rk and darker. Riding eastward with
their backs to the southerly storm, nevertheless now and again the
wind swirled about fiercely, to send the lashing rain against their
faces. Under their feet, the dusty veldt turned to mire, from mire
to a pasty glue, and from glue to the consistency of cream. Bottom
there was none; the bottomlessness of it only became more apparent
when one or other of the horses stumbled into the hole of an
ant-bear. Twice the gray broncho was on her knees; once The Nig came
down so sharply that Kruger Bobs rolled forward out of his saddle,
to land on his back, nose to nose with his astonished mount. Worst
of all, the fever of the fight was dying out from Weldon's veins.
His pulses were slowing down, and the ceaseless jar of the gray
broncho's gallop waked his wounded leg to a pain which fast became
intolerable.

Kruger Bobs edged closer to his side.

"Boss sick?" he asked.

"Not altogether content, Kruger Bobs."

"Leg?" the boy questioned anxiously.

"Yes; that--and some other things."

"Me help Boss?"

"No, thank you. I'd better let the mess alone."

"Boss ride Nig?" Kruger Bobs suggested, in the hushed tone in which
all their talk had been carried on.

"It is better not to change."

The silence broadened, broken only by the splashing of eight hoofs
in the ever-deepening mire, and by the sighing squeak of wet strap
rubbing on wet strap. Then Kruger Bobs spoke again.

"Paddy send," he said, as he poked a soft parcel into Weldon's
dangling hand. "He say 'Give it to little Canuck.'"

Weldon felt and tasted his way into the parcel. It was large, and
filled with savory bits which Paddy must have gleaned here and there
from the general mess, robbing freely from many a greater man, all
for the sake of the "little Canuck."

It was no time for the discipline which bids a servant eat of the
crumbs from his master's table. For the hour, Kruger Bobs and he
were friends, bound upon one and the same errand. With impartial
hand, Weldon tore the paper across and divided its contents. He only
regretted that convention had forbidden him the trick of smacking
his lips in sign of relish. It would have been good to have the
ability of Kruger Bobs to give audible token of his appreciation of
Paddy's bounty.

Somewhat refreshed, he straightened in his saddle.

"Now be careful, Kruger Bobs. There are Boers in these hills," he
warned his companion; "and it would never do for us to be sniped."

Krug