tents, inspanning, and getting off."

"By George! so they are. And hallo! what does this mean--an attack?"

"A battery of Horse Artillery guns," cried West. "Then we are going on
in real earnest."

"Yes," said Ingleborough, "and so our friends the Boers will find."

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE.

THE NET AND THE FISH.

The start was made more quickly than either West or Ingleborough had
anticipated; in fact, the celerity was wonderful considering that the
cavalry brigade was burdened with the great convoy of wagons captured
from the Boers.

But there was a keen soldier in command, and one who knew how to be
ready for every emergency likely to occur in an enemy's country.

As the two despatch-riders mounted their ponies, the cavalry regiments
were in motion, some taking up ground in advance and on the flanks,
while two more, a Lancer and a Dragoon regiment, stood fast ready for
action as rear-guard, giving the six-gun battery an opportunity to
off-saddle and rest their horses, fresh from a twelve-mile march that
morning.

The wagon lines were in perfect order, steadily moving off after two of
the big newly-captured guns, freshly manned by picked crews, the other
two being reserved for the centre of the train and taking up their
position easily enough, drawn as they were by double teams of sturdy
ponies which made them far more mobile than would have been the case if
trusted to the slow-moving oxen.

"They won't attempt to use those guns if we are attacked," said West, as
he watched the preparations going on; "our men will be quite ignorant of
how to work them."

"Our men will try if the necessity comes," said Ingleborough
confidently; "and that's half the battle!"

"Yes," said West; "but it's hardly likely that the enemy will attack so
well-armed a body of men."

"They will, though, and do us no end of mischief if they get the
chance."

But the General for the first three days gave the enemy no chance, for
he carefully avoided kopjes and broken ground, keeping out a cloud of
mounted men scouting in every direction, and camping each night on the
banks of some spruit.

In fact, every military precaution was taken on defensive principles,
for the captured convoy was too valuable for any risks to be run by
attacking one or other of the commandos trying to hem in the brigade.

It was soon found that the Boers were in motion in front, rear, and on
both flanks, awaiting an opportunity to swoop down and stamped