Part 59 (1/2)

”Well, no,” said Ingleborough, with a little laugh; ”seeing that the Boers are after us, I think it will be safer to follow it down from the other side.”

”Very well! What shall we do--get down and wade?”

”I would rather keep dry,” replied Ingleborough. ”Let's wait till the ponies have drunk sufficient, and then try if it is safe enough for them to walk across. I think it will be, for you can hear how shallow it is!”

”Yes,” said West; ”close in here; but what is it farther out?”

He stood up in his stirrups and followed the reflection of the stars for some distance.

”It's a big river, Ingle,” he said, ”and it would be madness to try and ford it in the dark.”

”Very well; let's get a good drink as soon as the ponies have had their share, and then follow the river down till we come upon a place where they can graze and we can rest.”

This plan was followed out, the ponies being hobbled at a spot where there seemed to be plenty of feed, while amongst the dense bushes and rugged stones which barred their way a snug resting-place was soon found, where, after cautiously making their way down to the river bank and allaying their thirst, the fugitives lay down to rest, listening to the sound of falling water not far away. Then, in perfect forgetfulness of Boers, despatches, and all the dangers of their way, both dropped into the deep sleep produced by exertion--a sleep which lasted till the sun was once more beginning to flood the earth with light.

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

ROUGH WORK.

It was the sound of a deep breath which put an end to West's slumber, and he opened his eyes to lie staring at two more, big, brown, soft, and peaceful-looking, not a foot away from his own.

It was some moments before full wakefulness came and he realised where he was, and that it was his pony, well-fed and rested, mutely asking him whether he was not going to mount and ride off again.

It was then that the thought of danger a.s.serted itself, and he raised his head and looked sharply around, to see that they were amongst stones and bushes where; the bank went precipitously down to a beautiful winding river flowing amongst abundant verdure. Close by him lay Ingleborough, still fast asleep, and beyond him the other pony, still cropping away at the rich green growth which sprang up among the stones.

Then, as far as he could see, West made out nothing but the beauty of the spot upon which they had stumbled in the darkness of the night. He rose to his knees stiffly enough, and was in the act of getting upon his feet, realising that the beautiful greenery formed a riband on either side of the river, beyond which was the open veldt, when he dropped down again to reach out and grasp Ingleborough's shoulder, for in his rapid glance he had caught sight of a party of mounted men out in the full suns.h.i.+ne about half-a-mile away. They were walking their horses, and it seemed for certain to be the whole or a portion of the enemy of the previous day, for he recalled, what had not struck him at the time, that one of the Boers was mounted upon a grey horse, and one of the others he could see from where he watched was similarly mounted.

”Plenty of grey horses about, of course!” he muttered; ”but this seems to be the one I saw yesterday.”

”What's the matter?” said Ingleborough.

”Hist! Keep quiet!” replied West. ”The Boers are upon us! Look!”

Ingleborough rose cautiously, took a long earnest look through his gla.s.s, and put it back.

”Yes, there they are,” he said coolly; ”there's that chap again on the white pony. Good job we didn't try to ford the river in the darkness.

Why, we should have been swept away.”

West glanced for a moment in the direction of the stream, and grasped the truth of his companion's words, before scanning their position and taking it in at once.

”We can't get over yonder,” he said quickly.

”No,” replied Ingleborough. ”That cuts two ways. Neither can they attack us from that quarter; so our rear is safe.”

”We shall not be able to escape north,” continued West.

”No; we are shut in there.”

”Nor yet south, for they would pick us off easily before we could get through the rough ground to gallop away.”