er their heads, and the first reports grew
into a loud rattle followed by the trampling of horses and loud
shouting.

"It's all right," said Ingleborough coolly; "they're firing at random.
It's impossible to take aim on a night like this! Can you see them?"

"No; only the flashes!" said West excitedly.

"That's enough! Then they can't see us! We're through their lines too,
for they're firing behind us, and I'll back our horses to beat theirs in
a race."

Reports now began to ring out on their right, and directly after they
came from their left.

"Shall we shout?" whispered West.

"No. What for?"

"We must be getting among our own people!"

"No such luck, my lad! Keep steadily on! Ah! Poor beast!"

"What is it?" said West excitedly, as his mount stopped short, obeying
its natural instinct and the love of companionship of a gregarious
animal. For Ingleborough's pony had suddenly uttered a peculiar
neighing cry, reared up, and fallen backwards.

"Are you hurt?" whispered West again.

"No; I just escaped! Quick; jump down."

West was on his feet directly, and Ingleborough grasped his arm.

"I'd say ride for it alone, lad," he whispered, with his lips close to
his companion's ear; "but my way is safest. Now down on your hands and
knees and let's play wild dog or baboon!"

"I don't understand you!" whispered West.

"Never mind; do as I do!" and the next minute they were going along on
hands and knees over the level ground, feeling it quiver with the
trampling of galloping horses all round, while the flashing of rifles
and the crackling reports seemed to be coming from all directions.

So near to them came some of the horsemen that West felt certain they
must be seen; but there was no hail, no whistling bullet, and, wearisome
though the way of progression was to the muscles and painful to hands
and knees, West kept on side by side with his companion till the firing
began to drop off and then ceased, though the hurrying to and fro of
horses still went on.

"It was sooner than I intended," said Ingleborough at last; "but I meant
for us to dismount at last and crawl. If we are seen the enemy will
take us for hyaenas or dogs."

He had hardly whispered these words before a shot was fired from, their
left, the bullet whistling over them, when to the astonishment of West,
Ingleborough uttered a snarling yelp, followed by an excellent imitation
of a dog's bark.

"Do as I do!" he whispered, and the n