re in for
it! Easy now! We're getting more and more ahead as they close in.
There, those behind are obliged to leave off firing for fear of hitting
their friends."

Ingleborough was right, for after another useless shot or two the firing
ceased, and it became a chase where success, barring accidents, would
rest with the best and freshest horses.

Knowing this, the fugitives eased their ponies all they could after
placing a greater distance between them and their pursuers, but keeping
a good look-out ahead and to right and left, knowing full well as they
did that the appearance of fresh Boers ahead would be fatal to their
progress.

Half an hour glided by, during which first one and then the other
glanced back, but always with the same result of seeing that some two or
three dozen of the enemy were settled down to a steady pursuit.

"How long do you think they will keep this up?" said West at last.

"Well, if they are French mercenaries they'll give up directly; if they
are Germans they'll stick to our heels for hours; but if they're all
Free Staters or Transvaal Boers they'll go on till they drop or we do.
The stubborn, obstinate mules never know when they are beaten!"

"Then they're not French adventurers!" said West.

"Nor yet Germans!" said Ingleborough. "No; we've got the genuine Boer
after us; and it's going to be a long chase."

"How far do you think it is to Kimberley?"

"Just as far as it is from Kimberley to here!" replied Ingleborough
gruffly.

"Thank you for nothing!" snapped out West. "What's the good of giving
foolish answers?"

"What's the good of asking foolish questions? Look here, lad, we may as
well look the position in the face."

"Of course."

"Very well, then; we've got a score and a half or so of Boers after us,
meaning to take us prisoners or shoot us down."

"Oh yes, that's plain enough!"

"Very well! Then as to distance to Kimberley, the General has dodged in
and out so to avoid the enemy that, though I know a little about the
country, I'm regularly puzzled as to where we are. I think it lies out
here, but whether Kimberley is five miles away or a hundred I don't
know. What I do know is that the surest way of getting there is to make
right away west for the railway. Once we can hit that--"

"Yes, I see, and if we keep it on our right, riding south, we shall get
there."

"That's correct, my lad, but recollect this: we left the town invested,
and you may depend upon