ter," said Ingleborough coolly, nodding towards the river.

"We're nearly famished now."

"Yes, lad! I certainly feel as if I could peck a bit of something if I
had the chance. But come, there's no time for talking. There's a
ready-made fort for us, and the next thing is to get the ponies into
cover. I say, I was right! I knew that the enemy would stick doggedly
to our trail till they ran us down."

"Look here!" cried West: "I'm going to crawl to those rocks and try and
cover you while you follow with the ponies."

"No need," replied Ingleborough; "the poor things have eaten till they
can eat no more, and they'll follow us right enough. Let's try and get
under cover before we are seen."

West hesitated for a moment, for the thought arose that the Boer party
might ride away and try to find a ford, but a glance showed him that in
the brief period which had passed since he awoke and saw them the enemy
were much nearer, and, following his companion's example, he began to
crawl on all-fours towards the clump of rocks pointed out, the horses
quietly following them.

They had about fifty yards to go through a cover of bushes and lumps of
rugged stone, but before they were half-way there West cried
impatiently: "I don't like it; the Boers must see the horses directly.
Let's mount and make a dash for it."

"Very well!" replied Ingleborough quietly. "Perhaps it would be best!"

"Then as soon as you are up we must ride towards them till we are clear
of these bushes, and then off we go to the right."

"Good; but it must be sharp work, for of course they will see us the
moment we are up!" answered Ingleborough.

"We must risk it, Ingle," said West. "We never could keep them at bay.
Let's have action: it would be horrible to be lying behind a rock with
the sun beating down upon us. Now then, get hold of your rein!"

There was a few moments' pause while the pair crept alongside of their
ponies. Then West drew a deep breath and cried: "Mount!"

As he uttered the word he glanced over his pony's back at the advancing
enemy, and saw that they had caught sight of the two animals, halted,
and were in the act of taking aim at them. But neither West nor
Ingleborough paused, raising a foot to the stirrup and being in the act
of springing up, when the reports of about a dozen rifles rang out, and
West's rein was jerked out of his hand as he was thrown upon his back,
while his pony made a series of tremendous bounds, the