"We are, my lad; for here they come from the front."

West turned his glass again in the direction of the long line of wagons
after his look round, to see that a party of the Boers were riding out
straight for them.

"Trapped; but we must dodge between the wires, eh?" cried West, who,
like his companion, had made at once for where his pony was grazing.
"Hah! Look out, Ingle!"

Ingleborough was looking out, but left helpless. West had caught his
pony, but his companion had startled the other by the suddenness of his
approach, and, throwing up its head, the little animal cantered off with
his rider after him.

"Stop, stop!" shouted West. "You only scare the brute more."

"Right!" said Ingleborough sadly, and he stopped short and began to
return. "There!" he cried, as West sprang into his saddle; "you have
the despatch. Off with you through that opening! I won't hinder you!
I'll turn prisoner again for a change."

"Lay hold of my pony's tail and run! I'll keep him to a canter, and
change with you as soon as you're tired!" said West, scanning the
opening between the end of the Boer line and the party of horsemen away
to his left who were making straight for them, lying towards the middle
of the line, where the big guns were being dragged along.

"No good!" said Ingleborough. "Off with you, and save your despatch!"

"Can't leave you, old fellow! Do as I tell you!" cried West. "Hook
on!"

"I will not! They won't kill me if I throw up my hands! Save your
despatch if you can!"

"Obey orders, sir!" roared West fiercely, "and don't waste time! I'm
going to trot after your mount, and he'll join us."

"Hah! Bravo, sharp brains!" cried Ingleborough excitedly, and twisting
the long thick hair of the pony's tail about his left hand he ran
lightly after his companion, the pony West rode uttering a shrill neigh
as they went off, which made the other stop, cock up its ears, answer,
and come galloping after them, so eager to join its fellow that it
brushed close past Ingleborough, who caught the rein without trouble.

"Right!" he shouted, and the next minute he was in the saddle, with the
ponies cantering along side by side.

"More to the left!" cried West. "The Boers are bearing away to cut us
off!"

This was plain enough, and the fugitives saw that if a fresh party
started from the end of the long line they were bound to be cut off.

"Never mind," cried Ingleborough; "we may get away! Those fellows a