lf our poor fellows too."

I uttered a groan, and down came the horrible feeling of depression
again--a feeling I now knew to mean despair.

"Can't be helped," continued my fellow-trooper. "We've fought as plucky
a fight as could be; but they've been too many for us, and I suppose we
shall have to surrender at last, or all be shot down. Ah! there goes
another," he cried. "No; it's only one of the empty saddle-horses."

As we swept past it, I looked at the poor beast struggling to get upon
its feet again; and then it was in our rear, and my companion said
bitterly the one word, "Down!"

"Why, that's the old fort and the kopje yonder, a mile ahead," I said
suddenly. "Are we going there?"

"Eh? Yes, I suppose so," was the reply, "if the Doppies'll let us.
They're coming on again."

He was quite right, for upon glancing to my left I could see a perfect
swarm of the Boers galloping as if to cut us off, while I learned from
the right that they were also coming on there. Then came the news that
they were advancing in force behind; and from that moment the crackling
of rifle-fire ceased, and it became a hard ride for the haven of
comparative safety ahead.

"They'll reach the old place just about the same time as we do," said my
companion on the left, "unless something's done."

Something, however, was done, for the Colonel seemed to have recovered
himself, so that he was ready for the emergency; and as we neared the
place that offered safety he gave his orders, and these were cleverly
carried out. Half of our flying troops drew rein and faced round,
unslung the rifles from their shoulders, and proceeded to fire volley
after volley with terrible effect upon the nearest of the Boers. Then
this troop retired past the other one in reserve, who had halted to take
their turn, and another half-dozen well-aimed volleys went hurtling
through the Boer ranks with such terrible effect upon horse and man
that, upon the repetition of the evolution, the pursuit was checked, and
the enemy began firing in turn.

We were in rapid motion again, so their shots had no effect; and a
little more firing enabled us to reach and dash round the great walls to
the entrance to the old fort, where our men sprang from their horses,
which filed into safety of their own accord, while their riders put in
practice the Boers' tactics, seeking the shelter of fallen stones and
mounting the great walls, the steady fire from the ruins soon sufficing