Part 52 (2/2)
”Up hands!” yelled Ingleborough, and gla.s.s and hat were thrust on high.
It was only just in time, the officer raising his sword as he reined up by West and caught his arm.
”Hallo!” he roared, as his men surrounded the pair with lances at their b.r.e.a.s.t.s; ”who are you?”
”Despatch-riders--Mafeking to Kimberley,” cried West.
”Where are your despatches then?” cried the officer sharply.
”Here!” cried West.
”Yah!” cried the young officer. ”I thought I'd caught two Boer generals directing the fight. What a jolly sell!”
”You've got something better among you!” said Ingleborough, joining in the laugh which rose among the men.
”Have we? What?”
”There are four heavy guns yonder, and a tremendous wagon train.”
At that moment trumpet after trumpet rang out, and the men burst into a wild cheer, for the mounted Boers were scattering in all directions, flying for their lives, and it was plain enough that a tremendous blow had been inflicted upon a very strong force, the capture of the convoy being complete, and those in charge who had not succeeded in reaching their horses readily throwing down their arms.
”We'll, we've whipped!” said the young officer of Lancers, taking off his helmet to wipe his streaming face. ”They can't find fault with us at home for this, my lads! Here, open out; we must join in driving these ragged rascals back on the centre. Here, you two,” he cried, turning to West and his companion, ”I must take you both in to my chief, for I don't know that I ought to take your bare word.”
”Well, I don't think there's much of the Dopper about either of us.”
”No,” said the officer, ”but the Boers have got the sc.u.m of Europe and America with them, and you may be two little bits.”
”Want our rifles?” said West coolly.
”No; but don't try to bolt, either of you: it would be dangerous. My boys are rather handy with the lance!”
”So I see!” said West, glancing at the points glistening at the tops of the bamboo shafts, several of which looked unpleasantly red.
”And so I felt,” said Ingleborough grimly, ”for one of them pressed my ribs.”
CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.
DOWN BY THE SPRUIT.
The trumpets were ringing out again to call the various parts of the force together, a couple of regiments being sent in pursuit of the only body of the defeated Boers which showed any cohesion, the greater part of those who had reached their horses and escaped doing this to a great extent singly, and the rest of that day was pa.s.sed in gathering in the wagons, disarming the prisoners, and making all secure in the laager, which was now formed about a spruit that offered an ample supply of good fresh water.
The capture proved to be far greater than was at first surmised, for in addition to the four heavy guns with their wagons and special ammunition, scores of the great lumbering Dutch wagons were full of rifles and cartridges. Besides these, there was an ample supply of ordinary stores, and, in addition to the many spans of oxen, hundreds of captured horses and several flocks of sheep.
By night all was made secure in the great camp, and the despatch-riders were made welcome at the mess presided over by the cavalry General, who with his staff eagerly listened to the adventurers' account of their journey, and to their report of the state of beleaguered Mafeking.
That night the pair slept in peace in the well-guarded camp after debating about their continuance of their journey the next morning.
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