rgency! The time seemed to me
stretched out to an agonising length; but this second strain came to an
end, and Sandho stood motionless, with his flanks heaving beneath me. I
could hear his breath come hard as the Boers galloped on abreast, closer
and closer; and then the _thud, thud, thud_ grew less and less plain,
till the sounds gradually became faint in the distance. I now felt
ready to spring from my saddle and go down in thankfulness upon my
knees; but I dared not stir, for if I managed to throw myself down, I
knew perfectly well I could never get into the saddle again.

CHAPTER SIX.

NIGHT ON THE VELDT.

I sat there in the chilly darkness, listening till the last sounds of
the beating hoofs died out--began again--grew fainter--finally ceased
altogether. Sandho stood perfectly still, with the painful heaving of
his flanks gradually easing down. At last he uttered a low whinnying
sound, as if asking me why we did not go on; but I made no movement,
spoke no word, only sat and listened for the return of the Boers.

There was no sound, for my ruse had succeeded; and I was just beginning
to try to rouse myself from a faint, half-swooning state, when my nerves
received a fillip; for there in the distance rose the deep, barking roar
of a lion, followed by a pause, and then from a different direction came
the horrible wailing howl of the unclean prowlers who follow the monarch
of the desert to finish the remains of his feasts.

Sandho stirred uneasily and drew a deep breath, which was followed by
something strangely resembling a sigh. I knew it was time to move; and,
shaking off a sensation of fast-approaching lethargy, I tried to get rid
of the feeling of faintness, and only roused the sharp pain afresh.
Still, that spurred me into effort; and as I pressed Sandho's sides
lightly, he began to amble gently along, while I raised my eyes to the
stars, and endeavoured to make out which way we were travelling. There
was a soft mistiness in the great arch above me, and it was some minutes
before I could pick out a few of the familiar stars; but at last I was
certain, and made out that the Boers had galloped on nearly due north,
while Sandho's nose was pointed east.

North meant home; and without doubt they would keep on in that
direction, feeling sure that I should make for the farm. East meant
going in the right direction for Echo Nek and the mountains, though I
should have to bear off after a time towards the