Part 23 (1/2)
”They're pulling up and dismounting,” replied West. ”Here come the bullets again.”
For as he spoke the buzzing, whizzing notes of danger overhead, which had for some minutes ceased, began to utter their warnings again, but in a very irregular way, which brought forth the remark from Ingleborough that their enemies' hands were unsteady from their sharp ride.
”The more need then for us to get into a sheltered place where we can rest a few minutes before they can come up,” said West. ”Let's have another sharp gallop and get well among the rocks: it will be riding out of range and getting more in advance before they mount again.”
”Right, general!” cried Ingleborough banteringly; and once more they tore over the veldt, pursued only by the bullets, for the following Boers had dismounted to a man.
”Keep a little wider,” said West, laughing outright at his companion's word ”general.”
”Don't let's give them a chance by riding so close together!”
”Right! Fine manoeuvre!” replied Ingleborough; and they went on towards the kopje at full speed, both feeling a wild kind of exhilaration as the wind rushed by their cheeks, and the plucky little horses stretched out more and more as if enjoying the race as much as their riders.
Strange terms ”exhilaration” and ”enjoying,” but none the less true.
For there was no feeling of dread, even though the bullets kept on whizzing by them to right, to left, in front, far behind; now high overhead, and more often striking up the dust and ricochetting into s.p.a.ce, to fall neither knew where. Every leaden messenger, it it reached its mark, meant a wound; many would have resulted in death had they struck the fugitives. But the excitement made the rush one wild gratification, combined with a kind of certainty that they would escape scot-free; and they laughed aloud, shouting words of encouragement to their ponies and cries of defiance and derision at the unsuccessful riflemen.
”Why, we could do better ourselves, Noll!” cried Ingleborough. ”So these are your puffed-up Boers whom writers have put in their books and praised so effusively! My word, what a lot of gammon has been written about rifle-shooting! I believe that Cooper's Deerslayer with his old-fas.h.i.+oned rifle was a duffer after all, and the wonderful shots of the trappers all bluff.”
”Perhaps so!” shouted West, rather breathlessly; ”but these fellows can shoot!”
”Not a bit!”
”Well, my ear has stopped bleeding; but it smarts as if someone was trying to saw into the edge.”
”Never mind; it's only gristle!” said Ingleborough.
”I don't mind, but if the Boer who fired that bullet had only held his rifle a hair's breadth more to the left the sc.r.a.p of lead would have gone into my skull.”
”Of course; but then he did not hold his rifle a hair's breadth more to the left. By jingo!”
”What's the matter?”
”Don't quite know yet. It feels quite numb and free from pain. I don't think I'm hit. I half fancy the poor pony has it, for he gave a tremendous start. All right; keep on! The bullet struck my rolled-up blanket, and it has gone into the saddle. I can feel the little hole.”
”What a narrow escape!” cried West anxiously. ”Come, you must own that they can shoot straight! If that bullet had gone a trifle higher it would have gone through your loins.”
”To be sure! and a little higher still, through between my shoulders; a trifle more, through the back of my head; and again a trifle more, and it would have gone above me. As it is, there's a hole in my saddle, and I'm all right.”
”Thank Heaven!” cried West.
”I did,” said Ingleborough, ”but in a quiet way! Yes, lad, they can shoot; but it's a hard mark to hit--a galloping man end on. They'd be better if we were going at right angles to the shot!”
”Now then, another five minutes, and we shall be beyond the range of their rifles.”
”And in another you had better give the word to slacken speed, for the ground will be getting rough. Why not give it now? They've ceased firing.”
”Ease down then to a gentle canter,” cried West, in reply, and their panting steeds were checked so that for the last mile of their retreat they progressed at an easy ambling pace which enabled the horses to recover their wind, while the precipitous sides of the eminence in front grew clearer to the eye and gave ample proof of being able to furnish nooks which would afford them and their horses security, while enabling the friends a good opportunity for returning the compliment to the Boers as far as bullets were concerned.
West said something to this effect after taking his gla.s.s from where it was slung and looking back, to see that the enemy was remounting and continuing the pursuit.