ed archway between piled-up fern-hung blocks, out of
which 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 found
that the cave expanded as soon as the entrance was passed, so that the
spring ran outward along a narrow stony bed, and on either side there
was a bed of sand of considerable width.

"Come along!" said West. "The water gets shallower, and there is a dry
place on either side."

Ingleborough waded in at once, but unfortunately the ponies shrank from
following, and hung back from the reins, one of them uttering a loud
snort, which was repeated from the interior so loudly that the second
animal reared up wildly and endeavoured to break away.

West dashed back though directly and relieved his companion of one of
the refractory beasts, when by means of a good deal of coaxing and
patting they were finally got along for some yards and out onto the
sandy side, where they whinnied out their satisfaction and recovered
their confidence sufficiently to step towards the running waters and
resume their interrupted drink.

"Rifles!" said Ingleborough shortly, when West unslung his and stood
ready, following his companion's example as he stood in the darkness
with his piece pointing out at the bright stream with its mossy and
fern-hung framing.

"Did you hear anyone coming?" whispered West.

"No, but they must have heard our ponies and be coming on," was the
reply.

"Let them come; we can keep the whole gang at bay from here!"

But five minutes' watching and listening proved that they had not been
heard, for the Boers were too busy watering their horses, the voices of
the men and the splashings and tramplings of the beasts coming in
reverberations right along the natural speaking-tube, to strike clearly
upon 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, for
the voices came nearer and nearer, and splashing sounds indicated
movements out towards the mouth of the ravine; but just when their
nerves were strained to the utmost, and they watched with starting eyes
a corner round which the enemy would have to turn to bring them within
range, the talking and splashing died out, and they simultaneously
uttered a sigh of relief.

"I couldn't bear much of this, Ingle," said West, at last. "I half
think that I would rather have