisions and ammunition and two bigfield-pieces arriving, as if the force was being increased ready forsome important venture--all of which busy preparation took place underthe eyes of the two prisoners, who, while being fairly well treated inthe way of rations, were carefully guarded. 

"One would like to know a little more what it all means!" saidIngleborough. "As it is, one seems to be quite in the dark!"

"And we're doing nothing!" sighed West. "Oh, it's terrible! I mustbegin to stir, even if it is only to bring about another check. "

"What would be the good of that?"

"Ease to one's brain!" said West passionately. "Here have I beentrusted with this mission and am doing nothing, while all the time thepoor fellows at Mafeking must be watching despairingly for the despatchthat does not come. "

"Look here, old lad, " said Ingleborough sympathetically; "when afellow's chained down hand and foot it's of no use for him to kick andstrain; he only makes his wrists and ankles sore and weakens himself, sodon't do it! Believe me, the proper time to act is when they take youout of your chains! It's very depressing, I know; but what can't becured--"

"Must be endured. I know, Ingle; but here we are prisoners, and I can'thelp getting more hopeless. "

"But you must! Things can't go on like this much longer! Either ourtroops will come here and attack the Boers, or the Boers will go andattack the British. Just have patience and wait!"

"But here we are, just as we were nearly a week ago, and nothing hashappened. "

"Oh yes, something has!" said Ingleborough, with a smile. "I've gotwell again! The first morning I couldn't have mounted my pony andridden off even if they had brought it to the end of the wagon here andsaid: `Be off!' To-day I could jump on and go off at full gallop. Doyou call that nothing?"

"No, of course not!" said West. "There, you must forgive me! I'm verydiscontented, I know; but you see why. "

"To be sure I do! I say, though, you've been at that satchel! Thesandwiches are gone. "

West nodded. 

"Haven't eaten them, have you?"

"No, they're sewed up in the belt of my jacket. I did it two nightsago, and I'm living in hopes that they will not search us again. "

"That's it, is it? Well, I'm glad you did that! There, keep a goodheart; something is sure to happen before long!"

"I only hope it may; even evil would be better than this miserable stateof inaction. I think till I feel half-mad. "

"Well, we won't hope for the evil, only for something in the way ofchange, if it's only to pay a visit to Pretoria gaol. "

"What!"

"Only so as to get some news to give to old Norton when we get back. Itwill interest him. I wonder whether he's keeping his eye on MasterPlump-and-Pink. Well, I am blessed!"

"What is the matter? Are they making a move?" cried West excitedly, forIngleborough had sprung to the end of their wagon prison to standlooking out. 

"Someone has!" cried Ingleborough angrily. "Look here! Why, old Nortonmust have been asleep. "

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. 

BAD SHILLINGS ALWAYS COME BACK. 

West stepped to his companion's side, looked out between the roughcurtains of the wagon, and saw a group of mounted Boers surrounding afreshly-arrived wagon with its long team of bullocks, the blackvoorlooper at the head and the driver with his enormous whip on the box. 

"Well, " said West, after a sharp glance, "there's a fresh load ofprovisions, I suppose! What of it?"

"Rub your eyes, lad, and look again. "

"They don't want rubbing. "

"Well, of all the fellows! Look there, beyond those mounted men whoescorted the wagon in--there where the commandant and the dismountedparty are talking together. "

"Yes, I see where you mean; but what has it to do with us? I don't--yes, I do. Why, it's Anson!" cried West excitedly. 

"Anson it is! I began to think you were going blind!"

"But how strange! They have taken him prisoner then. Look here; we'renot going to have him with us. "

"It doesn't look as if he is a prisoner, " said Ingleborough; "they allseem too friendly. I believe the scoundrel has deserted from the townand come to join the Boers. What has old Norton been about?"

"Is it possible?"

"Oh, it's possible enough, if old Norton has been to sleep. Rats desertsinking ships!"

"Kimberley isn't a sinking ship!" said West indignantly. 

"I don't know so much about that, lad! There is a very small forceready to defend it; it's a long way from help; and, as we see here, theenemy is swarming down upon it from all directions. You see, it's sofar from our forces and so near to the Free State border. "

"Ah, there he is plainly enough, laughing with the commandant! Look, heclapped him on the shoulder!"

"Yes, I give him credit for anything!" said Ingleborough. "I shouldn'twonder if he was in full correspondence with the Boers and is ready tosell us as well as buy diamonds. As likely as not, he has slipped awaywith his swag so as to escape before the fighting begins. But howNorton can have let him get away is more than I can understand!"

"Well, it's plain enough that he's here!" said West; "and I can't helpfeeling glad that he is not a prisoner, for if he had been put with usit must have come to a quarrel. Look here, seeing what the treacherousthief is, we ought to denounce him to the commandant. "

"Don't do anything of the kind! What good would it do?"

"But he is such a despicable wretch!"

"What's that to you?"

"Ingleborough!"

"Oh yes, I know what you're ready to say; but you've got something elseto do besides playing the virtuous part of denouncing Master Anson as adiamond-dealer. Besides, I don't believe the Boers would think any theless of him if they believed you. "

"They couldn't help believing our evidence!" said West. 

"Nonsense! It isn't your business!"

"It's every honest man's business!" cried West hotly. 

"Not if he is on Government service with a despatch to deliver inMafeking, " said Ingleborough, with a peculiar look at his companion. 

"Hah!" cried West; "you are right again! But--oh!"

"Oh, what?"

"Why, he was present when we volunteered to carry the despatch!"

"To be sure, so he was!" cried Ingleborough excitedly. 

"Then as soon as he knows we have been captured he'll denounce me to thecommandant as the bearer of the message, and oh, Ingle, we shall besearched again!"

"Yes, " was the thoughtful reply; "and you've got it on you. We mightchange jackets, but that would be no good. Could you rip it out ofyours?"

"Yes, of course, in a few moments. "

"Then you'd better. "

"Not now; it's too late. We must wait for a better opportunity. "

"But--"

"No, no, I tell you, " cried West excitedly; "look, he's not a prisoner. The scoundrel has recognised us and is coming here. Why, Ingleborough, he's a traitor--a rebel. No wonder he got through the Boer lines. Look! there can be no doubt about it; he has joined their side. Thosemen, the Boer leaders, the commandants and field-cornets, cannot knowthat he is a thief. "

"But they soon shall!" answered Ingleborough hoarsely. 

"No, no, keep quiet, " whispered West; "he's laughing with them andcoming here. Don't say a word; wait! It's my advice now. "

"If I can!" muttered Ingleborough. "The skunk! He's sending the blooddancing through my veins! He must be denounced, and if he begins to saya word about your volunteering to bear the despatch I'll let him have ithot and strong. "

"Why, you seem to have completely turned your coat!" said West bitterly. 

"I have! What we have just been saying has stirred up all my bile. ButI wish I could turn your coat too--out of the wagon. "

"Why not?" said West, as a thought occurred to him, and running to theother end of the vehicle, stripping off his jacket as he did so, hethrust out his head and called to the sentry whose duty it was to guardagainst any attempt to escape. 

"What is it?" said the man quietly. 

"Take my coat and hang it on the rocks yonder, " he said. "I've beensleeping in it night after night, and it's all fusty and damp. Outyonder, right in the sun. "

The request was so simple and reasonable that the man nodded, took thejacket, and was turning to go away. 

"Don't let anyone meddle with it, " said West; "it's my only one, and Idon't want a Kaffir to carry it off. "

"He'd better not try!" said the Boer, with a meaning laugh, and he borethe jacket right away to where the sun was beating hotly upon the rock, where the next minute the garment was spread out. 

"Talk about me having a ready wit in an emergency!" said Ingleboroughmerrily; "why, I'm a baby to you, West, my son! There: I'm proud ofyou. "

"Oh, but the risk!" whispered the young man. "That precious garmentlying carelessly yonder!"

"Carelessly? That's just the way to keep it safe. Who'd ever think ofexamining the coat lying out there?"

"The first man who goes near it!"

"The first rogue, and he'd only feel in the pockets. But there's nofear: that sentry would fire at any thief who tried to steal! That'ssafe enough!"

"I wish I could think so!" replied West. "The first thing when theycome will be to ask me what I have done with my jacket. "

"Pooh! In that loose, dark flannel shirt they'll never think of it. Ithought they'd have been here, though, before now. "

They had to wait for some little time still, for the Boers had gatheredabout the new-comer, forming a half-circle, evidently to listen whileAnson talked to them earnestly, his gesticulations suggesting to Ingleborough, rightly or wrongly, that he was describing the arrangements fordefence made by the British garrison at Kimberley, which he had solately left; and as he spoke every now and then the listeners nodded, slapped the stocks of their rifles, turned to make remarks to oneanother, and gave the speaker a hearty cheer. 

"Oh, you beauty!" growled Ingleborough. "I can't hear a word you say;but I'm as certain as if I were close up that you're telling thosechuckle-headed Dutch that all they've got to do is to march straight inand take Kimberley, for they'll find it as easy as kissing their hands. "

"If he is telling them the weak points it's downright treason, " saidWest bitterly, after a glance out of the wagon in the direction of therocks on which lay his jacket. 

"It's stand him up with a firing party, and a sergeant with a revolverto finish the work if it isn't quite done, " said Ingleborough. "Thecowardly scoundrel: he'll be getting his deserts at last! I say, though, isn't it sickening? A blackguard like that, who doesn't stop atanything to gain his ends!"

For Anson had finished speaking and the Boers had closed round him, patting him on the back and pressing forward one after the other toshake his hand, while he smiled at them in his mildest, blandest way. 

After a few more friendly words the ex-clerk began slouching slowly up, followed by half-a-dozen of the principal men, till he was close to thetail of the prison wagon where West and Ingleborough were seated tryingto look perfectly indifferent, but the former with his heart beatingheavily and a flush coming hotly into his cheeks, when the Boers stoppedshort, leaving Anson to speak, listening the while as if theyanticipated a little amusement from their new friend the informerhailing the prisoners in the wain. 

"Hullo!" cried Anson, with one of his most irritating smiles--one fullof the triumph over them he enjoyed and the contempt he felt, "hullo!Who'd have thought that the virtuous West and the enthusiastic shamdetective Ingleborough would have come out here to join the Boers? Butdon't tell me. I know: I can see how it is. You've both been bled, andthat's let some of the bounce out of you. "

He stopped for a moment for those he insulted to reply, but as they bothsat looking at him in cool contempt he went on jeeringly: "The Boersknow what they're about, I see. When a horse has the megrims they bleedhim in the ear, and judging that the same plan would do for a donkeythey've bled cocky West there, and bull-headed Ingleborough on theskull. "

West's face grew of a deeper red, and he drew in a long deep breath, forthose of the Boers who understood English burst into a hearty laugh atthis sally of the renegade's. 

"Well, I'm glad of it!" continued Anson, taking the Boers' laughter asso much approval. "It was all you wanted, Bully West, and I daresay, now that you've come to your senses, you'll make a decent Boer. There, I'll give you a recommendation for a clerkship, for you do really writea decent hand. "

"Say thanks, " growled Ingleborough, with a sneer which told of hiscontempt; "he will no doubt have plenty of interest. He has come up tolead the Boer army's band and give lessons on the flute. "

Anson started as if he had been stung. 

"Quiet, man, quiet!" whispered West to Ingleborough; but it was in vain. 

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. 

THE RINGING OF THE SHILLING. 

People make their plans in cold blood and forget all about them when theblood grows hot. 

It was so here. West had made up his mind what to do while cool, butacted just in the fashion he had cried out against to his companion. 

For as soon as Anson lounged up to them in his supercilious jaunty way, West's cool blood warmed, grew hot at the scoundrel's contemptuous lookof triumph, and at the insult respecting the Boers boiled over. 

"How dare you!" he raged out. "Keep your distance, you contemptiblecur, or, prisoner though I am, I'll give you such a thrashing as shallmake you yell for mercy!"

"Hullo! What does this mean?" said one of the Boer officers, closingup, followed by the others. 

"The prisoner is a bit saucy!" said Anson contemptuously. "You did notbleed him enough!"

"You know these two?" asked the officer. 

"Well, in a way, " said Anson, in a haughty, indifferent tone. "Theywere a pair of underlings where I was engaged at the diamond-mines. Insolent bullying fellows, both of them! But you'll tame them down. "

The Boer leader nodded. 

"A bit sore at being taken prisoners!" he said. 

"No, " cried West; "it is the fortune of war, sir. We are Englishmen, and we made a dash to escape Kimberley, and got through your investinglines. "

"To carry despatches to the rooineks?"

"No, " replied West. "Your men searched us and found no despatches. "

"Messages then. You were going to the British forces?"

"We should have joined them after a time, perhaps, " said West, speakingmore coolly. 

"He's lying!" said Anson sharply. "Have them searched again!"

The Boer commandant nodded, gave the order, and half-a-dozen of his mencame forward, after which the prisoners were ordered out of the wagon, and they let themselves down, when they were thoroughly searched fromhead to heel--of course, without result, and the Boer chief turnedfrowningly to Anson. 

"They must have hid the letter somewhere about the wagon then!"

"Two of you get in and search!" said the commandant. 

This was carefully carried out, and the men descended. 

"Then they must have destroyed their message before you took them, "cried Anson, "or somehow since. "

"They were carefully searched as soon as they were taken, " observed oneof the field-cornets. 

"Yes, " said the commandant, "and I saw it done. Well, they will notcarry any news to Mafeking. Tell them that the British are being sweptinto the sea east and south, and their rule is at an end. I want bravemen who can ride and fight, so if they like to join the Federal forcesand do their duty there will be a prosperous time for them. If theyrefuse there will be a long imprisonment, perhaps something worse. "

"Mr Anson, the renegade, need not trouble himself, sir, " said Westquietly. "Neither my companion nor I will do as he has done. "

"You had better!" said Anson sneeringly. "It's a grand chance for younow your characters are gone and the I. D. Detectives are after you. "

Ingleborough looked at the speaker sharply; but Anson made believe notto notice it and went on. 

"You've no character now, either of you, " he continued coolly. "OldNorton came after me as I was trekking south, utterly sick of theEnglish lot. He came on the old pretext: that I had bought diamonds andwas carrying them off. He searched again, and then I told him thesimple truth--that you two had volunteered to carry despatches so as toget clear off with the swag you had acquired--after accusing me; but heprofessed not to believe me, and took me back to Kimberley, but the verynext day he started off with half-a-dozen men to fetch you back, and Icame away. "

"With the diamonds you had hidden?" said Ingleborough sharply. 

"Perhaps, " replied Anson coolly. "So, you see, you had better join ourparty, for even if you escaped it would only be for the policesuperintendent to get hold of you both, and if he did, you wouldn't findhim such an excellent friend. "

"Wants thinking about!" said Ingleborough drily. "But `our'party--`our'?"

"Yes, " said Anson coolly. "I've made up my mind to belong to the rightowners of the country for a long time past. We've got the gold atJohannesburg, and the diamonds at Kimberley are ours by right, and we'regoing to have them. "

There was a murmur of satisfaction from the Boers at this, and Ansonwent on nonchalantly: "That is one reason why I consented to serve thecompany in such a beggarly position. I wanted to learn all I couldabout the mining so that it might come in useful when we of the Boerparty took possession. "

"And then, I suppose, " said Ingleborough, "you'll expect to bemanager-in-chief?"

"Well, I don't go so far as that, " said Anson; "but, with my knowledgeof the management of the mining business, I feel sure my Boer friendswill find it to their advantage to retain me high up on the staff. Yousee, there are so many things in the way of checking losses which I havemastered. "

"Stopping the illicit-diamond-buying and selling, for instance, " saidIngleborough sarcastically. 

"Exactly!" replied Anson, apparently without noticing the sarcasm; "andI've been thinking that no doubt I could put a good thing in both yourways. Of course, we have been bad enough friends; but I'll pass overall that if you'll serve me as faithfully as you did the company. Whatdo you say?"

"Say?" cried West. 

"Stop! Hold hard, Oliver!" cried Ingleborough, stopping him short;"this is a thing that can't be settled in a minute. We want time. AllI say now, Mr Anson, is that I'm glad we bear such a good character, seeing that we are illicit-diamond-dealers escaping with the plunderthat we haven't got. "

"Exactly!" said Anson. "Very well, then, I'll give you till to-morrownight to think it over, and you'll soon see which side your bread'sbuttered. "

"Don't stop me, Ingle, " said West hotly. "I can't stand this. I mustspeak. This--"

A sharp report from behind the wagon checked further words, and everyman made a rush for this place or that in full expectation that a suddenattack had been made upon the laager within the rocky walls. 

At the same moment a Kaffir of the blackest type and with his hairgreased up into the familiar Zulu ring bounded into sight, tripped, fellupon his hands, sprang up again, ran on, and disappeared, whilst a rushwas made for the man who fired, leaving Anson and the prisonerstogether. 

The next minute West's blood felt as if it was running cold in his veinsas he saw, only a few yards from him and close to the stone upon whichhis jacket had been stretched, the sentry slowly re-loading his pistol. But the coat was gone. 

West had hard work to repress a groan. "My orders were to fire atanyone I saw stealing, " said the man surlily, and West heard every word. 

"Well, who was stealing?" asked one of the officers. 

"A Kaffir, " replied the sentry. "I'd got a jacket stretched out uponthe stones yonder, to get aired in the sunshine, and I only took my eyesoff it for a minute, when I saw a foot rise up from behind a stone, grabhold of the coat with its toes--"

"Nonsense!" cried the officer; "a foot could not do that!"

"Not do it?" said the man excitedly. "It had to do it; and it wascreeping away, when I fired, and the black sprang up and ran. "

"Where's the jacket?"

The officer's question woke an echo in West's breast, and he started, for it was just as if the question was repeated there, and it seemed tobe echoed so loudly that he fancied those near must have heard it. 

"He's got it, I suppose, " said the sentry coolly. "Carried it away, anda bullet too somewhere in his carcass. "

A miserably despondent feeling attacked West at these words, for he hadclung to the hope that he might be able to recover the despatch, succeedin escaping and delivering it in safety, however late; while now thedesire to get away died out, for how could he return to Kimberley andconfess that he had failed?

He turned to glance at Ingleborough, who met his eyes and then shruggedhis shoulders as much as to say: "It's a bad job, and I pity you. "

At that moment a hand was clapped heavily upon West's shoulder, and theBoer who had saluted him so roughly pointed to the wagon, and he sawthat his companion was being treated in the same way, while, the scarebeing over, upon their walking back and preparing to climb in, they werecalled upon to stop. Naturally the prisoners obeyed, and, turning, theyfound the group of Boers in earnest conversation once more with Anson, who at the end of a few minutes nodded decisively and approached his twoold fellow-clerks, making West's heart begin to thump with excitementand his eyes gleam, for the despair he felt at the loss he had sustainedmade him ready to turn fiercely upon the first enemy who addressed him. 

"Take it calmly!" whispered Ingleborough. "Let me diplomatise. You'lldo no good by making a row. "

"Take it calmly!" whispered back West, "and at a time like this! Ican't!"

"Look here, you two, " said Anson coolly. "Let's have no more bonesabout the matter. These gentlemen say they have too much to think aboutto bother over any shilly-shallying on the part of a couple ofprisoners. You know it's a good chance, and I've told them you'll bothjoin along with me. Just tell them out and out you will. "

"You miserable renegade, how dare you!" cried West fiercely. 

"Here, what does that mean?" cried the Boer commandant sharply. 

"Shamming!" replied Anson, with a contemptuous laugh. "They're going tojoin us, knowing, as they do, that the game is all up at Kimberley; butthey put on all this make-believe. They want to be able to say thatthey were forced to serve, so as to hedge--so as to make it allcomfortable with their consciences, as they call them. "

"It is false!" cried West furiously--"a tissue of lies! Don't believehim; this man is no better than a miserable contemptible thief!"

"What!" shouted Anson, lowering the rifle he carried and taking a stepforward with what was intended to be a fierce aspect. 

But he only took one step, being checked suddenly by the action of West, who, regardless of the weapon, sprang at him, and would have wrenchedaway the rifle had he not been seized by a couple of the Boers, who heldhim fast. 

"Pooh! I don't want to shoot the wretched cad!" said Ansoncontemptuously. "An old fellow-clerk of mine! He's savage and jealousof my position here! He always was an ill-tempered brute!"

"But he says that you are a thief!" said the Boer commandant sternly. 

"Pooh! A spiteful man would say anything!" cried Anson contemptuously. "Look here, sir, I've watched the Boer troubles from the first: I'veseen how the English have been trying to find an excuse for seizing thetwo republics: I know how they got possession of the great diamond-minesby a trick arranged with the surveyors of the boundaries. "

There was a low murmur of assent here from the gathering crowd of Boerswho had now surrounded him. 

"Yes, " he said, raising his voice, "I knew all the iniquities of theBritish Government--how the English had seized the diamond-fields, andhow they were trying to get the gold-mines, and as soon as the war brokeout I made up my mind to join the people fighting for their liberty. "

There was a burst of cheering from the few who could follow the speaker, and then a roar as soon as his words were explained to the crowd, whileAnson looked round with his fat face growing shiny, as he beamed uponhis hearers. 

"Yes, " said the Boer leader coldly; "but this young man, who knows you, charges you with being a thief. "

"All cowardly malice!" cried Anson contemptuously, and giving hisfingers a snap. "A thief?--a robber?--nonsense. Pooh! I only dealt inand brought away with me a few of the stones, which were as much mine astheirs. I was not coming away from the enemy empty-handed. I said tomyself that I'd spoil the Egyptians as much as I could, and I did. "

There was a shout of delight at this, and one of the field-cornets gavethe speaker a hearty slap on the shoulder. 

"Yes, I brought some away, " continued Anson, rejoicing fatly in thesuccess of his words; and, raising his voice, he said, first in Englishand then in Boer-Dutch: "I brought some away, and I wish I had broughtmore. "

There was a fresh and a long-continued roar of delight, repeated againand again, giving the speaker time to collect his thoughts, and as soonas he could gain silence he continued. 

"Look here, " he said: "I came and joined the Boers because I believedtheir cause to be just; and I said to myself, knowing what I do of thesecrets of the diamond-mines, I will be the first as soon as Kimberleyis taken to show the commandants where the British tyrants have hiddenaway the stones that belong of right to the Boers, the stones that havebeen stolen from the earth--the land they fought for and won with theirblood from the savage black scum who infested the country. I know wherethe stones are hidden away, and I can, if you like, lead you to what theBritish think you will never find. But if you are going to believe thewords of this malicious boy, and consider me to be a common thief, I'vedone. You can have the few paltry stones I brought away to sell and payfor my bread and meat till the war is over, and let me go. I don't wantto act as your guide into Kimberley! It's nothing to me! I have toldyou what I did; and what is more, I'd do it again!"

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, in a whisper to West, as he sat holding hishand to his injured head: "I believe him there. "

West nodded, and the next minute they saw Anson being led away intriumph by a crowd of Boers; but the commandant, with half-a-dozen morewho seemed to be officers, and the man who had defended them when theywere captured, remained close by the prisoners, talking together. 

Soon after, the commandant approached them, glanced at Ingleborough, wholay back, evidently in pain, and then turned to West: "You heard whatyour old friend said?"

"Yes, " replied West. 

"It is all true?"

"His base confession is, " said West boldly. "The man is a detectedillicit-diamond-dealer. "

"He only bought what the British wrongly claimed!" said the Boer warmly. "What right had they to make laws forbidding people to buy what wasfreely given up by the earth for the benefit of all?"

"It is of no use for me to argue about the matter!" said West coolly. "I shall never convince you, and you will never convince me. "

"Oh yes, I should, after you had come to your senses! There, we are notbrutes, only men fighting for our liberties, and I like you, for you arebrave and manly. Why not join our cause? It is just. "

West looked the Boer full in the eyes, thinking the while that the manspoke in all sincerity and belief that his cause was right. 

"Well, what do you say?" cried the Boer. 

West tightened his lips and shook his head. 

The Boer frowned and turned to Ingleborough. 

"Well, " he said, "you join us, and you will not repent. Prove faithful, and you will gain a place of trust among us!"

West listened for his comrade's reply. 

"Oh, I can't join without him, " said Ingleborough. "He's master, andI'm only man!"

"Then he was bearer of the despatch--what that man Anson said was true?"

"Oh yes, that part of his story was true enough. "

"That you were despatch-riders on the way to Mafeking--you two?"

"Quite right. "

"And you two had been diamond-dealers, and brought away a quantity?"

"Just as many, as we schoolboys used to say, as you could put in youreye with the point of a needle. All a lie! Anson was putting his owncase. All we brought away was the despatch. "

"Then where is it?" said the Boer sharply. 

"I don't know; I was not the bearer, " said Ingleborough quietly, "Butyou know where it is now?"

"I--do--not, " said Ingleborough firmly. "I have not the slightest ideawhere it is!"

"Then you have sent it on by someone else?"

"No, " said Ingleborough. "There, you know that we have failed, and ifyou set us at liberty, all we can do is to go back to Kimberley and saywhat has happened. "

"You will not go back to Kimberley, " said the Boer, speaking with hiseyes half-closed, "and if you did it would only be to go into prison, for the Diamond City is closely besieged, and if not already taken itwill in a few days be ours. There, go back to your wagon, and spend thetime in thinking till I send for you again. The choice is before you--agood position with us, or a long imprisonment before you are turned outof the country. "

He pointed towards their temporary place of confinement, and then turnedaway, while a couple of the Boers marched them to the wagon and leftthem in the sentry's charge. 

CHAPTER NINETEEN. 

THE SKY CLEARS. 

Once more in the wagon, one ox a pair of despondent prisoners, hot intemper as well as in person with the excitement of what he had so latelygone through, West cast himself down upon the floor ready to groan, while his more experienced, harder comrade sat down cross-legged tothink. 

"If I only knew where the coat was!" said West, with a groan. 

"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough. "I'm afraid it's gone for ever! ThatKaffir was one of the Boers' slave-like servants, of course, or hewouldn't have been in the camp; and after the attempt at theft, if hewas not too badly wounded, he would bolt right off for his own people. It's a sad business, old lad: but I don't think you need fear that itwill fall into the Boers' hands. "

"No, I don't fear that!" replied West. "But it is the misery and shameof the failure that worries me! I did so mean to succeed!"

"Hah! Yes, " sighed Ingleborough again; "but someone said--hang me if Iknow who!--`'Tis not in mortals to command success. ' You're only amortal, old fellow, and you must make the best of it. "

West groaned. 

"It's horribly hard; just, too, as I had hatched out a way of escape, "continued Ingleborough. 

"I don't want to escape now. "

"What? You don't mean to join the Boers as old Fat Face suggested?"

"Why not?" said West dismally. "I dare not go back to Kimberley. "

"You daren't turn traitor to your country, and, though you feel rightdown in the dumps, you dare go back to Kimberley and walk straight tothe Commandant and speak out like a man, saying: `I did my best, sir;but I failed dismally!'"

"Ah!" sighed West. 

"And he would reply: `Well, it's a bad job, my lad; but it's the fortuneof war. '"

West held out his hand as he sat there tailor-fashion by his friend inthe bottom of the wagon, and there was a warm grip exchanged. 

"Bravo, boy! You're coming round! I knew it. You only wanted time. "

"Thank you, Ingle! Now then, what was your idea of escaping?"

"Oh, a very simple one, but as likely to succeed as to fail. "

"Tell me at once! It will keep me from thinking about that miserabledespatch. "

"And the jacket! You and I will have to take turn and turn with minewhen the cold nights come, unless we pretend to lovely Anson that we aregoing to stop, and ask him to get you a fresh covering for your chestand back. "

"Oh, none of that, Ingle! I can't bear lying subterfuges. I'd soonerbear the cold of the bitter nights. "

"Don't use big words, lad! Subterfuge, indeed! Say _dodge_--a wardodge. But about my plan! You have noticed that for some reason theyhave not taken our ponies away. "

"Yes, they are still tethered to the wheel ox that wagon. What of that?It would be impossible to get to them and ride out unchallenged. "

"Oh no: not my way!"

"What is your way?" said West excitedly. 

"Last night was dark as pitch. "

"Yes; but there are double lines of sentries about. "

"With sharp eyes too; but there was a commando rode out, evidently topatrol the country and look out for our people. "

"Yes; I heard them ride away. "

"And I heard them come back at daybreak; but I was too lazy to get up. "

"I don't see what you are aiming at, " said West wearily; "but I supposeyou have some good idea--I hope a plausible one. "

"I think it is, old lad, " said Ingleborough, speaking now in a lowwhisper. "Suppose when that commando musters after dark--I am supposingthat one will go out again to-night--suppose, I say, when it musters wehad crept out of the wagon and crawled as far as that one where ourponies are tethered?"

West's hand stole forward to grip his comrade's knee. 

"Ah, you're beginning to grasp it!" said Ingleborough. "Then, as Istill have my knife, suppose I cut the reins and we mounted. "

"And joined the muster?" said West, in a hoarse whisper. 

"It isn't a dragoon troop, with men answering the roll-call and tellingoff in fours from the right. "

"No, just a crowd!" said West excitedly. 

"Exactly! There's only one reason why we shouldn't succeed. "

"What's that?"

"We don't look rough and blackguardly enough. "

"Oh, Ingle, I quite grasp it now!"

"I've been quite aware of that, old lad, for the last minute--that andsomething else. I don't know what will have happened when the war isover, but at present I don't wear a wooden leg. Oh, my knee! I didn'tthink your fingers were made of bone. "

"I beg your pardon, old fellow!"

"Don't name it, lad! I'm very glad you have so much energy in you, andproud of my powers of enduring such a vice-like--or say vicious--gripwithout holloaing out. Next time try your strength on Anson! Why, yourfingers would almost go through his fat. "

"Ingle, we must try it to-night. "

"Or the first opportunity. "

"Why didn't you think of that before we lost the despatch?"

"Hah! Why didn't I? Suppose it didn't come!"

West rose and crept to the end of the wagon and looked out. 

"The ponies are still there, " he whispered, and then he startedviolently, for a voice at the other end of the wagon cried: "Hallo, youtwo!"

West turned, with his heart sinking, convinced that the man must haveheard. 

"I'm just off sentry!" the Boer said good-humouredly. "I must haveshaved that Kaffir somewhere and not hurt him much. As soon as I wasrelieved I went and had a good look for him; but there wasn't so much asa drop of blood. "

"Poor wretch!" thought West. 

"Lucky for him!" said Ingleborough, in Dutch. 

"But I made the beggar drop the jacket, " said the Boer, laughing; and, to the delight of the prisoners, he sent it flying into the wagon. 

That was all, and the sentry strode away, just as West bounded upon therecovered garment like a tiger upon its prey. 

"Say bless him!" whispered Ingleborough. 

"Oh, Ingle!" groaned his companion, in a choking voice: "I can feel thedespatch quite safe. "

"Hah!" ejaculated Ingleborough. 

"And such a little while ago I was ready to curse fate and the very hourI was born!"

"And very wrong of you too, my son!" said Ingleborough, in tones whichbetrayed some emotion. "Cursing's a very bad habit, and only belongs totimes when wicked old men lived in old-fashioned plays and indulged init upon all kinds of occasions, especially when they had sons anddaughters who wanted to marry somebody else. "

"Oh, Ingle! Oh, Ingle! The sky doesn't look so covered with blackclouds now. "

"By no means, my lad! I can see enough blue sky to make a Dutchman apair of breeches--for Dutchman let's say Boer. I say, what do you sayto going out on patrol to-night?"

"Yes, yes, of course! But we have no guns!"

"Nor bandoliers, and that's a fact! Well, it's of no use to think ofgetting our own back again, even if we said we repented and meant tojoin the Boers at once. "

"They wouldn't trust us!"

"Too slim! Fools if they did!"

"Then it is hopeless!" said West. "Someone would notice it at once!"

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, "and those were beautiful rifles too. Butlook here: I could see a way out of the difficulty, only you are soscrupulous. One mustn't tell a diplomatic fib. "

"I can't stand telling an outrageous lie, even under stern necessity!"said West, pulling down his jacket after putting it on. 

"And you are so horribly honest!"

"Yes, " said West bitterly. "I have not, as Anson declared, been busybuying illicit-diamonds. But why do you say this--what do you mean?"

"I meant that I'd have risked it as soon as it was dark, and crept awayto steal a couple of the Boers' Mausers--just like a cat--mouser afterMauser--I say, what a horrible joke!"

West was silent. 

"They say they're splendid pieces; but it would be a terrible theft, because I should take the bandoliers too. "

West was still silent. 

"I say, lad, " whispered Ingleborough, laughing gently: "you couldn'tobject to my stealing the rifles that would be used to kill our men. "

"How would you manage?" whispered West. 

"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough, relieving his breast of a long pent-upbreath, as he looked up at the arched-in wagon-tilt: "this fellow's verynearly as wicked as I am. "

"Don't--don't joke!" said West: "the matter is too serious. How wouldyou manage?"

"Never you mind, old Very Particular! Leave that to me! By the way, though, before I lie down and have a good nap, in case I should be outall night, I don't think there is the slightest probability of ourjoining the Boer forces, do you?"

"Not the slightest!" answered West drily. "There'll be plenty oftraitors to their country without us!"

Five minutes later Ingleborough, whose head troubled him more than heowned to, was sleeping soundly, leaving West thinking deeply over theprospects of a daring escape, and every now and then glancing out andacross the laager to make sure that the ponies had not been moved, aswell as to fix the position of every wagon well in his mind ready forthe time when his comrade and he would be stealing across in the dark, and thinking at times that the Boers must be mad to leave theirprisoners' mounts tethered in sight of their temporary prison. 

"But they're altogether mad!" he mused, "or they would never have daredto defy the power of England in the way they have done!"

This thought had hardly passed through his mind when he saw a group ofthe laager's occupants come by the prison wagon, each with a couple ofwell-filled bandoliers crossbelt-fashion over his breast, and rifleslung, making for the range forming one side of the laager. They brokeup into twos and threes, and as they approached they unslung theirweapons and took off their cartridge-belts to place them beneath thewagon-tilts, while they settled down to prepare a meal before having arest. 

"Just come off duty!" thought the prisoner, and, with his heart beatingfast, he sat watching two of the men and then gazing hard at the nearestwagon, piercing in imagination the thick canvas covering spread over thearching-in hoops, and seeing, as he believed, exactly where two Mauserrifles and the Boers' bandoliers had been laid. 

"Why, if it were dark, " he thought, "I could creep out and secure thosetwo rifles as easily as possible--if they were not taken away!"

West's face turned scarlet, and it was not from the heat of the sun uponthe wagon-tilt, nor from the sultry air which passed in from one end andout at the other. 

He drew a deep breath and moved towards Ingleborough to tell him of theburning thoughts within him; but his comrade was sleeping so peacefullythat he shrank from awakening him. 

"He'll want all his strength!" thought West, and then he fell towondering whether or not they would succeed. 

The plan was so wonderfully simple that it seemed very possible, but--

Yes, there were so many "buts" rising up in the way. The slightesthitch would spoil all, and they would be detected and subjected to theroughest of usage, even if they were not shot. But it was worth therisk, and the thinker's heart began to beat faster, and his hand stoleto the part of his jacket where he had hidden the despatch, and as hedid so he mentally saw himself and his companion riding through thedarkness with the Boers, and waiting for an opportunity to dash off, taking the enemy so by surprise that they would be off and away and wellinto the gloom before they could be followed. 

Once well mounted, with the open veldt before them, and the darkness fortheir friend, he felt that it would go hard if they did not escape. 

He had come to this point, and was full of a wild exhilaration, feelingat heart that the venture only wanted the dash with which they wouldinfuse it, when his attention was taken up by seeing the Boer leaderwith about half-a-dozen of his field-cornets pass by the open end of thetent and cross the laager. 

He watched them with some anxiety, and then all at once his heart beganto sink with a sudden attack of despair, for two of the party went offin front, unfastened the reins by which the two Basuto ponies weretethered to the wagon-wheels, and led them to where the Boer leader andthe rest had halted, prior to putting the little animals through theirpaces as if to test their powers in connection with some object in view. 

A castle in the air dashed down into nothingness, and he uttered a lowgroan, which made Ingleborough start up with a wondering look in hiseyes. 

CHAPTER TWENTY. 

HOW TO ESCAPE. 

"What's wrong?" said Ingleborough, in a whisper. 

"Look out at the bottom of the wagon, " was West's reply. 

Ingleborough rose to his knees, and at a glance grasped the meaning ofhis companion's troubled look. 

"Going to adopt our little Basutos for their own use, eh?" he saidcoolly. "Well, I wonder they haven't done it before! Bah! There areplenty more horses about! What worries me is how I'm to get a couple ofrifles and the ammunition. I was rather too cock-a-hoop about that whenI talked to you, for these beloved Dutch cuddle up their pieces as ifthey loved them with all their hearts. "

West smiled. 

"Oh, don't do that because I said cuddled. "

"I smiled because I see the way to get a couple of rifles as soon asit's dark, " said West, and he told what he had noted. 

"Then there's no reason for you to look glum. I'll get a couple ofhorses somehow if you'll get the guns. Here, I'd whistle or sing if Iwere not afraid of taking the sentry's attention. We're all right, lad, and that bit of sleep has taken away the miserable pain in my head whichI keep on having since my fall. Now then, what are they going to dowith those ponies?"

Sitting well back, the prisoners watched all that went on, and saw theponies mounted and put through their paces by a couple of big Boers ofthe regular heavy, squat, Dutch build. 

"Bah! What a shame!" whispered Ingleborough; "it's murdering the poorlittle nags. A regular case for the Society for the Prevention ofCruelty to Animals. Those fellows want a couple of dray-horses to carrythem. "

"Yes, and they've found it out, " said West softly. 

For as they looked on they saw the two Boers pull up after a canter upand down the full length of the laager, and then drop clumsily off, withthe result that the ponies spread out their legs and indulged in a goodshake which nearly dislodged their saddles. 

Then a couple more of the onlookers tried the little mounts, but stoppedafter one trot up and down, and a general conversation ensued, resultingin the ponies being led off and tied up again in the same place, makingWest's heart beat as fast as if he had been running hard, while all thetime he tried to crush down a feeling of elation, lest he should bepremature in his hopefulness and be met with a fresh disappointment, for, though he saw the reins fastened in the same places, there wasplenty of time before dark for the ponies to be removed. 

Just then their examination of the Boers' proceedings was brought to anend by one of their captors bringing the roughly-prepared portion offood that was served out to them every day. 

It was rough, but good of its kind, for the Boers seemed to like to livewell, and they did not stint their prisoners, who, at a word fromIngleborough, fell to at once. 

"Appetite or no appetite, eat all you can, " he said. "We may have towork very hard to-night, and shall need all our strength. "

There was a fair amount left after they had done, and this was carefullytied up ready for taking with them if they were successful that night. After this there was nothing more to be done but to wait till darknessfell, and they sat back watching while the sentry was again changed, when the fresh man visited the wagon, to climb in, look carefully round, and eye them suspiciously before returning to his post. 

"Does that fellow suspect anything?" whispered West. 

"Of course; but nothing fresh. He comes on duty under the fullimpression that we mean to escape if we can, and he feels that if weattempt it his duty is to send a bullet through each of us. "

"Then you don't think he suspects that we are going to make an attemptto-night?"

"Pooh! How could he? But look! There goes Anson! Not coming here, ishe?"

"No: going to his own wagon! I say, Ingle, do you think he has anyillicit-diamonds with him?"

"I'm sure of it! He could not, according to his nature, have come awaywithout robbing the company somehow. I only wish I had the searching ofhis wagon! I suppose Norton did not have a chance!"

"Yes, look! He has gone to his wagon. Where should you search if youhad the chance?"

"Not quite sure yet!" said Ingleborough gruffly. "But don't talk to me. I want to think of something better than diamonds. "

"You mean liberty?"

"That's right. And now, once for all, we don't want to make any moreplans: each knows what he has to do, and as soon as it is dark he has todo it. "

"No, " said West gravely; "your part must wait until I have managed toget the rifles. "

"Well, yes; I must not be in too great a hurry. But I say, wouldn't itbe better for us to go together to the horses, and hide by them or underthem till the Boers muster?"

"But suppose the sentry takes it into his head to come and examine thewagon, and gives the alarm?"

"Oh, don't suppose anything!" said Ingleborough impatiently. "We mustchance a good deal and leave the rest to luck. "

West nodded, and fixed his eyes upon the wagon he had previously singledout, noticing that the Boers who occupied it were lying right beneath, sleeping, each with a rolled-up blanket for a rug. 

A little later he saw a big heavy-looking Kaffir come up, lookunderneath at the sleepers, and then go off for a short distance, to liedown upon his chest, doubling his arms before him so as to make aresting-place for his forehead, and lying so perfectly motionless thatit became evident that he also was asleep. 

The evening was closing in fast now, and the men began to move aboutmore as if making preparations for some excursion which they had inview. 

"That looks well!" said Ingleborough. "There's going to be somemovement to-night. All was so still half-an-hour ago that I began tothink we should have to put off our attempt. "

"Oh, don't say that!" said West. "We _must_ go!"

Further conversation was checked by the coming of the sentry to look inupon them, scowling heavily before he slouched away. 

Ten minutes or so later the darkness began to fall, increasing so fastthat within half-an-hour the laager would have been quite black if ithad not been for a lantern inside a wagon here and there; but, in spiteof the darkness, the camp began to grow more animated, a buzz ofconversation seeming to rise from the wagons like the busy hum of theinsects outside. 

All at once, as Ingleborough was going to draw his companion's attentionto this fact, he felt a hand steal along his arm to grip his hand. Thenit was withdrawn, a very faint rustling followed, and the listener feltthat he was alone. 

"Good luck go with him!" he muttered. "I wonder whether he'll succeed?"

Leaning a little forward, he seemed to strain his ears to listen, thoughhe felt that this was absurd, till all at once it struck him that heheard the soft sound of stealthy steps approaching from the other end ofthe wagon, and, creeping towards the sounds, he felt more than heard twomen approaching, and as he got his head over the wagon-box he heard awhisper. 

"Anson and the sentry!" he said to himself. "The spy, come to find outwhether we're safe. Yes, that was Anson's whisper! Then we're done ifhe brings a lantern and finds me alone. "

He paused for a moment or two, asking himself what he should do; andthen the idea came. 

Subsiding into a reclining position, he suddenly gave his thigh a sharpslap and started as if the blow had roused him up. 

"Don't go to sleep, stupid!" he said aloud. "One can't sleep all theseawful long nights! Oh dear me, this is precious dull work. I wish wehad a lantern and a box of dominoes! I wonder whether there is a box inthe laager?"

"Bother!" he said, in a low smothered tone, with his hands covering hisface. "I wish you wouldn't! I was dreaming about old Anson and thathe'd got ten thousand pounds' worth of diamonds in a bag aboard hiswagon. "

"Like enough!" continued Ingleborough, in his natural voice. "Ha, ha, ha!" he laughed. "I should like to serve the beggar out!"

"How?" he said, in the smothered sleepy voice. 

"How? I'll tell you how it might be done if he had got them. Find outwhere his wagon is in the laager, and then wait till the sentry'sasleep, and crawl out of this thing, and nobble the lot. "

"Rubbish!"

"Not it! We could get them easily enough and bring them back here. Nobody would suspect us! But there would be no getting them away! Isay, are you asleep again?"

"No, " said West quietly. "What's the matter with you? Are you talkingin your sleep? I was afraid to come in, thinking someone was with--"

He got no farther, for Ingleborough clapped a hand over his mouth andcontinued. 

"Heigho! What bosh one does talk! I wish there wasn't a blesseddiamond in the world!"

He removed his hand, and feeling that there was some reason for allthis, West said quietly: "Why?"

"Why? See what a lot of trouble they cause! This fighting is as muchabout the diamond-fields as anything, and--Hullo! how you startled me?"

It was quite true: he was horribly startled, feeling that their plan wasspoiled, for there was a faint sound at the end of the wagon and thedoor of a lantern was suddenly opened, throwing the light within, andgiving the prisoners a glance of the sentry's and Anson's faces lookingin. 

"All right?" said the sentry, in his own tongue. 

"Oh yes, all right!" replied Ingleborough; "but look here: you might aswell leave us that lantern! We won't set fire to the bed-curtains, Ipromise you!"

"No, " said the Boer, and with a chuckle he closed the door of thelantern and walked whistling away to his companion. 

"Anson!" said West, with his lips close to Ingleborough's ear. 

"Yes: the fox! How you startled me! I didn't hear you come! I waskeeping up a sham conversation, for they were stealing down upon us tocatch us on the hop! You failed, then, or were you obliged to turnback?"

"Neither: I succeeded!"

"What? You got the rifles?"

"Yes. "

"Then they must have seen them when the light was thrown in!"

"No, " said West quietly; "they are outside, leaning against the nearhind wheel. "

"West, lad, this seems too good to be true. How did you manage?"

"Easily enough. I had marked down one wagon--the one I pointed out toyou while it was light--and as soon as I dropped down from here I wenton my hands and knees to crawl towards it. You know what a shortdistance it was, and by going very slowly I passed two others where theBoers were sitting outside talking. This was easy enough, for they wereso much interested in their conversation that they took no notice of anynoise I made. "

"And they couldn't see you?"

"I couldn't see them, " replied West; "so, of course, they did not seeme. "

"Go on. "

"I did, " said West, "and then I thought it was all over, for the nextwagon faced in another direction, and I saw what I had not seen before--a lantern was hanging in front over the driver's box, and it sent a dullpath of light forward on the ground, and I stopped, for I had to crossthat path, and I felt that I must be seen. "

"Tut-tut-tut!" clicked Ingleborough. 

"But after a few moments I recollected how much my drab brown jacket waslike the soil, and I determined to risk it. "

"And crawled on?"

"Yes, but not on my hands and knees. I lay flat on my chest and workedmyself along upon my hands and toes. It was only about a dozen yardswhere it was light, but it seemed like a mile. "

"Never mind that!" said Ingleborough impatiently. "You did it unheard?"

"Yes; but a man sitting in the wagon suddenly moved when I was halfacross, and I was about to spring up, thinking that he was searching forhis rifle. "

"Phew!" whistled Ingleborough softly. 

"It was well I did not; for directly after, to save getting up andopening his lantern, the Boer struck a match, and as I lay perfectlystill, fully expecting to be shot, the whole place seemed to be lit up, and instead of hearing a rifle cocked I smelt a whiff of strong coarsetobacco, and I felt that I was safe. "

"Go on and get it over!" whispered Ingleborough. "You are making myhands feel wet. "

"I lay some time before I dared to move. "

"That you didn't, for you weren't gone long. "

"Well, it seemed an hour to me: and then I crept on and out of the lightinto the black darkness again, rose to my hands and knees, wonderingwhether I was going right, and the next minute my hand rubbed softlyagainst a wagon-wheel, and I knew I was right. "

"Bravo!" whispered Ingleborough. 

"I rose up directly, and began to feel about carefully for the tilt, andonce more my heart seemed to rise to my mouth, for from under the wagonthere came a dull deep snoring, and I felt it was impossible to do morefor fear of being heard. "

"But you made a dash for it?"

"No: I waited to get my breath, for I was just as if I had been running. But as soon as I could I went on feeling along the edge of the tilt, and then my heart gave a jump, for my hand touched the barrel of a rifleand directly after that of another. "

"Hurrah!" panted out Ingleborough, and West went on. 

"I began to draw the first towards me, but, as soon as I did, to myhorror the other began to move, and I felt that if I kept on the secondone would fall and wake the sleeping Boers. So I reached up with myother hand, got well hold, and drew both together. But it was terriblework, for they would not come readily, because the bandoliers werehanging to them, and as I pulled I fully expected that something wouldcatch and discharge one of the pieces, to alarm the whole laager forcertain, even if it did not kill me. But by lifting and easing andturning the rifles over I at last got the two pieces nearly out, whenthey suddenly seemed to be held fast, and I stood there graduallygetting drenched with perspiration. "

"Why, the edge of the tilt must have caught them!" said Ingleboroughexcitedly. 

"Yes, that's what I found to be the case, and by turning them over againthey came free, and I was standing by the wheel with what we wanted. "

"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough. 

"But even then I had a chill, for the snoring ceased and the sleeperbegan to mutter, taking all the strength out of me, till I felt thateven if he or they beneath the wagon should rouse up I could escapethrough the darkness if I was quick. "

"So you slung the rifles and bandoliers over your shoulders, went downon your hands and knees, and crept back?"

"No, I did not. I felt that there was not time, and that I had bettertrust to the darkness to escape, so I just shouldered the pieces andstepped out boldly walking across the broad path of light. "

"Good; but you should have struck off to your right, so as to get whereit would be more feeble. "

"I thought of that, " said West quickly; "but I dared not, for fear ofmissing our wagon. So I walked boldly on, and almost ran against aBoer. "

"Tut-tut-tut! Did he stop you?"

"No: he just said: `Mind where you are coming!' and passed on. "

"Well?" said Ingleborough. 

"That's all. I marched along to the wagon here and stood the rifles upbefore venturing to get in, for I fancied that you were talking in yoursleep and would bring the sentry upon us. There, I've got the arms, andI don't want such another job as that. "

"Pooh! Nonsense, lad! The game has only just begun! You ought to feelencouraged, for you have learned and taught me how easy the rest of ourjob will be! Just a little cool pluck, and we shall succeed!"

"Very well!" said West. "I'm ready! What next?"

"We must lie down and wait till we hear the commando on the stir, andthen--"

"Yes, " said West softly; "and then?"

"Let's wait and see!"

CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. 

EVERYTHING COMES TO THE MAN WHO WAITS. 

What seemed like a couple of the weariest hours they had ever passedwent slowly by, with everything quite still in the laager; and at lastWest, who was lying on his back, side by side with his companion, whispered: "They're not going on patrol to-night. We must creep out andescape on foot. "

"Without knowing the way through the entrance among the rocks, and withdozens of sentries about? Can't be done!"

"Pst!" whispered West, for his quick hearing had detected the approachof someone, and directly after a light was flashed in under the tilt, alittle whispering followed after the dull rays were shut off, and oncemore there was silence. 

The pair lay a good five minutes without attempting to move or speak, and then West whispered:

"Two sentries. "

"No: one and Fathead. "

"How do you know? I daren't look, for fear they should see the gleam ofmy eyes. "

"I could smell him. "

"Scented--out here?"

"Yes; I believe he'd put some scent on his handkerchief and some pomatumon his hair even if he were going to be shot. "

"Hist! Listen, " said West quickly; "they're on the stir. "

Ingleborough started up, for a voice was heard giving an order, and itwas as if a stick had suddenly been thrust into a beehive and stirredround. 

"Right!" said Ingleborough, in a low tone. "Now's our time! Take along deep breath, and let's make the plunge. It will be all right ifyou keep close to me!"

West instinctively drew a long breath without thinking of hiscompanion's advice, for it was to him like a reflection of old boyishdays when he summoned up his courage to take a plunge into deep waterwhile wanting faith in his powers as a swimmer. But it was only themaking of the plunge. 

Following Ingleborough, he dropped off the end of the wagon, boldly ledhim to the rifles, and together in the darkness they slipped on thebandoliers, two each, crossbelt-fashion, slung their rifles behind, puton their broad felt hats well down over their eyes, and then, imitatingthe Boer's heavy slouching walk, they hurried on through the laager inthe direction of the horses. 

It was, if possible, darker than ever, and they passed several Boers, quite half of whom were leading horses, and one of them startled andencouraged them by growling out in Dutch: "Now then--look sharp, mylads!"

"We will!" whispered Ingleborough, as soon as they had passed on; "butoh, if the ponies are gone!"

In another minute they knew that they were still safely tethered as theyhad seen them last, while a little search at the end of the empty wagonbrought busy hands in contact with their saddles and bridles. 

"Oh, it's mere child's play!" whispered Ingleborough, as they hurriedback to the ponies, which recognised their voices and readily yielded tobeing petted, standing firm while the saddles were clapped on and theywere girthed. 

"Ready?" said West. 

"Yes. Shall we lead them to where the muster is being made?"

"No; let's mount and ride boldly up!" said West. 

The next minute they were in the saddle, and, stirred by the naturalinstinct to join a gathering of their own kind, both ponies neighed andambled towards the spot where about fifty men were collected, some fewmounted, others holding their bridles ready for the order to start. 

There was a startler for West, though, just as they were riding towardsthe gathering patrol, one which communicated itself to Ingleborough, forall at once out of the darkness on their left a voice exclaimed: "Here, Piet, have you moved my rifle?"

"No, " came back. 

Then after a pause: "Here, what does this mean? Mine's not where I leftit! Come, no nonsense! We may want them at any time! You shouldn'tplay tricks like this; it might mean a man's life!"

The intending fugitives heard no more, their horses hurrying them fromthe spot, expecting to hear an alarm raised at any moment; but this didnot occur. 

It was too dark for the recognition of faces, and the men were for themost part sleepy and out of humour at being roused up, so that they werevery silent, thinking more of themselves than of their fellows. 

There was one trifling episode, though, which was startling for themoment, for West's pony, being skittish after days of inaction, began tomake feints of biting its nearest neighbour, with the result that thelatter's rider struck at it fiercely and rapped out an angry oath on twoin company with an enquiry delivered in a fierce tone as to who thesomething or another West was that he could not keep his pony still. 

Fortunately, and setting aside all necessity for a reply, a hoarse orderwas given, causing a little confusion, as every dismounted man climbedinto his saddle, and the next moment there was a second order toadvance, when the leading couple went forward and the rest followed, dropping naturally into pairs, fortunately without West and hiscompanion being separated. 

Then began the loud clattering of hoofs upon the stony way, while theywound in and out amongst ponderous blocks of granite and ironstone, trusting to the leading horses, whose riders were warned of danger inthe darkness by the sentries stationed here and there. 

Before they were half-way clear from the rocks of the kopje, both Westand Ingleborough were fully convinced that to have attempted to escapeon foot in the darkness must have resulted in failure, while minute byminute their confidence increased in the ultimate result of their ruse, for it was evident that the couple of Boers next to them in front and inrear could have no more idea of who they were than they could gain oftheir neighbours. 

For every man's time was fully taken up in providing for his own and hismount's safety--much more in seeking his own, for the sure-footed ponieswere pretty well accustomed to looking after themselves in patches ofcountry such as in their own half-wild state they were accustomed toseek for the sake of the lush growth to be found bordering upon thesources of the streams. 

There was not much conversation going on, only the exchange of a fewhoarse grunts from time to time, sufficient, however, to encourage thetwo prisoners to think that they might venture upon an observation ortwo in Boer-Dutch, both imitating their captors' tones and roughness asfar as they could. But they did not venture upon much, and carefullyavoided whispers as being likely to excite suspicion. 

"Have you any plans as to the next start?" said West. 

"Only that we should go off north-west as soon as we are well on theopen veldt, and gallop as hard as we can go. "

"Which is north-west?"

"Hang me if I have the slightest idea! Have you?"

"No. But it does not matter. Let's get clear away if we can, and shapeour course afterwards when the sun rises. "

"Capital plan! Anything more?"

"I've been thinking, " answered West, "that if we turn off suddenlytogether the whole troop will go in pursuit at once, and then it will bethe race to the swiftest. "

"Of course! It always is!"

"Oh no, " said West drily; "not always: the most cunning generally wins. "

"Very well, then we shall win, for we are more cunning than thesedunder-headed Boers. "

They rode on in silence after this for a few minutes, gradually feelingthat they were on level ground, over which the ponies ambled easilyenough; but they could not see thirty yards in any direction. 

"Look here, " said Ingleborough gruffly: "you've some dodge up yoursleeve! What is it?"

"Only this, " replied West; "I've been thinking that if we can get ahundred yards' clear start, and then strike off to right or left, we canlaugh at pursuit, for they will have lost sight of us and will not knowwhich way to pursue. "

"Yes, that's right enough, but how are you going to get your hundredyards' start?"

"I'll tell you how I think it can be done, " and, bending over towardshis companion, West mumbled out a few words in the darkness andIngleborough listened and uttered a low grunt as soon as his friend hadfinished. 

Then there was utter silence, broken only by the dull clattering soundof the horses' hoofs upon the soft dusty earth, West listening the whilein the black darkness till he heard Ingleborough upon his left make arustling noise caused by the bringing round and unslinging of his rifle, followed by the loading and then the softly cocking of the piece. 

"Ready?" said Ingleborough, at last. 

"Yes, " was the reply. 

"Then one--two--three--and away!" said Ingleborough softly. 

At the first word West began to bear upon his horse's rein, drawing itshead round to the right, and at the last he drove his heels sharply intothe pony's flanks and wrenched its head round so suddenly that thestartled little beast made a tremendous bound off towards the openveldt, its sudden action having a stunning and confusing effect upon theline of Boers. 

"Hi! stop!" roared Ingleborough directly, shouting in the Boer-Dutchtongue, while as West tore on his companion stood up in his stirrups, fired two shots after him in succession, and then with another shout heset spurs to his pony and dashed off as fast as his mount would go. 

The fugitives plunged one after the other into the darkness on thelittle column's flank, and the burghers saw them for a few moments erethey disappeared and their ponies' hoofs began to sound dull before theyrecovered from the stupor of astonishment the suddenness of the incidenthad caused. 

Then a voice shouted fiercely: "A deserter! Fire and bring him down!"

"No: stop!" shouted the leader, in a stentorian voice. "Do you want toshoot your faithful brother?"

There was a murmur of agreement at this, and the rustle and rattle ofrifles being unslung stopped at once. 

"Who is the burgher who followed the traitor?" continued the leader. 

There was no reply, only a low muttering of voices as the Boersquestioned one another. 

"Wait, " continued the officer in command. "I daresay our brother haswounded him and will bring him back in a few minutes. "

The Boers waited with their little force drawn up in line and facing theblack far-stretching veldt, every man wondering which two of their partyhad been traitor and pursuer, and naturally waited in vain. 

CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. 

QUERY: FREEDOM?

The dash for liberty had been well carried out, West getting his sturdypony into a swinging gallop before he had gone far, and keeping it upstraight away till he could hear Ingleborough's shout in close pursuit, when he drew rein a little, till in its efforts to rejoin its companionthe second pony raced up alongside. 

"Bravo, West, lad!" panted Ingleborough, in a low tone that soundedterribly loud in their ears, which magnified everything in theirexcitement. "It's a pity you are not in the regulars!"

"Why?"

"You'd soon be a general!"

"Rubbish!" said West shortly. "Don't talk or they'll be on us! Can youhear them coming?"

"No; and I don't believe they will come! They'll leave it to me tocatch you. I say, I didn't kill you when I fired, did I?"

"No, " said West, with a little laugh, "but you made me jump each time!The sensation was rather queer. "

"I took aim at an angle of forty-five degrees with the horizon orthereabouts, to be exact, " said Ingleborough pedantically; "and thosetwo, my first shots with a Mauser rifle, no doubt have travelled acouple of miles at what they call a high trajectory. But what gloriousluck!"

"Yes; I never dared to hope that the plan would succeed so well. "

"Talk about humbugging anyone--why, it was splendid!"

"But oughtn't we to go off at right angles now?" said West anxiously, ashe turned himself in his saddle and listened. 

"Quite time enough to do that when we hear them tearing along in fullpursuit, and that will not be to-night. "

"Think not?"

"I feel sure of it, lad! Of course they can't hatch it out in theirthick skulls that their two prisoners were the actors in this littledrama: they can't know till they get back that we have escaped. "

"Of course not. "

"And you may depend upon it that they'll stand fast for about a quarterof an hour waiting for me to come back, either with my prisoner alive orwith his scalp--I mean his rifle, ammunition, and pony. "

"And when they find that you don't come back?" said West, laughing tohimself. 

"Then they'll say that you've taken my scalp and gone on home with it:think it is just the fortune of war, and promise themselves that they'llride out by daylight to save my body from the Aasvogels and bury it outof sight. "

"And by degrees they will put that and that together, " said West, "andfind that they have been thoroughly tricked. "

"Yes, and poor Anson will distil pearly tears from those beautiful eyesof his, and we shall not be there to see them rolling down his fatcheeks. West, lad, I never yet wanted to kill a man. "

"Of course not, and you don't now!"

"That's quite correct, lad; but I should like to be a grand inquisitorsitting on Master Anson for his renegade ways and superintending in thetorture-chamber. My word, shouldn't he have the question of the water;no, the rack; or better still, the extraction of his nails. Stop aminute: I think hanging from the ceiling by his wrists with a weightattached to his ankles, and a grand finish-off with the question of firewould be more fitting. Bless him for a walking tallow sausage, wouldn'the burn!"

"Ugh! Don't be such a savage!" cried West angrily. "You wouldn't doanything of the kind. I should be far more hard-hearted and cruel thanyou'd be, for I would have him tied up to the wheel of a wagon and set aKaffir to flog him with a sjambok on his bare back. "

"Oh!" exclaimed Ingleborough sharply. 

"What's the matter?"

"And I've come away without having the oily rascal stripped of hisplunder. "

"What! His diamonds?"

"Yes. I know he has a regular pile hidden in that wagon of his, and, what's more, I know where to look and find them. "

"Where?"

"Never you mind till the time comes! I have a sort of prescient ideathat some day we shall face that fellow again with the circumstancesreversed; and then I'm going to have his loot cleared out. "

And this and much more as the fugitives cantered easily along throughthe darkness, giving their ponies their heads and letting them increasethe distance more and more, till all at once West broke the silence byexclaiming: "I say, Ingle, is it really true?"

"Is what really true--that Master Anson's a fat beast?"

"No, no; that we have escaped and are riding away at full liberty to gowhere we please? It seems to me like a dream, and that in the morningwe shall awake and find ourselves once again in that dreary wagon. "

"Partly true, partly imaginary, " said Ingleborough bluntly. 

"What do you mean?" said West, in a startled tone. 

"It's true that we've made a jolly clever escape, thanks to you; but itisn't true that we're at liberty to go where we like. "

"Why not?" said West wonderingly. 

"Because you've got that despatch in your jacket somewhere, I hope. "

"Yes, " said West, after running his hand down a seam. "It's safeenough!"

"Well, that despatch says we must go to Mafeking; so we're prisoners toduty still. "

"Of course!" said West cheerily. "But look here: it's of no use to tireour ponies. We're far enough off now to let them walk, or dismount andlet them graze till we know which way to steer. "

"It's all right; keep on, lad! We're steering as straight as if we hada compass. I believe the ponies know where we want to go, and took theright line at once. "

"Nonsense! You don't believe anything of the kind. What makes youthink we're going in the right direction?"

"Because the clouds yonder thinned out a bit half-an-hour ago, and I sawthree dim stars in a sort of arch, and continuing the line there wasanother brighter one just in the place where it ought to be. I knowthem as well as can be of old: the big one sets just in the north-west. "

"Are you sure of that?" cried West eagerly. 

"As sure as that I bore off a little to the right as soon as I saw thatstar, so as to turn more to the north and straight for Mafeking. Idon't guarantee that we are keeping straight for it now the stars areshut out; but we shall know as soon as it's day by the compass. "

"Why don't we strike a light and examine it now?" said West eagerly. 

"Because we haven't a match!" replied Ingleborough. "Didn't our sturdyhonest captors take everything away but my knife, which was luckily inmy inner belt along with my money?"

"To be sure!" sighed West. 

"And if we had matches we dare not strike them for fear of the lightbeing seen by one of the Boer patrols. "

"Yes, " said West, with another sigh. "I suppose they are everywherenow!"

At that moment the ponies stopped short, spun round, almost unseatingtheir riders, and went off at full speed back along the way they hadcome; and it was some minutes before they could be checked and soothedand patted back into a walk. 

"The country isn't quite civilised yet, " said West; "fancy lions beingso near the line of a railway. Hark; there he goes again!"

For once more the peculiar barking roar of a lion came from a distance, making the air seem to quiver and the ponies turn restless again andbegin to snort with dread. 

"Steady, boys, steady!" said Ingleborough soothingly to the two steeds. "Don't you know that we've got a couple of patent foreign rifles, andthat they would be more than a match for any lion that ever lived?"

"If we shot straight!" said West banteringly. "There he goes again!How near do you think that fellow is?"

"Quiet, boy!" cried Ingleborough, leaning forward and patting his ponyon the neck, with satisfactory results. "How far? It's impossible tosay! I've heard performers who called themselves ventriloquists, buttheir tricks are nothing to the roaring of a lion. It's about the mostdeceptive sound I know. One time it's like thunder, and another it'slike Bottom the Weaver. "

"Like what?" cried West. 

"The gentleman I named who played lion, and for fear of frightening theladies said he would roar him as gently as a sucking dove. Now then, what's to be done?"

"I don't know, " said West. "We did not calculate upon having lions toact as sentries on behalf of the Boers. "

"Let's bear off more to the north and try to outflank the great cat. "

Changing their course, they started to make a half-circle of a couple ofmiles' radius, riding steadily on, but only to have their shiveringmounts startled again and again till they were ready to give up indespair. 

"We'd better wait till daybreak, " said West. 

"There's no occasion to, " said Ingleborough, "for there it is, comingright behind us, and we're going too much to the west. Bear off, andlet's ride on. I don't suppose we shall be troubled any more. What wewant now is another kopje--one which hasn't been turned into a trap. "

"There's what we want!" said West, half-an-hour later, as one of themany clumps of rock and trees loomed up in the fast lightening front. 

"Yes, " said Ingleborough sharply, "and there's what we don't want, farnearer to us than I like. "

"Where?" asked West sharply. 

"Straight behind us!"

"Why, Ingle, " cried West, in despair, "they've been following us allthrough the night!"

"No, " said Ingleborough, shading his eyes with his hand; "that's adifferent patrol, I feel sure, coming from another direction. "

"What shall we do?"

"Ride straight for that kopje; we're between it and the patrol, andperhaps they won't see us. If they do we must gallop away. "

"But suppose this kopje proves to be occupied?" said West. "We don'twant to be taken prisoners again. "

"That's the truest speech you've made for twenty-four hours, my lad, "said Ingleborough coolly, "but, all the same, that seems to be thewisest thing to do. "

"Make for the kopje?"

"Yes, for we want water, shelter, and rest. "

"But if the Boers are there too?"

"Hang it, lad, there aren't enough of the brutes to occupy every kopjein the country; some of them must be left for poor fellows in such amess as we are. "

"Ride on and chance it then?"

"To be sure!" was the reply; and they went on at a steady canterstraight for the clump in front, a mile or so away, turning every nowand then to watch the line of horsemen which seemed to be going at rightangles to their track. Just as they reached the outskirts of theeminence the leading files of the patrol bore off a little and thefugitives had the misery of seeing that the enemy they wished to avoidseemed to be aiming straight for the place they had intended for arefuge, while to have ridden out to right or left meant going full insight of the patrol. 

To make matters worse, the sun was beginning to light up the stony topsof the kopje, and in a very few minutes the lower portions would beglowing in the morning rays. 

"Cheer up!" said Ingleborough; "it's a big one! Now then, dismount andlead horses! Here's cover enough to hide in now, and we may be able toget round to the other side without being seen. "

"And then?"

"Oh, we won't intrude our company upon the enemy; let's ride off as fastas we can. "

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. 

FALSE ALARMS. 

The bottom and surroundings of the eminence afforded plenty of cover, and the fugitives pushed on in and out among dense patches of lowgrowth, and, leading their sure-footed little ponies, they climbed overand around piles and masses of stone that would have been difficultieseven to mules, while twice over West scaled a slope so as to carefullylook down and backward at the enemy. 

This he was able to do unseen, and came down again to report that thepatrol was still making for the kopje as if for rest, but that theirmovements were too careless and deliberate for those of an enemy inpursuit. 

The far side of the pile of granite and ironstone was reached in safety, placing the fugitives about a quarter of a mile from the Boers in adirect line, but quite a mile of intricate climbing if measured by thedistance round; and they paused in a green patch full of refreshingbeauty, being a wide ravine stretching up into the height, and with abubbling stream of water running outward and inviting the ponies at onceto take their fill. 

"This settles it at once!" said Ingleborough, letting his bridle fallupon his mount's neck. 

"Yes; we can go well in yonder, leading the ponies along the bed of thestream. There is plenty of cover to hide half a regiment. "

"Of Boers, " said Ingleborough shortly. "It will not do for us. "

"Why?" said West, staring. "We can hide there till they have gone. "

"My dear boy, " said Ingleborough; "can't you see? The beggars evidentlyknow this place, and are making for it on account of the water. We sawnone on the other side. "

"Very well, " said West sharply; "let's ride off, and keep the hillbetween us and them. "

"Too late!" said Ingleborough. "This way; come on!"

For as he spoke there was the loud beating noise of many hoofs, indicating that the whole or a portion of the commando was coming at agallop round the opposite side of the kopje from that by which thefugitives had come; and to have started then would have meant a gallopin full sight of a large body of men ready to deliver a rifle-fire ofwhich they would have had to run the gauntlet. 

"We're entering another trap, " said West bitterly, as they led theirreluctant ponies along the bed of the stream, fortunately for them toostony for any discoloration to be borne down to show the keen-eyed Boersthat someone had passed that way, and at the same time yielding noimpress of the footprints of man or beast. 

As far as the fugitives could see, the ravine went in a devious course acouple of hundred yards into the eminence, but, as it proved, nearlyacross to the other side. It was darkened by overhanging trees andcreepers, which found a hold in every ledge or crack of the almostperpendicular sides, and grew darker and darker at every score of yards;but the echoing rocks gave them full notice of what was going on nearthe entrance, the voices of the Boers and the splashing noise of theirhorses' feet coming with many repetitions to drown any sound made bytheir own. 

"It isn't a bad place!" said Ingleborough, as they hurried on, with theravine growing more narrow and the sides coming more sharply down intothe water. "It strikes me that we shall find the water comes out ofsome cave. "

Five minutes later Ingleborough proved to be quite correct, for theypaused at a rugged archway between piled-up fern-hung blocks, out ofwhich the water rushed in a fairly large volume, but not knee-deep; and, upon leaving his horse with his comrade and boldly wading in, West foundthat the cave expanded as soon as the entrance was passed, so that thespring ran outward along a narrow stony bed, and on either side therewas a bed of sand of considerable width. 

"Come along!" said West. "The water gets shallower, and there is a dryplace on either side. "

Ingleborough waded in at once, but unfortunately the ponies shrank fromfollowing, and hung back from the reins, one of them uttering a loudsnort, which was repeated from the interior so loudly that the secondanimal reared up wildly and endeavoured to break away. 

West dashed back though directly and relieved his companion of one ofthe refractory beasts, when by means of a good deal of coaxing andpatting they were finally got along for some yards and out onto thesandy side, where they whinnied out their satisfaction and recoveredtheir confidence sufficiently to step towards the running waters andresume their interrupted drink. 

"Rifles!" said Ingleborough shortly, when West unslung his and stoodready, following his companion's example as he stood in the darknesswith his piece pointing out at the bright stream with its mossy andfern-hung framing. 

"Did you hear anyone coming?" whispered West. 

"No, but they must have heard our ponies and be coming on, " was thereply. 

"Let them come; we can keep the whole gang at bay from here!"

But five minutes' watching and listening proved that they had not beenheard, for the Boers were too busy watering their horses, the voices ofthe men and the splashings and tramplings of the beasts coming inreverberations right along the natural speaking-tube, to strike clearlyupon the listeners' ears. 

Three several times the fugitives stood on guard with rifles cocked, ready to make a determined effort to defend their post of vantage, forthe voices came nearer and nearer, and splashing sounds indicatedmovements out towards the mouth of the ravine; but just when theirnerves were strained to the utmost, and they watched with starting eyesa corner round which the enemy would have to turn to bring them withinrange, the talking and splashing died out, and they simultaneouslyuttered a sigh of relief. 

"I couldn't bear much of this, Ingle, " said West, at last. "I halfthink that I would rather have them come on so that we could get intothe excitement of a fight. "

"I don't half think so, lad; I do quite, " replied Ingleborough. 

"But you don't want to fight?"

"Of course not; I don't want to feel that I've killed anybody; but atthe same time I'd rather kill several Boers than they should kill me. However, I hope they will not attack us, for if they do I mean to shootas straight as I can and as often as is necessary. What do you say?"

West was silent for a few moments, during which he seemed to be thinkingout the position. At last he spoke: "I have never given the Boers anyreason for trying to destroy my life, my only crime being that I amEnglish. So, as life is very sweet and I want to live as long as I can, I shall do as you do till they get disheartened, for I don't see howthey can get at us, and--"

"Here, quick, lad!" whispered Ingleborough, swinging round. "We'reattacked from behind!"

West followed his example, feeling fully convinced that the Boers hadafter all seen them seek refuge in the cavern, and had taken advantageof their knowledge of the place to creep through some tunnel which ledin from the other side, for there was a strange scuffling and rustlingsound a little way in, where it was quite dark. With rifles pointedtowards the spot and with fingers on triggers, the two friends waitedanxiously for some further development, so as to avoid firing blindlyinto the cavern without injury to the enemy while leaving themselvesunloaded when their foes rushed on. 

"Can't be Boers!" said Ingleborough, at the end of a minute, duringwhich the noise went on; "it's wild beasts of some kind. "

"Lions, " suggested West. 

"Oh no; they'd go about as softly as cats! More like a pack of hyaenastrying to get up their courage for a charge!"

"If we fired and stood on one side they'd rush out!" replied West. 

"Yes, " said Ingleborough grimly; "and the Boers would rush in to seewhat was the matter. That wouldn't do, for it's evident that they don'tknow we're here. "

"But we must do something, or they'll injure the horses! Why!" criedWest excitedly; "it must be that they've pulled the poor beasts down andare devouring them. "

"Without our little Basutos making a kick for life? Nonsense! They'dsqueal and kick and rush out. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

To West's astonishment his companion burst into a prolonged fit ofgentle laughter. 

"Here, come along!" he said. "Of all the larky beggars! Here, you tworuffians, stow that, or you'll smash up those saddles!"

Ingleborough dashed in, followed at once by West, and as they got infurther from the cave's mouth they dimly saw their mounts spring up fromhaving a good roll and wriggle upon the soft dry sand to rest theirspines and get rid of the larvae of some worrying pernicious horse-fly. 

The moment the two ponies were on all-fours they gave themselves avigorous shake, and then whinnied softly and advanced to their riderswith out-stretched necks, expectant of a piece of bread or some otherdelicacy with which they had been petted from time to time. 

"Why, you larky little rascals!" cried Ingleborough, patting the twobeasts affectionately; "what do you mean by frightening us out of ourseven senses? I mean frightening me, for you weren't scared a bit--eh, West?"

"Frightened? It was horrible! I can understand now why the Boers can'tbear being attacked from behind!"

"Of course! I say, though, no wonder children are afraid of being inthe dark. " He turned to the ponies, and said: "Look here, my lads, Isuppose you don't understand me, but if you could take my advice you'dlie down to have a good rest. It would do you both good, and if thefiring did begin you'd escape being hit. "

To this one of the ponies whinnied softly, and then moved gently to itscompanion's side, head to tail, bared its big teeth as if to bite, andbegan to draw them along the lower part of the other's spine, beginningat the root of the tail and rasping away right up to the saddle, whilethe operatee stretched out its neck and set to work in the same way uponthe operator, upon the give-and-take principle, both animals gruntingsoftly and uttering low sounds that could only be compared to bleats orpurrs. 

"They say there's nothing so pleasant in life as scratching where youitch, " said West, laughing. "My word! They do seem to enjoy it. "

"Poor beggars, yes!" replied Ingleborough. "I believe there's nocountry in the world where animals are more tortured by flies than inAfrica. The wretched insects plunge in that sharp instrument of theirs, pierce the skin, and leave an egg underneath; the warmth of the bodyhatches it into what we fishing boys called a gentle, and that whitemaggot goes on eating and growing under the poor animal's coat, livingon hot meat always till it is full-grown, when its skin dries up andturns reddish-brown, and it lies still for a bit, before changing into afly, which escapes from the hole in the skin it has eaten and flits awayto go and torture more animals. "

"And not only horses, but other animals!" said West quietly. 

"Horses only? Oh no; the bullocks get them terribly, and the variouskinds of antelopes as well. I've seen skins taken off blesboks andwildebeestes full of holes. And there you are, my lad; that's a lectureon natural history. "

"Given in the queerest place and at the strangest time a lecture wasever given anywhere, " said West. 

"It is very horrible, though, for the animals to be tortured so!"

"Yes, " said Ingleborough thoughtfully; "but the flies must enjoythemselves wonderfully. They must have what people in England call ahigh old time, and--eh? What's the matter?"

"Be ready!" whispered West. "Someone coming; there's no mistake now!"

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. 

A REAL ALARM. 

Ingleborough drew in his breath with a hiss, and once more stood on hisguard with his comrade right in the darkness, and in front of the twoponies, where a good view of the stream outside and the corner rockfringed with ferns could be obtained. 

For voices could be heard as of two men talking together, while plash, plash, plash their footsteps in the water echoed for some moments fromthe rocky sides of the chasm, before they came leisurely into sightround the corner and stood knee-deep looking straight into the cave, little thinking of the peril in which they were, for a couple of riflescovered them, and the slightest pressure upon the triggers would havesent the long thin bullets upon their errand to pierce the Boers throughand through. 

But no pressure came, those within the cavern seeing clearly enough fromthe men's careless manner that they felt perfectly safe and were upon nounusual errand. 

They were roughly enough clad, and their outer garments showed that theyhad been slept in for some time and exposed to all kinds of weather; butthere was something about their mien, and more in the words they letfall, which showed them to belong to a superior type of Boer. 

"Yes, there it is, " said one of the two in Boer-Dutch, "just as it wasten years ago when I was here on a hunting trip. The source isperennial, and beautiful water. That's why I wanted Dietz to come outof our way. "

"Does it go in far?"

"About a hundred yards, and there the water suddenly gushes out of thefloor; but there are some nasty holes about, plunging down no one knowshow deep, and I shouldn't like to venture in without a light. "

"Why didn't we bring a lantern?"

"Because we don't want to go burrowing into the kopje. "

"Speak for yourself. I do!" said the second man. "Here, I've gotplenty of matches--come along. "

"No, thank you, " said the first. "One never knows what may be in aplace like that. "

West pinched his companion's arm. 

"What is likely to be there?"

"Who can tell? A lioness and her full-grown cubs, perhaps, or a pack ofjackals! Worse still, snakes or some of the wandering bushmen with bowsand poisoned arrows. "

"Hardly likely!" said the second Boer. 

"I think very likely, " said the first speaker, peering so steadfastlyinto the cavern that for a few moments West felt certain that they wereseen. "One of the Kaffir tribes would not enter that place to savetheir lives. "

"Why?"

"Because they believe that a great water demon hides in the spring whorises up and seizes anyone who approaches, drags him down, and devourshim. "

"All of which must be perfectly true!" answered the other Boer, with asneer. "Of course you are a believer?"

"I'm a full believer in its being dangerous to go into caves withoutproper lights, " said the first speaker coldly, "and I think we areundergoing risks enough every day from the rooineks' rifles and theirlancers' spears, without chancing a fall down some horrible pit. "

"Where there is a water demon!" said his companion, with another sneer. 

"Just for the sake of gratifying a little idle curiosity. "

"Oh, very well then! I don't like to come to such a natural curiositywithout exploring; so here goes alone. "

The next moment the first speaker had stretched out his hand and barredhis companion's way with his rifle. 

"What do you mean by that?" cried the Boer. 

"To stop you going. "

"What!" cried the other. "I shall go if I please!"

"No!" said the first speaker sternly. "I order you not!"

"You--you order me?" cried the other wrathfully. 

"Yes; recollect that you are a soldier for the time being, and under mycommand. I order you not to go, for we have too much need of all ourbrave burghers to defend the country to let any man risk his life in afoolhardy adventure. "

"Pish!"

"Silence!" said the other sternly. "I am going back. Had I known ofthis, I would not have let you come!"

"Look here, " said the other insolently, "we are not on duty now, andonce for all I tell you that while I serve I am not going to put up withbullying from any man who is a step above me in the ranks. "

The first speaker looked at him sternly, and Ingleborough placed hislips close to West's ear. 

"Look here, " said Ingleborough, "if we shoot, both take aim at thatobstinate brute, and give the other a chance to run for his life!"

A nod was the only answer, as both listened to what was said further. 

"You fellows, because you get made field-cornets by a bit of luck, don'tknow how to contain yourselves, and--"

"Back to your horse!" said the first speaker, the veins in whoseforehead stood out in a network beneath his flap-brimmed hat, while hisvoice sounded full of suppressed fury. 

"Back yourself!" cried the other. "I'll obey your orders in the field, but we of the Free State are getting tired of the overbearing ways ofyou men of the Transvaal. Put down your rifle, sir! By all that'sholy, if you hold it towards me in that threatening way, I'll send aMauser bullet through you. If I die for it, I will. "

At that moment, just as there seemed to be every possibility of a deadlyencounter between the two men, there was a loud hail from beyond therock, and, as it was not replied to, another cry was heard, in companywith loud echoing splashes in the water, and half-a-dozen Boers wadedinto sight, evidently in a high state of excitement. 

"Hullo there!" shouted the foremost, "didn't you hear us call? We beganto think you had fallen into an ambush! Quick, back with you: there's apatrol of the rooineks out yonder coming this way, the mounted men withthe spiked poles. "

"Many or few?" said the man addressed as the field-cornet, and, apparently forgetting his anger in the excitement, he began to hurryaway from the cavern mouth, talking loudly the while. "I'll see! Ifthey'll come on, we'll stay here; if not, we might try and surround themand capture the whole gang!"

The next minute the walls of the gully were echoing the hurriedsplashing made by the party, as the last of them turned the corner anddisappeared across the veldt. 

"Phew! What a pity!" said Ingleborough, taking off his hat to wipe hisforehead. 

"A pity!" cried West. "What: the news that some of our people arenear?"

"No, no; I meant that the row came to an end. I was in hopes that wewere going to have a new version of the Kilkenny cats, and two enemiesof Old England were going to tear each other to pieces and leave only atail behind. "

"Oh, be serious, Ingle!" said West excitedly. "We might venture outnow. "

"Don't be rash! We've got to find out what they mean to do. "

"Come along then, and let's leave the horses where they are. We musttry and climb up somewhere to see what is going on. "

"Very well, but take care! These are awfully breakneck walls to mount. "

"Yes, but it has to be done! Why not up that crack?"

West pointed to a rift half-full of wiry-looking shrubs mingled withferns, which ran up the rocky wall of the gully diagonally. 

"Think you can do it?"

"Yes, it's easier than it looks. Let's try!"

"Right!" said Ingleborough. "Up you go!"

West waded across to the side, slinging his rifle as he went, thenpulling his hat on tightly, he reached up as high as he could, and drewhimself up a foot or two. Then, carefully taking advantage of theangles and edges of projecting rocks for his feet and getting hand-holdof the tough shrubs, he was soon up twenty feet above the rushingstream. 

"Come along!" he said. "It's not bad climbing!"

"Matter of opinion, " replied Ingleborough, "but here goes!" and he beganto mount, while West went on. 

"Oh yes, " he said, "it's all right! Why, it puts one in mind of theLady--I say, lad, ugh!--that was slippy!"

"Hold on then!" cried West excitedly, for one of Ingleborough's feetglided over the edge of a stone, which yielded, and he was left hangingby his hands, to strive to get a footing. 

"Get out!" said Ingleborough, panting. "That's better. Just as if Ishouldn't hold on! Think I wanted a cold bath?"

"You gave me quite a turn!" said West. "Will you leave it to me? I canmanage it!"

"Go on, you vain young coxcomb! So can I manage it! If you don't lookout, I'll be up first! Well, what are you stopping for?"

"Look down there!" said West. 

Ingleborough held on tightly while he twisted his head to see that thetwo ponies had hurried out of the cave to wade to the place where theyhad started from, and were looking up wonderingly. 

"Ha, ha!" laughed Ingleborough. "They're afraid of being left behind!Here, you two, be off back into your stable, " he continued, getting holdof a loose piece of rock with the intention of dropping it into thewater to scare the lookers-on. 

"No, no, don't do that!" said West softly. "You may scare them intocantering down into the midst of the Boers!"

"Right, " said Ingleborough, replacing the stone. "I don't supposethey'll mind. "

At that moment one of the ponies whinnied, and the other took up the cryof discontent. 

"Quiet, will you? Look here!" said Ingleborough, speaking as if in thefull belief that the two animals understood every word. "If you makethat row, you'll have the Boers down upon us, and that will mean newmasters, with worse treatment than you get from us! That's settledthem, " continued Ingleborough, speaking again to his companion, and asit happened the two animals did not repeat their challenging cry, butbegan to nibble at the greenery overhanging the water. 

Meanwhile the climbing grew more difficult as the adventurers got higherand more excited, for all at once the rapid crack-crack-crack of riflesbegan telling of attack and defence, and making the climbers strainevery effort to get to the top, which was at last accomplished by West, who drew himself over the edge of the rocks and lay panting for a fewmoments before looking down. 

"Can't you manage it?" he said; for Ingleborough had come to a standsome twenty feet below. 

"No!" was the reply. "My right foot has slipped into a crack here, andis wedged tight. Don't wait for me! Go on, only let's have all thenews as soon as you can!"

West's first idea was to lower himself down; but, feeling that one wasenough to find out all they wanted, he obeyed his comrade's orders andwent on climbing upon all-fours what was now an easy slope with plentyof cover in the shape of bushes and huge blocks of stone. 

A few minutes brought him to the top of the kopje, whence he had a clearview of all that was going on, while the firing was now general. 

He saw at a glance that the Boers had not attempted to hold the naturalstronghold, for upon discovering their numbers, the half-troop oflancers, some thirty in number, had begun to retire, and the Boers, ofwhom there seemed to be about a hundred and fifty, were streaming out intwo directions, evidently with the intention of surrounding and takingthem prisoners, both sides keeping up a steady fire the while. Weststopped no longer than was necessary to satisfy himself that the Boerswere getting rapidly farther and farther from the kopje, and thenhurried back down the slope to the top of the gully, where, leaningover, he found Ingleborough busy at work, apparently driving hisrifle-barrel down into a crevice. "Ahoy!" cried West. "Hallo there!What news, lad?"

"Small party of lancers in full retreat, and the Boers very strong inpursuit. They're a mile away now. "

"Then we shall get no help from our people; but, if they are taking theenemy away, that's all we want. Coming down?"

"Yes, " said West, lowering himself over the edge very cautiously, for itwas terribly dangerous work, and Ingleborough shivered and hung back, watching him till his companion reached the ledge where he had beenchecked. 

"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough; "that's better. I've been wishing for thelast five minutes that the stream below was ten feet deep!"

"Why?" panted West, who was breathless from his exertions. 

"For you to fall into! But now help me to get my boot! I'm afraid tolever it out with my rifle-barrel, for fear of bending it. "

"Let me try!" said West, and, thrusting his arm down into the crack, hegot well hold of the boot, gave it a jerk sidewise, and it was free. 

"Look at that now!" said Ingleborough. "My word! it's a fine thing tohave been born clever. How did you do it?"

"Pulled it out, " replied West, smiling. 

"Of course; but _I_ couldn't! It took me all my time to get it unlacedand to draw out my foot. Stuck, for it was so wet!"

In another five minutes, while the cracking of the rifle-fire wasgrowing more distant, the boot was replaced, the dangerous descentcontinued, with several slips and slides, each saving his friend in turnfrom a bad fall, and the pair reached the water only minus a littleskin, to be welcomed by their ponies, who came up to them at once, readyto be led cautiously to the entrance of the gully. 

But there was no need for the extra care, inspection proving that noBoers were left behind, and that they were too far distant now todistinguish what went on at the resting-place they had left. 

"Think they'll make the lancers prisoners?" said West, after they hadstood scanning the level veldt for some minutes. 

"Not unless they can surround them, and I should give our cavalry creditfor being too cautious to let them do that!" said Ingleborough. "Nowthen, what do you say for another try Mafeking-ward?"

"Forward!" was the reply, and after a glance at the compass to lay downtheir course, the friends mounted and, refreshed, though not muchrested, they cantered off, making a bee-line almost due north, with theintention of cautiously approaching some farm on their way to purchasefood. 

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. 

AT TANTE ANN'S. 

It was growing dark before a suitable place presented itself, this beinga typical Boer farm in a very desolate part of the veldt, the spothaving been evidently chosen by its occupants on account of the tinykopje and abundant supply of water welling out, besides being a perfectspot for the branch of farming the owner carried on, there being penafter pen of ostriches, the great foolish-looking large-eyed birdsstaring at the two horsemen wonderingly as they approached the doorwhere the owner stood looking distant and glum, as he smoked his bigpipe. 

Yes, he said, he would sell them some provisions for themselves and cornfor their horses if they had money to pay for what they wanted. 

This was at once produced, and the farmer looked on after summoning ahuge Kaffir to help with the horses and get out the corn; while his fatwife, after coming to the door to glare at the visitors, condescended toput on a kettle to prepare them tea, and see if there was a chicken thatcould be killed and broiled, and some eggs for frying. 

There were several bits of consultation carried on by the husband andwife from time to time, and everything showed that the visitors were farfrom welcome. 

"Never mind, " said Ingleborough; "all we want is a good meal, and weshall be off in the morning as soon as it is light. "

"That shed with the iron roof is to be our bedroom, I suppose?" saidWest. 

"Yes, and we're lucky to get that and a few sacks. "

Just then the Boer came slowly sidling up, smoking hard the while, toknow if they had seen anything of the war, and he seemed deeplyinterested on hearing that a skirmish had been going on not so manymiles from his farm. 

"Why are you two not fighting?" he said suddenly. 

"Because we don't want to, " was West's smiling reply. 

"But you are Englanders?" said the Boer. 

"Yes, but all Englanders don't want to fight, " said West, whileIngleborough looked on, quite unmoved. 

"Oh, don't tell, me!" said the Boer, shaking his head. "They all wantto fight and kill the Boers before robbing them of their homes andfarms. Don't tell me--I know!"

He walked away to where the Kaffir was seeing to the horses, and Westnoticed that he took a good deal of notice of them, glanced two or threetimes in the direction of his visitors, and then ran his hands downtheir legs in a most professional way, narrowly escaping a kick fromWest's steed, before he walked thoughtfully back to his rough--lookinghouse, into which he was careful not to allow his guests to enter. 

"We're to share the stable with the nags, " said Ingleborough; "but itdoesn't matter. Let's go and see how they are getting on, " hecontinued, as the Boer disappeared indoors. "We can't afford to havethem fed on some of his lordship's refuse. I know something of thetricks of these gentlemen of old. "

They entered the rough stable, where the big Kaffir was standing on oneside and greeted them with a heavy scowl. 

"Well, Jack, " said Ingleborough, "are the ponies eating their corn?"

"Yes, baas, " said the black gruffly; "eat um all fast. "

"Ah, I thought so, " said Ingleborough quietly, sniffing and blowing onthe musty trash. "Do you feed your horses on stuff like this?"

He turned so sharply on the Kaffir that the man shrank as if from ablow; but his questioner smiled. 

"Not your fault, I suppose?"

"Baas say, `Give ponies thaht, '" he replied apologetically. 

"Of course, my lad, " said Ingleborough, drawing out a shilling andslipping it into the black's hand. 

"Now you get some of the best corn, and see that the horses eat it. Youunderstand?"

"Yes, baas, " said the man, with a sharp click, as his eyes glistened andhe showed his white teeth in a satisfied grin. "Soon my baas go away, give them good to eat. "

"Is your baas going away?"

"Iss; saddle pony; go away. "

As the black spoke he pointed to the farther end of the long mud-walledshed, where another pony was tied up. 

Just then the shrill voice of the Boer vrouw was heard calling, and theKaffir gave a shout in reply. 

"Tant' Ann want um, " he said, and he ran out, joined the lady at thedoor, and was dismissed to get some fuel from a heap, while the farmercame out, smoking away, and Ingleborough left the shed with West as ifto join him. 

"Are you going to give him your opinion?" said West. 

"No: we can't afford to quarrel. The Kaffir will take care of our nagsnow, and get another tip for his pains. "

The next minute they were close up to their host, who had evidently beenthinking over the words which had last been exchanged. 

"You Englanders, " he said, "think you are very clever; but the Boersbeat you before, and they're going to beat you more this time, and driveyou all into the sea. "

"Very well!" said West, smiling. "I hope they'll give us time to getinto the ships. "

"Perhaps!" said the Boer, smoking more rapidly in his excitement. "Butit's all going to be Dutch now! No more English!"

"All right, " said Ingleborough; "but I want my supper very badly. "

"Want to eat? Yes; come in! The vrouw says it is nearly ready. "

"That's right; then let's have it. "

"You can come in the house, " continued the farmer, and Ingleboroughraised his eyebrows a little in surprise. 

But a greater surprise awaited the pair on entering the mud-floored roomto find quite a decent meal awaiting them on the table, and theirsour-looking heavy hostess ready to wait on them with a kind of surlycivility. 

The pair were too hungry to think of anything then but appeasing theirappetite, and they made a good meal, their host making no scruple aboutbringing a stool to the table and taking a larger share than either. 

He said little, but his little keen eyes examined everything inconnection with his visitors' costume, paying most heed to theirweapons, while his wife saw to the wants of all from time to time, retiring at intervals to a second room which led out of the first andseemed to have been added quite lately. 

"You'll want to sleep soon?" said the farmer inquiringly, when the mealwas ended. 

"Yes, the sooner the better, " said Ingleborough, rising; an examplefollowed by West; "and we shall be off in the morning early. We'll takea couple of these cakes. "

The Boer nodded. 

"Shall I sell you some biltong?" he said. 

"Yes, certainly. "

"I will have it ready. Where are you going now?"

"To look at the ponies. "

"Oh, they are all well. My Kaffir has seen to them. "

"But I suppose we are to sleep out there?" said Ingleborough. 

"No, " said the Boer; "you can sleep there, " and he pointed to arough-looking bed in one corner of the room. "My Kaffir sleeps with thehorses. My vrouw and I sleep in the other room. "

"Then as soon as we can we should like to turn this dining-room into ourbedroom, " said Ingleborough. 

"But we'll look at our ponies first. "

The Boer grunted and proceeded to refill his pipe, while the two youngmen went out and across to the rough shelter, where they found theirponies looking evidently the better for a good feed, and the Kaffirgrinning and ready to pat their plumped-out figures, the ponies takingthe touch of his hand as a friendly caress. 

"Eat a big lot, " said the Kaffir, in the Boer tongue. "Ah, like this, "and he held a native basket for their inspection, at the bottom of whichwas a specimen of the corn with which the ponies had been fed. 

"That's right, Jack! Capital; hard as shot! There's another shillingfor you!"

The Kaffir grinned again with delight as he took the money. 

"Good baas!" he said. "Two good baas! Baas want boy, Jack come 'longwith you!"

"Not this time, my lad!"

"Very glad to come 'long with good baas!" said the man, in adisappointed tone of voice. 

"No, we can't take you, my lad, " said West, patting the big fellow onthe shoulder. "Have the ponies saddled at daylight. We're goingearly. "

The black nodded his head, and the pair, weary enough now from theirlong journey, and drowsy after their hearty meal, strode slowly back tothe house, to find that the table had been cleared, save that a coupleof big bread cakes lay on one end alongside of a little pile of biltong, the sun-dried mahogany-looking strips of ox-flesh so much in use amongthe rough farmers of the veldt. 

The dirty-looking room smelt hot and stuffy, but a little window at theback had been thrown open, and the soft air blowing from off miles ofplain made the place a little more bearable. 

A common lamp had been lighted, and a streak of light came from beneaththe ill-fitting door which led into the other room, from which the lowmurmur of voices could be heard as the young men entered talkingcheerily together. 

This announced their return, and the door creaked upon its hinges, giving entrance to the farmer, who pointed to the next day's provisionsand significantly held out his hand. 

"How much?" said West, and the man demanded an unconscionable amount, which made the pair exchange glances. But Ingleborough nodded as muchas to say: "Pay the thief!" and the money was handed over and taken witha grunt. After this the Boer passed into the next room, closing thedoor after him; but it did not prevent the acid voice of the vrouw fromreaching the visitors' ears as if to protest. 

"The old scoundrel won't hand over the plunder, " said Ingleborough, witha chuckle. "I hope she'll give him what we didn't--a thorough goodtongue-thrashing. "

He had hardly spoken when he found that he had jumped at a wrongconclusion, for the door was pulled open again and the Boer reappeared. 

"Tante Ann says you are to make haste and put out the lamp, " he growled, "for she don't want to be burned in her bed. "

"All right, uncle, " replied Ingleborough. "Good night, and bless youfor a fine specimen of the noble, freedom-loving Boer. Say good nightto Tante too, and tell her that our sleeping chamber is the veryperfection of domestic comfort. "

"Hunk!" ejaculated the farmer, and he disappeared again. 

"I wonder that he did not turn upon you, " said West, ratherreproachfully; "he must have understood that you were speakingsarcastically. "

"Not he, " said his companion. "Thick-headed, muddy-brained brute; morelike a quadruped than a man! The Kaffirs are gentlemen to some of theseup-country farmers, and yet they are the slaves. "

"Too tired to discuss moral ethics!" said West sleepily; "but reallythis place is awful. Agricultural implements in one corner, sacks ofsomething in another, horns, saddles, tools--oh, I'm too sleepy to goon. Hallo! He has taken those two rifles away that were slung overthat low cupboard. "

"To be sure; so he has! Afraid we should steal them, perhaps, and beoff before he woke! I say, did you notice how he examined ours?"

"Yes; I fancied he had noticed that they were Mausers. "

"Oh no. They were fresh to him. Well, I'm going to take care that hedoesn't help himself to them. I don't know what you're going to do, butI'm going to lie down on one side of that bed just as I am, bandolierand all, and I vote we lay the rifles between us. "

"I shall do the same, " said West. "What do you say to leaving the doorand window open for the sake of the fresh air? No fear of lions here?"

"I don't know so much about that, but we should get some warning fromthe horses and oxen. Bah! It's not likely. What now?"

There was a heavy thumping at the door leading into the other room, andthe vrouw's shrill voice was heard ordering them to put out the light. 

"Tell her, West, that her royal commands shall be instantly obeyed byher obedient slaves. "

"Shan't, " replied West. "That will quiet her, " and he turned out thelight, putting an end to its abominable emanation of coarse petroleum, while the soft starry light of a glorious night stole in, showing theshapes of door and windows. 

"Hah! That's better!" said Ingleborough, making the rough bedsteadcreak as he laid himself gently down. "I hope none of these cartridgeswill explode. Oh, how I can sleep!"

"And so can I, " sighed West, "even dressed up like this, " after layinghis rifle alongside of his companion's, straight down the middle of thebed. 

"We didn't tell Jack the Kaffir to bring our shaving-water at daybreak, "said Ingleborough, who now that he was in a horizontal position seemedto have suddenly grown wakeful. "I say. "

"Well?"

"I wonder how our dear friend Anson is!"

West made no reply. 

"I say! West!"

"Oh, don't talk, please. I want to sleep. "

"All right, you shall, till I see the pearly dawn streaming in throughthat little window at the back here. I say, though, if you hear me turnround in the night and the cartridges begin to pop, just wake me up, orthere may be an accident. "

West again made no reply. 

"And we should have Tante Ann waking up, when there would be a greaterexplosion still. There, good night!"

"Good night. "

Then silence, save that the cry of some prowling creature far out on theveldt sounded wonderfully like the baying of a dog. 

CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. 

A DARK VISITOR. 

An hour must have passed away, during which neither of the weary bearersof the despatch moved. Then in a low whisper West spoke. 

"Asleep, Ingle?"

"Asleep? No, " was whispered back. "I can't close my eyes. "

"Neither can I. "

"Why not?"

"Over tired and excited, I suppose. All this is so strange too. "

"What have you been thinking about?"

"At first I could only think of the despatch and wonder whether weshould get it to Mafeking. Then I began thinking of that black out inthe stable and what he said. "

"About his master wanting his pony saddled?" whispered Ingleborough. 

"Yes. What did he want his pony saddled for at that time of night?"

"How strange!" said Ingleborough. "That's what kept on bothering me!"

"Ingle. "

"Yes. "

"Do you think that fellow meant treachery?"

"I don't know; but I'd believe in any treacherous act on the part of aBoer. "

"Would he be likely to ride off somewhere to where there is a commando?"

"For the sake of getting us taken prisoners or shot?"

"Or so as to get possession of our ponies! I saw him examining them asif he liked them. "

"So did I. "

There was silence again, and West spoke. 

"Ingle, " he said, "I can't sleep here; the despatch seems to be stickinginto me to remind me of my duty. We shall rest better in our saddlesthan on this wretched bed. What do you say--the free cool air of theveldt, or this stuffy, paraffiny room?"

"Let's be off, and at once!"

"We will. We can slip out quietly without waking these people, and mostlikely we are misjudging the man, who has the regular racial hatred ofthe British. "

"Perhaps; but we must be careful, for if he heard us going to the shedand meddling with the horses he'd likely enough begin blazing away at uswith his rifle. "

At that moment West clutched his companion's arm, for they heard nosound, but all at once the dark silhouette of a man's head appearedframed in the little back window against a background of starry pointswhich glistened like gold. 

Ingleborough's hand stole to his rifle, which he grasped, as both heldtheir breath; but he did not attempt to raise it, for the head wasthrust inside, and a voice whispered the one word: "Baas. "

"Yes, " said West softly. "What is it, my lad?"

"My baas take pony and ride away. Go to fetch fighting Boer to shootgood baas. You and good baas him. "

"Ah?" said West. 

"Iss. Jack put saddles on Basuto ponies; put bridles on Basuto ponies. Good baas both come and ride away. Tant' Ann never hear nothing. Sleepall night. "

"And if we go what will your baas do to you when he comes and finds theponies gone?" said West. 

"Bad baas never see me again! Going home to my country to-night. "

"Ah, that's better!" said Ingleborough. "Here, take the two rifles, andwe'll get out here. Jack, my lad, you're a trump, and you shall havefive two-shilling pieces for this, to buy new blankets. "

The Kaffir chuckled and clicked with satisfaction as he stood holdingthe rifles till Ingleborough slipped out, West pausing to cram the breadcakes and biltong into their satchels, after which he too slipped out, and the trio hurried towards the stables. 

"How far has your baas to ride to the fighting Boers?" West asked theKaffir. 

"Long ride, " replied the black. "Many Boers yesterday, many Boers otherday, many Boers come in morning with baas. "

"Then we're all right for a good start, " said Ingleborough. "I say, West, you're always taking me into some trap: hadn't I better lead?"

"You are leading now, " replied West. "How do we know that there are nota dozen of the enemy in the stable?"

"What! Oh, nonsense! Come along!"

The ponies whinnied as they entered, and the black struck a match andlit a wagon lantern, showing that they were ready bridled and theirheads tied up to a rail, while examination proved that the saddles wereproperly girthed ready for a start. 

"Here, stop a minute!" said Ingleborough, as the man began to unfastenthe reins attached to the ponies' heads. "Here, I promised you fivetwo-shilling pieces, " and he counted them out ready in his hand, makingthe black's eyes sparkle with delight in the lamplight. 

"Stop, " said West sharply; "the poor fellow's losing his place, such asit is, by helping us. I have our expenses money, and I shall give him asovereign. "

"Well, he deserves it, " said Ingleborough, as West pushed back hiscompanion's hand containing the silver coins with his left, and held outthe sovereign, which looked very bright and new in the yellow light shedby the lantern. 

A sudden change came over the Kaffir's face at once. Instead of thegrinning white teeth and twinkling eyes his lips were drawn tightly overhis teeth, and a scowl contracted his eyes. 

"No, no, no, " he cried, with child-like petulance, in the Boer-Dutch, sadly mutilated. "No want one. Say five big shillings. "

"What!" cried West. "Why, this is worth twice as much. "

"No, no, " cried the man angrily. "Want to cheat poor black Kaffir. No, no; Olebo want to help white baas! White baas want cheat poor blackZulu!"

"Poor old chap!" said Ingleborough, laughing merrily; "his education hasbeen sadly neglected. Here, Jack--Olebo, or whatever your name is--takethe sovereign, and you shall have the five two-shillings pieces aswell. "

"Eh? No cheat Zulu boy?" cried the man doubtingly. 

"No, all right; catch hold. There, now you can buy many blankets, andmay you never be tricked any worse!"

"Hah! Yes; buy lot, take home!" And the white teeth were shown againas the coins were gripped fast, including the sovereign, which was heldup first to the light. "White shilling? No: yellow farden. "

"All right; but take it to an honest man, my lad. Now then, untie thosereins. "

The black turned to obey, but stopped short and stood staring awaythrough the open side of the shed for a few moments, with the lightshining full upon his face, showing his starting eyes, open mouth, anddilated quivering nostrils. 

"What's the matter? Can he hear a lion?" whispered West. 

"Here, stop, stop!" cried Ingleborough. "Finish your job!--We've paidhim too well and too soon. He's off to run amok among the brandy andblanket dealers. "

For the black had darted outside, but in the gloom they saw him suddenlythrow himself down and lay one ear to the ground. 

"Yes, he can hear a lion, " grumbled Ingleborough; "but the ponieshaven't caught it yet. "

He had hardly finished speaking before the Kaffir sprang up again anddashed into the shed, where he reached up and dragged something from therafters which proved to be an elephant-hide shield with three assegaissecured to the hand-hold inside. 

"Baas hold this!" he said excitedly. "Boer coming. Olebo hear horses!"

Half throwing the weapons to Ingleborough, who caught them, and leanedthem against his side while he examined the charges of his rifle, anaction imitated by West, the Kaffir rapidly unfastened the reins, setting the ponies' heads free, and then darted at the lantern, openedthe door, and blew out the light. 

"Now come 'long, " he whispered, and taking the ponies' heads he placedhimself between them and led them along, stopping the next moment tohold them steady while their riders mounted. 

"Olebo run 'long with two baas show the way, " he said. "Basuto poniestumble over ostrich pens. "

"Hah! Good idea!" said West, and, listening now, he fancied he made outthe sound of a troop of horse in the distance; but Ingleborough said hecould hear nothing yet. 

Leaving themselves to the guidance of the Kaffir, they found to theirsurprise that, instead of striking straight off, he led them to thehouse, and then round to the back, where the little window by whosemeans he had stolen close to where they lay and given the alarm stoodopen. 

"Here, take your shield!" said Ingleborough. 

"Wait a bit!" replied the black, chuckling. 

"Hist! You'll have the old vrouw hear. "

"No, " said the black confidently; "fast asleep. Wicked old witch!Throw kettle at Kaffir, hot water burn back! Wait a bit; you see!"

Dependent as they were on the man's guidance through the darknessamongst the enclosures, the fugitives left him to himself for a fewmoments, wondering what he was about to do. 

They soon knew, for he stopped the ponies close to the little window, left their heads, and went close up, to begin fumbling about his sparegarments, whence came the chink of the coins he had just received. 

"Matches, " he said, and West made out that he took a few from the box heheld in his hand, and then reached in at the window, chuckling softly. 

"Ingle, " whispered. West, with horror in his voice. "What's thematter?"

"Do you know what he's doing?"

"Nobbling a couple of the blankets because he isn't going to stay forhis wages?"

"No; I'm sure he has emptied the match-box on the straw mattress, and isgoing to burn down the house. "

"Nonsense!"

_Crack_! went a match by way of endorsement of West's words, and thenext moment the little flame began to burn inside the Kaffir's hands, lighting up his exulting countenance as he waited till the splint ofwood was well alight. 

"What are you going to do?" said West hoarsely, as he leaned forward andlaid his right hand upon the black's shoulder. 

"Don't shake light out!" was the answer. "Olebo going make big fire, roast Tant' Ann! Big fat witch, soon burn!"

As the Kaffir finished he lowered one hand, leaving the match blazingbrightly, and he was in the act of leaning in to apply it to the littleheap of matches he had placed upon the loose straw mattress, when asharp snatch at his shoulder jerked him back, and the burning splintdropped to the ground. 

"Ah-h-ah!" growled the man savagely, and he drew another match acrossthe box he still held. 

"None of that!" growled Ingleborough sternly. 

"Wicked old witch!" said the black, in remonstrance. "Burn Olebo!Don't give him enough to eat! No good!"

"You come along, " cried West. "I can hear the Boers coming fast. Nowthen, lead the horses clear of the pens!"

CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. 

NIGHT ON THE VELDT. 

The Kaffir grunted, and began what Ingleborough afterwards called"chuntering, " but he obeyed at once, leading the ponies at a quick walkin and out amongst several ostrich enclosures, till they were quite aquarter of a mile from the farm, from which there came the buzz ofvoices and the occasional stamp of a horse on the still night air. 

"No more wire fence!" said their guide, and indicating that they shouldurge the ponies forward he took his shield and spears from Ingleborough, caught hold of the mane of West's pony, and then as they broke into acanter, ran lightly by the animal's side, talking softly, and now andthen breaking out into a merry laugh. 

"Ought burn Tant' Ann!" he said. "Wicked old witch! Very fat! Makeher good vrouw!"

"I'm afraid Jack's morals are sadly in need of improvement, lad, " saidIngleborough at last. 

"What a horrible idea!" replied West, with a shudder; "and the worst ofit is that the fellow seems to consider that it would have been a goodpiece of fun. "

"Yes, it is his nature to, as we are told of the bears and lions in thepoems of Dr Watts. I dare say the old woman had been a horrible tyrantto the poor fellow!"

"But the hideous revenge!"

"Which hasn't come off, my lad! But the black scoundrel's ideas areshocking in the extreme, and I would not associate with him much in thefuture. Here! Hi! Olebo, stop!"

The young man drew rein, and the black looked up enquiringly. 

"Lie down and listen for the Boers!"

The Kaffir nodded, and trotted a dozen yards away from the side of theponies, threw himself down, listened, jumped up, and repeated theperformance three times at greater distances before returning. 

"No hear!" he said. "Gone other way. "

"It would be safe then to strike a match and look at the compass, "suggested West, and, taking out his box, he struck a light, shaded it inhis slouch hat, and then held the little pocket compass to it. 

"Well, which way are we going?"

"Due east. "

"Then we'll turn due north, and travel that way till to-morrow night, and see what that brings forth. "

Starting off again, they journeyed on, sometimes at a walk, sometimes atan easy canter, so as to save the horses as much as possible, while theKaffir kept up, seeming not in the slightest degree distressed, butready to enter into conversation at any time, after changing from oneside to the other so as to hold on by a different hand. 

"Soon be daylight now, " said West; "but I hope this fellow does notexpect to keep on with us, does he?"

"Oh no, I don't think so for a moment. We'll pull up before sunrise atsome sheltered place and have a good look-out for danger before lettingthe ponies graze and having breakfast. Let's see what happens then!"

But the sun was well up before a suitable kopje came in sight, one sosmall that it did not appear likely to contain enemies, but sufficientlyelevated to give an observer a good view for miles through the clearveldt air. 

"Looks safe!" said Ingleborough; "but burnt English children fear theBoer fire. Let's have a good circle round. "

This was begun, and the black instantly grasped what was intended, andhanging well down from West's stirrup-leather, he began to search theground carefully for tracks, looking up from time to time and pointingout those of antelopes, lions, and ostriches, but never the hoof ofhorse or the footprint of man. 

"No Boer there!" he said. "No one come. Good water, " he continued, pointing to the slight tracts of grass which had sprung up where astream rising among the rocks was losing itself in the dry soil, butwhich looked brighter and greener as it was nearer to the kopje, whichwas fairly furnished with thorn-bush and decent-sized trees. 

"Any Boers hiding there?" said West sharply. 

"Boers ride there on ponies!" replied the Kaffir decisively, as hepointed down at the drab dust. "No ponies make marks. "

"That's enough, " said Ingleborough. "Come along. "

Without hesitation now they put their mounts to a canter, rode up to thepleasant refreshing-looking place, and after leaving the ponies with theKaffir and climbing to one of the highest points, took a good lookround. This proved that there was not a mounted man in sight, and theydescended to select a spot where there was plenty of herbage and waterfor their steeds, when they sat down and began to breakfast. 

"Nothing like a fine appetite, " said West, after they had been eatingfor some little time; "but this biltong is rather like eating a leg ofmahogany dining-table into which a good deal of salt gravy and furnitureoil has been allowed to soak. "

"Yes, it is rather wooden, " said Ingleborough coolly. "Must wear out aman's teeth a good deal. "

"Eland, " said the Kaffir, tapping his stick of the dried meat on seeinghis companions examining and smelling the food. "Old baas shoot eland, Olebo cut him up and dry him in the sun. Good. "

"Well, it isn't bad, O child of nature! But I say, how far do you meanto come with us?"

"No go any more, " replied the man. "Go Olebo kraal, see wife. Give herbig shilling and little yellow shilling. --Good?"

He brought out the sovereign from where it had been placed, and held itup. 

"Good? Yes, " said West, and he set to work to try and explain by makingthe black bring out a florin and then holding up his outspread tenfingers, when the man seemed to have some idea of his meaning. 

"Look here, I'll get it into his benighted intellect; but I should havethought that he would have known what a sovereign was worth. "

Just then the Kaffir nodded sharply, after examining the coin. 

"Gold?" he said, in Dutch. 

"Of course, " said Ingleborough, taking out a sovereign and ten moreflorins, which he placed in a heap and at a short distance from thelittle pile he laid down the sovereign. "Look here, Olebo, " he said, taking up the ten florins. "Buy four blankets!"

The Kaffir nodded, and his instructor replaced the heavy coins in hispocket to take up the sovereign. 

"Now, see here, " said Ingleborough, holding it out. "Buy fourblankets. "

"Ah!" cried the delighted black, snatching out his own treasured coins, the gold in one hand, the silver in the other. "Buy four blankets forOlebo wife, " he cried, holding forward the silver. Then putting itbehind him he held out the sovereign: "Buy four blankets for Olebo. "

"Now we've got it, " cried West, laughing, and watching the way in whichthe black hid his cash away. "I say, " he continued, to his companion, speaking in English, "where does he put that money to keep it safe?"

"I dunno, " said Ingleborough. "It seems to come natural to theseKaffirs to hide away their treasures cunningly. See how artful they areover the diamonds! He doesn't put the cash in his trousers pockets, noryet in his waistcoat, nor yet his coat, because he has neither one northe other. I expect he has a little snake-skin bag somewhere inside hisleather-loincloth. But here, I'm thirsty; let's have some water!"

As he spoke Ingleborough sprang up and walked towards the head of thespruit, followed by his companions, and they passed the two ponies, which were hard at work on the rich green herbage along the border ofthe stream. Then, getting well ahead of them, all lay down andthoroughly quenched their thirst. 

"Now, " said West, "what next? We ought to go on at once, " and heunconsciously laid his hand upon the spot where the despatch was hidden. 

"No, " replied Ingleborough, "that won't do. We seem safe here, and wemust hasten slowly. We're ready enough to go on, but the ponies must beproperly nursed. They want more grass and a rest. "

"The sun is getting hot too, " said West, in acknowledgment of hiscomrade's words of wisdom. 

"We'll stop till evening, lad, " continued Ingleborough, "and take it inturn to sleep in the shade of those bushes if we can find a soft spot. We had no rest last night. "

"I suppose that must be it, " replied West, and he joined in a sigh onfinding a satisfactory spot beneath a mass of granite from whichoverhung a quantity of thorn-bush and creeper which formed animpenetrable shade. 

The black followed them, noting keenly every movement and trying hard togather the meaning of the English words. 

"Two baas lie down long time, go to sleep, " he said at last, in brokenDutch. "Olebo sit and look, see if Boer come. See Boer, make baas wakeup. "

"No, " said West; "you two lie down and sleep. I'll take the firstwatch. "

Ingleborough made no opposition, and after West had climbed up to a spotbeneath a tree from which he could get a good stretch of the veldt inview, the others lay down at once and did not stir a limb till Weststepped down to them, when the Kaffir sprang up without awakeningIngleborough. 

"Olebo look for Boers now, " he said. 

West hesitated, and the Kaffir grasped the meaning of his silence. 

"Olebo come and tell baas when big old baas go to fetch Boers, " he said. 

"So you did, " cried the young Englishman warmly, "and I'll trust younow. Mind the ponies don't stray away. "

The black showed his beautiful, white teeth in a happy satisfied laugh. 

"Too much grass, too much nice water, " he said. "Basuto pony don't goaway from baas only to find grass. "

"You're right!" said West. "Wait till the sun is there!" he continued, pointing to where it would be about two hours after mid-day, "and thenwake the other baas. "

The Kaffir nodded, and West lay down to rest, as he put it to himself, for he was convinced that he would be unable to sleep; but he had notlain back five minutes, gazing at the sunlit rivulet and the poniesgrazing, before his lids closed and all was nothingness till he wasroused by a touch from Ingleborough. 

The sun was just dipping like a huge orange ball in the vermilion andgolden west. 

"Had a good nap, old fellow?"

"Oh, it's wonderful!" said the young man, springing up. "I don't seemto have been asleep five minutes. "

"I suppose not. Well, all's right, and Blackjack is waiting to saygood-bye. He wants to start off home. "

The Kaffir came up from where he had been patting and caressing theponies, and stood looking at them as motionless in the ruddy eveninglight as a great bronze image. 

"Olebo go now, " he said, turning his shield to show that the remains ofhis share of the provisions were secured to the handle by a rough net offreshly-plaited grassy rush. "Olebo see baas, both baas, some day. " Heaccompanied the words with a wistful look at each, and before they couldthink of what to say in reply he turned himself sharply and ran off at arapid rate, getting out of sight as quickly as he could by keeping closeto the bushes, before striking out into the veldt. 

"Humph! I suppose they are treacherous savages, some of them, " saidIngleborough thoughtfully; "but there doesn't seem to be much harm inthat fellow if he were used well. "

"I believe he'd make a very faithful servant, " said West sadly. "I'mbeginning to be sorry we let him go. "

"So am I. We shall feel quite lonely without him. But the despatch. "

"Ah, yes, the despatch!" said West, pulling himself together. "Nowthen, boot and saddle, and a long night's ride!"

"And a good day's rest afterwards! That's the way we must get on. "

A quarter of an hour after, they had taken their bearings by compass andmounted, when the well-refreshed ponies started off at once in a briskcanter, necessitating the drawing of the rein from time to time; andthen it was on, on, on at different rates beneath the wonderfully brightstars of a glorious night, during which they passed several farms andone good-sized village, which were carefully avoided, for they hadenough provisions to last them for another day, and naturally if a haltwas to be made to purchase more it would have to be at a seasonabletime. 

"Yes, " said Ingleborough laughingly, "it would be a sure way of gettingcartridges if we wanted them and roused up a Boer farmer in the night. He would soon give us some, the wrong way on. "

"Yes, " said West, "and there would be the dogs to deal with as well. Hark at that deep-mouthed brute!"

For just then the cantering of their ponies had been heard by thewatch-dog at one of the farms, and it went on baying at them till thesounds grew faint. 

Then it was on and on again till a strange feeling of weariness began tooppress them, and they had to fight with the desire which made them bendforward and nod over their ponies' necks, rising up again with adislocating start. 

At the second time of this performance West made a great effort andbegan watching his companion, to see that he was just as bad. Then theintense desire to sleep began to master the watcher again. 

"Hi, Ingle!" he cried. "Rouse up, and let's walk for a mile or two. "

"Yes, yes. --What's that?" cried Ingleborough, springing off his pony andcocking his rifle. 

For there was a sudden rushing noise as of a great crowd of animals, ofwhat kind it was still too dark to see; but it was evident that they hadcome suddenly upon a migratory herd of the graceful-limbed antelopesthat had probably been grazing and had been startled into flight. 

"Pity it was not light!" said Ingleborough, with a sigh. "We could havegot some fresh meat, and then at the first patch of wood and pool ofwater we could have had a fire and frizzled antelope-steaks. "

But a couple of hours later, when they halted for their rest andrefreshment, it was stale cake, hard biltong, and cool fresh water. 

"Never mind, we're miles nearer Mafeking!" said West. "How many morenights will it take?"

The answer to that question had not been arrived at when they droppedasleep, lulled by the sound of rippling water and the _crop, crop, crop_made by the grazing ponies, and this time their weariness was so greatthat sleep overcame them both. Ingleborough was to have watched, butnature was too strong, and both slept till sundown, to rise up full of afeeling of self-reproach. 

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. 

A LOUD REPORT. 

Days of rest and nights of travel succeeded, during which thedespatch-riders began to wonder at the ease with which they progressed. 

"I thought it would be twice as hard a task!" said West. "Here have webeen two days without a sign of a Boer! We must be very near Mafekingnow. "

"Yes, very, " said Ingleborough drily; "nearer than I thought. Halt!"

He drew rein as he spoke, West's pony stopping short at the same time asits companion. 

They had been riding steadily on through the night, and now as theponies stood side by side they stretched out their necks in the softcool darkness, and the sound of their cropping told that they wereamongst grass. 

"Why did you pull up?" said West, in a cautious whisper. 

"For you to hear how near we are to Mafeking now. "

"Near?"

"Yes; can't you hear the firing?"

"No, " said West, after a few moments' pause. "Yes, now I do, " he criedeagerly, for all at once there was a dull concussion as if a blow hadbeen delivered in the air. 

"A heavy gun, " cried West excitedly. 

"Hist!"

"I forgot, " said West softly. "That must be one of the siege guns, " hecontinued. 

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, "and it must be near daybreak, with thebombarding beginning. Be careful; perhaps we are nearer the enemy thanwe thought. "

At the end of a couple of minutes there was the dull concussion ofanother heavy gun, and this was continued at intervals of ten or fifteenminutes during the next hour, while the adventurers advanced cautiouslyat a walk, keeping a sharp look-out through the transparent darkness fora patch of rocks or woodland which might serve for their next halt. Butday had quite dawned before a suitable place of refuge presented itself, in the shape of one of the low kopjes. 

"Dismount!" whispered Ingleborough sharply, and they spent the next tenminutes carefully scanning the district round in full expectation ofseeing some sign of the enemy. 

But nothing worse was in view than two or three of the scattered farmsof the open veldt, and in the distance a dark indistinct patch whichappeared to be a herd of grazing cattle, but so distant that neithercould be sure. 

On their way to the patch of rock and brush that was to be their lastresting-place before making a dash for the beleaguered town, they struckupon the trail going north and south, and in two places scared offvultures from the carcass of an unfortunate ox, shrunken and dried inthe sun till little but the bones and hide were left. 

They were too distant to make out the smoke, but steadily increasingfire told plainly enough that they were quite near enough for a dashinto the town when darkness set in that night. 

"You think then that this will be the best way?" said West, as theyreached their shelter without seeing a sign of danger. 

"I am not sure yet!" replied Ingleborough. "In fact, I'm very doubtfulwhether we should not fail, for the place is certain to be surrounded bythe enemy, and we should very likely be ridden or shot down. "

Oliver West laid his hand upon the despatch, pressing it so that thepaper crackled beneath the cloth. 

"Then we had better ride in as near as we dare, and then try and creepin at the darkest time. "

"Let's pray for the clouds to be thick then!" said Ingleborough; "forthe moon's getting past the first quarter. Last night would have doneexactly. "

"But we were not here. Hark at the firing!"

"Yes; it sounds as if Mafeking will be taken before we get there!"

"For goodness' sake don't talk like that!"

"Don't let's talk at all then. Let's get well into shelter. But I seeno sign of water yet. "

Neither did the speaker after they had carefully explored the rockyhillock, but fortunately there was an ample supply of succulent grassfor the ponies, which were soon after luxuriating in a good roll, beforegrazing contentedly away, while their riders, after another examinationof the place and glance round from the highest point, had to satisfythemselves with a very scanty shelter and a much scantier meal. 

"Never mind, " said Ingleborough; "we shall be breakfasting in luxuryto-morrow morning, I hope, with our appetites sharpened by the knowledgethat we have achieved our task. "

"I hope so!" said West gravely. 

"But don't doubt, my lad, " cried Ingleborough cheerily. "Don't bedownhearted now we are so near!"

"I can't help it!" replied West. "I feel on thorns, and my state ofanxiety will grow worse and worse till we get there. Hark at thefiring!"

"I can hear, " said Ingleborough coolly. "Be very deaf if I couldn't!There, that's the last scrap of cake, so let's drown our troubles insleep. You have first turn!"

"No, " replied West. "I feel too anxious to sleep! You begin. "

"Can't, " was the reply. "If anything, I feel more anxious than you do. I couldn't rest!"

"I wish we could canter gently on till we were seen by the Boers, andthen go on full gallop right into the town!" said West. "Would it betoo dangerous?"

"Just madness!" replied Ingleborough. "No; it must be done with guile. They would cut us off for certain. "

"I'm afraid so!" said West. "Very well, then, we must wait for theevening. "

"And sit wakeful, " said Ingleborough. 

"Yes, " said West. "Sleep is impossible!"

And sit there wakeful they did, hour after hour, their only satisfactionbeing that of seeing their weary horses enjoying a good feed untroubledby the increasing heat, or the cares which harassed their masters. 

For as the sun rose higher the distant firing increased, till it wasevident that a terrible attack was going on, and in his weariness anddespair no words on the part of Ingleborough had any effect upon West, who felt convinced that before they could continue their journeyMafeking would have fallen into the enemy's hands. 

There was no further talk of sleep. The heat, flies, hunger, and aburning thirst were either of them sufficient to have kept them awake, without the terrible feeling of anxiety and the alarms caused by bodiesof horsemen or lines of wagons journeying in the direction they werewaiting to take. 

Again and again parties of the Boers seemed to be coming straight forthe hiding-place, and West and his companion crept on hands and kneestowards their ponies, getting hold of their reins, and then crouching bythem ready to mount and gallop for their lives should the necessityarise. 

But it did not, and in a strangely-feverish dreamlike way the day glidedon and evening at last came, bringing with it wafts of cooler air and, what was of more consequence to them still, a feeling of hope, forthough the firing still went on, it had dwindled down into the slowsteady reports of one heavy piece discharged at about the same rate aswhen they had first heard the firing in the morning. 

"And it tells its own tale with truthful lips!" said Ingleborough. "Thetown is still holding out, and the defenders have ceased to reply. "

"Because they are nearly beaten!" said West sadly. 

"By no means, you croaking old raven!" cried Ingleborough cheerily. "It's because they want to save their ammunition! They only want tofire when they have something worth firing at. As for the enemy, theyhave the whole town to shoot at, and keep on pitching their shells in atrandom. There, don't be grumpy!"

"I can't help it!" cried West passionately. "Give me credit for havingkept up well till now. It's because we are so near success that I feeleverything so keenly. "

"I know, old fellow, and you may trust me!" said Ingleborough. "Ididn't play a false prophet's part just to encourage you. I'm speakingthe simple truth! Just a little more patience, and you shall deliveryour despatch. "

"If I could only feel that!" cried West. "It may be the saving ofMafeking to receive news perhaps of help being on the way. "

"Be patient then! It will soon be night, and then we'll mount and makeour final dash!"

"No, " said West bitterly; "we shall have to make it now. Look. "

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. 

HARD PUSHED. 

Ingleborough shaded his eyes and turned very grave, for on gazing in thedirection pointed out by his companion's finger he saw a column ofhorsemen creeping over the veldt as if coming straight for theirresting-place, while as they came nearer the eager watchers could makeout that the party were guarding a long train of wagons drawn by greatteams of oxen. They found that there were two other teams, not of oxen, but of ponies similar to their own, and not dragging the greattilt-covered wagons, but something heavy and comparatively small. 

"Guns!" said Ingleborough laconically. 

"Yes, and heavy guns too!" cried West. 

"You're right, lad; and they will not come near us. It's an ammunitiontrain, and they'll go straight for Mafeking! That's another falsealarm!"

Ingleborough was quite right, for the distant train crept slowly onalong the track till it grew dim and distant as the sun sank lower andfinally disappeared in the haze of dust. But the troubles of thedespatch-bearers were not at an end, and they lay watching the west withits great masses of lit-up clouds, glorious in their colouring, till thelast bright lights had died out, before they turned to look in thedirection of the east. And then West drew his companion's attention tothe fact that behind them the sky was perfectly clear, and the palemoon, a couple of days past the first quarter, was gradually growingbrighter and brighter in what promised to be a perfectly uncloudednight. 

"Yes, " said Ingleborough coolly; "we shall have a glorious time for ourride. "

"A glorious night for the Boer outposts to take aim at us as we ridein. "

"No, " said Ingleborough coolly. "I think not!"

"What do you mean?" said West, turning sharply upon his companion. "Youhave some fresh idea?"

"Well, yes. Being in such a pickle as this sets a man sharpening hiswits to try and make them keen. "

"Of course. What are you going to do?"

"Wait a bit and see!" replied Ingleborough coolly. "I'm sharpeningstill. "

West turned away impatiently, to go, stooping as low as he could, towards his pony, which was straggling away, and bring it back to thebushes which had helped to hide them all the day, after which they satin silence for about an hour, until it was quite plain that the nightwas as dark as it was likely to be. Then in a nervous excited way heturned to Ingleborough again. 

"Yes, " said the latter, without waiting for West to speak; "it will growno darker unless we wait hours for the moon to set, and by that time Ihope we shall be in Mafeking. "

"What do you mean to do then?"

"Mount and ride steadily on at a gentle canter till we get in touch withthat ammunition train. "

"But we shall be challenged by their rear-guard. "

"Perhaps, " said Ingleborough coolly; "perhaps not. I reckon on gettingpretty close up without. If we are challenged, I want you to do as Itell you. "

"Of course, " replied West. "Anything to fulfil our task!"

"Ready?"

"And waiting!"

"Then mount!"

Their ponies were waiting patiently by their sides, and the next minutethey had sprung into the saddles and rode off in the direction taken bythe train. 

West asked no questions, for he was full of confidence in his long-triedcompanion, and with the ponies well-refreshed and eager from their rest, they rode steadily on, keeping a sharp look-out for danger, but meetingwith no adventure for quite a couple of hours, by which time both feltthat they must be getting near to the end of their journey. 

But they had nothing to guide them, for they were off the track, andeven had they been on, it would have been impossible to follow it in thestrange eerie light shed by the quarter-moon. Once they had evidencethat they were in all probability going right, for a horrible odoursuddenly assailed their nostrils, making them press their ponies' sidesand go past something indistinct at a gallop, holding their breath tillthey were well beyond what was in all probability the body of somewretched horse or ox that had died of overwork and exhaustion. 

"We must keep on now!" whispered Ingleborough. "I feel that we aregoing right. "

"But the Boer laagers and outposts!" whispered back West. 

"Somewhere ahead, lad; but we must leave something to chance. We are, say, within half-a-dozen miles of Mafeking, so I put it; perhaps notmore than two or three. Keep a sharp look-out for lights. "

"The enemy's?"

"Or friends', " replied Ingleborough. "There's a good deal of chancenow, and we must trust a little to our luck. "

"In other words, you mean make a bold dash?"

"Yes, but not a blind one! I want to put a little gumption into what wedo! You'll trust me?"

"I will!"

"Forward then, and give the ponies their heads!"

West gave vent to a deep low "Hah!" of satisfaction, and away they went, with their mounts seeming to exult in the freedom from pressure on theirbits, keeping close together, and bounding along over the level veldt asif perfectly familiar with the way, though their riders knew it to bebespread with pitfalls in the shape of the burrows made by the aardvarksand other animals that made the wide open veldt their home. 

The moon shone brightly now, though the light was puzzling, and thedistance ahead looked strange and weird; but the pace at which they weregoing had a peculiarly exhilarating effect upon both of the riders, whoseemed to share the excitement of their ponies. 

For, guesswork though it was, West felt that Mafeking must lie rightahead, and as they dashed on he began to feel a kind of certainty thatif left to themselves their sagacious steeds would take them right intothe town. 

A good four miles must have been passed over in this way, and at last afresh sensation began to attack West, filling him with anxiety lest theyshould be going in the wrong direction. For he argued that they mustbefore now, if right, have come upon signs of the besiegers, and he wasin the act of leaning over towards Ingleborough to make him acquaintedwith his fears, when all doubt was chased away by a loud challenge fromhis right, followed by a flash and a report. 

That one shot was the opening note of an overture, for directly afterthe balls began whistling over their heads, and the first reports grewinto a loud rattle followed by the trampling of horses and loudshouting. 

"It's all right, " said Ingleborough coolly; "they're firing at random. It's impossible to take aim on a night like this! Can you see them?"

"No; only the flashes!" said West excitedly. 

"That's enough! Then they can't see us! We're through their lines too, for they're firing behind us, and I'll back our horses to beat theirs ina race. "

Reports now began to ring out on their right, and directly after theycame from their left. 

"Shall we shout?" whispered West. 

"No. What for?"

"We must be getting among our own people!"

"No such luck, my lad! Keep steadily on! Ah! Poor beast!"

"What is it?" said West excitedly, as his mount stopped short, obeyingits natural instinct and the love of companionship of a gregariousanimal. For Ingleborough's pony had suddenly uttered a peculiarneighing cry, reared up, and fallen backwards. 

"Are you hurt?" whispered West again. 

"No; I just escaped! Quick; jump down. "

West was on his feet directly, and Ingleborough grasped his arm. 

"I'd say ride for it alone, lad, " he whispered, with his lips close tohis companion's ear; "but my way is safest. Now down on your hands andknees and let's play wild dog or baboon!"

"I don't understand you!" whispered West. 

"Never mind; do as I do!" and the next minute they were going along onhands and knees over the level ground, feeling it quiver with thetrampling of galloping horses all round, while the flashing of riflesand the crackling reports seemed to be coming from all directions. 

So near to them came some of the horsemen that West felt certain theymust be seen; but there was no hail, no whistling bullet, and, wearisomethough the way of progression was to the muscles and painful to handsand knees, West kept on side by side with his companion till the firingbegan to drop off and then ceased, though the hurrying to and fro ofhorses still went on. 

"It was sooner than I intended, " said Ingleborough at last; "but I meantfor us to dismount at last and crawl. If we are seen the enemy willtake us for hyaenas or dogs. "

He had hardly whispered these words before a shot was fired from, theirleft, the bullet whistling over them, when to the astonishment of West, Ingleborough uttered a snarling yelp, followed by an excellent imitationof a dog's bark. 

"Do as I do!" he whispered, and the next moment he had thrown himselfupon his side and lay perfectly still. 

"What folly!" West was disposed to say; but he followed his companion'sexample, letting himself sink sidewise like a dying quadruped, feelingthe despatch crackle beneath him as he lay listening to the trampling ofhorses growing more distant, and waiting for Ingleborough to speak. 

"Seems a stupid sort of dodge!" said the latter at last; "but I thoughtit better to let them think we were hyaenas than human beings. "

"But we had a narrow escape of being shot!" replied West. 

"Yes, and escaped. If they had taken us for human beings we should havebeen either shot or taken prisoners. Now we're safe!"

"Safe, with this bright moon shining ready to show every movement?"

"Then why move until we are safe, lad? The enemy will not come near usso long as they think we are dead animals. "

"But if they make out what we are--how then?"

"How then?" said Ingleborough, with a low sarcastic laugh. "Why, thenthey'll behave like Boers, and come and see if there's anything worthtaking in our pockets. They are sweet people! But wait a bit. As soonas they are farther off we'll continue our journey. "

"Without our horses?"

"Yes; poor beasts! I'm sorry they're gone; but daybreak will show usthat we are close to Mafeking, I feel sure. We'll crawl on as far as wecan, and then get up and run for our lives. "

"Yes; but you know how clever they are at bringing down a running buck!"

"Some of them!" said Ingleborough drily. 

"Well, if I am brought down, don't hesitate a moment: out with yourknife, rip open my jacket, get the despatch, and run on. "

"Do you mean that?"

"Of course. "

"What about you? Are you to be left wounded here on the veldt?"

"Yes: until the despatch reaches the proper hands. Then come and saveme if you can. "

"I understand, " said Ingleborough drily. "That's if matters come to theworst! Let's hope they will not!"

He raised his head a little and had a good look round as soon as he hadfinished speaking, for all was now very still, and as far as he couldmake out in the eerie light there was not a Boer within sight. 

"Now then, " he said softly; "let's go on! No, no; not like that. Crawl, man, crawl. "

He only spoke in time, for West was about to spring up. Then theirpainful imitation of some quadruped recommenced, West following hiscomrade patiently and unquestioningly till a change seemed to come overthe light. 

"Morning coming fast!" said West. 

"The sooner the better, " was the reply; "for I'm not sure that we aregoing right. "

"I'm sure we're going wrong, " said West quickly. 

"Why?"

"Because we are going straight for that great wagon laager. "

"Yes; there's Mafeking, with its corrugated-iron roofs, off to ourright. "

"Hah!" ejaculated West, for at that moment there was a flash from thefront of the laager they were approaching, followed by a tremendous roarand a hissing sound overhead, as a shell winged its way towards thetown, whose outskirts were certainly not more than a couple of milesaway. 

"We've wasted ever so much strength, " said Ingleborough; "but nevermind: we know exactly where we are. It's about two miles' run to thenearest houses. What do you say--go on crawling, or make a dash?"

"It will be broad daylight directly, " replied West, "then we shall bediscovered, and become the mark for every rifle within range. I saylet's get up and walk steadily on till we see that we are discovered, and then run for our lives. "

"Wait a moment! Do you know how we shall find out that we arediscovered?"

"Yes, " said West coolly; "we shall have the bullets whistling about us. "

"Well, you are cool!" said Ingleborough. "That's it; and in addition weshall have some of the mounted Boers coming at full gallop. "

"Perhaps, " said West; "and perhaps the Mafeking outposts will beginfiring to cover us. Now then, I feel breathless to begin, for it'srapidly getting lighter. Come on!"

They rose quietly, and set off, making straight for the nearestbuilding--a long, low, broad place with a corrugated-iron roof whichseemed to be perfectly deserted; but it had one advantage--it was thenearest object to where they were, and it would, if they could reach it, form cover from which they could fire upon any mounted Boer who came inpursuit. 

Then with the day broadening rapidly they walked steadily on, with shellafter shell arching over their heads, to fall and burst far in advance, right away in the town; but there was no sign of pursuit for quite tenminutes, and not a friend anywhere visible in the outskirts thefugitives approached. 

"Now then, " shouted Ingleborough suddenly; "be cool, and as you rununsling your rifle and be ready for a shot, for I'm going to fight tothe last. "

"Make for that shed?"

"Yes. Forward; here they come. "

Away they went, for West at his companion's warning had looked sharplyround, to see about a score of mounted Boers dashing after them at fullgallop, and the fugitives had hardly got into the full swing of theirstride before they heard _cracky crack, crack_, the reports of riflesfar in the rear, and _ping, ping_, _ping_, the whistling buzz of thethin bullets, several of which came unpleasantly near. 

"Open out half-a-dozen yards, " said Ingleborough, "and lessen theirmark! Think we shall reach that shed?"

"No, " said West coolly. "It's farther off than I thought. Let's stopat that clump yonder, and lie behind it to fire back. "

"Very well; but they'll ring round us and we shall be taken in flank andrear. "

"Not till we've brought down two of them, " said West, through his teeth. 

"Two apiece, " said Ingleborough. "Now then, put on a spurt, and let'sget to that heap, or they'll be down upon us before we're half-way tothe shed. Run!"

They did run, with all their might; but out on the open veldt distancesare horribly deceiving, especially in the early morning light, and tothe despair of the fugitives the Boers came rapidly nearer, while theclump of earth for which they made seemed to be as distant as ever. Theonly thing they made out was that it became more diffused, and theyplainly saw that it was a long ridge of earth freshly thrown up, evidently from a ditch beyond. 

"Why, it's a long rifle-pit, " cried Ingleborough. "Run, lad, run; wemust do it now!"

But the pursuing Boers were coming on fast, and the fugitives felt thatin a minute or so they would be overtaken. 

There was something, though, in their favour, for as the enemy convergedupon them the firing from a distance ceased, those who were using theirrifles fearing to hit their own friends. 

"It's of no use; we can't do it!" panted West, as Ingleborough, now thatthere was no need to try and diminish the mark at which the Boers fired, closed in again. 

"Not two hundred yards away now!" said Ingleborough hoarsely. 

"Let's turn and have a couple of shots at them!" cried West. 

"No: we should be bound to miss. Run, run!"

It was not the distance but the pace that was killing, and Ingleboroughwas right. To have stopped and turned to fire, with their pulsesthrobbing, breath coming in a laboured way, every nerve and muscle onthe jump, must have resulted in missing; and the next moment the enemywould have ridden over them and they would have been either shot orprisoners. 

Knowing this, they tore on till the rifle-pit was only a hundred yardsaway. The foremost Boers spread out like a fan not fifty yards distant, and came on at full gallop, with the result appearing certain thatbefore the fugitives had torn on despairingly another score of yardstheir enemies would be upon them. 

"My despatch!" groaned West to himself, and then aloud: "Halt! Fire!"

True to his comrade in those despairing moments, Ingleborough obeyed theorder, stopped short, swung round, and following West's example, he wasin the act of raising his rifle to his shoulder with his quiveringhands, when--

_Crack, cracky crack, crack, crack, crack_, half-a-dozen flashes andpuffs of smoke came from over the ridge of the low earthwork in front, emptying four saddles, while one horse went down headlong, pierced fromchest to haunch by a bullet, and the fleeing pair saw the rest of theirpursuers open out right and left, to swing round and gallop away back, pursued by a crackling fire which brought down six more before they wereout of range. 

Meanwhile twice over the big gun from its earthwork far away sent acouple of shells right over the fugitives' heads on their way to thebeleaguered town, and a few seconds later a cheery English voice hadshouted: "Cease firing!" Then a dozen men came hurrying out of therifle-pit where they had lain low, to surround the exhausted pair. 

"Hands up!" shouted their leader loudly. "Who are you--deserters?"

"Deserters!" cried West hoarsely, as he pressed his left hand upon hisbreast and let his rifle fall to the ground. "Despatch--Kimberley--Water--for Heaven's sake--help!"

He sank upon his knees, for everything seemed to be swimming round himbefore he became quite blind. 

But he could hear still as he swooned away, and what he heard was ahearty British cheer. 

CHAPTER THIRTY. 

AT THE GOAL. 

"It has more than paid for it all!" said West that night, when they laydown to rest after a wildly-exciting day. 

"Yes, " replied Ingleborough, laughing. "I felt quite jealous!"

"I don't believe you!" said West sharply. "You couldn't; they all madeas much fuss over you as they did over me, from the chief downward!"

"Well, I suppose they did; but I began to have the horrors once!"

"Horrors?"

"Yes; knowing as I did that they must be short of food, I began to thinkthat they were welcoming us so warmly because we were something good toeat, and all the feasting was the beginning of fattening us up. "

"Of course you did!" said West drily. 

"I say though, " continued Ingleborough; "if it is not a state secret, what was it the chief said to you when he took you aside?"

"Oh, it's no secret from you!" replied West. 

"Let's have it then!"

"Well, first of all, it was a lot of flattery. "

"Flattery?"

"Yes, about being so brave, and bringing the Kimberley despatch throughthe Boer lines. "

"That was not flattery. You did bring the despatch to its destinationvery bravely. "

"So did you!" said West sharply. 

"Oh, very well, so did I then! It was _we_ if you like! Being butteredis not an unpleasant sensation when you can honestly believe that youdeserve it; and, without being vain, I suppose we can feel that ourconsciences are at rest. "

"Never mind that!" said West hurriedly. "I don't like being buttered, as you call it. The chief said then that he should have to send anotherdespatch back to Kimberley, and that he should ask us to take it. "

"What a cracker!" cried Ingleborough. 

"Cracker--lie? I declare he did!"

"I don't believe you. "

"Very well!" said West stiffly. 

"No; it is not very well! Come now, he didn't say anything about _us_. He said you. Confess: the truth!"

West began to hesitate. 

"He--well--perhaps not exactly in the words I said. "

"That will do, sir!" cried Ingleborough. "You are convicted ofcramming--of making up a fictitious account of the interview. He didnot allude to me. "

"But he meant to include you, of course!"

"No, he did not, Noll; he meant you. "

"I say he meant both of us. If he did not, I shan't go!"

"What!"

"I shall not go a step out of the way without my comrade!"

"What!" cried Ingleborough, holding out his hand. "Well, come, I likethat, lad, if you mean it. "

"If I mean it, Ingle!" said West reproachfully. 

"All right, old chap! You always were a trump! There, _we'll_ take thedespatch back! And now no more butter! We're very brave fellows, ofcourse, and there's an end of it. I say, I wonder how Anson is gettingon. "

"The miserable renegade!" cried West. "I should like to see thescoundrel punished!"

"Well, have patience!" said Ingleborough, laughing. "It's a verylaudable desire, which I live in hopes of seeing gratified. But don'tyou think we might as well go to sleep and make up for all we have gonethrough?"

"Yes, but who is to sleep with all this terrible bombarding going on?"

"I for one!" said Ingleborough. "I'm getting quite used to it! But Isay, I can see a better way of making a fortune than keeping in thediamond business. "

"What is it?" said West carelessly. He was listening to the roar of theenemy's guns and the crash of shells, for the Boers were keeping uptheir bombardment right into the night. 

"I mean to go into the gunpowder trade, and--oh dear, how--"

West waited for the words that should have followed a long-drawn yawn, but none came, for the simple reason that Ingleborough was fast asleep. 

Ten minutes later, in the face of his suggestions to the contrary, andin spite of the steady regular discharge of artillery, sending hugeshells into the place, West was just as fast asleep, and dreaming ofAnson sitting gibbering at him as he played the part of a monkey fillinghis cheeks with nuts till the pouches were bulged out as if he weresuffering from a very bad attack of mumps. The odd part of it was thatwhen he took out and tried to crack one of the nuts in his teeth hecould not, from the simple fact that they were diamonds. 

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. 

BAD FOR ONE: GOOD FOR TWO. 

"It's a bad job--a very bad job, " said West, with a sigh, as he mountedone of the pair of very excellent ponies that had been provided for thedespatch-riders by the gallant chief in command at Mafeking, with thelaughing comment that the two brave little animals ought to considerthemselves very lucky in being provided with two such masters, who wouldtake them right away from the beleaguered town, where, if they stayed, their fate was bound to be that they would be minced into sausages orboiled down into soup. 

They were two beautiful little beasts; but West always sighed and saidit was a bad job whenever he mounted, for his heart was sore about thepony he had lost before they entered Mafeking. 

"I say, young fellow, " said Ingleborough, with one of his grim smiles:"how much longer are you going to stay in mourning?"

"Stay in mourning?" said West, staring, as he bent forward to pat hismount's back. 

"Yes: for those two ponies we lost; because it seems to me very absurd!To begin with, it's downright folly to bemoan the loss of one pony whenyou have been provided with another equally good; secondly, it is moreabsurd to bemoan a pony at all; and thirdly, it is the most absurd thingof all to be mourning for one that in all probability is not dead. "

"Oh, they're both dead enough by this time!" said West bitterly. 

"Mine may be, for it was hit; but from the way it reared up and kickedout it had no bones broken, and these Basuto ponies are such hardylittle beasts that I daresay it got better; while yours was so good thatyou may depend upon it some Boer has it nipped tightly between his legs, and is making the most of it. "

"I hope you are right!" said West. "And there, I will not mourn forthem, as you call it, any more, but make the best of things. Let's see;this is the sixth day out from Mafeking. "

"Seventh, " said Ingleborough correctively. 

"Of course; so it is, but I lose count through being so intent upon theone idea of getting back to Kimberley. Do you think we shall manage toget through the Boer lines?"

"Think? Why, we've got to get through them. We shouldn't be long if wecould only ride straight away, and not be always running right on tosome fresh party who begin to make game of us directly. "

"That's rather an ambiguous way of speaking, Ingle, " said West, laughing, as he caressed his pony. "If anybody else heard you he wouldthink you meant that the Boers bantered and chaffed us. "

"But nobody else does hear us, and you think that I mean that they beginto pump out bullets at us just as if we were a pair of springboks. Isay, I'm beginning to think that we are leading a charmed life, for itis wonderful what escapes we have had from their long-carrying rifles. "

"I'm beginning to think in a much more matter-of-fact way, " repliedWest; "and I think this, that five hundred yards' range is quite longenough for any rifle used on active service. I know that when one takesaim beyond that distance one is very doubtful of hitting. "

"I feel so after half that distance, " replied Ingleborough, and then:"Hullo! See something?"

"Yes; I thought we were going to have a good long ride in peace thismorning, but look yonder!"

The two young men drew rein and leaped to the ground, each hurriedlygetting out his glass, for the commandant at Mafeking had supplied themwith fresh ones, to steady it by resting it upon the saddle he had justquitted, their well-trained ponies standing perfectly motionless. 

"What do you make of it?" said Ingleborough, scanning a mistily-seendark line right away beneath the sun. 

"Wagons trekking, " replied West quietly. 

"Friends?"

"Who can say? I think not. Reinforcements and stores on the way to thebesiegers, I should think. "

"I'm afraid you are right! Well, we had better let the nags feed whilewe lie down and watch, for I don't think they have seen us yet. "

"Very well, " said West. "I'm tired of so much running away!"

The next minute they were lying amongst some stones and their poniesgrazing, Ingleborough coolly filling his pipe and lighting it with aburning-glass, but keeping a watchful eye upon the long train of wagonsand horsemen plodding along at the customary rate of about two miles anhour, and ready at any moment to spring upon his pony in case a party ofthe enemy should make up their minds to try and drive in the two ponieswhen they caught their eye. 

This he knew was doubtful, for it was beginning to be a common sightupon the veldt--that of a wounded or worn-out horse or two picking up ascanty living from the grass and green points of the shrubs, while aninvestigation generally proved that the poor brutes were not worth thetrouble of the ride. 

Still, on the other hand, the suspicious nature of the Boers mightprompt them to see whether riders were near the grazing animals, and anopportunity for capturing a prisoner or two be theirs. 

The pair kept a keen look-out; but it seemed for a long time that theywere to be left in peace, the long line of wagons and horsemen ploddingsteadily onward, completely blocking the way the bearers of theKimberley despatch had to take. 

At last, though, just after West had expressed his opinion that theBoers were too intent upon getting their heavy guns on towards Mafeking, Ingleborough, unnoticed by his companion, made a sudden movement, dropping his pipe and altering the small lenses of his field-glass, through which he lay gazing, supporting himself upon his elbows. 

"Hah!" said West, who was similarly occupied; "they've got four heavyguns and a tremendous lot of stores. Wouldn't one of our generals givesomething to have his men so arranged that he could cut them off in alldirections! The country is so open, and not a kopje in sight. What aprize those guns would be!"

"Yes, " said Ingleborough sharply; "but there is no British force athand, so they are going to surround us instead. "

"What!" cried West excitedly. 

"That they are, and no mistake!" continued Ingleborough, slewing himselfround so as to look in a different direction. 

"You don't mean--oh, Ingle! Three strong bodies coming from behind, north and south. Why, we're trapped!"

"We are, my lad; for here they come from the front. "

West turned his glass again in the direction of the long line of wagonsafter his look round, to see that a party of the Boers were riding outstraight for them. 

"Trapped; but we must dodge between the wires, eh?" cried West, who, like his companion, had made at once for where his pony was grazing. "Hah! Look out, Ingle!"

Ingleborough was looking out, but left helpless. West had caught hispony, but his companion had startled the other by the suddenness of hisapproach, and, throwing up its head, the little animal cantered off withhis rider after him. 

"Stop, stop!" shouted West. "You only scare the brute more. "

"Right!" said Ingleborough sadly, and he stopped short and began toreturn. "There!" he cried, as West sprang into his saddle; "you havethe despatch. Off with you through that opening! I won't hinder you!I'll turn prisoner again for a change. "

"Lay hold of my pony's tail and run! I'll keep him to a canter, andchange with you as soon as you're tired!" said West, scanning theopening between the end of the Boer line and the party of horsemen awayto his left who were making straight for them, lying towards the middleof the line, where the big guns were being dragged along. 

"No good!" said Ingleborough. "Off with you, and save your despatch!"

"Can't leave you, old fellow! Do as I tell you!" cried West. "Hookon!"

"I will not! They won't kill me if I throw up my hands! Save yourdespatch if you can!"

"Obey orders, sir!" roared West fiercely, "and don't waste time! I'mgoing to trot after your mount, and he'll join us. "

"Hah! Bravo, sharp brains!" cried Ingleborough excitedly, and twistingthe long thick hair of the pony's tail about his left hand he ranlightly after his companion, the pony West rode uttering a shrill neighas they went off, which made the other stop, cock up its ears, answer, and come galloping after them, so eager to join its fellow that itbrushed close past Ingleborough, who caught the rein without trouble. 

"Right!" he shouted, and the next minute he was in the saddle, with theponies cantering along side by side. 

"More to the left!" cried West. "The Boers are bearing away to cut usoff!"

This was plain enough, and the fugitives saw that if a fresh partystarted from the end of the long line they were bound to be cut off. 

"Never mind, " cried Ingleborough; "we may get away! Those fellows arequite a mile from us, and their mounts will be pumped out if they pushforward like that. Easy, easy! Let the ponies go their own pace!"

Settling down into a canter, the fugitives now began to look away totheir left, where they had seen the other parties closing them in fromtheir flank and rear. 

"Hallo! Where's the rest of the enemy?" cried West. 

"Yonder, out of sight! The ground lies lower there; but I say, thesefellows are coming on at a tremendous rate! Gallop or they'll cut youoff. "

"Then we'll gallop!" cried West. "We, old fellow! Just as if I weregoing to leave you behind!"

"Very nice of you, " said Ingleborough merrily; "but you're not fit for adespatch-rider. You're about the worst I ever knew of!"

"Because I won't forsake a friend?"

"Friend be hanged! There's no friendship in wartime. Ah, here comesome of the flankers. "

"Yes, I see them, " said West; "but what does this mean?"

For all at once the galloping party on their right--that which had comestraight from the centre of the Boer line--began to pull up until allwere halted in the middle of the plain. 

"They see their companions coming, " said Ingleborough, "and that we aresafely cut off. Well, it is giving us a better chance!"

"But they're turning and folding back, " cried West excitedly. "Herecome the others, full gallop! Look, look, how they're opening out!Gallop full speed now! No, no. Look, look! Why, Ingle, those are notrifles they're carrying--they're lances. "

"You're dreaming!" growled Ingleborough. "Never mind what they'recarrying; they're going to cut us off, and we've got to save thatdespatch!"

"And we shall save it too!" cried West, his voice sounding full ofexultation. "Those are our Lancers--a regiment of them!"

"You're right!" cried Ingleborough excitedly now, and he began to drawrein. "Look at the Boer line. There's proof! They're turning backfrom the front and hurrying up their rear so as to form laager roundtheir big guns. Hurrah!" he yelled, rising in his stirrups to wave hishat. 

"And hurrah a hundred times more!" yelled West, following hiscompanion's example, as he saw now in no less than four directionslittle clouds of horsemen moving over the widely-spreading plain. 

The next minute they had their glasses out and were watching the Boers--a line no longer, but broken up into what at first seemed to be wildconfusion, out of which order began to form, for whoever was in commandof the reinforcements on their way to Mafeking possessed enoughsoldierly knowledge of what was the best thing to be done under thecircumstances. As the wagons in front were wheeled round to retire uponthe centre formed by the four heavy guns, and those from the rear werehurried up to join in making a great square, cloud after cloud ofmounted men galloped forward to seize upon any patch of shelter to holdagainst the advancing British force. 

"It's well meant, " said Ingleborough, without taking his eyes from hisglass; "but they will not have time to form a strong laager. Why, ourmen will be among them before a quarter of an hour is past. "

"Before ten minutes!" cried West, in wild excitement. "Hurrah! Trappedthis time! Look right across the laager; there are men coming onthere!"

It was so, and Ingleborough cheered wildly again. For the Britishgeneral must have had abundant information of the coming convoy, and hadtaken his precautions and made his plans so accurately as to timing theadvance that he had completely surrounded the long line with cavalry andmounted infantry, who now raced for the laager, heedless of the fireopened upon them by the Boers. The enemy only fired a few shots, andthen, finding themselves taken in front, flank, and rear, made for theirhorses and took flight in every direction, but not before the Lancersgot among them and dotted the veldt with horse and man. 

The Boer commander and those with gun and wagon worked well, bringingtheir heavy guns to bear on the main advance; but they were not directedat masses of men in column or line, but at a cloud of cavalry coveringthe plain and mingled with the enemy's own flying horse, so that beforea second discharge could be belched forth from the two large guns whichwere re-loaded, the Lancers, Hussars, and Volunteer Light Horse wereamong the gunners, and it was every man for himself, _sauve qui peut_. 

West and Ingleborough were so intent with their glasses, watching theutter rout of the Boers, that they did not see a body of Lancers bearingdown upon them at a gallop, and the noise of the scattered firing keptup by the Boers drowned the trampling of hoofs, till there was a shoutwhich made the two despatch-bearers start round in their saddles, to seea dozen sun-browned, dust-covered Lancers galloping at them with weaponslevelled, headed by a young officer waving them on with his flashingsword. 

"Up hands!" yelled Ingleborough, and glass and hat were thrust on high. 

It was only just in time, the officer raising his sword as he reined upby West and caught his arm. 

"Hallo!" he roared, as his men surrounded the pair with lances at theirbreasts; "who are you?"

"Despatch-riders--Mafeking to Kimberley, " cried West. 

"Where are your despatches then?" cried the officer sharply. 

"Here!" cried West. 

"Yah!" cried the young officer. "I thought I'd caught two Boer generalsdirecting the fight. What a jolly sell!"

"You've got something better among you!" said Ingleborough, joining inthe laugh which rose among the men. 

"Have we? What?"

"There are four heavy guns yonder, and a tremendous wagon train. "

At that moment trumpet after trumpet rang out, and the men burst into awild cheer, for the mounted Boers were scattering in all directions, flying for their lives, and it was plain enough that a tremendous blowhad been inflicted upon a very strong force, the capture of the convoybeing complete, and those in charge who had not succeeded in reachingtheir horses readily throwing down their arms. 

"We'll, we've whipped!" said the young officer of Lancers, taking offhis helmet to wipe his streaming face. "They can't find fault with usat home for this, my lads! Here, open out; we must join in drivingthese ragged rascals back on the centre. Here, you two, " he cried, turning to West and his companion, "I must take you both in to my chief, for I don't know that I ought to take your bare word. "

"Well, I don't think there's much of the Dopper about either of us. "

"No, " said the officer, "but the Boers have got the scum of Europe andAmerica with them, and you may be two little bits. "

"Want our rifles?" said West coolly. 

"No; but don't try to bolt, either of you: it would be dangerous. Myboys are rather handy with the lance!"

"So I see!" said West, glancing at the points glistening at the tops ofthe bamboo shafts, several of which looked unpleasantly red. 

"And so I felt, " said Ingleborough grimly, "for one of them pressed myribs. "

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. 

DOWN BY THE SPRUIT. 

The trumpets were ringing out again to call the various parts of theforce together, a couple of regiments being sent in pursuit of the onlybody of the defeated Boers which showed any cohesion, the greater partof those who had reached their horses and escaped doing this to a greatextent singly, and the rest of that day was passed in gathering in thewagons, disarming the prisoners, and making all secure in the laager, which was now formed about a spruit that offered an ample supply of goodfresh water. 

The capture proved to be far greater than was at first surmised, for inaddition to the four heavy guns with their wagons and specialammunition, scores of the great lumbering Dutch wagons were full ofrifles and cartridges. Besides these, there was an ample supply ofordinary stores, and, in addition to the many spans of oxen, hundreds ofcaptured horses and several flocks of sheep. 

By night all was made secure in the great camp, and the despatch-riderswere made welcome at the mess presided over by the cavalry General, whowith his staff eagerly listened to the adventurers' account of theirjourney, and to their report of the state of beleaguered Mafeking. 

That night the pair slept in peace in the well-guarded camp afterdebating about their continuance of their journey the next morning. 

But when morning came the General demurred to letting them go. 

"You must wait a day longer, " he said, "until my boys have done more, toclear the way, for your road must be full of revengeful Boers, theremains of the force we defeated yesterday, and I am certain thatneither you nor your despatch would reach Kimberley if I let you go!"

"We are very anxious to be off, sir, " said West, in a disappointed tone. 

"And I am very anxious that the Kimberley people should have your goodnews, my lad, " said the general, smiling, "and the news too of how wehave taken the guns and stores meant to be used against Mafeking; but, as I have told you before, I don't want the news you are to carry to befound somewhere on the veldt, perhaps a year hence, along with some ragsand two brave young fellows' bones. "

"Thank you, sir, " said West quietly; "but when do you think we mightcontinue our journey?"

"That depends on the reports I get in from the men still away inpursuit. "

The men in camp were in high glee, for they had been struggling hard forweeks to get to conclusions with the enemy, but without success, whilenow their highest expectations had been more than fulfilled; but therewas plenty of sorrow to balance the joy, many poor fellows having mettheir end, while the number of injured in the hospital ambulances andtents made up a heavy list. 

West and Ingleborough saw much of this, and spent no little time intrying to soften the pangs endured by the brave lads who lay patientlybearing their unhappy lot, suffering the agony of wounds, and many morethe miseries of disease. 

There was trouble too with the prisoners, and West and his companionwere present when a desperate attempt to escape was made by a partyworked upon by one of their leaders--a half-mad fanatical being whosepreachings had led many to believe that the English conquerors wereabout to reduce the Boers to a complete state of slavery. 

The attempt failed, and the leader was one of those who fell in theterrible encounter which ensued. 

Both West and Ingleborough were witnesses of the resulting fight, forthe attempt was made in broad daylight, just when such a venture wasleast expected, and, after those who seized upon a couple of score ofthe captured horses and tried to gallop off had been recaptured, theyoung men worked hard in helping to carry the wounded to the patch ofwagons that formed the field hospital. 

"Ugh!" said West, with a shudder, after he and Ingleborough haddeposited a terribly-injured Boer before one of the regimental surgeons;"let's get down to the spruit and wash some of this horror away. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, after a glance at his own hands; "we couldn'tlook worse if we had been in the fight! Horrible!"

"It's one thing to be in the wild excitement of a battle, I suppose, "said West; "but this business after seems to turn my blood cold. "

Ingleborough made no reply, and the pair had enough to do afterwards indescending the well-wooded, almost perpendicular bank to where thelittle river ran bubbling and foaming along, clear and bright. 

"Ha!" sighed West; "that's better! It was horrible, though, to seethose poor wretches shot down. "

"Um!" murmured Ingleborough dubiously. "Not very! They killed thesentries first with their own bayonets!"

"In a desperate struggle for freedom, though! But there, I'm not goingto try and defend them!"

"No, don't, please!" said Ingleborough. "I can't get away from the factthat they began the war, that the Free State had no excuse whatever, andthat the enemy have behaved in the most cruel and merciless way to thepeople of the towns they have besieged. "

"All right! I suppose you are right; but I can't help feeling sorry forthe beaten. "

"Feel sorry for our own party then!" said Ingleborough, laughing. "Why, Noll, lad, we must not holloa till we are out of the wood. This last isa pretty bit of success; but so far we have been horribly beaten allround. "

"Yes, yes; don't talk about it, " said West sharply; "but look overthere. We needn't have been at the trouble of scrambling down thisalmost perpendicular place, for there must be a much easier spot wherethat fellow is walking up. "

"Never mind; we'll find that slope next time, for we shall have to comedown again if we want a wash. "

They sat down chatting together about the beautifully peaceful look ofthe stream, while Ingleborough lit his pipe and began to smoke. 

"It does seem a pity, " said Ingleborough thoughtfully, exhaling a cloudof smoke: "this gully looks as calm and peaceful as a stream on oldDartmoor at home. My word! I wish I had a rod, a line, and some flies!There must be fish here. I should like to throw in that pool andforget all about despatch-bearing and guns and rifles and men usinglances. It would be a treat!"

"It looks deep and black too in there, " said West. "Yes, a good day'sfishing in such a peaceful--Ugh! Come away. Let's get back to thecamp. "

"Why? What's the matter?" cried Ingleborough, starting up, in the fullexpectation of seeing a party of the enemy making their way down thefarther bank to get a shot at them. 

But West was only pointing with averted head down at the deep blackpool, and Ingleborough's face contracted as his eyes took in all thathad excited West's horror and disgust. 

For there, slowly sailing round and round just beneath the surface, werethe white faces of some half-dozen Boers, wounded to the death ordrowned in their efforts to escape the British cavalry, and washed downfrom higher up by the swift stream, to go on gliding round and round thepool till a sudden rising of the waters from some storm should give thestream sufficient power to sweep them out. 

CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. 

THAT BASE COIN. 

"Let's see; this will take us round by the hospital wagons, " saidIngleborough. "I vote we go round the other way, for we don't want anymore horrors now!"

They chose a different direction to return to their temporary quartersin the camp, one which took them round by the row upon row of capturedwagons and the roughly-made enclosure into which the prisoners had nowbeen herded, and where they were doubly guarded by a strong party ofmounted infantry, who had stringent orders to fire at the slightest signof trying to escape. 

"They'll accept their lot now, I expect, " said Ingleborough. "Who arethese with this next lot of wagons? Non-combatants, I suppose!"

"Yes; drivers of the provision wagons and traders, " replied West. "Why, that's the man we saw going up out of the spruit. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, and as he spoke West noted that the man whohad been seated at the front of one of the wagons suddenly turned hisback and walked round to the other side. 

West turned to Ingleborough. 

Ingleborough turned to West. 

They stood looking enquiringly in each other's eyes for a few momentsbefore the latter said suddenly:

"Which way will you go?"

"Left, " said Ingleborough. 

"And I'll go right. "

They started at once, walking towards the wagon that had taken theirattention, Ingleborough making for the front where the man haddisappeared, and which necessitated passing the team of bullockscrouching down to ruminate over the fodder that had been cut for them, while West hurried round by the rear, the young men timing themselves soexactly that they met after seeing a pair of stout legs disappearbetween the fore and hind wheels of the wagon where the man they soughtto face had dived under. 

Quick as thought, West and Ingleborough separated and ran back lightlyand quickly, this time to come upon the man they sought just as he wasgetting heavily upon his legs again, evidently in the belief that he hadnot been recognised. 

He was thoroughly roused up to his position, though, by Ingleborough'sheavy hand coming down upon his shoulder and hoisting him round to facethe pair. 

"Hallo, Anson!" cried Ingleborough banteringly; "this is a pleasantsurprise!" while West's eyes flashed as he literally glared in thecowardly scoundrel's face, which underwent a curious change as heglanced from one to the other, his fat heavy features lending themselvesto the dissimulation, as he growled out slowly: "Don't understand. "

"What!" cried Ingleborough, in the same bantering tone; "don't you knowthis gentleman--Mr Oliver West?"

"Don't understand!" was the reply, and directly after: "Goodnight, Englishmen; I'm going to sleep!"

The next moment the heavy-looking fellow had turned his back again, stepped to the front part of the wagon, and sprawled over part of thewood-work as he tried to draw himself on to the chest before gettinginside. 

But Ingleborough was a strong man, and he proved it, for, steppingbehind the man, he caught him by the collar of his jacket and the loosepart of his knicker-bocker-like breeches, and dragged him off the wagon, to plant him down in front of West. 

The result was that their prisoner began to rage out abusive words inDutch, so loudly that in the exasperation he felt, Ingleborough raisedhis right foot and delivered four kicks with appalling vigour andrapidity--appalling to the receiver, who uttered a series of yells forhelp in sound honest English, struggling the while to escape, but withhis progress barred by West, who closed up and seized him by the arm. 

The outcry had its effect, for the called-for help arrived, in the shapeof a sergeant and half-a-dozen men, who came up at the double with fixedbayonets. 

"What's all this?" cried the sergeant sharply, as he surrounded theparty. 

"Only a miracle!" cried Ingleborough. "This so-called Boer, who couldnot speak a word of English, has found his tongue. "

"What are you, prisoner--a Boer?" cried the sergeant. 

"Ah, yah, yah, " was the reply, gutturally given; "Piet Retif, Boer. "

"Well, sir, orders are that the Boer prisoners are not to be ill-used, "said the sergeant. Then, turning to the prisoner: "This your wagon andspan?"

"Ah, yah, yah, Piet Retif. "

"He says Yah, yah, sir, " said the sergeant, "which means it is hiswagon. "

"Oh yes, it is his, I believe, " said Ingleborough. 

"Then what have you against him?"

"Only that he's a renegade Englishman, a man who deserted from Kimberleyto the Boers. "

"It's a lie, sergeant, " cried the man excitedly. 

"That's good English, " cried Ingleborough. "I told you I had worked amiracle; now perhaps I can make him say a little more. He's anillicit-diamond merchant and cheat as well, and his name is not PietRetif, but James Anson, late clerk to the Kimberley Company. What doyou say, West?"

"The same as you, " replied West. 

"It is a lie!" cried the man. "Piet Retif, dealer in mealies and corn. "

"Mealies and corn!" cried Ingleborough scornfully. "The man is what Isay: an utter scoundrel, cheat, and, worse than all, a renegade anddeserter to the Boers. "

Anson's jaw dropped, and his face seemed to turn from a warm pink togreen. 

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. 

ANOTHER START. 

Before Anson's jaw had time to return to its place the sergeant and hismen sprang up to attention, looking as stiff as if on parade. 

West was the first to see the reason, and he nudged Ingleborough, justas a stern voice asked what was wrong. 

"Bit of a row, sir, between the two despatch-riders and this prisoner, sir, " replied the sergeant. "Prisoner charges these two gentlemen withassaulting him. Says he's a Boer!"

The new-comer, who had four officers in attendance upon him during whatwas apparently a tour of inspection of the camp, turned sharply on thetwo friends. 

"I cannot have the prisoners ill-treated, " he said. "Why is this?"

"Because he is not a Boer, sir, " said Ingleborough sharply. "This manwas in the company's office with us at Kimberley. He is little betterthan a thief, or worse, for he is a receiver of stolen goods, anEnglishman, an illicit buyer of diamonds, and a renegade who gaveinformation to and deserted to the Boers. "

"That will do, " said the General. "Half of your charges would condemnhim. Sergeant, see that this prisoner is carefully guarded. He will betried later on. I am too busy to attend to such matters now. "

Anson gave vent to a gasp, after listening to the general's orders forhis safe custody. 

But, though he was listening to the orders given, his eyes wereotherwise employed. They were half-closed, but fixed intently uponWest, and they did not quit his face till the sergeant clapped him onthe shoulder, saying: "Now, Mr Piet Retif, this way!"

Then he started violently, and was marched off to be placed with certainof the prisoners who were the most carefully guarded. 

"Did you notice anything in particular just before Anson was led off?"said Ingleborough. 

"No. Poor wretch. I'm sorry for him!"

"Keep your sorrow for a more worthy object, my lad, and mind and givethat fellow a wide berth if ever he gets his liberty again. "

"Which he will, of course. "

"Well, perhaps so, for the Company can't give the diamond-buyer all theywould like! But when he does get free, you be careful!"

"Why, what harm can he do me?"

"Can't say, " said Ingleborough abruptly; "but something or another illyou may take it for granted he will do. I've been watching his face, and read what it means! Of course, he doesn't like me, for I've beenfighting against him all along; but somehow he seems to hate you, and, mark my words, he'll try his best to do you a mischief! He gives youthe credit of being the cause of all this trouble!"

"But I've not been!" said West. 

"No; I've done the scoundrel ten times the mischief that you have, for Idisliked him from the very first day we met. He was too oily for me, and I always thought that he would turn out a bad one. I'm the culprit, but he means to let me alone and to take all the change out of you!That's all--only don't give him a chance!"

"Not I; but we shall not see much more of him, I suppose. "

"What? There'll be a trial in a day or two, and I've got a pill for mygentleman. "

"What do you mean--not a lead pill?"

"Tchah! Nonsense. I mean to ask for the scoundrel's wagon to besearched. I was afraid they would let him go back to it. "

"The wagon? Of course, " said West thoughtfully. "I had forgottenthat. "

The young men's eyes met as if they were trying to read each other'sthoughts; but no more was said then, and the next morning West andIngleborough were summoned to the General's wagon. 

"Good morning, " said the officer sharply. "Your despatches are, ofcourse, very important, and it is urgent that they should be deliveredat once?"

"Yes, sir, " said West eagerly. "Then we may go on at once?"

The General smiled. 

"No, " he replied; "all through the night scouts and natives have beencoming in, and in general from different sources one has a great varietyof news; but in this case, coming from parts widely asunder, I get thesame announcement. Stung by the defeat I have given them and the lossof their convoy and big guns, they have been collecting in great force, evidently to try and surround me in turn and recover all they havelost. "

"Then we had better make a dash for it at once, sir, before the way iscompletely closed, " said West. 

"The way is completely closed, young man, " said the General gravely. "East, west, north, and south, there are strong commandos with guns, andthere is only one way open for you. "

"And that is?" said West excitedly, for the General had stopped. 

"By going nearly due west, and cutting your way through. "

"Cutting our way through!" said West blankly, and he turned to look atIngleborough for an explanation, but the latter only shrugged hisshoulders. 

"Ah, you are both puzzled!" said the General, smiling. "You want toknow how you are to cut your way through! I'll tell you: by keepingwith me and letting my fellows clear the road for you!"

"But--" began West. 

"There is no `but' in the matter, sir, " said the General. "You are bothwilling messengers; but you cannot do impossibilities. If you go on inyour own way you will be either shot down or captured, and in eithercase your despatches will fall into the enemy's hands. "

"Unless I destroyed them first!" said West bitterly. 

"Of course. That is what you would try to do, my lad, if you had time. But as you would naturally defer that till the last extremity, theprobabilities are that this necessary task would be left undone. Rifle-bullets fly very swiftly, and the Boers' traps are cleverly set, as our people are finding to their cost. "

"But the despatches must be delivered, sir, " said West excitedly, "andit is my duty to go on at any risk!"

"And mine to do two things, young gentleman, " said the General, speakingvery sternly. "One is, to assist you in the task you have in hand; theother, as I find that Kimberley is being hard pressed, to try and cut myway through to the help of the brave people who are holding it againstgreat odds. Now, as the two objects work together, your way must bewith us. I may not be able to force my way through, but I can certainlysee you well on your way. "

"Then we are to stop with your cavalry brigade, sir?" said West, indisappointed tones. 

"Certainly, as long as I am making a forward movement, which willcommence at once. If I find it necessary to diverge from the courselaid down, on account of the extent of the convoy I have captured andthe number of prisoners, I shall give you fair warning, so that you maymake a dash for yourselves. There, gentlemen, I am busy. You willattach yourselves to my staff, and help keep a watch over the loot indiamonds. "

Taking this to be a dismissal, the two young men retired to talk thematter over in their own quarters. 

"I don't like it!" said West excitedly. "We have our orders as to whatwe are to do about the despatch! Ought we to let a cavalry generaloverride those instructions?"

"I suppose so, " replied Ingleborough. "Perhaps, after all, he isright. "

"Right?"

"Well, he knows from good information the state of the country, and wedo not. It would be better for your despatch never to be delivered thanfor it to fall into the enemy's hands. "

"Of course!"

"Then why not take matters as you find them? Are we not going to takenews for our General over yonder, and reinforcements as well?"

"Yes, I hope so, " replied West; "but one does not like when one's plansare made to have them interfered with. "

"Of course not, " said Ingleborough, laughing; "but we started with fixedplans from Kimberley, and we've been interfered with and baffled eversince. "

"But we did get the despatch to Mafeking!"

"Yes, even when it seemed quite hopeless; and we're going to get theanswer back to Kimberley yet. "

"I hope so, " said West gloomily. 

"Bah! What a grumbler you are, Noll! Nothing seems to satisfy you!Haven't we turned the tables completely upon that fat pink innocent?"

West nodded his head. 

"Isn't he prisoner instead of us?"

"Yes, that's true!"

"And hasn't he proved your innocence and his own guilt before thoseofficers?"

"Yes, he has done that!" said West, with his puckered face smoothingout. 

"Then just confess that you are a growling, discontented, hard-to-satisfy young humbug. "

"I do--frankly!" cried West, laughing outright. 

"Come, that's something; and I begin to think that I will forgive youand stick to you after all, instead of following out my own ideas. "

"Your own ideas?" said West, looking at his companion enquiringly. "What were those?"

"Well, " said Ingleborough, in his dry stolid manner; "Shakespeare was avery able man. "

"My dear Ingle, " cried West, staring, "whatever has Shakespeare got todo with your plans?"

"Everything, you young ignoramus. Doesn't he say something about therebeing a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, will leadto fortune?"

"I believe so; but I wish he could point out the tide that would takeour live barque safe into Kimberley. "

"Ah, but you see he does not; his works were written for people livingin a wet country where there are plenty of rivers and seas. He didn'tknow anything about the veldt, and, in fact, he was not very strong inhis geography, or he wouldn't have written about the sea coast ofBohemia. "

"There, " cried West, "you're getting into one of your long-windedarguments, and I'm waiting to hear your plans!"

"Oh, they are only these!" said Ingleborough very gravely. "Being apoor man and seeing the tide at its height, I thought to myself thatthere could be no harm in annexing a rogue's plunder when it is as plainas the nose on one's face that we have as good a right to it as all theofficers and Tommy Atkinses of this brigade. I came to the conclusionthat I'd get you to stand in with me on fair halves principle, and gooff with the diamonds in that barrel, calling at Kimberley as we go toleave that despatch, and then going on to the Cape, and then home. "

"No, you did not, Ingle, " said West quietly; "so don't talk bosh! Look, they're striking tents, inspanning, and getting off. "

"By George! so they are. And hallo! what does this mean--an attack?"

"A battery of Horse Artillery guns, " cried West. "Then we are going onin real earnest. "

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, "and so our friends the Boers will find. "

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. 

THE NET AND THE FISH. 

The start was made more quickly than either West or Ingleborough hadanticipated; in fact, the celerity was wonderful considering that thecavalry brigade was burdened with the great convoy of wagons capturedfrom the Boers. 

But there was a keen soldier in command, and one who knew how to beready for every emergency likely to occur in an enemy's country. 

As the two despatch-riders mounted their ponies, the cavalry regimentswere in motion, some taking up ground in advance and on the flanks, while two more, a Lancer and a Dragoon regiment, stood fast ready foraction as rear-guard, giving the six-gun battery an opportunity tooff-saddle and rest their horses, fresh from a twelve-mile march thatmorning. 

The wagon lines were in perfect order, steadily moving off after two ofthe big newly-captured guns, freshly manned by picked crews, the othertwo being reserved for the centre of the train and taking up theirposition easily enough, drawn as they were by double teams of sturdyponies which made them far more mobile than would have been the case iftrusted to the slow-moving oxen. 

"They won't attempt to use those guns if we are attacked, " said West, ashe watched the preparations going on; "our men will be quite ignorant ofhow to work them. "

"Our men will try if the necessity comes, " said Ingleboroughconfidently; "and that's half the battle!"

"Yes, " said West; "but it's hardly likely that the enemy will attack sowell-armed a body of men. "

"They will, though, and do us no end of mischief if they get thechance. "

But the General for the first three days gave the enemy no chance, forhe carefully avoided kopjes and broken ground, keeping out a cloud ofmounted men scouting in every direction, and camping each night on thebanks of some spruit. 

In fact, every military precaution was taken on defensive principles, for the captured convoy was too valuable for any risks to be run byattacking one or other of the commandos trying to hem in the brigade. 

It was soon found that the Boers were in motion in front, rear, and onboth flanks, awaiting an opportunity to swoop down and stampede sheep, cattle, and horses, spread confusion amongst the men, and so open up achance to re-capture the guns and stores. 

But no chances were given, for everything had been arranged, and duringseven days' march West had a fine experience in the manoeuvring of acavalry brigade. So, in fact, had the enemy, but theirs was at a bittercost. 

Finding that the British force would not attack any of the naturalstrongholds nor step into any of the traps contrived at river crossingswhere the perpendicular banks were filled with trench, pit, and shelter, but that the carefully-guarded convoy went on slowly towards safety dayafter day, the enemy became more daring, changed their tactics, andgathered together for attacks, getting their guns into action ready fortheir own captured artillery to be halted, and with a few well-directedshots at a tremendously long range to put the carefully planted guns outof action and compel a rapid retreat. 

If they surrounded the convoy in their thousands with knots of mountedriflemen, there was a rush, a flying cloud of dust kicked up, and awaywent half the Horse Artillery battery to one knoll, the other half toanother, and before the intention of the General could be grasped theshells were falling fast among those knots, bursting and untying them inan appalling way which littered the dry earth with dead horses and men;while, whenever a bolder dash than usual was made to capture either ofthe half-batteries, the Boers found that, mobile as they were, theBritish cavalry could nearly double them in swiftness of evolution, andLancers and Hussars cut them up and sent them flying in every direction. 

Day after day this went on, with the result that the reinforcements theenemy received were pretty well balanced by the constant dribbling awayof ambulance wagons loaded with wounded men. 

"Isn't it splendid?" Ingleborough kept on saying. "Why, we could go onjourneying like this for months. I like this defensive game! Chess isnothing to it!"

"So do the Boers like a defensive game!"

"Yes, " said Ingleborough, laughing. "Did you hear what one of the Boerstaken said to the officer in command of the prisoners' guard?"

"No. I did not catch it; but I saw our men laughing. What was it?"

"He said our officers did not fight fair, and when our man asked himwhat he considered was fair fighting, the scoundrel gave him tounderstand that we ought to attack them when they were well entrenchedin a kopje ready to shoot all our men down. "

"Well, " said West, "what did our officer say?"

"Laughed at him, and told him that if they were so very anxious to fireat targets we would arrange butts for them with a series of mantlets anda good supply of the Bisley Running Deer. But that wasn't the best ofit, " said Ingleborough, laughing; "what do you think the fellow said?"

"I don't know, " said West, who was watching the evolutions of a coupleof the Light Horse Volunteer regiments and as many of the Lancers, for, tired of the plodding life of keeping with the tremendous baggage trainfor a whole week, the two friends had ridden out in advance over a wideopen series of rolling downs covered with dry scrubby growth, parched togreyness by the torrid sun. 

Ingleborough laughed heartily for a few moments. 

"There they go, " he said, pointing to the leading troop of the Hussarregiment as it disappeared over a ridge about a mile in advance. "Let'smake for that wave-like place. "

"Very well, " said West; "I suppose we shall be safe there!"

"Safe enough, of course, for our men have swept it clear! Forward! Howthe ponies enjoy a gallop! But I didn't tell you what the miserableruffian said. "

"No, " cried West, enjoying the motion as much as the ponies. "This isdelightful after all that slow walking; but we had better turn back whenwe have seen what those fellows are about! Now, what did the Boer say?"

"Said he had always heard we were cowards at Majuba; now he knew forhimself. "

"The insolent hound!" cried West. "What did our officer say?"

"That it was lucky for the Boer that he was a prisoner, for if he hadbeen free he would have tasted a flogging from the flat of a sabre. Buthullo! where are our men?" cried Ingleborough, as they reached the crownof the low ridge and looked down at a strip of open veldt, beyond whichwas another ridge. 

"Gone over there!" said West quietly. "They must have galloped!"

"Shall we follow, and come back with them?" said Ingleborough. 

"We may as well, " was the reply; "they must be trying to cut off some ofthe Boers. "

"Or going in for a charge to scatter them, for we want no moreprisoners. Come on, then; I should like to see the charge!"

The ponies seemed to share their desire, for, answering a slightpressure on their flanks, they spread out and went down the slight slopelike greyhounds, avoiding as if by instinct the holes and stones withwhich the veldt was dotted away in front. 

"Steady, steady!" cried West. "We don't want to overdo it!"

"Of course not, " shouted Ingleborough; "but my word, what delicious air, and what a place for a gallop! I should like to see a herd of antelopeappear on that ridge to the left. I should be obliged to go after them;we might get one for the officers' mess. "

"There they are, then!" cried West. 

"Where?" said Ingleborough. 

"Coming over that continuation of the ridge a mile away to the left. No: mounted men! Ingle, old chap, " cried West excitedly, "they're theparty our men have cut off! They've headed them, and they're trying toescape by this opening!"

"By jingo! No!" cried Ingleborough. "Our men have gone off to theright, I believe, and those Boers have seen us. Noll, old fellow, we'vecome a bit too far. Steady! Right turn! Now off and away, or somebodyelse will be cut off or shot; perhaps both of us, for we're in for itonce more. "

"Oh no, " said West coolly; "be steady, and we'll show the Boers howEnglish fellows ride!"

"Yes, but hang it all! It's showing the beggars how we ride away. "

"Never mind; we must ride for the convoy. "

"But we can't, " cried Ingleborough savagely; "there's another partycutting us off. "

"Forward then over the ridge in front! Our fellows must have gone overthere. "

"No, I don't think they did. "

"Then we will, " cried West excitedly; "that must be south and west. Forward for Kimberley; it can't be far now; and let's deliver thedespatch. "

"Hold hard! Look before you leap!" shouted Ingleborough; and, rising inhis stirrups, he gave a hasty glance round, to see Boers here, Boersthere, in parties of from six to a dozen, spreading out as they camealong at a gallop, forming more and more of a circle, till there was anopening only in one direction--to the south-west--and after graspingthis fully he turned to West as he settled himself in his saddle. 

"Why, Noll, lad, " he cried, "it's like the drawing of a seine-net inCornwall, with us for the shoal of mackerel. They've got it nearlyround us, and if we don't start, in another ten minutes we shall beenclosed. It looks fishy, and no mistake!"

"Then come on!" cried West. 

"Off with you, but at a gentle gallop. We must nurse our nags, for theobstinate brutes will make it a long chase. "

As he spoke he pressed his pony's sides, and away they went together ata long easy gallop, their mounts keeping so close together that theriders' legs nearly touched, and the brave little animals taking stridefor stride and needing no guidance, the best management being to givethem their heads and perfect freedom to avoid all the obstacles whichcame in their way in the shape of rock, bush, and the perilous holesburrowed in the soil by the South African representatives of ourrabbits. 

Once settled down in their saddles, with the opening in the Boer netstraight before them, the fugitives had no difficulty in carrying on aconversation, and this ensued in the calmest matter-of-fact wayconcerning the predicament in which they had landed themselves. 

"It's very awkward, Noll!" said Ingleborough. 

"But, to use your favourite argument, it seems all for the best, "replied West. "We can easily reach the open ground yonder before theenemy, and then ride right away. "

"If, " said Ingleborough. 

"If they don't stop when they find us likely to go through the horns ofthe dilemma they have prepared for us. "

"And lie down and begin shooting?"

"Exactly! Their bullets will go faster than our ponies!"

"Yes, but we shall put them at full speed, and they will find it hard tohit us at a gallop. "

"I hope so!" said Ingleborough. "My word! How they are coming on!"

"Yes; but they will not get within five hundred yards of us!" cried Westexcitedly. 

And so it proved, for as the horns of the partly-finished circle drewnearer, that nearness proved to be nearly a thousand yards from point topoint, while half-way between, and with their ponies racing over theground stretched out like greyhounds, the two despatch-riders dashedthrough, forcing the enemy to alter their course as they were leftbehind. 

"That's done it!" cried West joyously. "Now then for Kimberley; itcan't be very far away!"

"Sit close!" cried Ingleborough. "They'll fire now if they can do sowithout hitting their friends. "

West glanced back to his right, and saw the truth of his companion'swords, for the next minute the firing was commenced on both sides, thebullets coming over their heads with their peculiar buzzing sound, andthe dusty soil being struck up here and there as the fugitives torealong. 

"This will put their shooting to the test!" cried West, leaning forwardto pat his pony's neck. 

"Yes; it will puzzle the best of them!" replied Ingleborough. "I'm notafraid of their marksmen, but I am of the flukes. However, we're in forit! Easy now! We're getting more and more ahead as they close in. There, those behind are obliged to leave off firing for fear of hittingtheir friends. "

Ingleborough was right, for after another useless shot or two the firingceased, and it became a chase where success, barring accidents, wouldrest with the best and freshest horses. 

Knowing this, the fugitives eased their ponies all they could afterplacing a greater distance between them and their pursuers, but keepinga good look-out ahead and to right and left, knowing full well as theydid that the appearance of fresh Boers ahead would be fatal to theirprogress. 

Half an hour glided by, during which first one and then the otherglanced back, but always with the same result of seeing that some two orthree dozen of the enemy were settled down to a steady pursuit. 

"How long do you think they will keep this up?" said West at last. 

"Well, if they are French mercenaries they'll give up directly; if theyare Germans they'll stick to our heels for hours; but if they're allFree Staters or Transvaal Boers they'll go on till they drop or we do. The stubborn, obstinate mules never know when they are beaten!"

"Then they're not French adventurers!" said West. 

"Nor yet Germans!" said Ingleborough. "No; we've got the genuine Boerafter us; and it's going to be a long chase. "

"How far do you think it is to Kimberley?"

"Just as far as it is from Kimberley to here!" replied Ingleboroughgruffly. 

"Thank you for nothing!" snapped out West. "What's the good of givingfoolish answers?"

"What's the good of asking foolish questions? Look here, lad, we may aswell look the position in the face. "

"Of course. "

"Very well, then; we've got a score and a half or so of Boers after us, meaning to take us prisoners or shoot us down. "

"Oh yes, that's plain enough!"

"Very well! Then as to distance to Kimberley, the General has dodged inand out so to avoid the enemy that, though I know a little about thecountry, I'm regularly puzzled as to where we are. I think it lies outhere, but whether Kimberley is five miles away or a hundred I don'tknow. What I do know is that the surest way of getting there is to makeright away west for the railway. Once we can hit that--"

"Yes, I see, and if we keep it on our right, riding south, we shall getthere. "

"That's correct, my lad, but recollect this: we left the town invested, and you may depend upon it that the enemy are round it in greaterstrength than ever, so that how we are to get through their lines whenwe reach them I don't know. "

"Neither do I!" said West. "But we did not know how we were to get intoMafeking! Still we did it, and we're going to do this somehow. "

"Ah, somehow!"

"Look here, " said West, after another glance back at their pursuers: "doyou think you could put matters in a blacker light if you were to try?"

"To be frank, old fellow, " said Ingleborough, laughing, "I really don'tthink I could!"

"No more do I!"

"But look here: it's as well always to look the blackest side full inthe face. Then you know the worst at once, and can act accordingly. Hooray! One to us!" shouted Ingleborough, glancing back. 

"What is it? I see one of the enemy broken down and another pulled upto help him. It's two to us. "

"There, you see now the good of looking at the worst of it. "

"It's quite cheering!" cried West. 

"Not very, for the rest are making a spurt. "

"Let them!" said West. "Our ponies are full of go. We will not pushthem unless absolutely obliged. "

"Words of wisdom! A long, steady pace wins. Keep on; we can afford tolose a little ground, for we have been gaining for some time!"

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. 

CLOSE PURSUIT. 

Hour after hour passed, and the chase continued over the wide rollingveldt, the fugitives making their course more and more westerly so as tohit the railway, hoping every time they reached the top of one of thewave-like ridges to find that they were close at hand. 

But it was always the same--veldt, veldt, veldt, stretching on towardsthe horizon, with a village or farm once in a way, and the enemy alwaysat the same distance behind, keeping doggedly on. 

Twice over, though, the fugitives had scraps of encouragement from oneof their pursuers pulling up, and in each case another drew rein andstopped with him. 

At last a spruit was reached, with the fresh bubbling water tempting theescaping pair to alight in a way only to be understood by one who hasbeen similarly situated. 

It was just after the Boers had pulled up to let their horses walk aftera long ascent, and they were still going on at the same pace, when Westchecked his pony. 

"It's of no use; we must drink, " he said. "Dismount, unsling yourrifle, and get behind that stone and try and hold the enemy in checkwhile I water the horses and fill the bottles. "

Ingleborough said nothing, only obeyed, and the next minute West wasleading the ponies down to the shallow crossing, leaving his companionwith his rifle-barrel resting upon the big stone that formed a naturalbreastwork. 

Seeing that the pair had stopped, the Boers began to press forward, evenafter Ingleborough had fired twice; but the next shot made them pull upshort, open out, and take up position, beginning to return the firethen. 

A few minutes later the horses had had a good drink, the bottles werere-filled, and all was ready on the far side of the spruit forcontinuing the flight. 

West shouted to his companion, who placed a block of stone about thesize of his head upon the natural breastwork and fired twice, droppingdown directly after and wading to the side of the gully, where he threwhimself upon his breast, drank deeply, and then waded across to rejoinhis companion. Then they were off again at a canter, getting a goodquarter of a mile on their road before the Boers discovered by a carefulflanking approach that they had given up their defence of the spruit anddashed on. 

"They'll be after us now at full speed!" said West, as he stood up inhis stirrups gazing back. 

"No, " said Ingleborough; "they'll stop there, I daresay, for an hour togive their horses water and rest, thinking that they can lull us intothe belief that they have given up the pursuit; and then they'll come onagain, following us steadily so as to trap us as soon as it is dusk. "

"I don't think you are right, " said West; "but it is of no use to argueabout it. We shall see!"

The day wore on and they saw nothing but the wide-spreading brown veldt, with no sign of the great river, no mountain ridge or other objectfamiliar to Ingleborough during his travels through the country. 

"No, " he said, in reply to a question from West, "I can't make outanything, only that we are going south-west. The country is so big, yousee. All I can say is that we must be going right. We're making forthe river, and we can't do better. It may be many, many miles awaystill!"

"Well, let's keep on. There's one comfort: the enemy don't seem to beafter us. "

"No, " said Ingleborough, after a good look back, and speaking verydrily; "they don't seem to be, but I don't trust them. They mean to runus down; but we'll give them their work first. "

In this spirit the fugitives rode steadily on hour after hour till theevening came, and then there was nothing for it but to look out for somehalting-place with cover and feed for the ponies. 

"We can't keep on without giving them a rest, " said Ingleborough; "forwe may have to ride all day to-morrow. "

"What?" cried West. "You surely don't think we're so far off still?"

"I don't know anything, lad, " replied Ingleborough; "for, as I saidbefore, the country is so big, and it is quite possible that we may havetwo or three days' journey before us yet. "

"But food--rest?" faltered West. 

"My eyes are wandering everywhere in search of food, " repliedIngleborough, "and I keep on hoping to come upon a farmhouse somewherein sight. That will mean food, either given, bought, or taken bythreatening with our rifles. As to the rest, we'll have that when weget into Kimberley. "

Night fell without a sign of spruit, pool, or farm; but it was a bright, clear time, with the stars giving them sufficient light to keep on inthe hope that was growing desperate that they must soon come upon somestream. But they hoped in vain, and the ponies at last began to growsluggish and indisposed to proceed whenever some patch of bush wasreached in the midst of the dried-up expanse. 

"There, it's of no use, " said Ingleborough; "we may as well let the poorbrutes browse upon such green shoots as they can find! They'll be allthe fresher for the halt. As for us, we must feed upon hope and theremembrance of the good things we have had in the past. "

"Don't let's give up yet!" replied West. "It is cool travelling, andevery mile brings us nearer to safety. "

"Very well; but we shall find it hard work to get the ponies along. "

So they rode on, with their mounts growing more and more sluggish for awhile, and then West suddenly uttered an exclamation. 

"What is it?" cried Ingleborough. "Your nag?"

"Yes; he has suddenly begun to step out briskly. "

"So has mine, " said Ingleborough. "It's all right. Give yours hishead--they sniff water. I half fancy I can smell it myself; the aircomes so cool and moist. "

Just then one of the ponies snorted, and the pair broke into a canterwhich lasted for about a quarter of a mile, when they dropped into awalk, for the ground was encumbered with stones; but almost directly apleasant refreshing odour of moist greenery saluted the riders'nostrils, and then the ground was soft and yielding beneath the ponies'hoofs, then rough and gravelly, and the next minute the riders weregazing down at the reflected stars, which became blurred as the poniessplashed into water and then lowered their muzzles to drink. 

"A great pool?" said West. 

"No; hark!"

West listened, to hear the rippling trickle of running water. 

"A river!" he said excitedly. 

"Yes, and it may be the Vaal. If not, it will be one of the streamsrunning into it. "

"And we must keep on this side and follow it down. "

"Well, no, " said Ingleborough, with a little laugh; "seeing that theBoers are after us, I think it will be safer to follow it down from theother side. "

"Very well! What shall we do--get down and wade?"

"I would rather keep dry, " replied Ingleborough. "Let's wait till theponies have drunk sufficient, and then try if it is safe enough for themto walk across. I think it will be, for you can hear how shallow itis!"

"Yes, " said West; "close in here; but what is it farther out?"

He stood up in his stirrups and followed the reflection of the stars forsome distance. 

"It's a big river, Ingle, " he said, "and it would be madness to try andford it in the dark. "

"Very well; let's get a good drink as soon as the ponies have had theirshare, and then follow the river down till we come upon a place wherethey can graze and we can rest. "

This plan was followed out, the ponies being hobbled at a spot wherethere seemed to be plenty of feed, while amongst the dense bushes andrugged stones which barred their way a snug resting-place was soonfound, where, after cautiously making their way down to the river bankand allaying their thirst, the fugitives lay down to rest, listening tothe sound of falling water not far away. Then, in perfect forgetfulnessof Boers, despatches, and all the dangers of their way, both droppedinto the deep sleep produced by exertion--a sleep which lasted till thesun was once more beginning to flood the earth with light. 

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN. 

ROUGH WORK. 

It was the sound of a deep breath which put an end to West's slumber, and he opened his eyes to lie staring at two more, big, brown, soft, andpeaceful-looking, not a foot away from his own. 

It was some moments before full wakefulness came and he realised wherehe was, and that it was his pony, well-fed and rested, mutely asking himwhether he was not going to mount and ride off again. 

It was then that the thought of danger asserted itself, and he raisedhis head and looked sharply around, to see that they were amongst stonesand bushes where; the bank went precipitously down to a beautifulwinding river flowing amongst abundant verdure. Close by him layIngleborough, still fast asleep, and beyond him the other pony, stillcropping away at the rich green growth which sprang up among the stones. Then, as far as he could see, West made out nothing but the beauty ofthe spot upon which they had stumbled in the darkness of the night. Herose to his knees stiffly enough, and was in the act of getting upon hisfeet, realising that the beautiful greenery formed a riband on eitherside of the river, beyond which was the open veldt, when he dropped downagain to reach out and grasp Ingleborough's shoulder, for in his rapidglance he had caught sight of a party of mounted men out in the fullsunshine about half-a-mile away. They were walking their horses, and itseemed for certain to be the whole or a portion of the enemy of theprevious day, for he recalled, what had not struck him at the time, thatone of the Boers was mounted upon a grey horse, and one of the others hecould see from where he watched was similarly mounted. 

"Plenty of grey horses about, of course!" he muttered; "but this seemsto be the one I saw yesterday. "

"What's the matter?" said Ingleborough. 

"Hist! Keep quiet!" replied West. "The Boers are upon us! Look!"

Ingleborough rose cautiously, took a long earnest look through hisglass, and put it back. 

"Yes, there they are, " he said coolly; "there's that chap again on thewhite pony. Good job we didn't try to ford the river in the darkness. Why, we should have been swept away. "

West glanced for a moment in the direction of the stream, and graspedthe truth of his companion's words, before scanning their position andtaking it in at once. 

"We can't get over yonder, " he said quickly. 

"No, " replied Ingleborough. "That cuts two ways. Neither can theyattack us from that quarter; so our rear is safe. "

"We shall not be able to escape north, " continued West. 

"No; we are shut in there. "

"Nor yet south, for they would pick us off easily before we could getthrough the rough ground to gallop away. "

"Quite right, lad; and they are advancing on our front. Noll, my boy, there is only one thing to be done. "

"What is that?"

"Turn that patch of rocks there into our fort, and hold out till they'veshot us down, or we've shot them, or they've made us surrender. "

"What about provisions?"

"Plenty of water, " said Ingleborough coolly, nodding towards the river. 

"We're nearly famished now. "

"Yes, lad! I certainly feel as if I could peck a bit of something if Ihad the chance. But come, there's no time for talking. There's aready-made fort for us, and the next thing is to get the ponies intocover. I say, I was right! I knew that the enemy would stick doggedlyto our trail till they ran us down. "

"Look here!" cried West: "I'm going to crawl to those rocks and try andcover you while you follow with the ponies. "

"No need, " replied Ingleborough; "the poor things have eaten till theycan eat no more, and they'll follow us right enough. Let's try and getunder cover before we are seen. "

West hesitated for a moment, for the thought arose that the Boer partymight ride away and try to find a ford, but a glance showed him that inthe brief period which had passed since he awoke and saw them the enemywere much nearer, and, following his companion's example, he began tocrawl on all-fours towards the clump of rocks pointed out, the horsesquietly following them. 

They had about fifty yards to go through a cover of bushes and lumps ofrugged stone, but before they were half-way there West criedimpatiently: "I don't like it; the Boers must see the horses directly. Let's mount and make a dash for it. "

"Very well!" replied Ingleborough quietly. "Perhaps it would be best!"

"Then as soon as you are up we must ride towards them till we are clearof these bushes, and then off we go to the right. "

"Good; but it must be sharp work, for of course they will see us themoment we are up!" answered Ingleborough. 

"We must risk it, Ingle, " said West. "We never could keep them at bay. Let's have action: it would be horrible to be lying behind a rock withthe sun beating down upon us. Now then, get hold of your rein!"

There was a few moments' pause while the pair crept alongside of theirponies. Then West drew a deep breath and cried: "Mount!"

As he uttered the word he glanced over his pony's back at the advancingenemy, and saw that they had caught sight of the two animals, halted, and were in the act of taking aim at them. But neither West norIngleborough paused, raising a foot to the stirrup and being in the actof springing up, when the reports of about a dozen rifles rang out, andWest's rein was jerked out of his hand as he was thrown upon his back, while his pony made a series of tremendous bounds, the last of whichtook it into the river with a plunge of about a dozen feet right into adeep pool. The water splashed on high, glittering in the sunshine, andthe next minute the unfortunate beast was floating slowly away towardsthe swift current, just feebly pawing at the water, and on raising itshead it fell again with a heavy splash. 

"They can shoot well!" said Ingleborough coolly. 

West turned his gaze from the dying pony, irritated beyond measure byhis companion's easy-going coolness, and then saw the full extent oftheir trouble, for Ingleborough's pony had sunk upon its knees and thenlain gently over upon its side, to die instantly without a struggle, oneof the Boers' bullets having passed right through its brain. 

"Might have been worse!" continued Ingleborough. "They did not hit us!Come along, lad! They can't see us now. Follow me, and let's creep tothe fort. Keep down, lad; keep down. "

West had involuntarily dropped on all-fours as Ingleborough spoke, andnone too soon, for another dozen bullets came rattling over them, cutting the twigs and spattering amongst the rocks, while several passedclose to them with a buzzing sound. 

"There!" cried Ingleborough the next minute. "No question now aboutwhat we're going to do. Here's our fort; there's plenty of water; andthe Boers have shot our provisions ready for us. We must cut some ofthe meat up for biltong, and eat as much as we can while the rest of itis fresh. "

"For heaven's sake don't talk of eating!" cried West. "Look here: let'screep along through the cover and try and get away. "

"On foot, followed by mounted men? No good; we should be pumped out inless than a couple of hours!"

"Then let's make the brutes pay dearly for what they've done!" criedWest angrily. "Now Ingle, let's prove to them that we can use ourrifles too! I'm going to shoot every horse I can. "

"Very well: so am I; and if that does not beat them off I'm going tobring down man after man till the rest of them run for their lives. Gota good place?"

"Yes, " said West, whose rifle-barrel rested in a crack between twostones. 

"Then fire away; but don't waste a shot!"

"Trust me!" cried West grimly. "Now then, fire; and remember thedespatch!"

He took careful aim as he spoke, and drew trigger, with the result thatone of the Boer ponies stopped short, spun round, flung its rider, andgalloped madly away. 

The next moment Ingleborough's rifle cracked, and a second pony began towalk on three legs, while the party opened out, galloping so as to forma half-circle about their enemies, the two ends resting on the riverbank and forming a radius of about three hundred yards. 

"Sixteen more ponies to bring down, " said Ingleborough; "and those twodismounted men will take cover and begin to stalk us. "

"That's what the whole party will do!" said West bitterly. "We shallhit no more ponies: they'll get them all into cover, and then comecreeping nearer and nearer. "

At that moment Ingleborough fired again right in front where one of theBoers dismounted among some trees. 

"There's one more though, " said Ingleborough, for the poor brute he hadfired at reared up and then fell, to lie kicking on its flank. "Try foranother yourself, lad!"

Before he had finished speaking West had fired again, and another ponywas hit, to come tearing towards them, dragging its dismounted riderafter it, for the man clung to the reins till he was jerked off his feetand drawn along the ground some fifty yards, when his head came incontact with a stone, and he lay insensible, his pony galloping foranother hundred yards and then falling, paralysed in its hindquarters. 

And now the Boers' bullets began to rattle about the stones whichprotected the hidden pair, keeping them lying close and only able tofire now and then; but they got chances which they did not miss ofbringing down, killing, or disabling five more of the enemy's ponies, which upon being left alone began to graze, and naturally exposedthemselves. 

Maddened by their losses and inability to see their foes, the Boers keptreducing the distance, creeping from stone to bush and from bush tostone, rendering the defenders' position minute by minute one of greaterperil. 

But the danger did not trouble West. It only increased the excitementfrom which he suffered, and, with his eyes flashing in his eagerness, hekept on showing the Boers where he lay by firing at every opportunity, religiously keeping his aim for the ponies, in the full belief thatbefore long the Boers would retire. 

"It's no good to play that game!" cried Ingleborough suddenly, and hemade a quick movement, turning a little to his right and firing. 

There was a hoarse yell, and a man sprang up not above a hundred yardsaway, dropped his rifle, and turning round he began to stagger away. 

"You are firing at the Boers, Ingle, " cried West excitedly. 

"Yes: it was time!" growled Ingleborough, through his teeth, with hisvoice sounding hoarse and strange. "I've hit three. Two haven'tmoved. "

"What's the matter?" asked West, in a tone of anxiety, for he felt thatsomething serious had happened to his comrade. 

"Don't talk, " growled Ingleborough angrily. "Look! Those two. Fire!"

Two of the Boers away to West's left front had suddenly sprung up, andbending low were running towards him, evidently making for a patch ofbush, out of which a mass of grey stone peered, not a hundred yards fromthe young men's shelter. Feeling now that it was life for life, Westglanced along the barrel of his rifle, waiting till the Boers had nearlyreached their goal, and then, just as the second dashed close behind hisleader, West drew trigger, shivering the next moment, for as the smokerose he saw one of the men lying upon his face and the other crawlingback on all-fours. 

"Good shot!" said Ingleborough hoarsely, and then he uttered a deepgroan. 

"Ingle, old fellow, what is it?" cried West. 

The only answer he obtained was from his comrade's piece, for the latterfired again, and another Boer sprang into sight not a hundred yardsaway, fell upon his knees, and then rolled over. 

"Ingle, old fellow, " cried West; "don't say you're hurt!"

"Oh!" groaned Ingleborough. "Wasn't going to, old man; but that lastbrute got me. "

"Hurt much?"

"Much? It's like red-hot iron through me. Oh, if I only had somewater!"

"Water?" cried West, springing up. "Yes; I'll get some. "

_Crack, crack, crack_! Half-a-dozen rifles rang out in differentdirections, and in an instant West suffered for his thoughtlessunselfish act, for he felt as if someone had struck him a cruel blowwith a sjambok across the face from the front, while someone else haddriven the butt of his rifle with all his force full upon hisshoulder-blade--this blow from the back driving him forward upon hisknees and then causing him to fall across Ingleborough. Then for a fewmoments everything seemed as a blank. 

"Hurt much?" came the next minute, as if from a distance. 

"Hurt? No!" said West huskily, and he made an effort and rose to hisknees. Then, stung to rage by an agonising pain which stiffened himinto action, he levelled his rifle once more, took a quick aim at acouple of the Boers who were running towards them in a stoopingposition, fired, and distinctly saw one of the two drop to the ground. 

The next moment someone fired over his shoulder, and the other wentdown, just as West's rifle dropped from his hand and he fell oversideways, yielding to a horribly sickening sensation, followed by ahalf-dreamy fancy that someone had felt for and got hold of his hand, togrip it in a way that was at first terribly painful--a pang seeming torun up from hand to shoulder. The pain appeared to grow worse andworse, then deadened, and came again, and so on, like spasms of agony, while all the time the firing went on from all around. 

"Poor old Ingle!" was about his last clear thought; "they've killed him, and now they're firing till they've quite frightened me! Oh, how theykeep on shooting! Get it over, you cowardly brutes--nearly a score ofyou against two! Oh!" he groaned then: "if I could only have deliveredmy despatch!"

His left hand was raised painfully to his breast to feel whether thepaper was still safe; but the pain of the effort was sickening, and hishand glided over something wet and warm and sticky. 

"Poor old Ingle! Blood!" flashed through his brain, as the riflereports rang out from very close now, and then all was blank. 

The end of everything seemed to have come. 

CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. 

THE SURGEON'S WORDS. 

"Bad enough, poor fellow; but I think I can pull them both round. Nothing vital, you see, touched, and these Mauser bullets makewonderfully clean wounds!"

"And the other?"

"Bad flesh-wounds--great loss of blood. I just got at that artery intime. "

West heard these words spoken by someone whose head kept getting in hisway as he lay staring up at the great bright stars directly overhead, and it seemed very tiresome. 

He tried to speak and ask whoever it was to move aside; but his tonguewould not stir, and he lay perfectly still, trying to think what it allmeant, and in a dull far-off sort of way it gradually dawned upon himthat the people near him were talking about the Boers he had somehow oranother and for some reason shot down. 

Then, as he thought, the calm feeling he was enjoying grew troubled, andhe began to recall the fact that he had been shooting somebody's poniesto supply somebody else with food, and that he must have been mad, forhe felt convinced that they would not be nice eating, as he had heardthat the fat was oily and the flesh tasted sweet. Besides which, itwould be horrible to have to eat horseflesh at a time when his throatwas dry with an agonising thirst. Then the terrible thought forceditself upon him that while shooting down ponies he had missed them andkilled men instead, and once more all was blank. 

The next time the power of thinking came to the poor fellow all was verydark, and a jarring pain kept running through him, caused by the motionof his hard bed, which had somehow grown wheels and was being draggedalong. 

Cattle were lowing and sheep bleating. There were shouts, too, such ashe knew were uttered by Kaffir drivers, and there were the crackings oftheir great whips. 

After a while he made out the trampling of horses and heard men talking, while in an eager confused way he listened for what they would say aboutthose two wounded Boers, one of whom had nearly bled to death beforethat artery was stopped. These, he felt, must be the Boers he shot whenhe ought to have shot ponies. 

And as he got to that point the trouble of thinking worried his brain sothat he could think no more, and again all was blank. 

At last came a morning when West woke up in a great room which seemed tobe familiar. There were nurses moving about in their cleanwhite-bordered dresses, and he knew that he was in some place fitted upas a hospital. Several of the occupants of the beds wore bandagessuggestive of bad wounds, and to help his thoughts there came from timeto time the dull heavy reports of cannon. 

He did not recollect all that had preceded his coming yet; but hegrasped the fact that he had been wounded and was now in hospital. 

He lay for a few minutes with his brain growing clearer and clearer, andat last, seeing one of the nurses looking in his direction, he tried toraise one hand, but could not. The other proved more manageable, and inobedience to a sign the nurse came, laid a hand upon his forehead, andsmiled down in his face. 

"Your head's cooler!" she said. "You're better?"

"Yes, " he replied: "have I been very bad?"

"Terribly! We thought once that you would not recover. "

"And Ingleborough?"

"Ingleborough? Oh, you mean your companion who was brought in withyou?"

West nodded: he could not speak. 

"Well, I think he will get better now!"

"But his wound: is it so bad?"

"He nearly bled to death; but you must not talk much yet. "

"Only a little!" said West eagerly. "Pray tell me, he will get better?"

"Oh yes: there's no doubt about it, I believe. "

"Oh, thank goodness!" cried West fervently. "But what place is this?"

"This? Why, Kimberley, of course!"

"Ah!" cried West excitedly, and his hand went to his breast. "Myjacket!"

"Your jacket?" said the nurse. "Oh, that was all cut and torn, andsoaked with blood. I think it has been burnt. "

"What!" cried West. "Oh, don't say that!"

"Hush, hush! What is this?" said a deep, stern voice. "Patientdelirious, nurse?"

A quiet, grave-looking face was bent over West's pillow, and the poorfellow jumped at the idea that this must be the surgeon. 

"No, sir; no, sir!" he whispered excitedly, catching at the new-comer'sarm. "I am better: it is only that I am in trouble about my clothes. "

"Clothes, eh?" said the doctor, smiling. "Oh, you will not want clothesfor two or three weeks yet. "

"Not to dress, sir, " whispered West excitedly; "but I must have myjacket. It is important!"

"Why?" said the surgeon, laying his hand upon the young man's browsoothingly. 

"I was bringing on a despatch from Mafeking when I was shot down, sir, "whispered West excitedly. 

"It was sewn up for safety in the breast. "

"Indeed?" said the doctor, laying his fingers on the lad's pulse andlooking keenly in his eyes. 

"Yes, sir, indeed!" said West eagerly. "I know what I am saying, sir. "

"Yes, you are cool now; but I'm afraid the jacket will have been burnedwith other garments of the kind. Of course, the contents of the pocketswill have been preserved. "

"Oh, they are nothing, sir, " cried West piteously. "It is a letter sewnup in the breast that I want. It is so important!"

"Well, I'll see!" said the doctor gravely, and, signing to the nurse whohad been in attendance, he left the ward, with West in a state offeverish anxiety. 

At last, to West's intense satisfaction, the horribly blood-stainedgarment was brought in, and his hand went out trembling to catch it bythe breast, fully expecting to find the missive gone. 

"Yes, " he cried wildly, "it is here!"

"Hah!" cried the doctor, and, taking out his knife, he prepared to slitit up, but West checked him. 

"No, " he panted: "the Commandant. Send for him here!"

"My good lad, he is so busy, he would not come! Let me cut out themessage and send it to him. "

"No, " said West firmly; "I will not part from it till he comes. "

"But really--"

"Tell him a wounded messenger from Mafeking has a letter for him, and hewill come. "

West was right: the magic word Mafeking brought the Commandant to hisbedside; and as soon as he came up he stopped short and made what littleblood poor West had left flush to his face, for he cried:

"Hullo! Why, it is our illicit-diamond-dealer! I thought we were neverto see you again!"

"It is not true!" cried West. "The man who denounced me lied!"

"Then you have been to Mafeking?"

"Yes, sir: Mr Ingleborough and I. "

"And brought back a despatch?"

"Yes, sir: here it is!"

"Where?" said the Commandant, glancing down at the stained tunic on thebed. 

"Open it now, sir, " said West to the doctor, who took out his knifeagain, slit the cloth, and drew out the big letter, terribly soaked withits bearer's blood. 

"Bravo! Brave messenger!" cried the Commandant, grasping West's handbefore tearing open the packet and finding enough of the despatchunstained to allow him to decipher the principal part of the text. "Hah!" he cried, when he had finished, "on the whole good news; but, " hecontinued, glancing at the date, "you have been a long time coming. "

"Have I, sir? We lost no time!"

"The poor fellow has been lying here for a fortnight, sir, " said thesurgeon. 

"A fortnight ago? Why, that was the day when the reconnoitring partyreturned with the captured sheep and cattle. Yes, I remember now: theyhad a brush with the Boers up the river. Of course, yes: they wereattracted by the firing, and saved two young Englishmen. You are one ofthem?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well done, then! Our raiding party did good work, though they did havea desperate fight afterwards to get through the Boer lines. Gettingbetter?"

"Yes, sir, " said West, with a sigh of relief: "now that I have got mydespatch safely into your hands!"

"But what about your bad character?"

"It was a false accusation, sir!" cried West indignantly. "The man whodenounced me was the criminal himself. "

"Well, you have done your duty so truly that I believe you in preferenceto him. "

"But I shall be able to fully clear myself, sir, soon, for this man is aprisoner now with the cavalry brigade. Has that come into the town yet, sir, with the prisoners, guns, and the convoy they captured?"

"Hah!" cried the Commandant: "this is news indeed! Has the brigadecaptured all you say?"

"Yes, sir, " said West, and he told all that had taken place up to thetime of he and Ingleborough being cut off and chased by the Boers. 

"We knew nothing of this!" said the Commandant. "We are prisonersourselves; but your news gives us hope of a speedy release, for theGeneral is not one to let the grass grow under his feet. "

"He is not, sir!" said West. "Then you shall bring me and the man whoaccused me face to face. "

"The sooner the better, my lad!" said the Commandant warmly. "How soonwill he be up, doctor?"

"Within a fortnight, I hope, sir!" was the reply. 

"Then goodbye for the present, my lad!" said the Commandant. "Yourlong-delayed despatch will send a thrill of hope through all here inKimberley, for it breathes nothing but determination to hold the Boersat bay. "

"May I say one word more, sir?" said West excitedly. 

"What do you think, doctor?"

"He has said enough, sir, and if he talks much more we shall have thefever back. Well, perhaps he'll fret if he does not get something offhis mind. "

"What is it, then?" said the Commandant. 

"I had a brave comrade to ride with the despatch, sir. "

"To be sure, yes, I remember. What about him? Not killed, I hope?"

"No, sir, but badly wounded, and lying somewhere here. "

"Poor fellow! I must see him. There must be promotion for you both. "

"If you would see him, sir, and speak to him as you have spoken to me, "said West, with the weak tears rising to his eyes. 

"Of course, yes! There, shake hands, my lad: you have done splendidly!Don't worry about the diamond charge! I can feel that it was acontemptible lie! Now, doctor, take me to your other patient. "

"Ha!" sighed West, nestling back on his pillow with a calm look ofcontent in his eyes, which closed directly after for a sleep that lastedten hours at the least. 

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. 

ANSON IN A HOLE--AND SOMETHING ELSE. 

"Don't worry about the diamond charge!" said the Commandant; but OliverWest did, day after day, though he got better fast and was soon able togo and sit with Ingleborough, who slowly recovered, as a man does whohas had nearly all the life-blood drained from his body. West worried, and Ingle borough did too; for those were anxious days, those inKimberley, which brought strong men low, even near to despair, while thewounded, weak, and sick were often ready to think that relief wouldnever come. 

West and Ingleborough recovered from their wounds only gradually, tosuffer with the rest, returning to duty when really unfit, while thedeadly work went on, the men braving the shell and shot with more spiritwhen they knew that the women and children were safe within the mines. 

Then came the day of relief, and with it the feeling that a long nightof misery and despair had ended; and that night West and Ingleboroughgrasped hands, the former's pale sallow face lighting up with somethingof his old look, as he exclaimed: "Now, if the General would only marchin with his prisoners, and bring Anson before us face to face!"

Everything, the proverb says, comes to the man who waits, and certainlyit was so here, for the day did come when the General rode in at thehead of his dashing cavalry brigade, and, what was more, with theprisoners, and with them Anson, very much reduced in weight. 

There was something more than mere eagerness to be freed from anaccusation which led the two young men down to the General's camp nextmorning to wait until they could see him in their turn. 

On their way they sought out the sergeant who had had Anson under hischarge, and he grinned at them in recognition. 

"You were about right, gentlemen, " he said, "about that prisoner. "

"What about him?" said West eagerly. 

"About his being an Englishman. I've seen a lot of him along with theother prisoners, and he's as English as can be. Piet Retif! Why, he'sgot James Anson written on the tails of his shirts--that is, what he'sgot left. "

"But look here, sergeant, " said Ingleborough anxiously: "what about hiswagon?"

"Oh, that's all right, sir! Loaded up. "

"Has he had the run of it?"

"Not he, sir. He wanted to, but I only let him get some under-toggery, shirts and such. I couldn't refuse him that!"

"Did he go alone?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Quite?"

"Well, not quite, sir, because I was with him. "

"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough, in a tone full of relief. 

"I've stuck to him, by the General's orders, ever since. Like a leech, sir, " said the sergeant, in conclusion--"like a leech. "

The cavalry General welcomed the young men warmly, and, as it happened, the same four officers were with him, ready to join in the greeting. 

"I never expected to see you two fellows again, " said one of them, laughing. "I was out with my men when you were cut off. Why, you musthave had a very narrow escape!"

"Of course, " said the General, laughing; "but that has been the fashion:we have all had narrow escapes. Well, you got safely in with yourdespatch?"

"We got in with our despatch, sir!" said West rather grimly, "but notsafely;" and he briefly told their adventures. 

"Bravo! Well done!" was chorussed. 

"Why, you two will have to join the regulars!" said the General. "Wecan't have men like you for volunteers! Think it over, and, if youdecide to join, come to me, and I'll see what I can do! Now then, don'twant to be rude; but I have no time for ordinary visitors. You sentword in that you wanted to see me on important business. What is it?"

"You speak, " said Ingleborough, and West began. 

"We want to know about the prisoner taken that day, sir--the man whosaid he was a Boer. "

"I remember, " cried the General. "I have him safe. "

"When is he to be tried, sir?"

"Can't say; he will be handed over to the authorities who see to suchthings now. You said he was a renegade who had joined the Boers. "

"Yes, sir, after being charged with illicit-diamond-dealing with theKaffirs working at the great Kimberley mines; and we want you to giveorders for the wagon he had with him to be searched. "

"His wagon searched?" cried the General. "How am I to know which wagonhe had?"

"The sergeant knows where it is, sir, " replied West; "and we couldrecognise it directly. "

"But why do you want it searched--what for?"

"For diamonds, sir, that he brought away from Kimberley, and which youhave brought back. "

"H'm! Diamonds, eh? This sounds interesting!" said the General. "Youthink he has some there?"

"We both believe he has, sir, and of great value. "

"What do you say, gentlemen?"

"Oh, let's have the search made by all means!" cried one of theofficers, laughing. "It may mean salvage and loot, and all sorts ofgood things!"

"Very well! Take the matter up, and I'll see the search made! Let theprisoner be present, of course. I'll be ready in half-an-hour. "

Punctually to the minute the General was ready, and he walked downthrough the temporary camp to where the wagon stood among scores ofothers, while the sergeant and four men stood by with Anson, who lookedshifty and uncomfortable, wincing suddenly as he caught sight of Westand Ingleborough, and then gazing sharply about at the mounted Lancerson duty as patrols, for the prisoners were many, and there had beenseveral attempts at escape. 

The General looked at him sharply, and then at the wagon. 

"Is that your wagon, prisoner?"

"It was till you took it!" replied the young man surlily. 

"What do you say, sergeant?"

"Yes, sir, " answered the sergeant, with military brevity. "I marked itwith my knife the day that it was taken. "

As he spoke he laid a finger upon a couple of notches he had made in thewood-work. 

"Now then, " said the General, "before I have the wagon examined--"

Anson's eyes twitched. 

"Repeat the charge you made against this man!" continued the General. 

Ingleborough now firmly repeated almost word for word what he had beforesaid, and charged Anson with being an illicit-diamond-dealer. 

"And upon what do you base this charge?" said the General sternly. 

"The personal knowledge of myself and friend here, " repliedIngleborough. 

"All lies, General, " cried Anson excitedly. "Those two are charging mewith what they did themselves. They were illicit-diamond-dealers, andwhen they were found out they tried to plant the crime on me. Alllies!"

"Crime? Yes, " said the General thoughtfully. "Yes; I suppose it is oneof the greatest crimes that a man can commit in Kimberley. All lies, eh! Well, sir, not all, for it is evident from your speech that you arean Englishman and not a Boer. I judge too that you were in thecompany's office at Kimberley. "

"Oh yes, General, " said Anson; "that is true, and through the plottingof these two men I was turned out of my situation. "

"And then deserted to the Boers?"

"No, General. I was obliged to do something for a living, so I bought awagon to go in for trade; but I was captured by the Boers and they havekept me a prisoner ever since. Then you fought the Boers and beat them, and took me prisoner again. That's why I'm here. "

"An Englishman--prisoner to your own countrymen? Why did you notdeclare what you were? What did he say his name was, sergeant?"

"Said he was a Boer and his name was Piet Retif, sir, " said thesergeant, with a look of disgust at Anson's fat face. 

"Yes; that looks black against him!" said the General. "He is takenwith the Boers, while those who charge him are men of trust, beingchosen to bear despatches. "

"Because they were not found out, sir!" cried Anson. "There never was aworse pair of cheats and tricksters. "

"Perhaps not!" said the General. "So you were a prisoner with theBoers, my man?"

"Yes, General, and very glad to see the British troops come up and gainsuch a success. "

"You said that you was a dealer in mealies and corn, " growled thesergeant. 

"Well, a man must do something for his living. "

"Of course, " said the General. "Well, you look simple and innocentenough. "

"I am, sir, really!" cried Anson. 

"And never engaged in illicit-diamond-dealing?"

"Me, sir? Never, " cried Anson virtuously. "I was only charged by thosetwo to save themselves! Then they got on, and I was trampled down. "

"And joined the Boers out of revenge, eh?"

"No, sir: it was all fate and accident. "

"Well, fate is very unkind to us sometimes, my man, " said the General. "That is your wagon and span of oxen, you say?"

"Yes, sir. "

"Well, you have prospered by your change. What did you say you tradedin?"

"Provender, sir--mealies and corn. "

"And you?" cried the General, turning sharply to West. "What do youthink he deals in?"

"I believe he deals in diamonds, sir, " replied West. 

"Why?" said the General. 

"For one reason, sir, because my friend, in whom I have perfect faith, caught him in the act. "

"Yes: anything more?"

"I know him to be a cowardly liar, sir, and--"

"Oh!" groaned Anson. "I never heard anything like it. "

"Go on, " said the General. 

"Lastly, sir, because he set it about that I had volunteered to carry adespatch to Mafeking so as to get away with the diamonds I hadsmuggled. "

"And did you?" said the General. 

"I got away to Mafeking with the despatch!" said West, smiling. 

"And where are the diamonds in question?"

"My friend and I believe that they are in James Anson's wagon, " saidWest bitterly, for he felt bitter then against the traitor, whoseproceedings he recalled when they were prisoners. Later on he felt alittle sorry for his words. 

"Oh!" cried Anson, throwing up his hands and looking appealingly at theGeneral, who fixed him with his eyes. 

"Well, " he said; "what have you to say to this?"

"It's abominable, sir--it's atrocious--it's cruel!"

"Then you have no smuggled diamonds with you?"

"No, sir, " cried Anson excitedly. "They charged me once before, and hadmy wagon searched by the police. "

"And did the police find any?"

"No, sir, not one! It was a blind, sir, so that they might carry offtheirs by throwing the police off the scent. I'll be bound to say theyhave a lot with them now!"

"Well, I doubt that!" said the General, smiling. "Where would theycarry them?"

"Oh, sir, you don't know what artful tricks are played!" said Ansoneagerly. 

"Oh, I've heard of a few since I came to South Africa; but I don't thinkit likely that a couple of despatch-riders would carry manyillicit-diamonds with them!"

"Have the butts of their revolvers examined, sir, and the stuffing oftheir saddles, " cried Anson. "I have heard of the butts of rifles beingbored to hold a lot. "

"So have I!" said the General; "but I fancy a wagon would be more likelyto supply hiding-places!"

"Oh yes, sir, but the police inspector searched my wagon, and did notfind any. "

"You would have no objection, of course, being perfectly innocent, " saidthe General, "to some of my men searching your wagon?"

"Of course, I shouldn't like it, sir, but--"

"But? Ah, you mean conquest gives me the right of search?"

"It's like casting a slur on a man's character, sir. "

"But it makes it shine out the brighter when you are proved to beinnocent! Here, sergeant, this case begins to be interesting! Searchour friend's wagon. "

Anson tried to master a wince, and merely shrugged his shoulders, standing with his hands in his pockets while the sergeant and his mencommenced their task, examining every part of the wagon while theofficers waited patiently, lighting up and smoking their cigars untilthe sergeant came back to make his report. 

"Well, what have you found?"

"Nothing but these, sir, " replied the sergeant stiffly. "Tucked awaybehind the doubled tilt they were, sir, " and the man held out arevolver, Anson's sword-stick, and his little mahogany flute-case. 

"Humph! No diamonds, sergeant?"

"Not so much as a pin or ring, sir, " replied the man. 

"Are these yours, Mr Piet Retif?" said the General. 

"The walking-stick and the flute-case are mine, " said Anson coolly. "The pistol must be the driver's. I had a rifle; but your men took thataway. "

"Nothing else?" said the General. 

"Nothing else, sir. We looked everywhere, " replied the sergeant, and heoffered his superior the objects he had brought; but the Generalshrugged his shoulders and looked at his officers, who each examined therevolver, stick, and flute-case, and passed them back to the sergeant. 

"Well, gentlemen, " said the General, turning to West and Ingleborough:"you hear. What have you to say now?"

"The prisoner owned to these things being his!" said Ingleborough. 

"No, I didn't!" said Anson sharply. "Revolver isn't mine. "

"Only lent to you, perhaps, " said Ingleborough, taking the weapon fromthe sergeant's hands and cocking it, making Anson wince. 

"I'm not going to fire, " said Ingleborough, smiling contemptuously, ashe held the pistol in both hands with his thumb-nails together on thetop of the butt. Then, pressing the cock sidewise, the butt opened fromend to end upon a concealed hinge, showing that it was perfectlyhollowed out and that half-a-dozen large diamonds lay within, closelypacked in cotton wool. 

Anson turned clay-coloured. 

"'Tisn't mine!" he cried. "I know nothing about it!"

"Well, never mind, " said the General; "it is ours now. An interestingbit of loot, gentlemen!"

There was a murmur of voices at this, and as soon as the pistol had beenhanded round the butt was closed with a sharp snap, and the Generalturned to Ingleborough again. 

"Well, sir, " he said: "is that all?"

"I am not sure, " replied Ingleborough; "but I am suspicious about thatstick. "

"You think it is hollowed out?"

"Yes, sir, " said Ingleborough, and, taking it in his hands, he drew itapart, dragging into the light from its sheath a handsome Damascenedthree-edged blade, which he held against the cane, proving that theblade went right down to the ferrule at the end. 

"What about the handle?" said one of the officers eagerly, asIngleborough thrust back the blade into its cane sheath. 

"That is what I suspect!" said Ingleborough, and he carefully examinedthe silver-gilt tip, but twisted and turned it in vain, for there seemedto be no way of opening it, till all at once he tried to twist thesheath portion beneath the double ring which divided hilt from sheath, when the handle turned for about half-an-inch and was then drawn off, disclosing a hollow shell lining which held another deposit of diamondspacked in cotton wool. 

"More loot, gentlemen!" said the General, smiling. "What comes next?"

"The flute, " cried two voices together, and Ingleborough opened thecase, showing the three joints fitting tightly in the velvet-linedcompartments. 

"A silent musical instrument!" said the General, smiling. 

"Can anyone play the overture to the Crown Diamonds?" said one of the_aides-de-camp_ merrily. 

"This is the overture!" said another, and Ingleborough took out twojoints in turn, perfectly empty, fitted them together, and then took outthe top joint, to put that in its proper position, before raising theinstrument to his lips and running up and down the gamut. 

"Nothing there, " said the General. 

But Ingleborough lowered the flute, held it in both hands, and drew itapart at the tuning-slide, held it sidewise, and then unscrewed the topplug, showing an opening, out of which he shook a magnificent gem ofgreat size and perfect make. 

"Bravo!" cried the General excitedly. And then: "I'm afraid, Mr Dealerin mealies and corn, the judgment will go dead against you. Have youdone?" he continued, turning to Ingleborough. 

"Not quite, sir!" replied the latter. "Come, West, don't let me get allthe credit for unmasking the scoundrel. "

"Look here, " cried Anson viciously, "I protest against being called ascoundrel! Those are my private savings, invested in what were boughthonestly. "

"I think, sir, you had better keep your tongue silent until we havequite done!" said the General. 

Then, turning to the two young men, he bade them go on. 

"Come, West, " said Ingleborough, "you suspect where our friend who is noscoundrel has hidden more diamonds, do you not?"

"Well, yes, " said West, rather unwillingly, for the whole businessdisgusted him. 

"Speak out, then! I am sure it is in the same place as I think he hasmore plunder; but you shall have your turn now. "

"No, no; go on, " said West warmly. 

"If you suspect that there is some place unsearched, " said the Generalsternly, "speak out, sir. "

"Then I believe, sir, " said West, "that if the water-cask that is slungunder the wagon is opened you will find a number of diamonds hiddenthere!"

There was a burst of excitement at this, everyone present speaking savethe sergeant, who did a bit of pantomime which meant: "Of course!" forhe bent down and gave his leg a sounding slap. 

"Yes, " said Ingleborough; "that is where I meant. "

"Why, I thought o' that once, " cried the sergeant, "and then I says tomyself: `That's too stoopid a place; no one would hide diamonds wherethey're sure to be found'; but I crept underneath on my hands and kneesand gave it a swing so as to make the water wash about inside. Thatsatisfied me, and I came away. "

"You have hit the mark, Mr West, " said the General, smiling. "There isno doubt about it! Look at the prisoner's face!"

Anson tried hard to pull it back into its normal shape, for he had beengazing at West with a malignant look that meant anything from arifle-shot to a stab with a bayonet. 

"Now, sergeant, see if you can do better this time!" cried the General, as Anson's mouth shut with a click. 

Then he stood fast with his brow wrinkled and his hands clenched, waiting expectantly with the rest of those present until the cask wasset free from the raw-hide reins by which it was slung under the hindpart of the wagon, and then rolled out, giving forth the regular hollowsound of a barrel half-full of liquid. 

"Only sounds like water!" muttered the sergeant, and he set it running, to soak into the dry ground, and draining out as much as he could, before giving an order to the nearest man to take hold of one end whilehe raised the other, both men looking stern and severe in the extreme. Then together they gave the cask a lusty shake, and the sound whichfollowed was that of some shovels full of pebbles rattling in theinside. 

The next minute they had set the cask down on end with a grin ofdelight, which was taken up by their fellows, while a satisfied smiledawned upon the faces of the _aides-de-camp_. 

"Here, stop that fellow!" shouted one of the officers, for, in spite ofhis heaviness, Anson proved that he could be active enough uponoccasion, and this was one; for, seizing his opportunity, he dived underthe wagon, and by the time the soldiers had run round to the other sidehe was off, dodging in and out among the wagons in the mad idea that hecould escape; but before he had gone a hundred yards he came outsuddenly upon a mounted man, and the next instant he went sprawling overa lance-shaft, and the steel-shod butt end was planted upon his back tokeep him from rising. 

"Pity you should have taken all that trouble!" said the sergeant, as hecame panting up, followed by his men, "because we might want you to tellus all a bit about the value of them stones! Now then, up with you. Let him get up, Lancer! And see here, my lad, if you cut and runagain--being a prisoner caught in the act of trying to escape--my menhave orders to fire, and you're so broad and fat that they are sure tobring you down first shot. "

Anson glared at the men's rifles and fixed bayonets, but he saidnothing, marching back between the men to the spot where he had left theGeneral and his old fellow-clerks; but the barrel had been carried to aplace of safety, and those who had witnessed his discomfiture had gone. 

Half-an-hour later he had been marched out of the camp, and was underlock and key in the military prison, a sentry being posted at the door. 

CHAPTER FORTY. 

WINDING UP. 

The adventures of Oliver West and his friend Ingleborough were prettywell at an end; and it was time, for between wounds and exposure theyhad been brought to a state which necessitated plenty of rest andcomforts to enable them to quite recover themselves. Of feasting, praising, and complimenting they had their fill--more than enough, Westsaid, for he declared that the hues of returning health which werecoming into his cheeks were only blushes caused by the way in whichpeople talked about his bravery, dash, "and all that stuff. "

Ingleborough took it all more contentedly. 

"I don't mind their praising us!" he said. "Frankly, I rather like it;and, without bragging, I think we did earn it all!"

"Well, we did run some risks!" said West; "and of course it's much nicerfor our friends to know that we escaped and are alive and well. "

"And a jolly deal nicer for us too. But what do you say to joining thearmy? After what the General said I think we might both getcommissions. "

"Perhaps, " said West; "but it's doubtful now that everything is settlingdown. I feel disposed to invest my share of the loot and to stop onwith the company after the splendid offer they have made me. Hadn't youbetter do the same?"

"I'm nearly half disposed to, Noll, " replied Ingleborough; "but morethan half inclined to go into the police altogether. I've had aninvitation, and I think the life would suit me better than settling downto a desk. Yes, this settles it! I shall go on to Norton and say`Yes. '"

"Well, I'm sorry, " said West; "but at the same time I'm glad, for you'llmake a splendid officer!"

"Here, hold hard! I don't want to hear you begin puffing me. By theway, you heard the news about Fatty Anson?"

"No, not a word!" cried West excitedly. 

"Promoted. "

"Nonsense! What a shame!"

"It's a fact, my lad! He has just received his commission in MrsPartington's Brigade. "

"What!" cried West. "Oh, this is some bit of chaff!"

"Oh no!" said Ingleborough, laughing. "It's a fact. The regimentemployed by the old lady to help her keep out the Atlantic with a mop. "

"Bah! You mean that he has been sentenced with other convicts to helpto build the Cape breakwater?"

"Good boy! Quite right! For five years!" replied Ingleborough. 

"Well, " said West thoughtfully, "I suppose he deserves it, and I hope hewill become a better fellow when he has served his time. "