holes about, plunging down no one knows
how deep, and I shouldn't like to venture in without a light."

"Why didn't we bring a lantern?"

"Because we don't want to go burrowing into the kopje."

"Speak for yourself. I do!" said the second man. "Here, I've got
plenty of matches--come along."

"No, thank you," said the first. "One never knows what may be in a
place like that."

West pinched his companion's arm.

"What is likely to be there?"

"Who can tell? A lioness and her full-grown cubs, perhaps, or a pack of
jackals! Worse still, snakes or some of the wandering bushmen with bows
and poisoned arrows."

"Hardly likely!" said the second Boer.

"I think very likely," said the first speaker, peering so steadfastly
into the cavern that for a few moments West felt certain that they were
seen. "One of the Kaffir tribes would not enter that place to save
their lives."

"Why?"

"Because they believe that a great water demon hides in the spring who
rises up and seizes anyone who approaches, drags him down, and devours
him."

"All of which must be perfectly true!" answered the other Boer, with a
sneer. "Of course you are a believer?"

"I'm a full believer in its being dangerous to go into caves without
proper lights," said the first speaker coldly, "and I think we are
undergoing risks enough every day from the rooineks' rifles and their
lancers' spears, without chancing a fall down some horrible pit."

"Where there is a water demon!" said his companion, with another sneer.

"Just for the sake of gratifying a little idle curiosity."

"Oh, very well then! I don't like to come to such a natural curiosity
without exploring; so here goes alone."

The next moment the first speaker had stretched out his hand and barred
his companion's way with his rifle.

"What do you mean by that?" cried the Boer.

"To stop you going."

"What!" cried the other. "I shall go if I please!"

"No!" said the first speaker sternly. "I order you not!"

"You--you order me?" cried the other wrathfully.

"Yes; recollect that you are a soldier for the time being, and under my
command. I order you not to go, for we have too much need of all our
brave burghers to defend the country to let any man risk his life in a
foolhardy adventure."

"Pish!"

"Silence!" said the other sternly. "I am going back. Had I known of
this, I would not have let you come!"

"Look here," said the other insolently, "we are not on duty now, an