it that the enemy are round it in greater
strength than ever, so that how we are to get through their lines when
we reach them I don't know."

"Neither do I!" said West. "But we did not know how we were to get into
Mafeking! Still we did it, and we're going to do this somehow."

"Ah, somehow!"

"Look here," said West, after another glance back at their pursuers: "do
you think you could put matters in a blacker light if you were to try?"

"To be frank, old fellow," said Ingleborough, laughing, "I really don't
think I could!"

"No more do I!"

"But look here: it's as well always to look the blackest side full in
the face. Then you know the worst at once, and can act accordingly.
Hooray! One to us!" shouted Ingleborough, glancing back.

"What is it? I see one of the enemy broken down and another pulled up
to help him. It's two to us."

"There, you see now the good of looking at the worst of it."

"It's quite cheering!" cried West.

"Not very, for the rest are making a spurt."

"Let them!" said West. "Our ponies are full of go. We will not push
them unless absolutely obliged."

"Words of wisdom! A long, steady pace wins. Keep on; we can afford to
lose a little ground, for we have been gaining for some time!"

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

CLOSE PURSUIT.

Hour after hour passed, and the chase continued over the wide rolling
veldt, the fugitives making their course more and more westerly so as to
hit the railway, hoping every time they reached the top of one of the
wave-like ridges to find that they were close at hand.

But it was always the same--veldt, veldt, veldt, stretching on towards
the horizon, with a village or farm once in a way, and the enemy always
at the same distance behind, keeping doggedly on.

Twice over, though, the fugitives had scraps of encouragement from one
of their pursuers pulling up, and in each case another drew rein and
stopped with him.

At last a spruit was reached, with the fresh bubbling water tempting the
escaping pair to alight in a way only to be understood by one who has
been similarly situated.

It was just after the Boers had pulled up to let their horses walk after
a long ascent, and they were still going on at the same pace, when West
checked his pony.

"It's of no use; we must drink," he said. "Dismount, unsling your
rifle, and get behind that stone and try and hold the enemy in check
while I water the horses and fill the bottles."

Ingleborough said