them come on so that we could get into
the 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 at
the 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 shoot
as 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 thinking
out the position. At last he spoke: "I have never given the Boers any
reason for trying to destroy my life, my only crime being that I am
English. 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 how
they can get at us, and--"

"Here, quick, lad!" whispered Ingleborough, swinging round. "We're
attacked from behind!"

West followed his example, feeling fully convinced that the Boers had
after all seen them seek refuge in the cavern, and had taken advantage
of their knowledge of the place to creep through some tunnel which led
in from the other side, for there was a strange scuffling and rustling
sound a little way in, where it was quite dark. With rifles pointed
towards the spot and with fingers on triggers, the two friends waited
anxiously for some further development, so as to avoid firing blindly
into the cavern without injury to the enemy while leaving themselves
unloaded when their foes rushed on.

"Can't be Boers!" said Ingleborough, at the end of a minute, during
which 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 hyaenas
trying 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 see
what was the matter. That wouldn't do, for it's evident that they don't
know we're here."

"But we must do something, or they'll injure the horses! Why!" cried
West excitedly; "it must be that they've pulled the poor beasts down and
are devouring them."

"Without our little Basutos making a kick for life? Nonsense! They'd
squeal and kick and rush out. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"

To West's astonishment his companion burst into a prolonged fit of
gentle laughter.

"Here, come along!" he said. "Of all the larky b