the light.

"Morning coming fast!" said West.

"The sooner the better," was the reply; "for I'm not sure that we are
going right."

"I'm sure we're going wrong," said West quickly.

"Why?"

"Because we are going straight for that great wagon laager."

"Yes; there's Mafeking, with its corrugated-iron roofs, off to our
right."

"Hah!" ejaculated West, for at that moment there was a flash from the
front of the laager they were approaching, followed by a tremendous roar
and a hissing sound overhead, as a shell winged its way towards the
town, whose outskirts were certainly not more than a couple of miles
away.

"We've wasted ever so much strength," said Ingleborough; "but never
mind: we know exactly where we are. It's about two miles' run to the
nearest houses. What do you say--go on crawling, or make a dash?"

"It will be broad daylight directly," replied West, "then we shall be
discovered, and become the mark for every rifle within range. I say
let's get up and walk steadily on till we see that we are discovered,
and then run for our lives."

"Wait a moment! Do you know how we shall find out that we are
discovered?"

"Yes," said West coolly; "we shall have the bullets whistling about us."

"Well, you are cool!" said Ingleborough. "That's it; and in addition we
shall have some of the mounted Boers coming at full gallop."

"Perhaps," said West; "and perhaps the Mafeking outposts will begin
firing to cover us. Now then, I feel breathless to begin, for it's
rapidly getting lighter. Come on!"

They rose quietly, and set off, making straight for the nearest
building--a long, low, broad place with a corrugated-iron roof which
seemed to be perfectly deserted; but it had one advantage--it was the
nearest object to where they were, and it would, if they could reach it,
form cover from which they could fire upon any mounted Boer who came in
pursuit.

Then with the day broadening rapidly they walked steadily on, with shell
after shell arching over their heads, to fall and burst far in advance,
right away in the town; but there was no sign of pursuit for quite ten
minutes, and not a friend anywhere visible in the outskirts the
fugitives approached.

"Now then," shouted Ingleborough suddenly; "be cool, and as you run
unsling your rifle and be ready for a shot, for I'm going to fight to
the last."

"Make for that shed?"

"Yes. Forward; here they come."

Away they went, for West at his companion's war