ell entrenched
in a kopje ready to shoot all our men down."

"Well," said West, "what did our officer say?"

"Laughed at him, and told him that if they were so very anxious to fire
at targets we would arrange butts for them with a series of mantlets and
a good supply of the Bisley Running Deer. But that wasn't the best of
it," said Ingleborough, laughing; "what do you think the fellow said?"

"I don't know," said West, who was watching the evolutions of a couple
of the Light Horse Volunteer regiments and as many of the Lancers, for,
tired of the plodding life of keeping with the tremendous baggage train
for a whole week, the two friends had ridden out in advance over a wide
open series of rolling downs covered with dry scrubby growth, parched to
greyness by the torrid sun.

Ingleborough laughed heartily for a few moments.

"There they go," he said, pointing to the leading troop of the Hussar
regiment as it disappeared over a ridge about a mile in advance. "Let's
make for that wave-like place."

"Very well," said West; "I suppose we shall be safe there!"

"Safe enough, of course, for our men have swept it clear! Forward! How
the ponies enjoy a gallop! But I didn't tell you what the miserable
ruffian said."

"No," cried West, enjoying the motion as much as the ponies. "This is
delightful after all that slow walking; but we had better turn back when
we have seen what those fellows are about! Now, what did the Boer say?"

"Said he had always heard we were cowards at Majuba; now he knew for
himself."

"The insolent hound!" cried West. "What did our officer say?"

"That it was lucky for the Boer that he was a prisoner, for if he had
been free he would have tasted a flogging from the flat of a sabre. But
hullo! where are our men?" cried Ingleborough, as they reached the crown
of the low ridge and looked down at a strip of open veldt, beyond which
was another ridge.

"Gone over there!" said West quietly. "They must have galloped!"

"Shall we follow, and come back with them?" said Ingleborough.

"We may as well," was the reply; "they must be trying to cut off some of
the Boers."

"Or going in for a charge to scatter them, for we want no more
prisoners. Come on, then; I should like to see the charge!"

The ponies seemed to share their desire, for, answering a slight
pressure on their flanks, they spread out and went down the slight slope
like greyhounds, avoiding as if by instinct the holes and stone