ong behind me, while with voice and knee I urged Sandho on
at his greatest speed.

A wild feeling of elation sent the blood dancing through my veins as we
raced along, and I was ready to burst out into shout after shout of
triumph, for I was free! free! And away we went, I almost perfectly
helpless, and knowing I must trust to my brave horse to carry me beyond
the reach of pursuit.

_Throb, throb, throb_ went his hoofs on the soft earth, and _throb,
throb, throb_ went my heart, during what seemed now like some wild,
feverish dream in which I was careering onward through the
semi-transparent darkness, fully expecting every moment to see some
great patch of brush or pile of loose granite loom up before us, to be
followed by a tremendous leap, a crash as we came to horrible grief, and
then insensibility; but nothing of the kind occurred, for I had chosen
the happiest moment for my attempt, and we were galloping over the
almost level veldt. But evidently guided by the beat of my horse's
hoofs, the Boers were still in full chase, the deep thudding of their
troopers sounding loud and clear.

For a few minutes, in the wild excitement, I could think of nothing but
whispering words of encouragement to Sandho, as I lay right forward now
and pressed and caressed him with my legs; while, as I reached towards
his head, I could just make out the delicate ears, and see them laid
back to listen to my words every time I spoke.

Then a strange pain brought me more consciousness of my position. It
was not the aching above my crippled wrists, but in my left leg, which
felt strained and stretched as if on the rack, and for a few moments I
fancied my foot had been torn off at the ankle; but the next moment I
knew this was absurd, for I could rise in my stirrups. Still, I knew my
leg was badly hurt, and that I must now endeavour to do something to
free my hands.

All this time we were tearing along at racing pace, while with dogged
obstinacy the Boers--ten or a dozen of them, I judged by the beating of
the hoofs--had settled themselves to the pursuit, meaning to hunt me
down as they would track some wounded eland trying its best for life.

"This won't do," I thought as I began to grow calmer, and listened.

There they were, tearing along, far enough behind, but well on my track;
and there was I, almost helpless, struggling to get my bonds undone, but
only giving myself more pain.

The darkness was my only friend and refuge, and a