moon, a couple of days past the first quarter, was gradually growing
brighter and brighter in what promised to be a perfectly unclouded
night.

"Yes," said Ingleborough coolly; "we shall have a glorious time for our
ride."

"A glorious night for the Boer outposts to take aim at us as we ride
in."

"No," said Ingleborough coolly. "I think not!"

"What do you mean?" said West, turning sharply upon his companion. "You
have some fresh idea?"

"Well, yes. Being in such a pickle as this sets a man sharpening his
wits to try and make them keen."

"Of course. What are you going to do?"

"Wait a bit and see!" replied Ingleborough coolly. "I'm sharpening
still."

West turned away impatiently, to go, stooping as low as he could,
towards his pony, which was straggling away, and bring it back to the
bushes which had helped to hide them all the day, after which they sat
in silence for about an hour, until it was quite plain that the night
was as dark as it was likely to be. Then in a nervous excited way he
turned to Ingleborough again.

"Yes," said the latter, without waiting for West to speak; "it will grow
no darker unless we wait hours for the moon to set, and by that time I
hope we shall be in Mafeking."

"What do you mean to do then?"

"Mount and ride steadily on at a gentle canter till we get in touch with
that ammunition train."

"But we shall be challenged by their rear-guard."

"Perhaps," said Ingleborough coolly; "perhaps not. I reckon on getting
pretty close up without. If we are challenged, I want you to do as I
tell you."

"Of course," replied West. "Anything to fulfil our task!"

"Ready?"

"And waiting!"

"Then mount!"

Their ponies were waiting patiently by their sides, and the next minute
they had sprung into the saddles and rode off in the direction taken by
the train.

West asked no questions, for he was full of confidence in his long-tried
companion, and with the ponies well-refreshed and eager from their rest,
they rode steadily on, keeping a sharp look-out for danger, but meeting
with no adventure for quite a couple of hours, by which time both felt
that they must be getting near to the end of their journey.

But they had nothing to guide them, for they were off the track, and
even had they been on, it would have been impossible to follow it in the
strange eerie light shed by the quarter-moon. Once they had evidence
that they were in all probability going right, for a horrib