s with
which the veldt was dotted away in front.

"Steady, steady!" cried West. "We don't want to overdo it!"

"Of course not," shouted Ingleborough; "but my word, what delicious air,
and what a place for a gallop! I should like to see a herd of antelope
appear on that ridge to the left. I should be obliged to go after them;
we might get one for the officers' mess."

"There they are, then!" cried West.

"Where?" said Ingleborough.

"Coming over that continuation of the ridge a mile away to the left.
No: mounted men! Ingle, old chap," cried West excitedly, "they're the
party our men have cut off! They've headed them, and they're trying to
escape by this opening!"

"By jingo! No!" cried Ingleborough. "Our men have gone off to the
right, I believe, and those Boers have seen us. Noll, old fellow, we've
come a bit too far. Steady! Right turn! Now off and away, or somebody
else will be cut off or shot; perhaps both of us, for we're in for it
once more."

"Oh no," said West coolly; "be steady, and we'll show the Boers how
English fellows ride!"

"Yes, but hang it all! It's showing the beggars how we ride away."

"Never mind; we must ride for the convoy."

"But we can't," cried Ingleborough savagely; "there's another party
cutting us off."

"Forward then over the ridge in front! Our fellows must have gone over
there."

"No, I don't think they did."

"Then we will," cried West excitedly; "that must be south and west.
Forward for Kimberley; it can't be far now; and let's deliver the
despatch."

"Hold hard! Look before you leap!" shouted Ingleborough; and, rising in
his stirrups, he gave a hasty glance round, to see Boers here, Boers
there, in parties of from six to a dozen, spreading out as they came
along at a gallop, forming more and more of a circle, till there was an
opening only in one direction--to the south-west--and after grasping
this fully he turned to West as he settled himself in his saddle.

"Why, Noll, lad," he cried, "it's like the drawing of a seine-net in
Cornwall, with us for the shoal of mackerel. They've got it nearly
round us, and if we don't start, in another ten minutes we shall be
enclosed. It looks fishy, and no mistake!"

"Then come on!" cried West.

"Off with you, but at a gentle gallop. We must nurse our nags, for the
obstinate brutes will make it a long chase."

As he spoke he pressed his pony's sides, and away they went together at
a long easy gallop, their m