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diff --git a/21305.txt b/21305.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..25b0ebe --- /dev/null +++ b/21305.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11906 @@ +Project Gutenberg's A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: A Dash from Diamond City + +Author: George Manville Fenn + +Illustrator: F.A. Stewart + +Release Date: May 4, 2007 [EBook #21305] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DASH FROM DIAMOND CITY *** + + + + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + + + + + +A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn. + +________________________________________________________________________ + +The setting is South Africa, during the Boer war. Two young men are +sent from Mafeking with important despatches which they have to get back +to the General at Kimberley, travelling through Boer-occupied country, +and meeting with many mishaps. Just before they finally arrive they are +both severely wounded, and are unconscious for a fortnight. Luckily the +despatches, which had been sewn into a jacket, now filthy and +blood-stained, are still to be found, though there had been the idea +that the jacket would most probably have been thrown away, as it wasn't +at first anywhere to be found. + +There are other threads in the story, for instance there's one about +illicit-diamond-dealing, and of course we meet Boers and Kaffirs, as +well as English people. + +There is the usual well-written sequence of tense moments we get from +this author. A good read, and a nice audiobook if you prefer that. +NH +________________________________________________________________________ + +A DASH FROM DIAMOND CITY, BY GEORGE MANVILLE FENN. + + + +CHAPTER ONE. + +THREE WHITE ONES. + +Tick, _tap, tap_--_tap, ticker_--_ticker--tapper_--_tapper_; +_tick_--_teck, tacker--tap_ went a typewriting machine, and +_scratch_--_scratch_ went two pens, in one of the minor offices +connected with that vast wealth-producing industry known as the De Beers +Diamond-Mines, where, seated at desk and table, three young men were +hard at work, one manipulating the typewriter, one writing a letter, and +the third making entries in a fat leather-covered book with broad bands +and a big letter distinguishing it upon the back. + +The words: "minor office in a diamond-mine," naturally suggest wealth, +Turkey carpets, french-polished furniture, and plate-glass; but the +office in question was an example of simplicity, for its walls were mud +and its roof corrugated-iron, while the roughness of the interior was +only slightly softened down by a lining of what a carpenter calls +matchboarding. In spite of its vast wealth, Kimberley is still little +better than a moving camp, and holds out few prospects of ever becoming +a magnificent town. + +The interior of that newly-created office, allowing for the tapping of +the typewriter and the scratching of the pens, was very quiet; but +outside there was the strange sound produced by the mingling of voices +with trampling feet and the distant whirr and rattle of machinery, till +a clock began striking, followed by the clangour of a bell, and then all +was changed. + +"Time!" shouted the manipulator of the typewriter, springing from his +stool to stretch his wiry six feet of length, at the same time spoiling +a keen, manly face by distorting it with a yawn. The clerk who had been +bending over the thick account-book ceased making entries, applied the +blotting-paper, and closed the book with a bang, to turn round and +display a pink-and-white, fat, smooth face, disfigured by nearly white +eyebrows and lashes and curly whitey-brown hair. As he stood up he +yawned and wrinkled his fat face a good deal; but the wrinkles died down +into a smile which gave him a meek and mild appearance, the said smile +being doubled directly after by his taking a little round shaving-glass +out of his desk, propping it up by means of a contrivance behind, and +then, by the help of a pocket-comb, proceeding to rearrange his hair, +which, from the resistance offered, appeared to be full of knots and +kinks. + +The last to leave his desk was a manly-looking young fellow who appeared +to be twenty, but who possessed documentary evidence that he was only +eighteen. He neither stretched nor yawned, but drew himself up with a +sigh of relief, and, after carefully locking up the letters he had +written, he turned to the typist. + +"Going out, Ingleborough?" he said. + +"Yes; I shan't be long. I must go on to the compound. Back in--" + +"Five minutes?" dashed in his questioner. + +"No; that I shan't," said the young man smartly; "but I will not exceed +fifteen. Get out my rifle and belts, West." + +"All right," was the reply, and as the door closed the young clerk +crossed to a plain deal cupboard in the corner of the office, threw open +the broad door, and revealed an arms-rack with some twenty of the +newest-pattern rifles standing ready for use, and bayonets and +bandoliers to match each breech-loading piece. + +A peculiarly innocent baby-like look came over his companion's face as +he opened his desk and took out a little flat oblong mahogany case and +said softly: + +"Going to play at soldiers again? Only to think of Oliver West, +Esquire, learning to shoulder arms and right-about face when a +drill-sergeant barks at him." + +"Look here, Anson," cried the young fellow warmly; "is that meant for a +sneer?" + +"Me sneer?" protested the plump-looking cherubic clerk. "Oh dear, no! +I never indulge in sneers, and I never quarrel, and I never fight." + +"Humph!" ejaculated the rifle-bearer. + +"I only think it's all braggadocio nonsense for a lot of fellows to go +wasting time drilling and volunteering when they might acquire such an +accomplishment as this." + +As the speaker addressed his warlike companion he tapped the lid of his +case, opened it, and revealed three joints of a flute lying snugly in +purple-velvet fittings, and, taking them out, he proceeded to lick the +ends all round in a tomcat sort of way, and screwed them together, +evidently with a great deal of satisfaction to himself, for he smiled +softly. + +"Bah! It's a deal more creditable to be prepared to defend the place +against the Boers. Better join us, Anson." + +"Me? No, thank you, unless you start a band and make me bandmaster." + +"We shall want no music," said West, laughing. "The Boers will give us +plenty of that with their guns." + +"Nonsense! It's all fudge," said the flautist, smiling. "There'll be +no fighting, and even if there were I'm not going to shoulder a rifle. +I should be afraid to let it off." + +"You?" cried West, staring into the smooth, plump face. "Why, you once +told me you were a first-rate shot." + +"Did I? Well, it was only my fun," said the clerk, placing his flute to +his lips and beginning to run dumb scales up and down, skilfully enough +as to the fingering, but he did not produce a sound. + +"I say, don't you begin to blow!" cried West, looking rather +contemptuously at the musician and forcing himself to restrain a laugh +at the grotesque round face with the eyes screwed-up into narrow slits. + +"Oh, no one will come here now," was the reply. "I get so little +practice. I shall blow gently." Directly afterwards he began to run up +and down, playing through some exercise with which he was familiar +extremely softly; and then by way of a change he began what is +technically known as "double-tonguing." + +This was too much for Oliver West. He had stood rubbing first one rifle +and then the other with a slightly-oiled rag to get rid of specks of +rust or dust, every now and then stealing a glance at the absurdly +screwed-up face, feeling the while that a good hearty laugh would do him +good, but determined to maintain his composure so as not to hurt the +performer's feelings. But the double-tonguing was too much. + +_Tootle-too, tootle-too, tootle, tootle-too_ went the performer, running +up the gamut till he reached the octave and was about to run down again, +but he stopped short, lowered his instrument, and turned from a warm +pink to a deep purply crimson, for West suddenly burst out into a +half-hysterical roar of laughter, one which he vainly strove to check. + +"I--I--I--I beg your pardon," he cried at last. + +"Thank you," snorted out Anson; "but I don't see anything to laugh at." + +"I couldn't help it, Anson. You did look so--so comic. Such a face!" + +"Did I?" cried the musician angrily. "Such a face, indeed! You should +see your own. Your grin looked idiotic: half-way between a bushman and +a baboon." + +"Thank you," said West, calming down at once, and feeling nettled in +turn. + +"Oh, you're quite welcome," said Anson sarcastically. "I have heard +about casting pearls before swine; but I never saw the truth of the +saying before." + +"Thank you again," said West, frowning. "But if I were you I would not +waste any more of my pearls in such company." + +"I do not mean to," said Anson, with his eyes glittering. + +He got no farther, though he was prepared to say something crushing, for +the door was flung open and their fellow-clerk came back quickly. + +"Hullo!" he cried, "flute and hautboy. I say, Sim, put that thing away +and don't bring it here, or I shall have an accident with it some day. +You ought to have stopped him, Noll. But come out, both of you. +There's some fun in the compound. They're going to thoroughly search +half-a-dozen Kaffirs, and I thought you'd like to see." + +"Been stealing diamonds?" cried Anson excitedly. + +"Suspected," replied Ingleborough. + +"I'll come too," said Anson, and he began to rapidly unscrew his flute, +but so hurriedly that in place of separating the top joint from the next +he pulled it open at the tuning-slide, changed colour, and swung himself +round so as to turn his back to his companions, keeping in that position +till his instrument was properly separated and replaced in its case, +whose lid he closed, and then turned the key. + +"I'm ready," he cried, facing round and buttoning his jacket over the +little mahogany case. + +"Do you take that shepherd's pipe to bed with you?" said Ingleborough +scornfully. + +"Generally," replied the fat-looking clerk innocently. "You see, it's +so nice when one wakes early, and I have learned to blow so softly now +that I can often get an hour's practice before I have my morning's +bath." + +"How delightful for the other boarders! You're at Dick Tomlin's house, +aren't you?" + +"Yes," said Anson. + +"Have they any room for another boarder, Sim?" + +"I--I really don't know, but I'll ask, if you like, this evening." + +"No, no; don't, please," cried Ingleborough. "Perhaps it might be too +strong for me. I ought to go through a course of bagpipes first." + +Anson had fastened two buttons of his jacket so as to hold the +flute-case from slipping, and now he fastened another button, smiling +pleasantly the while. + +"That's meant for a joke," he said. + +"Quite right," cried Ingleborough abruptly. "Come along." + +He stepped out, closely followed by West, and Anson called after them: +"With you directly," as the door swung to. + +"Don't do that again," whispered West. + +"What?" + +"Say anything to chaff old Anson. Did you see how he behaved?" + +"I saw him smile like a Chinese mandarin ornament. That's all." + +"I saw him smile and look smooth; but he can't bear a joke. His hands +were all of a tremble as he buttoned up his jacket, and there was a +peculiar look in his eye. It's not good policy to make enemies." + +"Nonsense! He's a poor slack-baked animal. I wonder they ever had him +here." + +West glanced back; but Anson had not yet left the office. + +"Relative of one of the directors," said West quickly; "and I've noticed +several things lately to make me think he does not like us." + +"Oh, if you come to that," said Ingleborough, "so have I. That's quite +natural, for we don't like him. One can't; he's so smooth and soft. +But why doesn't he come? I'll just give him a minute after we get up to +the compound gate, and if he is not there then he'll have to stay +outside." + +"Here he comes," cried West, and the next minute their fellow-clerk +joined them, just as they got up to a gate in the high fence of the +enclosure where the Kaffir workers about the diamond-mines were kept to +all intents prisoners till they had served the time for which they had +engaged. + +"Haven't kept you two waiting, have I?" said Anson, with a pleasant +smile directed at both. + +"No, no, all right," replied West, and directly after they were admitted +to the compound, just in time to find that half-a-dozen of the stalwart +Kaffir workers were standing perfectly nude awaiting the examination +about to be made by some of the officers--an examination which they +seemed to look upon as a joke, for they laughed and chatted together. + +"Looking as innocent as old Anson, only not so white," whispered +Ingleborough. "But we shall see." + + + +CHAPTER TWO. + +BLACK INNOCENTS. + +The examination of the men was not a pleasant duty, but it was carried +out in the most matter-of-fact way by a couple of experienced white men, +who began at once. + +"Now, you," cried the one who seemed to be the head; "this way." + +The big black spoken to stepped forward at once, smiling +good-temperedly, and stopped by a heavy wooden stool, upon which he +planted a foot, and in obedience to orders separated his toes in turn to +show that he had no diamonds hidden between them. Then he was seized by +the searchers, the first holding the black's head on one side while his +companion took hold of the lobe of the right ear and twisted it about, +ending by thrusting in a small wooden scoop and afterwards turning it to +act as a sound. + +"Don't seem to have a diamond in there," said Anson, smiling and looking +very innocent, but deeply interested. "Turn him over." + +But the searchers had not waited for Anson's words, and were already +turning the black's head over, the man yielding himself to every push +and thrust, smiling good-humouredly the while, though the treatment was +decidedly rough. + +"Nothing in the other ear," said Anson, smiling at West. "Shouldn't +wonder if he's got ever so many tucked in his cheeks, like a monkey +pouches nuts." + +This time it seemed as if the same idea had struck the searchers, for +the black was ordered to open his mouth, and a big coarse finger was +thrust in, and the interior of the mouth was carefully explored, without +result. + +"Here, I know," whispered Anson, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, the +artfulness of the beggar!" + +"Where are they, then, old Double-cunning?" cried Ingleborough +contemptuously. + +"Stuck with gum in amongst his woolly hair--I say, isn't it fun?" + +"Rather disgusting," replied West. "I shouldn't like the job." + +"Oh, I don't know," said Anson; "it sets me thinking, and it's +interesting. Hah! I was right." + +He stood rubbing his hands together in his childish enjoyment, while one +of the searchers carefully passed his hands all over the black's head, +but found no small diamonds tangled up amongst the curly little knots of +hair. + +"Well, I did think he'd got some there," continued Anson.--"Oh, of +course! One might have guessed it before." + +This was upon the black's head being forced back a trifle, while a pinch +of snuff was blown through a pea-shooter right into the prisoner's nose, +making him sneeze violently. + +But still no diamonds made their appearance, and after a little further +search the man was set at liberty, giving place to another supposed +culprit. + +This man came up smiling and confident, opening his mouth wide, to +display its state of innocency and a magnificent set of teeth at the +same time. + +"Take care! he bites," said Ingleborough banteringly; and Anson, who had +pressed to the front, started back in horror, to be greeted with a burst +of laughter. + +"How fond you are of a joke!" he cried, smoothing his face. + +At the same moment one of the searchers sent a puff of snuff in the +black's face, with the result that he was seized with a violent burst of +coughing and sneezing. + +"Two--three--four!" cried Anson excitedly, and, springing forward, he +picked up three of the diamonds ejected by the black, who, after a +little further search, yielded up a couple of very small stones from one +ear, and was marched off for punishment. + +"I do like this!" said Anson, rubbing his hands together. "What brutes +of thieves they are!" + +"Yes, you ought to take to searching," said West, smiling. "You'd make +a capital detective." + +"Think so?" said the young man, growing serious directly. "You're not +chaffing me, are you?" + +"Chaffing? Not at all! I mean it," replied West. + +"Well, do you know," said Anson, in a confidential way, "I don't think I +should make a bad one. I know I should like it better than the work I +do now. But look what a big strong fellow this one is. I wonder +whether he has any." + +"Half-a-dozen, I daresay," said West, looking curiously at another +stalwart black, who came forward slowly and unwillingly to take the +place of the second man, set aside for punishment. + +"N-n-no," said Anson thoughtfully. "I don't think this one has any." + +"Why?" asked West. + +"I can't say," replied Anson dreamily. "I only know that I don't think +he has any." And, as it happened, the most rigid examination failed to +discover any of the gems. But, all the same, the culprit was set aside +for punishment, two of the watchers present at the examination declaring +that they had seen him put his hand to his mouth and swallow something. + +The next man, upon being summoned to the stool, came up boldly and +displayed a child-like eagerness to prove his innocence, opening his +mouth widely and passing his fore-fingers round between gums and cheeks, +thrusting his little fingers into his ears, and then bending down and +going through the motion of one washing his head. + +But he did not wash any gems out of his shock of little nubbly curls. + +"No got no dymons, boss," he cried. "Me go now, boss?" + +"No," said the chief searcher sharply. "Clap that foot of yours upon +the stool." + +The black stared at him hard and shook his head. + +"Do you hear?" cried the searcher. "Clap that right foot upon the +stool." + +The black stared at him vacantly, shook his head again, and turned to +the second searcher, who translated the order into the man's own tongue. + +At this the black smiled and nodded. Then, turning to the chief +searcher, he placed his bare left foot upon the stool. + +"No, no: the other," cried the stern official, pointing to the right +foot, and the order was emphasised by his assistant. + +Once more the black looked intelligent, placed both his feet upon the +ground, changed them several times by shuffling them about, and once +more placed his left foot upon the stool. + +Anson chuckled with delight, and turned to West. + +But this act on the part of the black was too much for the chief +searcher's composure. + +"Up with the black scoundrel's foot!" he roared, and his assistant +seized the black's ankle, and gave it such a vigorous hoist that the +man's equilibrium was upset, so that, though the foot was planted firmly +on the stool, he fell over backwards, leaving his support upon the +stool, where it was probed by the searchers, who were not at all +surprised to find a large stone hidden between the little and the next +toe. + +"There's a blackguard!" cried Anson excitedly, turning to his +companions. "He ought to be well flogged, and no mistake. Well, I +never!" + +The last words were uttered in disgust at the man's behaviour, for he +burst into a hearty laugh as if thoroughly enjoying the discovery, +professing at the same time to be utterly astonished. + +"How come there?" he cried. "'Tick 'tween um toe--so." + +He illustrated "so" by stamping his foot down over and over again and +raising it up, the last time cleverly picking an ordinary pebble from +the ground with his toes, and holding it out as easily as if he had used +his fingers and thumb. + +But his action had no effect upon those around, who were well used to +the Kaffirs' tricks, and received everything with the grimmest of looks +as they passed their prisoner along for punishment, and finally ordered +forward the last man. This prisoner took West's attention from the +first, for he was a well-built, keenly intelligent-looking fellow, who +seemed quite awake to his position and behaved throughout with a calm +air of conscious innocence. + +It struck West, too, that the Kaffir kept on gazing very hard at Anson, +as if attracted by his gently-smiling, innocent-looking face, and as if +he were silently pleading to the most amiable-looking personage of the +party to intercede for him and save him from punishment. + +Anson, however, did not appear to notice the man's eager looks, being +too much interested in the search for illicitly-acquired stones, and +eagerly watching every phase of the proceedings, his eyes sparkling and +cheeks flushed with pink at every fresh discovery, while he rubbed his +hands and looked from one to the other with all the pleasure of some +big, fat, stupid child. + +"Now then," cried the chief searcher roughly; "come along." + +The Kaffir quietly submitted to the rough handling he experienced in +being forced up to the stool, and, anticipating the order, he opened his +mouth; but the under-searcher roughly told him to "shut up," and he +closed his fine white teeth with an audible snap, while the search was +commenced at his feet, the toes being carefully examined without result. + +Then his closely-knotted hair, which looked as if it would have made, if +he were scalped, good trimmings of astrachan wool for the collar and +cuffs of an English gentleman's overcoat, was carefully searched by +well-trained fingers; the ears were probed and inspected; nostrils +searched and given a final wring between thumb and finger as if he were +being insulted in old-fashioned style by pulling his nose; and lastly, +his cheeks were felt outside and in, and the searchers, who looked +puzzled, made the black kneel down and remain for some time in that +position, with his mouth wide open and head thrown back so that the sun +shone right into his great mouth. + +"He's all right!" said Anson enthusiastically. "You've got the wrong +pig by the ear this time. I thought this fellow looked honest." + +The Kaffir darted a grateful look at the speaker, which told plainly +enough that he comprehended the words, and Anson replied with a smile. + +"Ah, you ought to be on this job, Mr Anson," said the chief searcher +sarcastically. "You'd be invaluable here." + +Anson laughed good-humouredly. + +"You're bantering," he said; "I know. But I should like it, and I fancy +I could find the diamonds quickly enough if a man had hidden any." + +"Find them then now," said the man who had spoken. "Come on." + +There was a general laugh here, in which Anson joined. + +"Nay," he said good-humouredly; "get another subject who has some +hidden. That chap has none, unless he has swallowed some." + +"What would you do then, squire?" said the man. "Shoot him, and make a +_post-mortem_ exam?" + +"Ugh! horrid!" cried Anson, with a look of the most intense disgust. +"But I say, I mean it. Fetch another chap, and let me examine him. I +should like to, really." + +"Why don't you search this one?" said Ingleborough contemptuously, and +West laughed. + +Anson winced and turned upon them half-angrily. But he changed his +manner before he had finished speaking, and his face broke up into a +broad smile. + +"Because I don't want to be laughed at by you chaps and called a fool," +he said. "I'm not stupid enough as it is to believe he has any diamonds +hidden." + +"Well, I am," said Ingleborough coolly. + +"Ha, ha, ha!" laughed Anson mockingly. "You go on with the search then, +and find them." + +"There is no need," said Ingleborough coldly; "those two know what +they're about." + +He was wrong in saying "two," for the under-searcher now continued the +examination, and Anson's eyes were screwed-up and twinkled again upon +seeing the man give up at the end of another two minutes and shrug his +shoulders. + +"No go," he said, turning to his companion. "Someone has been too +clever here." + +"Look again," said his chief. + +"No: I shan't look any more. I've done." + +West's eyes were resting upon the Kaffir, and he saw the man draw in a +deep slow breath which made his broad chest expand, retaining the air +for a minute and then slowly ejecting it. + +"Ah! you'll never make a first-class searcher, Jem," said the head man. + +"I never did profess to be so smart as you are," retorted the other +sharply. + +"No, Jemmy, you never did," said his chief; "but you ought to have found +something here." + +"Why, you don't think he has any about him, do you?" cried the man, who +was staggered by his chief's cool, confident way of speaking. + +"Yes, I do," said the chief, "and so does Mr Ingleborough there. Don't +you, sir?" + +Ingleborough nodded shortly, and West saw the Kaffir's eyes flash, while +when he turned to Anson he saw that his fellow-clerk's face looked cold +and hard. + +But Anson's aspect changed the next moment, as soon as he saw he was +observed, and he said, with a broad grin: "Wish I was a betting man: I +could easily win half-a-crown or two over this." + +But it struck West that there was a ring of insincerity in the tone of +his voice, and the hard look began to come like a grey shadow over his +fat pink cheeks as he saw the chief searcher go closer up to the Kaffir, +bring his hands down heavily upon the man's shoulders, and stand facing +him and looking him full in the eyes. + +There was utter silence now. The Kaffir stood for a moment firmly +gazing back into his white holder's eyes; but it manifestly required a +strong effort, and West felt sure that he saw a quiver like a shadow of +dread run down the black, making his knees slightly shake. + +The whole thing was momentary, and the looker-on could not feel sure. +Then the searcher spoke. + +"You're a clever one," he said, with a harsh laugh, "and you don't mind +hurting yourself to do a bit of the illicit. Turn round." + +He gave the Kaffir a sharp thrust with one hand, a pull with the other, +and the man stood with his back to the lookers-on. + + + +CHAPTER THREE. + +RATHER SUSPICIOUS. + +What followed was performed with the quick dexterity of a clever +surgeon, the searcher bending down, grasping the great firm muscles of +the Kaffir's right leg about mid-way between hip and knee, and pressing +hard with his two thumbs, when to the surprise of West a small +perpendicular slit opened and a good-sized diamond was forced out, to +fall upon the ground and be received by the under-searcher, while the +wound closed up again with all the elasticity of a cut made in a piece +of indiarubber. + +"Bravo!" cried West, and then he held his breath as he saw the clever +manipulation performed upon the Kaffir's other leg, a second diamond +being forced out of the man's elastic muscle, to be secured in turn. + +"That will do," said the chief searcher, after a quick glance down the +Kaffir's arms, the man scowling and looking depressed as he was marched +away. + +"Almost a pity you didn't back your opinion heavily, Mr Anson, eh?" +added the official. + +"Well, I am deceived," said Anson, wrinkling up his forehead. "Who'd +ever have thought of that?" + +"The Kaffirs, seemingly," said Ingleborough coolly? and he smiled in +Anson's disconsolate face. + +"But it's wicked," cried Anson, "downright wicked for a man to cut +himself like that for the sake of a bit of glittering glass. I say, +mustn't it hurt very much?" + +"Can't say," said West merrily. "Try!" + +"What, me?" cried Anson, looking startled and involuntarily thrusting +his hands down to touch the parts in question. "Oh no! It's horrible +what people will do for the sake of gain." + +"Quite sure you wouldn't like to try, Mr Anson?" said the searcher. +"I'll do it for you if you like. Only wants a very sharp knife and a +good hard pinch to numb the muscle; then it's done in a few minutes--one +good cut, the stone pressed in, and the cold surface makes the skin +contract." + +Anson's face seemed to curdle up, and two creases formed, one round each +corner of his mouth, as if putting it between parentheses, as he shook +his head. + +"Look here," he said, "what's the good of bantering so? Are you going +to search any more men?" + +"No," said the official; "that's the lot." + +"But are you going to punish them?" + +"Oh yes! They'll have to take their dose for it, sir; you may be sure +of that. We're going to be more and more severe over this +illicit-diamond-dealing." + +"Are you?" said Anson innocently. + +"We just are. It'll be a shooting matter soon if it can't be stopped +otherwise." + +"How horrid!" said Anson. "But I say, these men don't deal illicitly, +do they?" + +"They wouldn't if a set of scoundrels did not set them on to steal, so +that they could buy of the poor ignorant savages, giving them shillings +for what they sell for pounds." + +"How sad it seems!" said Anson thoughtfully. + +"And how innocent you seem!" said West, laughing. + +"Yes, it's charming," cried Ingleborough. "Why, you know all about it." + +"I?" cried Anson. "Oh, of course I know something about it. I've heard +of the illicit-diamond-dealing, and read about it; but it has all gone +in at one ear and out at the other. You see, I devote so much time to +music. That and my work at the office keep me from taking much notice +of other things. Politics, for instance, and the rumours of war. Do +you think it at all likely that there will be any fighting, West?" + +"I can't say," was the reply; "but we're going to be perfectly ready for +the Boers in case there is, and it's quite time we were off, +Ingleborough, if we intend to answer at the roll-call." + +"Hah! Yes," cried the young man addressed. "Better come with us, +Anson." + +The latter shook his head, and his companions separated from him at the +gate. + +"Better come," said Ingleborough again. "Join, and then you'll be on +the spot if we do form a band." + +"Oh no!" said Anson, smiling. "You make up your minds at headquarters +to form a band, and then, if you like, I'll come and train it." + +"He's a rum fellow," said West, as the two young men fell into step. + +"Ah," said Ingleborough roughly, "I am afraid Master Anson's more R. +than F." + +"More R. than F?" said West questioningly. + +"If you must have it in plain English, more rogue than fool." + +"Well, I fancy he isn't quite so simple as he pretends to be." + +"Bah! I'm not a quarrelsome fellow, but I always feel as if I must kick +him. He aggravates me." + +"Nice soft sort of a fellow to kick," said West, laughing. + +"Ugh!" ejaculated Ingleborough, and his foot flew out suddenly as if +aimed at the person of whom they spoke. "Don't know anything about +diamonds! What things people will do for the sake of a bit of +glittering glass! Look here, West, for all his talk I wouldn't trust +him with a consignment of stones any farther than I could see him." + +"Don't be prejudiced!" said West. "You don't like him, and so you can +only see his bad side." + +"And that's all round," replied Ingleborough laughing. "No; I don't +like him. I never do like a fellow who is an unnatural sort of a prig. +He can't help being fat and pink and smooth, but he can help his +smiling, sneaky manner. I do like a fellow to be manly. Hang him! Put +him in petticoats, with long hair and a bonnet, he'd look like +somebody's cook. But if I had an establishment and he was mine, I +should be afraid he'd put something unpleasant into my soup." + +"Never mind about old Anson," said West merrily, "but look here. What +about that illicit-diamond-buying? Do you think that there's much of it +taking place?" + +"Much?" cried his companion. "It is tremendous. The company's losing +hundreds of thousands of pounds yearly." + +"Nonsense!" + +"It's a fact," said Ingleborough earnestly; "and no end of people are +hard at work buying stolen diamonds, in spite of the constant sharp +look-out kept by the police." + +"But I should have thought that the licences and the strict supervision +would have checked the greater part of it." + +"Then you'd have thought wrong, my boy. I wish it did, for as we are +going on now it makes everyone suspicious and on the look-out. I +declare that for months past I never meet any of our people without +fancying they suspect me of buying and selling diamonds on the sly." + +"And that makes you suspicious too," said West quietly. + +Ingleborough turned upon him sharply, and looked him through and +through. + +"What made you say that?" he said at last. + +"Previous conversation," replied West. + +"Humph! Well, perhaps so." + + + +CHAPTER FOUR. + +RUMOURS OF WAR. + +The Diamond-Fields Horse had drilled one evening till they were tired, +and after it was all over, including a fair amount of firing, the smell +of blank cartridges began to give way to the more pleasant odour of +tobacco smoke, the officers lighting their cigars, and the privates +filling up their pipes to incense the crisp evening air. + +"I'm about tired of this game," said one of a group who were chatting +together; "there's too much hard work about it." + +"Yes," said another. "Someone told me it was playing at soldiers. I +don't see where the play comes." + +"Look at the honour of it," said another. "We shall be defending the +town directly from an attack by the Boers." + +There was a burst of laughter at this, and when it ended the first +speaker broke out contemptuously with: "The Boers! We shall have to +wait a longtime before they attack us." + +"I don't know so much about that," said the man who had spoken of the +attack. "I believe they mean mischief." + +"Bosh!" came in chorus. + +"Ah, you may laugh, but they've got Majuba Hill on the brain. The +idiots think they fought and thrashed the whole British Army instead of +a few hundred men. Here, Ingleborough, you heard what was said?" + +The young man addressed left off chatting with West and nodded. + +"You went to Pretoria with the superintendent of police about that +diamond case, and you were there a couple of months." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough. "What of that?" + +"Why, you must have seen a good deal of the Boers then!" + +"Of course I did." + +"Well, what do you say? Will they fight if it comes to a row?" + +"Certainly they will!" replied Ingleborough. + +There was a derisive laugh at his words, and West flushed a little on +hearing it, as the volunteers gathered round. + +"Bah! It's all bluff!" cried a voice. "They know that by holding out +they can get what they want. They'd cave in directly if we showed a +bold front." + +"Moral," said West; "show a bold front." + +"That's what we're doing," said one of the men; "but there's too much of +it. Some of the officers have war on the brain, and want to force the +soldiering element to the very front. We've done enough to show the +Doppers that we should fight if there was any occasion. There was no +drilling going on when you were at Pretoria, eh, Ingleborough?" + +"Yes, there was, a good deal," said the young man slowly. "They did not +make any fuss, but in a quiet way they were hard at work, especially +with their gun drill." + +"Gun drill!" cried one of the group contemptuously. "What, with a few +rusty old cannon and some wooden quakers?" + +There was a roar of laughter at this, and West coloured a little more +deeply with annoyance, but Ingleborough shrugged his shoulders, turned +his little finger into a tobacco-stopper, and went on smoking. + +"The Boers are puffed-up with conceit," he said gravely, "and they +believe that their victory at Majuba Hill has made them invincible; but +all the same they've got some level-headed men amongst them, and I +believe before long that it will come to a fight and that they will +fight desperately." + +His hearers laughed. + +"What for?" shouted one. + +"To drive the British out of South Africa, seize Cape Colony and Natal, +and make the country a Dutch republic." + +There was a momentary silence before someone cried: "I say, +Ingleborough, are you going mad?" + +"I hope not," said the young man quietly. "Why?" + +"Because you are talking the greatest bosh I've heard for months!" + +"I don't think I am," said Ingleborough gravely. "I know that the Boers +are terribly inflated with vanity and belief in themselves, but they +have wisdom in their heads as well." + +"I've never seen any of it!" said the previous speaker. "Bah! Rubbish! +They drive us out of South Africa! Why, that would mean taking +Rhodesia too." + +"Of course," replied Ingleborough, "and that's what they believe they +are going to do." + +"With popguns?" + +"No," said Ingleborough gravely; "but with their rifles. Do you know +that they can at any time arm a hundred thousand men with the best +magazine-rifles in the world?" + +"No!" came in chorus. "We don't." + +"And that they have a magnificent force of artillery, which includes +such guns as would dwarf any that we could bring against them, +thoroughly outrange ours, and that in addition they have a great number +of repeating-cannon--Maxims and Nordenfelts? Above all, they have a +vast supply of ammunition." + +"Where did they get it from?" cried one. + +"The moon," shouted another, and there was a roar. + +"The fellow's a regular Boer himself," shouted a man behind; and there +was a hiss raised, followed by a menacing groan, which made West's blood +tingle as he closed up to his friend's side. + +"The old story," said Ingleborough contemptuously, "You can't bear the +honest truth." + +"Yes, we can," cried one of the men; "but we can't bear lies. Do you +think we are fools to believe your cock-and-bull stories about +magazine-rifles and guns that would dwarf all that the British Army +could bring up against the Boers?" + +"You can do as you like about believing," said Ingleborough coldly. "I +have only told you what I learned for myself when I was staying in +Pretoria." + +"And do you mean to tell us that the Boers have guns like that?" + +"I do," said Ingleborough. + +"Then where did they get them?" + +"From the great French and German makers, From Creusot and Krupp." + +"And how did they get them up to Pretoria?" + +"From the Cape and Delagoa Bay." + +"What nonsense!" cried another voice. "Their arms and ammunition would +have been stopped at once. What do you say to that?" + +"The Boers are slim," said Ingleborough. "Hundreds of tons of war +material have been going up-country for years as ironmongery goods and +machinery. They have a tremendous arsenal there, and they mean to +fight, as you'll see before long." + +The hissing and threatening sounds ceased, for there was so much +conviction in the tone adopted by the speaker that his hearers began to +feel uneasy and as if there might be something in the declarations, +while, upon Ingleborough turning to West with: "Come Oliver, let's get +home!" the little crowd of volunteers hedged the pair in, and the man +who had been the most ready to laugh laid a hand upon his arm. + +"Hold hard a minute," he cried frankly. "I felt ready to laugh at you +and chaff all your words; but I'm not going to be a dunder-headed fool +and shut my eyes to danger if there really is any. Look here, +Ingleborough: are you an alarmist, or is there really any truth in what +you have said?" + +"It is all true," replied the young man calmly. + +"Well, then, I for one will believe you, my lad; for, now you have +spoken out as you have, I begin to put that and that together and I feel +that the Boers have been playing dark." + +"They have been playing dark," said Ingleborough warmly, "and I should +not be surprised to hear any day that they had declared war and found us +anything but prepared." + +"They only want to be free," said a voice. + +"Free?" cried Ingleborough. "Yes, free to do exactly what they please: +to tax every stranger, or outlander, as they call us, for their own +benefit: to rob and enslave the unfortunate natives, and even murder +them if it suits their hand. Free? Yes, look at their history from the +first. Why, their whole history has been a course of taking land from +the original owners by force." + +That very night rumours reached Kimberley which sent a tingle into the +cheeks of every man who had joined in the demonstration against +Ingleborough: though the greatest news of all had not yet arrived, that +the Transvaal Government had thrown down the glove and made the advance. + + + +CHAPTER FIVE. + +AN UGLY CHARGE. + +As everyone knows, the declaration of war was not long in coming, and +the news came like a thunderclap to all in Kimberley, where those who +had been in doubt as to the wisdom of the preparations previously made +were the loudest in finding fault because more had not been done. + +"But do you think it's true, Ingle?" said West. + +"Think what is true?" + +"That the Boers have invaded Natal." + +"I'm sure it is," was the reply; "and before very long we shall have +them here." + +"Why should they come here?" said West. + +"Because they have plenty of gold at Johannesburg, and they want to +utilise it for settings to our diamonds, my lad. They're a nice, +modest, amiable people, these Boers, with very shrewd eyes for the main +chance. They'll soon be down here to take possession, so if you feel at +all uncomfortable you had better be off south." + +"Is that what you are going to do?" asked West quietly. + +"I? Of course not! I shall keep with the volunteers." + +"Of course," said West; "and I shall too." + +Ingleborough smiled grimly and went on with his work, West following +suit, and they were busy enough till "tiffin-time" that morning. + +Their "tiffin" went on as usual; but out in the town there was a buzz of +excitement which resembled that heard in a beehive when some mischievous +boy has thrust in a switch and given it a good twist round before +running for his life. + +So eager and excited did everyone seem that West could hardly tear +himself away from the main street, which was full of talking groups, +everyone seeming to be asking the same question--"What is to be done +first?"--but getting no reply. + +"We ought to fortify the place," said West to himself, and full of this +idea, which he intended to propound to Ingleborough and Anson as soon as +he reached the office, he hurried in that direction, all the faster from +the fact that he had been so interested in the busy state of the streets +that he had overstayed his time. + +On approaching the office door the conscious blood rose to his cheeks, +for he could hear an angry voice speaking, upon which he could only +place one interpretation--namely, that one of the principals was finding +fault severely because he, the guilty one, was not back to his time. + +"What a fool I am!" muttered West. Then, pulling himself together, he +stepped forward, muttering again: "Must take my dose like a man." + +The next moment he had opened the door quickly, entered and closed it, +and then stood staring in wonder at the scene before him. + +For there was no angry principal present--only his two fellow-clerks: +Ingleborough stern and frowning, and Anson with his ordinarily pink face +turned to a sallow white, and, instead of being plump and rounded, +looking sunken and strange. + +"What's the matter?" said West, for Anson, who had the moment before +been talking rapidly, suddenly ceased. "You're not quarrelling, are +you?" he continued, for no one replied. "Oh well, I'll be off till +you've done." + +"No, don't go," cried Anson, springing forward and grasping his arm. + +"Let go!" cried West. "I don't want to be mixed up with any quarrels; +but you might have got them over outside. There, I'm off." + +"Stop where you are!" cried Ingleborough. "You have a perfect right to +hear what I have said, and you're welcome." + +"Yes, stop where you are, West," cried Anson, clinging to the young +fellow's arm. "I believe that the war scare has sent Ingle off his +head. You never heard such a bit of scandal as he is trying to hatch +up. I believe it's all out of jealousy." + +"No, you do not," said Ingleborough coldly. + +"But I do," cried Anson. "It's scandalous. He's trying to ruin me." + +"How?" + +"By hatching up a story which, if it got to the principals' ears, would +mean me being turned off neck and crop, no matter how innocent I am." + +"How what?" replied Ingleborough ironically. "Innocent? Why, I've +suspected you for some months past." + +"Oh, my gracious!" cried Anson. "Hark at him! He does mean it--he must +mean it, unless we can bring him to his senses, West. You will help me, +won't you?" + +"How can I tell till I know what it's all about? What's the quarrel, +Ingle?" + +"Ask him," answered the young man addressed, frowning. + +"Very well, then; I'll ask him. What's the row, Anson?" + +"I have hardly patience to tell you, West," was the reply. "But I +suppose I must, though it makes my face burn with shame." + +"Humph!" grunted Ingleborough. + +"Then it is something you are ashamed of?" said West quickly. + +"Me? Oh no, West; I'm not ashamed. I've nothing to be ashamed of: only +being accused by a fellow-clerk, a brother-clerk, I might say, of doing +a terrible thing." + +"And did you?" said West sharply. + +"I? Good gracious, no! I was out in the main street about half-an-hour +ago, being of course interested in the news, when I saw a couple of +Kaffirs talking, and it made me wonder what would become of them if it +came to fighting, and I naturally enough asked the poor fellows whether +they'd stay in Kimberley or go back to their own country." + +"Well?" said West, for the speaker stopped. + +"Well, that's all as far as I'm concerned," said Anson; "only just then +Ingleborough, who is never happy without he's mixing himself up somehow +with the police folk, and who must have been watching me in a miserable +underhanded way, suddenly pounced upon me; and you'll never believe it, +my dear West, he actually accused me of illicit-diamond-buying from the +Kaffirs." + +"And that means very severe punishment," said West. "Well, were you +doing it?" + +"Was I? Oh, for shame, West! How could you think such a thing +possible? My dear fellow, I couldn't do such a thing? Is it likely?" + +"Ingleborough says it is," replied the young man addressed, shortly. + +"Yes, but only because he is absurdly jealous of me, and dislikes to see +me in the office. It would ruin me for ever if it were reported, and he +says he is going to, although I have been begging and praying him not to +do such a thing. What do you say?" + +"If it's true, and Ingleborough says it is, I don't see how he could +help, reporting your conduct to the directors." + +"But it isn't true!" cried Anson, almost in a whine. "Oh, West, how can +you? You know I couldn't do such a thing!" + +"Do you mean to say that you are quite innocent?" + +"Oh, quite!" cried Anson. "It was as I told you. I only asked the two +poor hard-working fellows what they meant to do, and then to my utter +astonishment Ingleborough pounced upon me with that terrible charge. +Help me, my dear friend, to make him see that he has deceived himself!" + +"Do you hear, Ingle?" cried West sympathetically. "It is a terrible +charge to bring against a fellow." + +"Terrible!" said Ingleborough sternly. + +"And you have thought what it means?" + +"Of course." + +"His dismissal and imprisonment?" + +"Yes." + +"But--" + +"There is no room for buts, my lad," said Ingleborough harshly. +"Diamond-buying from the natives is, as we all well know, penal; and we +know, too, that it is our duty to help to protect the property of our +employers, and to see that the laws are obeyed." + +"Of course, my dear Ingleborough," said Anson; "and that's what I have +always tried to do, as you know." + +"I know that you have been playing a false game for months--that is, I +feel perfectly sure you have, though I cannot prove it. But this I can +prove: that you were buying stolen diamonds from two natives this +afternoon, all parties choosing the time because you believed the +excitement would secure you from notice." + +"Oh, West, hark at him!" cried Anson, in a piteous tone. "Ingleborough, +you don't know how wrong you are!" + +"That's true!" said their fellow-clerk. + +"Look here, Anson," cried West angrily; "what's the good of going on +like a great girl--oh-ing, and making weak appeals? Why don't you speak +out like a man? Is it true, or is it not, that you bought these +diamonds?" + +"It's all a mistake of Ingleborough's and as false as false can be! I +couldn't do such a thing!" + +"Nor yet throw them away as soon as you found that you were seen?" + +"Of course not!" cried Anson excitedly. + +"What are these, then?" cried Ingleborough sternly, as he took a couple +of rough crystals from his trousers pocket and held them out in his hand +to the astonished gaze of his comrades. + +"Those?" said Anson, whose face began to turn of a sickly green; "they +look like diamonds." + +"Yes: they are the two that you threw away, and which I went and picked +up." + +"Oh!" cried Anson, with a piteous groan; "hark at him, West! I wouldn't +have believed that a man could have been so base as to hatch up such a +plot as this to ruin his brother-employe. West, I assure you that I +never set eyes upon those diamonds before in my life. It's all a cruel, +dastardly plot, and I--Oh dear! Oh dear! Oh dear! Is it possible that +a man can be so base?" + +He took out his handkerchief and applied it to his eyes, uttering a low +piteous groan the while. + +"You hear this, Ingleborough?" said West. + +"Yes, I hear," said Ingleborough sourly, as he thrust the gems back in +his pocket. "So do you, and you know now what it is my duty to do." + +West was silent. + +"Oh, do speak and help me!" cried Anson. "Don't stand by and see me +ruined, West! You know how he has taken up lately with the new +superintendent of police, and been always with him, and watching the +poor natives till he is half a detective himself, and goes about +suspecting innocent people. I am innocent, West, and it's all a +horrible mistake of his, or a cruel trick to ruin me; and I'm afraid +I've been mistaken in him altogether, and that it is a wicked +conspiracy." + +"Ingleborough wouldn't do a mean thing!" said West warmly. + +"That's what I want to believe," whined Anson; "but he's got hold of two +diamonds, and he's going to charge me with buying them, and he'll get me +sent to Cape Town breakwater." + +"Not if you are innocent!" said West. + +"Well, that's what I am, and he can't prove that I've any of the +precious stones about me. Come and search me if you like!" + +"You will be searched by the police authorities," said Ingleborough +sternly. + +"What!--Oh, it's abominable!" cried Anson. "Here, West, aren't you +going to do anything to help an innocent man?" + +"What can I do," said West, "but look on? I'll tell you this, though: I +don't believe it possible of you! There must be some mistake!" + +"Thank you for nothing," cried Anson bitterly. "It's the old story--and +you call yourself a friend! Well, I'm not going to be bullied. I've +given you both a chance to own that you are all wrong; but you always +were both of you dead against me. I'll do now what I ought to have done +at once--go to the principals. I shall get justice there." + +Saying this, he clapped on his hat, giving it a fierce cock on one side, +passed out, and banged the door after him. + +Ingleborough paid no heed to his companion's enquiring look, but crossed +quickly to the window and looked out. + +"Anson thinks he is going to make a bolt," said Ingleborough, half to +himself; "but he'll soon find out his mistake." + +"How?" said West eagerly. + +"Norton is outside with a couple of the police," Ingleborough replied. + +"But this is very horrible!" cried West. "Once more, are you quite sure +that you have not made a mistake?" + +"Quite! I am certain!" + +"But is it wise to be so certain?" + +"Yes," replied Ingleborough quietly. "Surely I can believe my own +eyes!" + +"But might he not have been questioning the Kaffirs, as he said?" + +"Certainly," replied Ingleborough, with a grim smile; "but I do not see +why he should receive two diamonds from them and give them money in +exchange, and lastly why he should flick the two diamonds away into the +dust as soon as he caught sight of me. Do you?" + +"No," said West thoughtfully. "Well, I am very sorry. What will be the +next proceeding?" + +"The next thing in an ordinary way would be that the scoundrel would +bolt; but, as he must have found out by this time that he is carefully +watched, he will no doubt go straight to the principals and brave it out +by telling them his own tale and trying to persuade them that I have +hatched up a conspiracy against him." + +"And of course he will not be believed," replied West thoughtfully; "for +it is next door to high treason for anyone to be found buying diamonds +illicitly from the natives." + +"High treason?" cried Ingleborough, laughing. "Why, my dear boy, it's +much worse than regicide. The authorities in Kimberley look upon +diamond-smuggling or stealing as the blackest crime in the calendar." + +"Hallo!" cried West just then. "So soon?" + +For there was a sharp rap at the door, and a man entered to announce +that the principals of the great company desired the presence of +Ingleborough and West directly. + +"I don't see why they want me!" said West. "I know nothing about the +matter." + +"You'll have to go all the same," said Ingleborough. "He has dragged +your name into the case, and he trusts to you to speak in his behalf." + +"And of course I shall," said West; "for I'm horribly sorry for the poor +fellow. He couldn't withstand the temptation to buy the diamonds for a +mere nothing and sell them at a heavy price." + +"I don't want to be malicious, Noll," said Ingleborough; "but I've for +some time been under the impression that Master Anson was a humbug. +There, come along! Of course I don't like a piece of business like +this; but we must make rogues go to the wall. You're too soft-hearted, +Noll, my boy." + +"Perhaps so," replied the lad; "but I'd rather be so than too +hard-hearted." + + + +CHAPTER SIX. + +A VAIN SEARCH. + +West saw at once upon entering the presence of the principals that +things appeared bad for Anson, who stood facing a table at which three +of the directors of the great company were seated, all looking very +stern. They signed to Ingleborough and West to stand upon their right-- +Anson was facing them to the left. + +Then there was a brief colloquy in a low tone between the three +directors, ending in one of them saying aloud: "You speak." + +The gentleman thus addressed turned to Ingleborough. + +"Mr Anson has sought this interview with the directors, Mr +Ingleborough, to inform us that you have made up a malicious tale about +his having been engaged in illicit-diamond-buying. Of course, if you +could prove such a charge, it was your duty to inform us." + +"Of course, sir," replied Ingleborough; "but, though I have for some +time suspected him, this affair only occurred during our tiffin-time +this morning, and as soon as we returned to the office I felt bound to +accuse him as my fellow-clerk, and tell him what I intended to do." + +"So as to give him, if guilty, a good chance to conceal the diamonds or +escape?" + +"Oh no, sir," said Ingleborough quietly. "I took proper precautions +against that." + +"Indeed?" said the director. "What did you do?" + +"Mr Superintendent Norton is a friend of mine, sir, and I went to him +at once. He and two of his keenest men have been carefully watching +Anson ever since." + +"Humph! Quite right," said the director, and he glanced at Anson, who +was smiling contemptuously then; but West had seen him wince sharply +when Ingleborough mentioned the superintendent's name. "Well," +continued the director, "let us hear your version of this business." + +"Really, gentlemen," cried Anson, "I ought to have the assistance of a +law officer and--" + +"Stop, Mr Anson," said the director sharply; "we have heard you all +through. Have the goodness to be silent now while Mr Ingleborough +gives us his statement." + +"But legal assistance, sir." + +"You can have as much as you like, sir, as soon as the matter is brought +before the magistrates. We must first of all hear what Mr Ingleborough +has to say. Now, sir, have the goodness to tell us everything you know +about this business." + +Ingleborough made his statement perfectly clearly, and it was listened +to in silence, and the diamonds were produced. + +Afterwards the three directors spoke together in a low tone of voice for +a few minutes, ending by turning to Anson to tell him that he must +consider himself for the present as suspended from all further duty in +connection with the company's business. + +"We have no desire to proceed to extremities, Mr Anson," he said in +conclusion, "and every opportunity will be given you to clear yourself; +but in the meantime you must consider yourself under supervision, and +your lodgings will be searched." + +"I protest, sir," cried the young man warmly. "You have no right to +order such a thing to be done without magisterial authority." + +"Then we will assume the right, Mr Anson, as it is a question of our +property being stolen by our black employes and finding a purchaser in +one of our clerks. Mr West, as the superintendent is keeping an eye +upon Anson, I presume he is here?" + +"I passed him at the door as I came in, sir," answered West. + +"Have the goodness to call him in." + +Anson winced; but he faced the tall stern-looking officer of police as +he entered and heard the reason for his being called in. + +"Then you wish a search to be made, gentlemen?" said the superintendent. + +"Certainly." + +"Look here," cried Anson fiercely; "there's law for everybody. I'm not +your servant any longer, for I refuse to stay with such a pack of +tyrannical dividend-making scoundrels." + +"That will do," growled the superintendent, in a low, deep voice. "Keep +a civil tongue in your head. You'll do no good for yourself by this." + +"You mind your own business," cried Anson, turning upon the officer so +fiercely that West wondered at the change in his fellow-clerk's manner. + +"All right: I will," said the officer, seizing him sharply. + +"Here, what are you going to do?" cried Anson, in alarm. + +"Search you, my lad," was the reply. + +"Then I call everyone present to witness that this is illegal. I'm not +going to stand quietly by and be treated like a worm." + +"Leave off wriggling, then," said the officer. + +"I won't. I refuse to be treated like one of the black labourers." + +"Look here, sir," said the officer sternly; "I don't want to treat you +like a Kaffir unless you behave like one. You are charged with illicit +buying, and your game's up; so the best thing you can do is to produce +everything you have on you and have done with the matter." + +"Search me if you dare," cried Anson, still keeping up his defiant +manner. + +"Right: I dare," said the officer. "Mr Ingleborough, be ready to lend +a hand if I want it." + +"If John Ingleborough dares to lay a hand on me I'll send a bullet +through him." + +In an instant Ingleborough's hand came down heavily upon Anson's +shoulder and gripped him fast. + +"Never mind him, Norton. It's all bluff. He is unarmed." + +"Armed or unarmed," said the superintendent, "I'm going to search him," +and directly after a quick pair of hands were busy going through the +suspect's pockets. + +"Urrr!" he growled, showing his white teeth between his thick red lips, +as he cast off thoroughly the mask of servile humility he had previously +worn; "it's lucky for you that I am unarmed. But search away. Go on. +I'll have heavy damages for this dastardly assault and defamation of +character, and the public shall know all about the games carried on by +this beautiful diamond syndicate. Curse you all--masters and men! You +shall pay for it, and, as for you, John Ingleborough, look out for +yourself. Yes, and you too, Oliver West, you miserable sneak. I always +hated you." + +"Hadn't you better save your breath, Anson?" said West quietly. "You're +only making everybody believe you guilty." + +"Let 'em," cried the suspect, whose plump round face was now distorted +with impotent rage. "I'll be even with all of you for this." + +"Humph! Nothing in his pockets; nothing sewn in the seams of his +clothes, nor in the band of his trousers," muttered the searcher. Then +aloud: "Now then, hold up!" + +Anson behaved like a horse, or, as West and Ingleborough afterwards +laughingly said, like an ass, lifting to order each foot in turn for the +bottoms of his trousers to be examined and the heels of his boots, which +had not been bored nor plugged. + +"He has nothing upon him, gentlemen," said the officer, at last. + +"But you have not thoroughly searched him," said one of the directors, +frowning. + +"Oh yes, sir," replied the officer; "a party like this wouldn't carry +diamonds about him same as a Kaffir would. He wouldn't play any tricks +with his person by slitting or swallowing: he knows too much about the +risks. You can be perfectly satisfied that he has nothing about him. I +was, as soon as I had turned out his pockets." + +"They'll be satisfied before they've done," sneered Anson. + +"I should like to see his desk and stool in the office where he has +worked, gentlemen," continued the officer. + +"Yah!" snarled Anson. "Yes: go on; search everywhere. Perhaps you'd +like to search the place where I lodge?" + +"Afterwards," said the officer quietly. + + + +CHAPTER SEVEN. + +ANSON REBOUNDS. + +West saw his fellow-clerk wince slightly again, though it passed +unnoticed by the others, and directly after the whole party adjourned to +the office, the superintendent's men following them, and, without doing +anything to excite attention, forming a guard at the door. + +"There's nothing here," said the superintendent in a low tone to +Ingleborough and West. + +"How do you know?" said the former. + +"By his manner. He's all brag and bounce!" + +"Yes," said Ingleborough; "but you don't know your man." + +"Look here!" cried Anson; "none of that! Search if you like, but no +plotting and planning there! I don't see why they shouldn't be charged +too. Search their desks as well as mine. Perhaps you'll find some +illicit-diamonds there." + +West started, for a strange suspicion shot through his breast. + +"If you do they'll swear I put 'em there, and the superintendent will +believe them." + +"You scoundrel!" cried West passionately, and Anson uttered a low +sneering laugh; but his face grew set directly, as the officer turned +upon him. + +"Which is your desk, sir?" he said sharply. + +"Search them all!" was the reply. + +"Which is his desk?" said the superintendent to West now. + +The young man made no reply, and Ingleborough pointed it out. + +"Friends and brother-workers!" said Anson, in a sneering manner. "Look +here, noble employers, play fair! Let's have all the desks and the +whole place searched." + +No one spoke, and after a cursory examination of the tall stool in front +of the desk the officer picked up a thick silver-mounted rattan cane +thrust in a stand by the side of the desk in company with three +umbrellas. + +"Yours?" he said, turning to the suspect. + +"Yes, and one of the umbrellas too. The worst one's mine. That dandy +silk one is West's. The handles of all three are sure to unscrew and +are hollowed out to hold diamonds, no doubt." + +"Of course," said the officer, and after a glance at the umbrellas he +turned the thick heavy cane over in his hands, noticing that in addition +to a silver cap there was a thick silver ring about six inches from the +top. + +"Oh yes, that's hollow too," cried Anson mockingly, "and stuffed full of +diamonds, I daresay.--Ah! mind you don't cut your fingers!" + +For the officer, as he held the thick cane in both hands, tried to +unscrew the top part, thickest by the ring, and, after yielding a +little, he gave it a sharp tug, drawing out about a foot of a bright +blue damascened sword, and then thrusting it back with an impatient +"Pish!" + +"A sword-stick," said the officer. + +"Well, why not?" cried Anson. "I don't carry a revolver." + +The officer thrust the cane into the stand, and then, with Anson +watching him keenly, raised the lid of the broad flat desk, turned over +some books and papers, measured its depth outside and in to make sure +that there was no false bottom, and then brought out the clerk's little +flat mahogany box, Anson grinning sneeringly as the lid was opened and +the joints of the flute lay exposed to view. + +"Now you've got 'em, sir!" cried Anson, with a mocking laugh. "Blow +through them, and you'll find it's all wind." + +The superintendent turned the box upside down, and the joints were left +upon the top of the desk, except that the top joint with its gaping +mouth-hole stuck in the velvet fitting, but looked the most hollow of +the set. + +"There's nothing here, gentlemen," said the officer, replacing the other +joints and gravely closing the desk. + +"Oh, nonsense!" cried Anson, jeering. "You haven't half looked. +Perhaps, though, young West has the whole swag in his desk." + +"Would you like to examine the other desks, gentlemen?" said the +officer. + +"No, certainly not," said the leading director sharply; "we have no wish +to insult our employes." + +"Only one," snarled Anson. "Do you call this fair play?" + +West drew a breath full of relief, and glanced at Ingleborough, who made +no sign, but stood looking stolidly at the officer. + +"I'm quite satisfied, gentlemen," said the latter. "There is nothing +here. Do you charge Mr Anson with illicit dealing?" + +"You have not searched his apartments yet," said the chief director. +"We wish to have further proofs first." + +Anson opened his mouth a short distance as his chief spoke, and closed +it again with a sharp little snap. + +"You wish the prisoner's rooms to be searched then, gentlemen?" + +"I'm not a prisoner," cried Anson angrily. "I've neither been charged +nor taken into custody." + +"Certainly!" said the director sternly. "Search Mr Anson's rooms +preliminary to his being charged and taken into custody. Mr West, go +in front with the superintendent to show the way. I do not wish to make +a procession, to create excitement and make us the observed of all." + +"I understand, sir. Mr Anson will walk in advance with me, and you can +follow as you please. There is no need for Mr West to walk with us. I +know the way!" + +"Of course!" snarled Anson. "Mr Ingleborough's doing, I suppose. Then +I have been watched." + +"Yes, my doing," said the person named. "As soon as I suspected you of +illicit dealing I kept an eye upon you and told Mr Norton here what I +thought." + +"Cowardly, sneaking cur!" cried Anson, grinding his teeth. + +"No, sir," cried the director sternly: "faithful servant of the +company." + +"Where are your proofs that I am not?" cried Anson fiercely. + +"Not found yet," said the officer; "but with all your cunning I daresay +we shall trace them." + +"Go on," said Anson. "I'm ready for you." + +The next minute the whole party were straggling through the camp-like +town towards the outskirts, to gather together at the very ordinary +shed-like house of mud wall and fluted corrugated-iron roofing, where +the wife of one of the men at the mine stared in wonder at the party, +and then looked in awe at her lodger, her eyes very wide open and +startled as she grasped what the visit meant. + +"Oh, Mr Anson, what have you been a-doing of?" she cried, and burst +into tears. + +West looked at the poor woman with a feeling of pity, and then felt +disposed to kick Anson for his brutality, for the clerk's gesture was +that of an ill-tempered cur: he literally snapped at her. + +"Out of the way, you idiot!" he cried, "and let this police-constable +and his party come by." + +West saw the directors exchange glances before following the +superintendent into the little house, leaving the two clerks to the +last, the police-constables remaining watchfully at the door. + +"Master Anson is regularly cutting the ground from under him, Ingle," +said West softly. + +"Yes: the fool! I take it to be a tacit confession. You don't think +I've made a mistake now?" + +West shook his head and looked distressed, but said nothing. + +"Of course he'll never come back to us, and he knows it, or he'd never +put on this defiant manner. Hark at him!" + +For at that moment the object of their thoughts shouted loudly: "Here, +you two spies, what are you waiting behind for? Come in and help search +the place." + +West frowned and hung back, but Ingleborough laid a hand on his +shoulder. + +"Come along," he said; "you must help me to see it through! It isn't +pleasant, but it's part of one's duty." + +The next minute they were in Anson's combined bed and sitting room, a +very ordinary-looking place, with the simplest of furniture and plenty +of suggestions all round of spots where an ingenious man might have +hidden a little fortune in diamonds; for the mud walls were lined with +matchboard, the ceiling was of the same material, and then there was the +floor, where in any part a board could have been lifted and a receptacle +made for the precious crystals, without counting the articles of +furniture, including the bedding. + +"I'm sorry I have no more chairs, gentlemen," said the tenant +banteringly. "Sit on the table, and three of you can make a sofa of the +bed. Never mind tumbling it! You'll do nothing compared to Mr +Superintendent Norton when he begins. I say, though, you should have +given me notice of all this, and then I'd have had a carpenter here to +skin the walls and ceiling so as to have made everything nice and easy +for you. I say, Mr Norton, you'll want a pickaxe and shovel directly, +won't you?" + +The directors had paid no heed to the speaker's bantering remarks, but +the superintendent was getting hot, tired, and annoyed by the constant +chatter of the man he was longing to arrest; and, though he had treated +everything so far with calm indifference, his lack of success in his +search for something incriminating in such places as experience had +taught him were in favour with those who carried on diamond-smuggling +began now to tell upon his temper, and he turned sharply upon the +speaker: to snap out words which showed that his thoughts ran on +all-fours with those of Ingleborough. + +"Look here, young man!" he said; "I don't know whether you are aware of +it, but you are hard at work building up a black case against yourself, +and if you're not careful you'll find yourself before long working out +your two years as a convict on the Cape Town breakwater." + +"I shall!" cried Anson. "What for? Where's your evidence? You've got +a jumped-up cock-and-bull story made by a fellow-clerk who says one +thing while I say another. You've only his word for it. You've found +no diamonds on me, and you've found none in my lodgings." + +"Not yet," said the superintendent meaningly. + +"Oh, I see! Not yet! Go on, then, pray! I'm not paid by time, so I +can afford to lose a few hours. Search away! Perhaps our clever friend +Ingleborough can tell you where to look. Perhaps he wouldn't like to, +though. It would hurt his feelings to accuse a brother-clerk of being +an illicit trader. But don't mind me, Ingle. It's good sport for you. +Why don't you help, and think you're a good little boy playing at `hot +boiled beans and very good butter' again? Now then, Norton's going +across to the other side. You should call out `colder' when he's going +away from the place, and `warmer' when he gets nearer. Then `hot,' and +last of all `burning.' Come, keep up the game!" + +"I should just like to ram that pair of clean socks between your teeth, +my fine fellow, and keep it there with a leather strap," muttered the +officer; and, as if about to put his wish into practice, he stooped and +picked up the closely rolled-up pair of socks lying with some other +articles of attire placed freshly washed upon a shelf by Anson's +landlady. + +"Now then," cried Anson boisterously, "cry `burning,' somebody: there +must be some diamonds inside that!" + +The directors frowned, and Ingleborough and West looked on angrily as +the officer dashed the soft woollen ball back upon the heap and then +went on with his search for nearly an hour. + +By this time the lookers-on were as much disgusted as the +superintendent. + +"I'm very sorry, gentlemen," he cried; "but I can do no more. There is +nothing else to be done unless we have my men in and regularly strip the +wood-work down." + +"Oh, pray have them in, then," cried Anson. "If I were you I'd--" + +"Silence, sir!" cried the chief director fiercely, and Anson stared. +"We have not the slightest doubt of your guilt. Your conduct all +through has proved it. That will do, Mr Norton." + +"You think the evidence sufficient to justify an arrest, gentlemen?" + +"We will consult together," replied the director who had just spoken, +"and communicate our decision to you." + +"What, aren't you satisfied yet?" cried Anson mockingly. + +"Quite," replied his chief; "and of course, sir, your post is vacant. +For the present, Mr Norton, you will keep an eye upon this man, and see +that he does not leave the town." + +"Unless I'm very much mistaken, sir," said the superintendent, "neither +our friend here nor anyone else will leave Kimberley for some time to +come." + +"Is it so bad as that?" + +"Yes, sir. The Boers are gradually closing in, I am told. But I'll +keep an eye on Mr Anson here all the same." + +Five minutes later the party were on their way back to the mine +buildings, where the first thing that West heard was that the Boers were +gathering in great force, and, as far as could be judged, were making +the Diamond City their objective. + +Troubles were gathering fast, and news kept on coming hotter and hotter. + +West and Ingleborough were back in their places at the office, talking +over the war news and mingling with it the scenes they had just gone +through. + +"Norton promised me he'd call in here when he left the governors," said +Ingleborough. + +"Then he must have forgotten it," replied West, "for he has been with +them quite an hour. I say, I didn't know that you were such a friend of +the superintendent." + +"Well, I'm not in the habit of talking much," said Ingleborough, +smiling. "But I do like him; he's such a straightforward, manly fellow, +and I take so much interest in the way he runs down criminals. I often +wish I had joined the detectives who have this diamond-smuggling in +hand." + +"Pst! here he is!" said West quickly, for there were steps outside, and +directly after a sharp rap at the door. + +"May I come in, Ingleborough?" + +"Yes. _Entrez_! West said you'd gone." + +"Did he? You knew I was not?" + +Ingleborough nodded. + +"What have they decided?" he asked. + +"To let the matter drift for the present: only I'm to keep an eye on the +scoundrel. They say that we shall all have our hands full enough +directly in strengthening the town, and they're right. I'm afraid we're +going to have a warm time." + +"Think they'll attack us?" asked West. + +"Safe to. Now's the time for you volunteers to show what you're made +of, for I believe that the enemy will make straight for Kimberley. Our +getting the diamond-fields has always been a sore point with them, and +we shall have our work cut out to save them." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough thoughtfully, "and if I'm not mistaken, you'll +have more cause to watch Anson than for smuggling. He has his knife +into the company." + +"Exactly," said Norton; "and if he can make friends with and help the +enemy, he will." + +"You mean he'll be a dangerous spy in the camp?" said West excitedly. + +"That's it, Mr West; but if he plays that game and is caught his +punishment will not be a couple of years on the breakwater." + +"No," said Ingleborough: "the military will deal with him then." + +"How?" asked West, whose veins began to tingle and a cold shuddering +sensation to run down his spine. + +"A couple of lines of infantry, a volley of musketry, and--" + +"Finis," said the superintendent. "Good day. I don't wish him any +harm; but I feel pretty sure he'll run straight into some trap. That +sort of fellow always does." + +The next minute the door had closed upon the superintendent, and the two +young men sat thoughtfully looking in each other's eyes. + +"Only a few hours ago, and we three were calmly working together," said +West sadly; "and I looked upon Anson as an unsatisfactory fellow whom I +never could like, but whose worst faults were being a cringing kind of +bore and a perfect nuisance with his flute." + +"And I as a smooth hypocrite whom one ought not to trust," said +Ingleborough. + +"And now he's gone, and we're to have the Boers at us and most likely +have to soldier in real earnest. Hallo! Here's Norton back again." + +For there was a quick step outside, and the door was thrown open. But +it was not the superintendent's face that met their eyes, for their late +fellow-clerk stepped boldly in. + +"How are you, gentlemen?" he said, with a strong emphasis upon the last +word. "So I've got the sack; but I'm not going to leave my property +behind." + +He stepped to his desk and took out his flute-case, tucked it under his +arm, and then drew the sword-cane and umbrella from the stand, giving +the pair a maliciously triumphant look. + +"Can't afford to leave the sword-stick as a memento for you, Ingle, nor +the flute for sneaky West. Goodbye, both of you. Look out for our next +merry meeting. Ta, ta!" + +Neither of the young men replied, but sat gazing fixedly at the speaker +till he passed out, banging the door. + +But only to open it again to look in and utter the one word: "Cads!" + +Then the door was banged, and West leaped from his stool and made a +dash. + +"Stop, stupid!" thundered out Ingleborough, supplementing his words by a +bound and flinging his arm round his companion's chest. "Let the brute +go. You don't want to kick him?" + +"But I do," shouted West, struggling. "Let go." + +"Keep still," growled Ingleborough, and then, "Why, Noll," he cried, "I +do believe--" + +"What?" said West, cooling down and looking wonderingly in his +companion's excited eyes, for Ingleborough had stopped short. + +"That flute--that sword-cane--" + +"Well, he has got them. Bah! I'm glad you stopped me from punching his +head. Let him have them; they're his." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough; "but the handle of the cane and the top joint +of the flute. There was room for a dozen big diamonds in each." + +"What! Then let's go and stop him!" + +"Yes; we could but be wrong. Come on." + +"Hah! Listen," cried West, and a sound arose which turned their +thoughts in a different channel, for it was like the first note of the +coming war. + +The trumpet rang out the "assemblee" and thrilled both through and +through, sending them to the arm-press for rifle and bandolier. + +Clerking was over for many months to come. The pen was to give way to +the modern substitute for the sword. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHT. + +VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER. + +Rumours that proved to be false and rumours that proved to be true were +plentiful enough during the following fortnight; and in that time +Kimberley was transformed from a busy mining camp in which the black and +white inhabitants were constantly going and coming like ants in a hill +to a town whose siege was imminent, and whose people thought of nothing +but preparing for the enemy, and whose talk was of rifle, cartridge, and +trench. + +But there was something done beside talk, the people loyally joining +with the small military garrison in preparing for the defence of the +place; and, while one portion worked to strengthen every spot that would +form a redoubt, the other strove as long as was possible to get in +stores to enable the defenders to hold out if they were besieged. For +the determination was strong to save the enormous wealth of the place +from the enemy whose borders were so short a distance from their lines. + +Drilling and instruction in the use of arms were carried on almost night +and day, and in a very short time the military element seemed to have +pretty well swallowed up the civil, while each hour found the people +more ready to meet the first rush of the dogs of war. + +It was a most unsuitable place for defence, being a mere mining camp +pitched in a wide bare plain, the only part suitable for turning into a +keep being the huge mound cast up by the excavations in the search for +diamonds; and this was fortified to the best of the defenders' ability +almost from the first. But the situation had its advantages as well as +failings, for the flat, open, desert-like land stretched right away on +all sides, giving an enemy no undue advantages in the shape of kopje or +ravine to turn into a natural fortress from which the town could be +attacked. + +The place, then, was a fair example of weakness and strength, the +latter, however, daily growing, in the shape of a stern determination to +give the Boers a very warm reception when they did attack. + +So the days glided rapidly by, with authentic news at first fairly +abundant, but invariably of a very serious nature, and whenever they +were off the new duties they had to fulfil, the said news was amply +discussed by the two young men, who from their prior preparation had +stood forward at once as prominent members of the semi-military force. + +"Be patient," said Ingleborough laughingly, one evening; "there'll be +plenty of fighting by-and-by. I'd no idea you were going to develop +into such a fire-eater." + +"Fire-eater? Absurd! I only feel deeply interested in all we are +doing." + +"That's right, Noll! So do we all; but let's have no rashness. +Remember all the drill and discipline. That's where we shall be able to +tell against the enemy. They can use their rifles well enough; but they +are an undisciplined mob at the best. By the way, have you run against +the flute-player lately?" + +"No, but I met the people with whom he lodges yesterday. They knew me +again, and came up as if wanting to speak." + +"What about?" + +"Oh, they began by talking about the war and asking me whether I thought +it would last long." + +"To which you said _No_, eh?" + +"I only said that I hoped not, and then they volunteered the information +that they believed Anson was going to leave the town for the south." + +"Indeed?" said Ingleborough sharply. "What made them think that?" + +"Because their lodger had packed up all his little belongings and had +bought a wagon and a span of oxen, which he kept just outside." + +"Well, he'll lose them if he doesn't look out. He'll find himself +between two fires. Either the oxen will be seized for stores, or the +Boers will cut them off. The fellow must be either desperate or mad." + +"In a fright, I should say," said West. "I don't think he would stomach +the fighting." + +"Oh, it's all nonsense! The report this evening was that the Boers are +closing round us fast. He'll be stopped by one side or the other. +Norton ought to know of this, though." + +"I daresay he does know already," said West; "for he told me the other +day that he was keeping his eye on our friend." + +"So he did," said Ingleborough thoughtfully. "He has some idea of +catching him trying to communicate with the enemy. If he does, Master +Simon will not get off so easily as he did over the diamond business. +Well, I'm tired, and I shall go to bed. Let's sleep while we can. +There's no knowing what a day will bring forth!" + +"You are right," said West. "You think we shall really come to close +quarters?" + +"Yes, and very close quarters too. I've expected it before now." + +Nothing happens so surely as the unexpected, someone once said; and it +was so the very next day. + +Military drill was, as intimated, constantly going on; but that next +morning there was a larger gathering than usual, the principal part of +the regulars being drawn up in lines with the volunteer defenders--in +all, a goodly show. + +It was to some extent a general inspection; but after it was over the +men were formed up as three sides of a hollow square, and the Colonel in +command addressed the men, complimenting them upon their behaviour, and +then giving them the contents in a great measure of the despatches he +had received from headquarters, in combination with the reports of the +scouts and from the outposts. He concluded by saying that in a few +hours they would, in all probability, be completely shut off from +communication with the south, for the Boers were closing round them in +great force, and that until they were relieved they would be called upon +to hold Kimberley, making a brave defence to save so important a town +from falling into the hands of the invader. + +Here he was stopped by a tremendous burst of cheering, which hindered +him from saying, as he intended, that they must be of good heart and +full of trust that the General in command would soon send help. + +But the enthusiastic cheering taught the Commandant plainly that the men +before him needed no "heartening up," and he smiled with satisfaction as +he felt convinced that every call he made upon them would be answered. + +What followed was short and to the point. He thanked them, made a few +remarks about his determination that no Boers should drag the British +flag from where it fluttered, told the garrison that he was proud to say +that they had an ample supply of provisions and military stores, and +that the Boers had only to make their first attack to find how they had +deceived themselves about the British surrender at Majuba Hill. + +Here there was another deafening burst of cheers. + +Finally he made a fresh allusion to the well-known town farther north +which was being surrounded by the enemy even as they were being shut in +there. + +"It will be a race," he said, "between us as to which town will first +beat the Boers off; and the victors will then have the glorious task of +going to the relief of the others." + +After this the regulars were marched off to their quarters, leaving the +volunteers standing fast; and the Commandant now summoned their officers +to his side. + +As it happened, this was within a few yards of the spot where West and +Ingleborough were drawn up in the line, and every word the Commandant +spoke came to them clear and plain. + +"I have another little business to speak about, gentlemen," he said, "in +connection with a second despatch which was enclosed to me this morning +within my own. It is a letter of instructions I am ordered to convey to +our brave brother-in-arms now in command at Mafeking; and, on thinking +the matter over, I concluded that it would be unwise to select one of my +own men to carry that despatch, from their want of knowledge of the +country and people, and far better to apply to you gentlemen to +recommend to me a thoroughly trustworthy man or two, who, regardless of +all obstacles, would carry the despatch, bringing to bear force or +cunning so as to evade the enemy's scouts, for the road is sure to swarm +with them, even if it is not occupied by the Boers in force. It is +possible, too, that Mafeking may be completely invested when he or they +reach its neighbourhood; but I must have a despatch-rider who will look +upon even that as a trifle to be overcome or crossed, and who will not +rest until the despatch is safely placed in Colonel Baden-Powell's +hands. Let me be fully understood: I want messengers who will be ready +to fight if necessary or fly if needs be, but only to rebound and try in +another direction--in short, men who will button up this despatch and +say: `It shall be placed in Baden-Powell's hands by hook or crook as +soon as a swift horse can cover the ground.' This is what I want, and +it is urgent, or it would not be placed in my hands to deliver with such +stern commands. It means life or death to hundreds, if not thousands. +So now then, whom do you know that will, with the assistance of a brave +comrade, risk his life and carry my despatch?" + +A dead silence, which lasted many seconds, fell upon the group, but at +last the volunteer Colonel spoke out. + +"I am not prepared to name anyone, sir," he said, "and I flinch from +sending any man in my regiment upon so terribly perilous a journey, for +it means almost to a certainty being shot down, for the bearer of the +despatch will be bound to hurry on and pay no heed to challenges to +stop." + +"Certainly," said the Commandant, frowning; "but surely--" + +"One moment, sir; I was about to say that the fairest way would be to +call for volunteers, and then select the two most likely men." + +"Well," said the Commandant, "do that then, and let the men fully +understand that it is a most dangerous task. Mind, too, that he must be +a good and a rather reckless rider, able to bear fatigue, and above all +determined to do this thing for the honour of his country and the saving +of his brother men.--Yes, my lad, what is it?" + +For West, whose face had flushed deeply and whose blood tingled in his +veins, had taken four steps forward out of the ranks, and now stood with +his hand raised to the salute. + +"Give me the despatch, sir," he said. "I'll take it." + +"You?" cried the Commandant wonderingly, as his eyes ran over the +speaker. "You are very young. But are you a good rider?" + +"I think I can ride anything well enough, sir." + +"Splendid rider," said a deep voice, and Ingleborough strode to the +young man's side. "He'll do it, sir, if any man can; and I'll go with +him to help him in the task if you'll give me orders." + +"Hah!" ejaculated the Commandant. "Yes, I know you, Mr Ingleborough. +You belong to the police?" + +"Oh no, sir; I am only on friendly terms with the superintendent, and +have been on expeditions with him." + +"And you think your young friend would be a good man to carry the +despatch?" + +"I would trust him if I were in power, sir." + +"Then I will," said the Commandant, after a long and searching look at +West. "Be at my quarters in fifteen minutes' time, both of you, and we +will have further talk on the matter." + +The young men exchanged looks as they resumed their places in the ranks, +West's countenance betokening the wild excitement he felt, while +Ingleborough, who looked perfectly calm and contented, just gave him a +smile and a nod. + +A few minutes later they were dismissed, and the two young men had hard +work to get free from their brother volunteers, who surrounded and +cheered them loudly, one of the officers proposing that they should be +chaired back through the town. But they escaped this on the ground of +their orders to go to the Commandant's quarters, and were at last set +free, to hurry away. The next minute they encountered Anson, who had +heard and seen all, and passed them without a word, but wearing a +peculiarly supercilious and meaning smile which broadened into a grin of +contempt that made West writhe. + +"Bless him!" said Ingleborough. "Do you know what the pleasant look +means?" + +"That he will not be happy till I've thrashed him." + +"No," said Ingleborough; "he has evidently heard all, and has made up +his mind that he is going to have a pleasant revenge." + +"How? In what way?" cried West. + +"He thinks the Boers will shoot us: that's all." + +"Ah!" cried West. + +"But we will not let them, my dear boy," said Ingleborough coolly. +"They're slim, as they call it; but two can play at that game." + +"Yes, but look: here's Mr Allan coming to say that we can't go," said +West excitedly, for the chief director was approaching and raised his +hand to stop them, signing to them directly after to come to his side. + +"Looks as if he is going to put a stopper on our patriotism," growled +Ingleborough. "We've been reckoning without our host." + + + +CHAPTER NINE. + +FOUR-LEGGED HELP. + +"Here, you two boys," cried the director; "I've just heard of this wild +project. Are you mad, West?" + +"I hope not, sir." + +"But, my good lad, I really--I--that is--bless my soul! It's very brave +of you; but I don't think I ought to let you go." + +"I heard you say, sir, that everyone ought to be ready to devote his +life to the defence of the country." + +"Eh?" cried the director. "To be sure, yes, I did--in that speech I +made to the volunteers; but then you're not everybody, and--er--er--you +see, what I said was in a speech, and sometimes one says more then than +one quite means." + +"There'll be no work doing in the office, sir," said Ingleborough; "and +I hope you will not place any obstacles in the way of our going." + +"Oh no, my dear boys! I feel that I must not; but I don't like you to +run such a terrible risk." + +"We must all run risks, sir," said West gravely. + +"And I beg your pardon: our time is up for seeing the Commandant," said +Ingleborough, referring to his watch. + +"Yes, I heard you were to go to him," said the director. "But it sounds +very rash. There, go on, and come to me afterwards." + +They parted, and a few minutes later the young men were ushered into the +Commandant's room. + +"Then you have not repented, my lads?" he said, smiling. + +"No, sir," replied West, speaking for both; "we are quite ready to go." + +"Then I must take you both at your word. But once more I give you both +the opportunity to draw back if you like." + +"Thank you, sir," replied West; "but if you will trust us we will take +the despatch." + +"Very well," said the Commandant, turning very stern and business-like. +"Here is the despatch. It is a very small packet, and I leave it to +your own ingenuity to dispose of it where it cannot be found if you have +the bad luck to be captured. It must be sewn up in your pockets, or +fitted into your hats, or hidden in some way or other. I leave it to +you, only telling you to destroy it sooner than it should fall into the +enemy's hands." + +"We'll consult together, sir, and decide what to do," replied West, +looking frankly in the officer's eyes; "but--I have heard of such a +thing being done, sir--" + +"What do you mean?" said the Commandant sternly. + +"That to ensure a despatch not falling into the enemy's hands the bearer +learned its contents carefully and then burned it." + +"Hah! Yes. That would make it safe," cried the officer, with a +satisfied look. "But, no, it could not be done in this case. I have no +right to open the despatch, and I do not know its contents. You must +take it as it is, and in the event of disaster burn or bury it. Destroy +it somehow. It must not fall into the enemy's hands. Here." + +"I understand, sir," said West, taking the thick letter in its envelope, +as it was extended to him; and the Commandant heaved a sigh as if of +relief on being freed of a terrible incubus. + +"There," he said, "I shall tie you down to no restrictions other than +these. That packet must somehow be placed in the hands of the Colonel +Commandant at Mafeking. I do not like to name failure, for you are both +young, strong, and evidently full of resource; but once more: if you are +driven too hard, burn or destroy the packet. Now then, what do you want +in the way of arms? You have your rifles, and you had better take +revolvers, which you can have with ammunition from the military stores. +Do you want money?" + +"No, sir; we shall require no money to signify," said Ingleborough +quietly. "But we must have the best horses that can be obtained." + +"Those you must provide for yourselves. Take the pick of the place, and +the order shall be made for payment. My advice is that you select as +good a pair of Basuto ponies as you can obtain. They will be the best +for your purpose. There, I have no more to say but `God speed you,' for +it is a matter of life and death." + +He shook hands warmly with both, and, on glancing back as soon as they +were outside, they saw the Commandant watching them from the window, +whence he waved his hand. + +"He thinks we shall never get back again, Noll," said Ingleborough, +smiling; "but we'll deceive him. Now then, what next?" + +"We must see Mr Allan," replied West. + +"Then forward," cried Ingleborough. "We must see old Norton too before +we go, or he'll feel huffed. Let's go round by his place." + +They found the superintendent in and ready to shake hands with them both +warmly. + +"Most plucky!" he kept on saying. "Wish I could go with you." + +"I wish you could, and with a hundred of your men to back us up," said +West laughingly. + +"You ought to have a couple of thousand to do any good!" said the +superintendent: "but even they would not ensure your delivering your +despatch. By rights there ought to be only one of you. That would +increase your chance. But it would be lonely work. What can I do for +you before you go?" + +"Only come and see us off this evening." + +"I will," was the reply, "and wish you safe back." + +"And, I say," said Ingleborough: "keep your eye on that scoundrel." + +"Anson? Oh yes: trust me! I haven't done with that gentleman yet." + +Directly after they were on their way to the director's room, and as +they neared the door they could hear him pacing impatiently up and down +as if suffering from extreme anxiety. + +The step ceased as they reached and gave a tap at the door, and Mr +Allan opened to them himself. + +"Well," he said, "has the Commandant decided to send you?" + +"Yes, sir," replied West. + +"I'm very sorry, and I'm very glad; for it must be done, and I know no +one more likely to get through the Boer lines than you two. Look here, +you'll want money. Take these. No questions, no hesitation, my lads; +buckle on the belts beneath your waistcoats. Money is the sinews of +war, and you are going where you will want sinews and bones, bones and +sinews too." + +In his eagerness the director helped the young men to buckle on the two +cash-belts he had given them. + +"There," he said; "that is all I can do for you but wish you good luck. +By the time you come back we shall have sent the Boers to the +right-about, unless they have captured Kimberley and seized the +diamond-mines. Then, of course, my occupation will be gone. Goodbye. +Not hard-hearted, my boys; but rather disposed to be soft. There, +goodbye." + +"Now then," said West, "we've no time to spare. What are we going to do +about horses?" + +"We've the money at our back," replied Ingleborough, "and that will do +anything. We are on Government service too, so that if we cannot pay we +can pick out what we like and then report to headquarters, when they +will be requisitioned." + +But the task proved easy enough, for they had not gone far in the +direction of the mines when they met another of the directors, who +greeted them both warmly. + +"I've heard all about it, my lads," he said, "and it's very brave of you +both." + +"Please don't say that any more, sir," cried West appealingly, "for all +we have done yet is talk. If we do get the despatch through there will +be some praise earned, but at present we've done nothing." + +"And we're both dreadfully modest, sir," said Ingleborough. + +"Bah! you're not great girls," cried the director. "But you are not off +yet, and you can't walk." + +"No, sir," said West; "we are in search of horses--good ones that we can +trust to hold out." + +"Very well; why don't you go to someone who has been buying up horses +for our mounted men?" + +"Because we don't know of any such person," said West. "Do you?" + +"To be sure I do, my lad, and here he is." + +"You, sir?" cried Ingleborough excitedly. "Why, of course; I heard that +you were, and forgot in all the bustle and excitement of the coming +siege. Then you can let us have two? The Commandant will give an order +for the payment." + +"Hang the Commandant's payments!" cried the director testily. "When +young fellows like you are ready to give their lives in the Queen's +service, do you think men like we are can't afford to mount them? Come +along with me, and you shall have the pick of the sturdy cob ponies I +have. They're rough, and almost unbroken--what sort of horsemen are +you?" + +"Very bad, sir," replied Ingleborough: "no style at all. We ride +astride though." + +"Well, so I suppose," said the director, laughing, "and with your faces +to the nag's head. If you tell me you look towards the tail I shall not +believe you. But seriously, can you stick on a horse tightly when at +full gallop?" + +"Oliver West can, sir," replied Ingleborough. "He's a regular centaur +foal." + +"Nonsense! Don't flatter," cried West. "I can ride a bit, sir; but +Ingleborough rides as if he were part of a horse. He's accustomed to +taking long rides across the veldt every morning." + +"Oh, we can ride, sir," said Ingleborough coolly; "but whether we can +ride well enough to distance the Boers has to be proved." + +"I'll mount you, my boys, on such a pair of ponies as the Boers haven't +amongst them," said the director warmly. "Do you know my stables--the +rough ones and enclosure I have had made?" + +"We heard something about the new stabling near the mine, sir," said +West; "but we've been too busy to pay much heed." + +"Come and pay heed now, then." + +The speaker led the way towards the great mine buildings, and halted at +a gate in a newly set-up fence of corrugated-iron, passing through which +their eyes were gladdened by the sight of about a dozen of the rough, +sturdy little cobs bred by the Basutos across country, and evidently +under the charge of a couple of Kaffirs, who came hurrying up at the +sight of their "baas," as they termed him. + +Here Ingleborough soon displayed the knowledge he had picked up in +connection with horses by selecting two clever-looking muscular little +steeds, full of spirit and go, but quite ready to prove how little they +had been broken in, and promising plenty of work to their riders if they +expected to keep in their saddles. + +"Be too fresh for you?" said the owner. + +"We shall soon take the freshness out of them, poor things!" said +Ingleborough. "Would you mind having them bridled and saddled, sir?" + +The order was given, and, after a good deal of trouble and narrowly +escaping being kicked, the Kaffirs brought the pair selected up to where +the despatch-riders were standing with the director. + +Ingleborough smiled, and then bade the two Kaffirs to stand on the far +side of the ponies, which began to resent the Kaffirs' flank movements +by sidling up towards the two young men. + +"Ready?" said Ingleborough, in a low, sharp tone. + +"Yes." + +"Mount!" + +They both sprang into their saddles, to the intense astonishment of the +ponies, one of which made a bound and dashed off round the enclosure at +full speed, while the other, upon which West was mounted, reared +straight up, and, preserving its balance upon its hind legs, kept on +snorting, while it sparred out with its fore hoofs as if striking at +some imaginary enemy, till the rider brought his hand down heavily upon +the restive beast's neck. The blow acted like magic, for the pony +dropped on all-fours directly, gave itself a shake as if to rid itself +of saddle and rider, and then uttered a loud neigh which brought its +galloping companion alongside. + +"Humph!" ejaculated their new friend; "I needn't trouble myself about +your being able to manage your horses, my lads. Will these do?" + +"Splendidly, sir," cried West. + +"There they are, then, at your service!" And, after a few directions to +the Kaffirs about having them ready when wanted, the party left the +enclosure and separated with a few friendly words, the despatch-bearers +making once more for the Commandant's quarters to report what they had +done so far, and to obtain a pass which would ensure them a ready +passage through the lines and by the outposts. + +They were soon ushered into the Commandant's presence, and he nodded his +satisfaction with the report of their proceedings before taking up a pen +and writing a few lines upon an official sheet of paper. + +"That will clear you both going and returning," said he, folding and +handing the permit. "Now then, when do you start?" + +"Directly, sir," said Ingleborough, who was the one addressed. + +"No," said the Commandant. "You must wait a few hours. Of course it is +important that the despatch be delivered as soon as possible; but you +must lose time sooner than run risks. If you go now, you will be seen +by the enemy and be having your horses shot down--perhaps share their +fate. So be cautious, and now once more goodbye, my lads. I shall look +forward to seeing you back with an answering despatch." + +This was their dismissal, and they hurried away to have another look to +their horses, and to see that they were well-fed, before obtaining a +meal for themselves and a supply of food to store in their haversacks. + +"There's nothing like a bit of foresight," said Ingleborough. "We must +eat, and going in search of food may mean capture and the failure of our +mission." + +The time was gliding rapidly on, the more quickly to West from the state +of excitement he was in; but the only important thing he could +afterwards remember was that twice over they ran against Anson, who +seemed to be watching their actions, and the second time West drew his +companion's attention to the fact. + +"Wants to see us off," said Ingleborough. "I shouldn't be surprised +when we come back to find that he has eluded Norton and gone." + +"Where?" said West. + +"Oh, he'll feel that his chance here is completely gone, and he'll make +for the Cape and take passage for England." + +"If the Boers do not stop him." + +"Of course," replied Ingleborough. "It's my impression that he has +smuggled a lot of diamonds, though we couldn't bring it home to him." + +"I suppose it's possible," said West thoughtfully. "But isn't it likely +that he may make his way over to the enemy?" + +Ingleborough looked at the speaker sharply. + +"That's not a bad idea of yours," he said slowly; "but, if he does and +he is afterwards caught, things might go very awkwardly for his +lordship, and that flute of his will be for sale." + +"Flute for sale? What do you mean? From poverty?--no one would employ +him. Oh! I understand now. Horrible! You don't think our people +would shoot him?" + +"Perhaps not," said Ingleborough coldly; "but they'd treat him as a +rebel and a spy. But there, it's pretty well time we started. Come +along." + +Within half an hour they were mounted and off on their perilous journey, +passing outpost after outpost and having to make good use of their pass, +till, just as it was getting dusk, they parted from an officer who rode +out with them towards the Boers' encircling lines. + +"There," he said, "you've got the enemy before you, and you'd better +give me your pass." + +"Why?" said West sharply. + +"Because it has been a source of protection so far: the next time you +are challenged it will be a danger." + +"Of course," said Ingleborough. "Give it up, Oliver." + +"Or destroy it," said the officer carelessly: "either will do." + +"Thanks for the advice," said West, and they shook hands and parted, the +officer riding back to join his men. + +"You made him huffy by being suspicious," said Ingleborough. + +"I'm sorry, but one can't help being suspicious of everything and +everybody at a time like this. What do you say about destroying the +Commandant's pass?" + +"I'm divided in my opinion." + +"So am I," said West. "One moment I think it best: the next I am for +keeping it in case we fall into the hands of some of our own party. On +the whole, I think we had better keep it and hide it. Let's keep it +till we are in danger." + +"Chance it?" said Ingleborough laconically. "Very well; only don't +leave it till it is too late." + +"I'll mind," said West, and, as they rode out over the open veldt and +into the gloom of the falling night, they kept a sharp look-out till +they had to trust more to their ears for notice of danger, taking care +to speak only in a whisper, knowing as they did that at any moment they +might receive a challenge from the foe. + +"What are you doing?" said Ingleborough suddenly, after trying to make +out what his companion was doing. "Not going to eat yet, surely?" + +"No--only preparing for the time when I must. Look here." + +"Too dark," said Ingleborough, leaning towards his companion. + +"Very well, then, I'll tell you: I'm making a sandwich." + +"Absurd! What for?" + +"I'll tell you. You can't see, but this is what I'm doing. I've two +slices of bread here, and I'm putting between them something that is not +good food for Boers. That's it. I've doubled the pass in half, and +stuck it between two slices. If we have the bad luck to be taken +prisoners I shall be very hungry, and begin eating the sandwich and the +pass. I don't suppose it will do me any harm." + +"Capital idea," said Ingleborough, laughing. + +"That's done," said West, replacing his paper sandwich in his haversack, +and a few minutes later, as they still rode slowly on, Ingleborough +spoke again. + +"What now?" he said. + +"Making another sandwich," was the reply. + +"Another?" + +"Yes, of the Mafeking despatch." + +"Ah, of course; but you will not eat that?" + +"Only in the last extremity." + +"Good," said Ingleborough, "and I hope we shall have no last extremes." + +He had hardly spoken when a sharp challenge in Boer-Dutch rang out, +apparently from about fifty yards to their left, and, as if in obedience +to the demand, the two Basuto ponies the young men rode stopped +suddenly. + +Ingleborough leaned down sidewise and placed his lips close to his +companion's ear. + +"Which is it to be?" he said. "One is as easy as the other--forward or +back?" + +"One's as safe as the other," replied West, under his breath. +"Forward." + +They were in the act of pressing their horses' sides to urge them on +when there was a flash of light from the position of the man who had +uttered the challenge, and almost immediately the humming, buzzing sound +as of a large beetle whizzing by them in its nocturnal flight, and at +the same moment there was the sharp crack of a rifle. + + + +CHAPTER TEN. + +ANSON'S BLESSING. + +"Bless 'em!" said Anson to himself that same evening, "I don't wish 'em +any harm. I only hope that before they've gone far the Boers will +challenge them. + +"I can almost see it now: getting dark, and an outpost challenges. +`Come on, gallop!' says old Ingle, and they stick their spurs into their +nags and are off over the veldt. Then _crack, cracky crack_, go the +rifles till the saddles are emptied and two gallant defenders of +Kimberley and brave despatch-riders lie kicking in the dust. + +"Ugh! How. I should like to be there with my flute. I'd stand and +look on till they'd given their last kick and stretched themselves out +straight, and then I'd play the `Dead March' in `Saul' all over 'em +both. Don't suppose they'd know; but if they could hear it they +wouldn't sneer at my `tootling old flute'--as Ingle called it--any more. + +"Urrrr! I hated the pair of 'em. Ingle was a hound--a regular +sniffing, smelling-out hound, and Noll West a miserable, sneaking cur. +Beasts! So very good and nice and straightforward. Hundreds of +thousands of pounds' worth--yes, millions' worth of diamonds being +scraped together by the company, and a poor fellow not allowed to have a +handful. I don't say it's the thing to steal 'em; but who would steal? +Just a bit of nice honest trade--buy in the cheapest market and sell in +the dearest. It's what the company does, but nobody else ought to, of +course. Who's going to ask every Kaffir who comes to you and says: `Buy +a few stones, baas?' `Where do you get 'em from?' Not me. They've as +good a right to 'em as the company, and if I like to do a bit of honest +trade I will, in spite of the miserable laws they make. Hang their +laws! What are they to me? Illicit-diamond-buying! Police force, eh? +A snap of the fingers for it! + +"A bit sooner than I expected," mused the flute-player. "A few months +more, and I should have made a very big thing if the Boers hadn't upset +it all and Master Ingle hadn't been so precious clever! Never mind: it +isn't so very bad now! I'll be off while my shoes are good. I don't +believe the Boers have got round to the south yet, and, if they have, I +don't believe it'll matter. Say they do stop me, it'll only be: `Who +are you--and where are you going?' Down south or west or anywhere, to +do a bit of trade. I'm sloping off--that's what I'm doing--because the +British are trying to force me to volunteer to fight against my old +friends the Boers. I'll soft-soap and butter 'em all over, and play 'em +a tune or two upon the flute, and offer 'em some good tobacco. They +won't stop me." + +The quiet, plump, thoughtful-looking muser was on his way to a farm just +beyond the outskirts of Kimberley, as he walked slowly through the +darkness, hardly passing a soul; and he rubbed his hands softly at last +as he came in sight of a dim gleaming lantern some distance ahead. + +"All ready and waiting," he said softly, and now he increased his pace a +little in his excitement, but only to stop short and look back once or +twice as if to make sure that he was not followed. But, neither seeing +nor hearing anything, he rubbed his hands again, muttered to himself +something about wiping his shoes of the whole place, and went on +quickly. + +"Das you, baas?" said a thick guttural voice just above the lantern. + +"Yes, this is me," replied Anson. "Team in-spanned?" + +"Yaas, baas: big long time ago. Not tink baas come." + +"But I said I would," replied Anson. "Got the water-barrel slung +underneath?" + +The man grunted, Anson gave an order or two in a low tone, and in +response to a shout a dimly-seen team of great bullocks roughly +harnessed to the dissel boom and trek tow of a long covered-in wagon +began to trudge slowly along over the rough track which led to the main +road leading south. A second man led the way, while the Kaffir with the +light swung himself up onto the great box in front of the wagon and drew +out an unusually long whip, after hanging his horn lantern to a hook in +the middle of the arched tilt over his head. + +"Baas come alon' heah?" said the man. + +"No, go on, and I'll walk behind for a bit," said Anson, in a low tone +of voice. "Go on quietly, and keep off the track. Go straight away +till I tell you to turn off." + +The Kaffir grunted, and the oxen plodded on at their slow +two-mile-an-hour rate, leaving the last sign of occupation far behind, +Anson twice over giving instructions to the man who was leading which +way to steer, the result being that the creaking wagon was driven right +away south and west over the open veldt, avoiding the various farms and +places till Kimberley was left far behind. + +It was a bright starlit night, and the long procession of big bullocks +looked weird and strange in the gloom, for at times they seemed to be +drawing nothing, so closely did the tilt of the great lightly-loaded +wagon assimilate with the drab dusty tint of the parched earth and the +dusky-coloured scrub which the great wheels crushed down. + +The driver sat on the box with his huge whip, his shoulders well up and +his head down, driving mechanically, and seeming to be asleep, while the +voorlooper kept pace with the leading oxen, and hour after hour passed +away without a word being spoken. + +So the night wore on, the only watchful eyes being those of Anson, who +kept on straining them forward right and left, while his ears twitched +as he listened for the sounds which he knew would be uttered by a Boer +vedette. + +But no challenge came, and the fugitive breathed more freely as the +stars paled, a long, low, sickly streak began to spread in the east, and +the distance of the wide-spreading desolate veldt grew more clear. + +"I knew they wouldn't be on the look-out," said Anson to himself, in an +exulting fashion. "Hah! I'm all right, and I wonder how West and Ingle +have got on." + +It was growing broad daylight when the thoughtful-looking ex-clerk +climbed up to the side of the driver. + +"How far to the fontein?" he said. + +"One hour, baas," was the reply. + +"Is there plenty of grass?" + +"Plenty, baas. Bullock much eat and drink." + +The information proved quite correct, for within the specified time--the +team having stepped out more readily, guided as they were by their +instinct to where water, grass, and rest awaited them--and soon after +the great orange globe had risen above what looked like the rim of the +world, the wagon was pulled up at the edge of a broad crack in the dusty +plain, where the bottom of the spruit could be seen full of rich green +grass besprinkled with flowers, through which ran the clear waters of an +abundant stream. + +A fire was soon lighted, a billy hung over it to boil, and Anson, after +watching the team, which had dragged their load so well and so far, +munching away at the juicy grass, began to get out the necessaries +connected with his own meal. + +"Hah!" he said softly, as he rubbed his hands; "sorry I haven't got my +two fellow-clerks to breakfast: it would have been so nice and Ugh!" he +growled, shading his eyes to give a final look round, for there in the +distance, evidently following the track by which he had come through the +night, there was a little knot of horsemen cantering along, and from +time to time there came a flash of light caused by the horizontal beams +of the sun striking upon rifle-barrel or sword. + +Anson's hands dropped to his sides, and he looked to right, left, and +behind him as if meditating flight. Then his eyes went in the direction +of his oxen, freshly outspanned, but he turned frowningly away as he +felt that even with the team already in their places, the lumbering +bullocks could not have been forced into a speed which the horses could +not have overtaken in a few yards at a canter. + +Then he shaded his eyes again to have a good look at the party of +horsemen. + +"Police," he said, in a hiss. "Yes, and that's Norton. _Hfff_!" + +He drew in his breath, making a peculiar sound, and then, as if +satisfied with the course he meant to pursue, he went back to the fire +and continued his preparations for his meal, apparently paying no heed +to the party of mounted police till they cantered up and came to a halt +by the wagon. + +"Hallo, constables!" cried Anson boisterously; "who'd have thought of +seeing--Why, it's you, Mr Norton!" + +"Yes," said the superintendent. "You seem surprised!" + +"Why, of course I am. Got something on the way? Anyone been smuggling +stones?" + +"Yes," said the officer shortly. + +"Sorry for them then, for I suppose you mean to catch 'em." + +"I do," said the officer warningly. + +"That's right; I'm just going to have some breakfast: will you have a +snack with me?" + +"No, thank you. I'm on business." + +"Ah, you are a busy man, Mr Norton; but let bygones be bygones. Have a +snack with me! You're welcome." + +"I told you I was on business, Master Anson. Now, if you please, where +are you going?" + +"Where am I going?" said Anson warmly. "Why, down south. What's the +good of my staying in Kimberley?" + +"I can't answer that question, sir. Where's your pass?" + +"Pass? What pass?" + +"Your permit from the magistrate to leave the town." + +"Permit? Nonsense!" cried Anson. "I'm turned out of the mine offices, +and I'm not going to sit and starve. No one will give me work without a +character. You know that." + +The superintendent nodded. + +"Perhaps not," he said; "but you are still a suspect, and you have no +right to leave the town." + +"I'm not a prisoner," said Anson defiantly, "and I'm going on my lawful +way. What have you to say to that?" + +"In plain English, that I believe you are going off to escape arrest and +to carry off your plunder." + +"My what? Plunder? Why, it's sickening! Didn't you come to my place +and thoroughly search it?" + +"I did search your room, but found nothing, because I believe you had +everything too well hidden. Now then, if you please, what have you got +in your wagon?" + +"Nothing but provisions and my clothes! Why?" + +"Because of your sudden flight." + +"My sudden what?" said Anson, laughing. + +"You know what I said, sir. Your sudden flight!" + +"My sudden nonsense!" cried Anson angrily. "I have told you why I came +away." + +"Yes," said the superintendent; "but I'm not satisfied that this move +does not mean that you have smuggled diamonds here with you to carry to +where you can dispose of them." + +"Well, it's of no use to argue with a policeman," said Anson coolly. +"You had better make another search." + + + +CHAPTER ELEVEN. + +ANOTHER SEARCH. + +"That's just what I'm going to do, Master Anson," was the reply, given +sternly. + +"All right," said Anson nonchalantly. "Search away; but, if I was in +the police and had a good tip given me as to where the plunder I was +after had been planted, I don't think I should waste time hunting blind +leads, and letting the real culprits have plenty of time to get away." + +"But then you are not in the police, sir," said the superintendent, with +a nod. "So first of all I'll let my men run over you and your Kaffirs." + +"Wait till I've lit a cigar first," said Anson, taking out a case, and +then laughing, for the police officer was watching him keenly. "That's +right; there are three or four diamonds in every one of these cigars, +and as I smoke you'll notice that I don't burn much of the end I light, +but that I keep on biting off bits of the leaf till I get to the +diamonds, and then I swallow them." + +He held out his cigar-case, and the superintendent took it and began to +feel the cigars, till Anson burst out laughing. + +"Don't pinch them too hard," he cried, "or you'll break them, and then +they won't draw." + +The officer returned the cigar-case with an angry ejaculation, and +glanced round as if hesitating where to begin, while the horses of his +men began to imitate the action of the oxen, nibbling away at the rich +grass surrounding the pleasant spring. + +"I say, Robert," said Anson, and the superintendent started at the +familiar nickname: "I'd look smart over the business, for the Boers have +been here lately to water their horses, and if they should by any chance +come back it might mean a journey for you and your men to Pretoria." + +"And you too, if they did come," said the officer surlily. + +"Oh, I don't know," said Anson airily. "I don't believe they would stop +a man with an empty wagon going south on a peaceful journey." + +"They'd take you and your wagon and span, sir," said the officer +sternly. + +"Look here, I don't believe the Boers would behave half so badly to me +as my own people have done. But aren't you going to search?" + +"Yes," said the superintendent sharply. "Your rifle, please." + +Anson unslung it from where it hung in the wagon, and the officer took +it, examined the stock and the plate at the end of the butt, to be sure +that there were no secret places scooped out of the wood, before he +opened the breech and withdrew the ball cartridges, holding the empty +barrels up to his eyes. + +"That's right," cried Anson; "but have a good look round for squalls--I +mean Boers. Gun-barrels don't make half bad things to squint through +when you haven't got a binocular." + +"Bah!" said the superintendent angrily, replacing the cartridges and +closing the breech with a snap. "But you have a pair of glasses slung +across your shoulder, sir. Have the goodness to pass the case here." + +Anson obeyed willingly enough, giving his slung case up for the rifle +that was returned. + +"There you are," he said, "and when you've done I suppose you'd like to +search my clothes and my skin. But I haven't anything there, and I +haven't cut myself to slip diamonds inside my hide, and there are none +in my ears or boots." + +"It's my duty to have you searched all the same," said the +superintendent. "Here, two of you go carefully over Mr Anson, while +you three hitch up your horses there and make a close search throughout +the wagon." + +Anson chuckled as the men began promptly to pass their hands over his +clothes, turn out his pockets, and haul off his boots, their chief, +after satisfying himself that the binocular case had no false bottom or +precious stones inside the instrument itself, looking searchingly on. + +Satisfied at last that his captive had nothing concealed about him, and +frowning heavily at the malicious grin of contempt in which Anson +indulged, the superintendent turned to the men examining the oxen so as +to satisfy himself that none of the heavy dull brutes had been provided +with false horns riveted over their own and of greater length so as to +allow room for a few diamonds in each. + +Then the dissel boom was examined to see if it had been bored out +somewhere and plugged to cover the illicitly-acquired diamonds thrust +in. + +But no: the great pole of the wagon was perfectly solid; there were no +stones stuck in the grease used to anoint the wheels; there was no sign +anywhere outside the wagon of boring or plugging; and at last the +superintendent, after carefully avoiding Anson's supercilious grin, +turned to give a final look round before giving up the search. + +Was there anywhere else likely? + +Yes; there were the bags of mealies and the water-cask slung beneath the +wain, both nearly full, the cask to give forth a sound when it was +shaken, and the sacks ready to be emptied out upon a wagon sheet and +shed their deep buff-coloured grains, hard, clean, and sweet, in a great +heap, which was spread out more and more till they were about two deep, +but showed not a sign of a smuggled stone. + +"Fill the bags again, my lads," said the police superintendent, "and +let's have a look at what's inside the wagon." + +"We've searched everything there," said a sergeant gruffly. + +"I have not," replied the superintendent sharply. "Let me see." + +"But you haven't looked in the water-cask," said Anson mockingly; "turn +the water out on to the wagon sheet. It won't stay there, of course; +but we can easily get some more. Do you think diamonds would melt in +water?" + +"Try one and see," cried the superintendent angrily, as he turned away, +to stand looking on while every article that could by any possibility +have been made to act as a vehicle to hide smuggled diamonds had been +examined and replaced. + +"We've been sold, eh?" said the sergeant, looking up in his +superintendent's eyes at last. + +"It seems like it," was the reply. "There's nothing here." + +Just then Anson, who had been lighting a fresh cigar, came up to him +smilingly. + +"Haven't done, have you?" he said. + +"Yes: quite," was the gruff reply. + +"Oh, I am sorry you haven't had better luck," said Anson, in a mock +sympathetic tone. "It must be terribly disappointing, after expecting +to make a big capture." + +"Very," said the superintendent, looking the speaker searchingly in the +eyes. + +"Well, I said something to you before, but you took no notice." + +"Oh yes, I did." + +"But you didn't act on my tip. It seems like playing the sneak, but +that's what they did to me, so I don't mind paying them back in their +own coin." + +"Pay whom?" + +"The two who informed on me to save their own skins." + +"I do not understand you." + +"Oh dear, what fools you clever men are!" + +"What do you mean?" + +"Bah! And you call yourself a police officer. I'd make a better one +out of a Dutch doll." + +"Once more, what do you mean?" + +"Rub the dust out of your eyes, man." + +"There's none there." + +"Tchah! Your eyes are full of the dust those two threw there. Can't +you see?" + +"No." + +"Well, I am surprised at you," cried Anson; "and after such a hint too! +Can't you see that they've been a-playing upon you--setting you off on a +blind lead to keep your attention while they went off with a big parcel +of diamonds?" + +"What! West and Ingleborough?" + +"To be sure! What should they want to volunteer for, and risk capture +by the Boers, if they hadn't something to gain by it?" + +"Well, they had something to gain--honour and promotion." + +"Pish!" cried Anson; "they want something better than that! You've been +had, squire. You've been set to catch poor innocent, lamb-like me, and +all the while those two foxes have been stealing away with the plunder." + +"What!" cried the superintendent. + +"I spoke plainly enough," said Anson, smiling pleasantly. + +"Yes, you spoke plainly enough," said the superintendent; "but it's +nothing to laugh at, sir." + +"Why, it's enough to make a cat laugh. Well, I wish you better luck," +said Anson, "and if you do catch up to Oliver West I hope you'll slip +the handcuffs on him at once and make him part with his smuggled swag." + +"You may trust me for that," said the superintendent grimly. + +"I shall," said Anson, smiling broadly. "Glad you came after me, so +that I could put you on the right track." + +"So am I," said the police officer, with a peculiar look. + +"And I'm sorry I cut up so rough," continued Anson, smiling, as he +apologised; "but you know, it isn't nice to be stopped and overhauled as +I have been." + +"Of course it isn't," said the officer drily; "but in my profession one +can't afford to study people's feelings." + +"No, no, of course not. But don't apologise." + +"I was not going to," said the superintendent; "I'm sorry, though, to +find out that West is such a scamp. Why, Ingleborough must be as bad." + +"Or worse," said Anson, grinning. + +"Yes, because he's older. Why, I quite trusted that fellow." + +"Ah, you're not the first man who has been deceived, sir." + +"Of course not; but by the way, Mr Anson, why didn't you say something +of this kind in your defence when Ingleborough charged you before the +directors?" + +"Why didn't I say something about it? Why, because I didn't know. It +only came to me too late. But there, you know now; and, as I said +before, I wish you luck and a good haul, only unfortunately they've got +a good start and you'll have your work cut out. Going? Goodbye then." + +"Goodbye?" said the superintendent, using the word as a question. + +"Yes, of course. I'm going to chance it. I don't suppose we shall meet +any Boers." + +"No; I don't think you'll meet any Boers," said the officer, in so +meaning a way that Anson grew uneasy. + +"Why do you speak like that?" he said sharply. + +"Only that it isn't goodbye, Mr Anson." + +"Not goodbye? Yes, it is. I'm off to the south at once." + +"No, sir; you're going north with me. You area suspected person, Mr +Anson. I am not altogether satisfied with my search, nor yet with your +very ingenious story." + +"Then search again?" cried Anson excitedly. + +"Not here, sir. I'll have a careful look over the wagon when we get +back to Kimberley." + +"You don't mean to say you are going to drag me back to Kimberley?" + +"I do, sir, and you ought to be thankful, for you'd never pass through +the Boers' lines further south." + +"But you have thoroughly searched me and my wagon." + +"I have told you that I am not satisfied," said the officer coldly; +"and, even if I were, I should take you back with me all the same." + +"Why? What for?" + +"To face this Mr West and his companion if we capture them and bring +them back." + +"But what's that to me?" + +"Only this: you are the informer, and will have to give evidence against +them when they are examined. Now, please, no more words, Mr Anson; you +are my prisoner. Quick, boys! Get the team in-spanned and the wagon +turned the other way." + +"But breakfast," said Anson, with a groan. "I must have something to +eat." + +"The billy is boiling," said the sergeant to his chief, in a +confidential tone, "and the bullocks would be all the better for an +hour's feed, sir." + +The superintendent looked sharply towards the fire and the prisoner's +provisions, and shaded his eyes and gazed for some minutes south. + +"You're right," he said. "Send two men off a good mile forward as +outposts, and let the oxen feed.--Now, Mr Anson, I'll take breakfast +with you if you'll have me for a guest." + +"Yes; I can't help myself," said the prisoner bitterly; "and suppose I +shan't have a chance given me to make your tea agreeable with something +I have in the wagon." + +"No; I don't think you will, sir, thanks." + +"But I can sit and wish you luck, my friend, and my wish is this--that a +commando may swoop down upon you and your gang." + +"Thanks once more," said the superintendent grimly. "There, sit down, +sir, and I'll preside and send you your breakfast." + +This was done, the repast made, and, as soon as two of the constables +had finished, they were sent off to relieve their rear-guard, sending +them on to have their meal, and with orders to fall back towards the +wagon a quarter of an hour after the relief had been made. + +All this was duly carried out, the oxen in-spanned, and the wagon began +its lumbering course back towards Kimberley, the black driver and +voorlooper taking their places in the most unconcerned way, as if it +were all in the day's work, while Anson, after eating voraciously, had a +fit of the sulks, watching narrowly the movements of the police. After +a moment's indecision he climbed upon the box in the front of the wagon +and in doing so glanced at his rifle, which hung in its slings close to +his head. + +"Six of them," he said to himself, as he smiled pleasantly. "I could +bring down the chief and one more easily; but that wouldn't scare the +rest away. Odds are too heavy, and one don't want to be taken and +hanged. They are so particular about a policeman being hurt! Never +mind; I daresay my luck will turn--fool as I was to try that dodge on +about those two going off with the smuggled loot. I'll wait. Here goes +to whistle for the Boers, as the sailors do for wind." + +Saying this, he drew out the little mahogany case which held his flute, +and coolly took the pieces and fitted them together, before crossing his +legs upon the rough seat and beginning to blow, keeping up a series of +the most doleful old Scotch and Irish laments, while the oxen plodded on +and the police rode by the wagon side, listening and looking in vain for +any sign tending to point out the fact that the flautist was a dishonest +dealer in the coveted crystals which were so hard to get, but all the +same keeping a keen look-out for danger in the shape of advancing Boers. + + + +CHAPTER TWELVE. + +IN THE THICK OF IT. + +The report of the rifle was magical in its effect upon the Basuto +ponies, each rearing up on its hind legs and striking out with its +forefeet; but the same punishment was meted out by the riders--namely, a +sharp tap between the ears with the barrels of the rifles--and the +result was that beyond fidgeting they stood fairly still, while _flash, +flash, flash_, three more shots were fired. The bullets whizzed by with +their peculiar noise, sounding quite close, but probably nowhere near +the riders--those who fired judging in the darkness quite by sound. + +"Let's keep on at a walk," whispered West; but, low as his utterance +was, the sound reached an enemy's ears. + +"Mind what you're about!" said someone close at hand, evidently +mistaking the speaker for a friend; "one of those bullets went pretty +close to my ear. Whereabouts are they?" + +"Away to the right," whispered Ingleborough, in Dutch. + +"Come on then," said the former speaker. "_Ck_!" + +The pony the man rode made a plunge as if spurs had been suddenly dug +into its sides, and the dull beat of its hoofs on the dusty soil told of +the course its rider was taking. + +West was about to speak when the rapid beating of hoofs came from his +left, and he had hard work to restrain his own mount from joining a +party of at least a dozen of the enemy as they swept by noisily in the +darkness. + +"What do the fools think they are going to do by galloping about like +that?" said Ingleborough gruffly. + +"If they had kept still they might have caught us. Hallo! Firing +again!" + +Three or four shots rang out on the night air, and away in front of the +pair the beating of hoofs was heard again. + +"Why, the country seems alive with them," whispered West. "Hadn't we +better keep on?" + +"Yes, we must chance it," was the reply. "No one can see us twenty +yards away." + +"And we ought to make the most of the darkness." + +"Hist!" whispered Ingleborough, and his companion sat fast, listening to +the movements of a mounted man who was evidently proceeding cautiously +across their front from left to right. Then the dull sound of hoofs +ceased--went on again--ceased once more for a time, so long that West +felt that their inimical neighbour must have stolen away, leaving the +coast quite clear. + +He was about to say so to Ingleborough, but fortunately waited a little +longer, and then started, for there was the impatient stamp of a horse, +followed by a sound that suggested the angry jerking of a rein, for the +animal plunged and was checked again. + +As far as the listeners could make out, a mounted man was not forty +yards away, and the perspiration stood out in great drops upon West's +brow as he waited for the discovery which he felt must be made. For a +movement on the part of either of the ponies, or a check of the rein to +keep them from stretching down their necks to graze, would have been +enough. But they remained abnormally still, and at last, to the +satisfaction and relief of both, the Boer vedette moved off at a trot, +leaving the pair of listeners once more free to breathe. + +"That was a narrow escape!" said West, as soon as their late companion +was fairly out of hearing. + +"Yes. I suppose we ought to have dismounted and crawled up to him and +put a bullet through his body," answered Ingleborough. + +"Ugh! Don't talk about it!" replied West. "I suppose we shall have +plenty of such escapes as this before we have done." + +"You're right! But we can move on now, and--Hist! There are some more +on the left." + +"I don't hear anyone. Yes, I do. Sit fast; there's a strong party +coming along." + +West was quite right, a body of what might have been a hundred going by +them at a walk some eighty or ninety yards away, and at intervals a +short sharp order was given in Boer-Dutch which suggested to West +commands in connection with his own drill, "Right incline!" or "Left +incline!" till the commando seemed to have passed right away out of +hearing. + +"Now then," said West softly, "let's get on while we have the chance." + +The words were hardly above his breath, but in the utter stillness of +the night on the veldt they penetrated sufficiently far, and in an +instant both the despatch-riders knew what the brief orders they had +heard meant, namely that as the commando rode along a trooper was +ordered to rein up at about every hundred yards and was left as a +vedette. + +For no sooner had West spoken than there was a sharp challenge to left +and right, running away along a line, and directly after the reports of +rifles rang out and bullets whizzed like insects through the dark night +air. Many flew around and over the heads of the fugitives; for the +moment the discovery was made West and Ingleborough pressed their +ponies' sides and went forward at full gallop to pass through the fire +in front of them. + +It was close work, for guided by the sounds of the ponies' hoofs, the +Boers kept on firing, one shot being from close at hand--so close that +the flash seemed blinding, the report tremendous. This was followed by +a sharp shock, the two companions, as they tore on, cannoning against +the vedette, West's pony striking the horse in his front full upon the +shoulder and driving the poor beast right in the way of Ingleborough's, +with the consequence that there was a second collision which sent the +Boer and his horse prostrate, Ingleborough's pony making a bound which +cleared the struggling pair, and then racing forward alongside of its +stable companion, when they galloped on shoulder to shoulder. They were +followed by a scattered fire of bullets, and when these ceased West +turned in his saddle and listened, to hear the heavy beat of many hoofs, +telling of pursuit; but the despatch-riders were well through the line, +and galloped on at full speed for the next half-hour, when they +slackened down and gradually drew rein and listened. + +"Can't hear a sound!" said West. + +"Nor I," replied Ingleborough, after a pause. "So now let's breathe our +nags and go steadily, for we may very likely come upon another of these +lines of mounted men." + +A short consultation was then held respecting the line of route to be +followed as likely to be the most clear of the enemy. + +"I've been thinking," said Ingleborough, "that our best way will be to +strike off west, and after we are over the river to make a good long +detour." + +West said nothing, but rode on by his companion's side, letting his pony +have a loose rein so that the sure-footed little beast could pick its +way and avoid stones. + +"I think that will be the best plan," said Ingleborough, after a long +pause. + +Still West was silent. + +"What is it?" said his companion impatiently. + +"I was thinking," was the reply. + +"Well, you might say something," continued Ingleborough, in an ill-used +tone. "It would be more lively if you only gave a grunt." + +"Humph!" + +It was as near an imitation as the utterer could give, and Ingleborough +laughed. + +"Thanks," he said. "That's a little more cheering. I've been thinking, +too, that if we make this detour to the west we shall get into some +rougher country, where we can lie up among the rocks of some kopje when +it gets broad daylight." + +"And not go on during the day?" + +"Certainly not; for two reasons: our horses could not keep on without +rest, and we should certainly be seen by the Boers who are crowding over +the Vaal." West was silent again. + +"Hang it all!" cried Ingleborough. "Not so much as a grunt now! Look +here, can you propose a better plan?" + +"I don't know about better, but I was thinking quite differently from +you." + +"Let's have your way then." + +"Perhaps you had better not. You have had some experience in your rides +out on excursions with Mr Norton, and I daresay your plan is a better +one than mine." + +"I don't know," said Ingleborough shortly. "Let's hear yours." + +"But--" + +"Let's--hear--yours," cried the other imperatively, and his voice +sounded so harsh that West felt annoyed, and he began: + +"Well, I thought of doing what you propose at first." + +"Naturally: it seems the likeliest way." + +"But after turning it over in my mind it seemed to me that the Boers +would all be hurrying across the border and scouring our country, +looking in all directions as they descended towards Kimberley." + +"Yes, that's right enough. But go on; don't hesitate. It's your +expedition, and I'm only second." + +"So I thought that we should have a far better chance and be less likely +to meet with interruption if we kept on the east side of the Vaal till +it turned eastward, and then, if we could get across, go on north +through the enemy's country." + +"Invade the Transvaal with an army consisting of one officer and one +man?" + +"There!" cried West pettishly. "I felt sure that you would ridicule my +plans." + +"Then you were all wrong, lad," cried Ingleborough warmly, "for, so far +from ridiculing your plans, I think them capital. There's success in +them from the very cheek of the idea--I beg your pardon: I ought to say +audacity. Why, of course, if we can only keep clear of the wandering +commandos--and I think we can if we travel only by night--we shall find +that nearly everyone is over the border on the way to the siege of +Kimberley, and when we stop at a farm, as we shall be obliged to for +provisions, we shall only find women and children." + +"But they'll give warning of our having been there on our way to +Mafeking." + +"No, they will not. How will they know that we are going to Mafeking if +we don't tell them? I'm afraid we must make up a tale. Perhaps you'll +be best at that. I'm not clever at fibbing." + +"I don't see that we need tell the people lies," said West shortly. + +"Then we will not," said his companion. "Perhaps we shall not be asked; +but if we are I shall say that we are going right away from the fighting +because we neither of us want to kill any Boers." + +"Humph!" grunted West. + +"What, doesn't that suit you? It's true enough. I don't want to kill +any Boers, and I'm sure you don't. Why, when you come to think that we +shall be telling this to women whose husbands, sons, or brothers have +been commandoed, we are sure to be treated as friends." + +"We had better act on your plan," said West, "and then we need make up +no tales." + +"Wait a minute," said Ingleborough. "Pull up." + +West obeyed, and their ponies began to nibble the herbage. + +"Now listen: can you hear anything?" + +West was silent for nearly a minute, passed in straining his ears to +catch the slightest sound. + +"Nothing," he said at last. + +"Nothing," said his companion. "Let's jump down!" + +West followed his companion's example, and swung himself out of the +saddle. + +"Now get between the nags' heads and hold them still. You and they will +form three sides of a square: I'm going to be the fourth." + +"What for?" + +"To light a match." + +"Oh, don't stop to smoke now," said West reproachfully. "Let's get on." + +"Who's going to smoke, old Jump-at-conclusions? I'm going to carry out +our plan." + +_Scratch_! and a match blazed up, revealing Ingleborough's face as he +bent down over it to examine something bright held in one hand-- +something he tried to keep steady till the match burned close to his +fingers and was crushed out. + +"Horses' heads are now pointing due north," he said. "Keep where you +are till I'm mounted. That's right! Now then, up you get! That's +right! Now then! Right face--forward!" + +"But you're going east." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, with a little laugh, "and I'm going with West +or by West all the same. We must keep on till we get to the railway, +cross it, and then get over the border as soon as we can." + +"What, follow out my plan?" + +"Of course! It's ten times better than mine. Look here, my dear boy, +you are a deal too modest. Recollect that you are in command, and that +my duty is to obey." + +"Nonsense!" + +"Sense, sir; sound sense. I've got enough in my head to know when a +thing's good, and you may depend upon my opposing you if I feel that you +are going to act foolishly. Once for all, your idea's capital, lad; so +let's get on as fast as we can till daybreak, and then we can lie up in +safely in the enemy's country." + +In due course the railway was reached, a breeze springing up and +sweeping the sky clear so that they had a better chance of avoiding +obstacles in the way, and as soon as they were well over the line the +ponies were kept at a canter, which was only checked here and there over +broken ground. This, however, became more plentiful as the night glided +away, but the rough land and low kopjes were the only difficulties that +they encountered on the enemy's side of the border, where they passed a +farm or two, rousing barking dogs, which kept on baying till the +fugitives were out of hearing. + +At last the pale streak right in front warned them that daylight was +coming on fast, and they searched the country as they cantered on till +away more to the north a rugged eminence clearly seen against the sky +suggested itself as the sort of spot they required, and they now hurried +their ponies on till they came to a rushing, bubbling stream running in +the right direction. + +"Our guide, Noll," said Ingleborough quietly; "that will lead us right +up to the kopje, where we shall find a resting-place, a good spot for +hiding, and plenty of water as well." + +All proved as Ingleborough had so lightly stated; but before they +reached the shelter amongst the piled-up masses of granite and +ironstone, with shady trees growing in the cracks and crevices, their +glasses showed them quite half-a-dozen farms dotted about the plain. +They were in great doubt as to whether they were unseen when they had to +dismount and lead their willing steeds into a snug little amphitheatre +surrounded by rocks and trees, while the hollow itself was rich with +pasturage such as the horses loved best, growing upon both sides of the +clear stream whose sources were high up among the rocks. + +"You see to hobbling the ponies, Noll," said Ingleborough, "while I get +up as high as I can with my glass and give an eye to the farms. If +we've been seen someone will soon be after us. We can't rest till we +know. But eat your breakfast, and I'll nibble mine while I watch. +Don't take off the saddles and bridles." + +West did as he was requested, and ate sparingly while he watched the +horses browsing for quite an hour, before Ingleborough came down from +the highest part of the kopje. + +"It's all right," he said. "Let's have off the saddles and bridles now. +Have you hobbled them well?" + +"Look," said West. + +"Capital. I didn't doubt you; but you might have made a mistake, and if +we dropped asleep and woke up to find that the ponies were gone it would +be fatal to your despatch." + +"Yes; but one of us must keep watch while the other sleeps." + +"It's of no use to try, my lad. It isn't to be done. If we're going to +get into Mafeking in a business-like condition we must have food and +rest. Come, the horses will not straggle away from this beautiful moist +grass, so let's lie down in this shady cave with its soft sandy bottom +and sleep hard till sunset. Then we must be up and away again." + +"But anxiety won't let me sleep," said West. "I'll sit down and watch +till you wake, and then I'll have a short sleep while you take my +place." + +"Very well," said Ingleborough, smiling. + +"What are you laughing at?" said West, frowning. + +"I was only thinking that you had a very hard day yesterday and that you +have had an arduous time riding through the night." + +"Yes, of course." + +"Well, nature is nature! Try and keep awake if you can! I'm going to +lie flat on my back and sleep. You'll follow my example in less than an +hour." + +"I--will--not!" said West emphatically. + +But he did, as he sat back resting his shoulders against the rock and +gazing out from the mouth of the cave where they had made themselves +comfortable at the beautiful sunlit veldt, till it all grew dark as if a +veil had been drawn over his eyes. + +It was only the lids which had closed, and then, perfectly unconscious, +he sank over sidewise till he lay prone on the soft sand, sleeping +heavily, till a hand was laid upon his shoulder and he started into +wakefulness, to see that the sun had set, that the shadows were +gathering over the veldt, and then that Ingleborough was smiling in his +face. + +"Rested, old man?" he said. "That's right. The nags have had a +splendid feed, and they are ready for their night's work. I haven't +seen a soul stirring. Come on! Let's have a good drink of water and a +feed, and by that time we ought to be ready to start." + +"We ought to cross the Vaal before morning," said West. + +"I doubt it," was the reply, "for it will be rather a job, as we shall +find the enemy about there. If we get across to-morrow night we shall +have done well." + +"But we shall never get to Mafeking like this." + +"It's going to be a harder task than you thought for when you +volunteered so lightly, my dear boy; but we've undertaken to do it, and +do it we will. It isn't a work of hours nor days. It may take us +weeks. Come along! I'm hungry, and so are you." + +"But tell me," said West, "how long have you been awake?" + +"Not above a quarter of an hour. We must have sleep and rest as well as +food. When we've had the last we shall be ready for anything through +the night." + +And so it proved as they rode on properly refreshed, meeting with no +adventure, but being startled by the barking roars of lions twice during +the night, which came to an end as they reached a very similar kopje +offering just such accommodation as they had met with on the previous +morning. + +"Hah!" said Ingleborough. "Just enough prog left for a rough breakfast. +To-morrow we shall have to begin travelling by day, so as to pay a +visit to some farm, for we can't do as the nags do, eat grass when they +can get it and nibble green shoots when they can't. Now then, my dear +Noll, the orders for to-day are: sleep beneath this projecting shelf." + +"But I say," said West, a minute or so later, "is your rifle charged? +You were wiping the barrels as we rode along." + +There was no reply, for Ingleborough was fast asleep, and West soon +followed his example. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTEEN. + +AFTER A LAPSE. + +Oliver West was sleeping soundly that night from sheer fatigue; but all +the same his slumber was not pleasant, for though his body was resting +his brain was hard at work. + +Before an hour had passed he was conscious of being cold, and in a +dreamy way he felt that he ought to do what under the circumstances was +impossible: that is to say, put more clothes over him, or, failing them, +as he had no more, roll himself over and over in the blanket that he had +brought strapped to his saddle-bow and only thrown over him when he lay +down to sleep. But his body was so steeped in sleep that he did not +stir, and suffered from the freezing air of the night--so tremendous a +change from the torrid heat of mid-day out on the veldt. + +Later on, about midnight, the impression came upon him that he could +hear a lion far away, seeming to make the earth quiver beneath him by +giving forth in the fierce beast's strangely ventriloquial way its +awe-inspiring roar, so puzzling to the listener as to whether it is far +off or near. And even in his dreamy state West found himself doubting +that it could be a lion's roar that he heard so near to where +civilisation had driven off most of the savage beasts of the plain. But +the roar came again, nearer, and in his dreams he felt sure that he was +right, and he recalled, still sleeping, the fact that now and then the +king of beasts followed one or other of the straggling herds of +antelopes quite close to the Boers' farms. Then the curious barking +roar ceased, and with it consciousness for some time. + +All at once he found himself wide awake, lying upon his back, and gazing +straight up through the transparent darkness at the stars. He lay for +some moments wondering what had awakened him, perfectly still, and +listening intently for steps or the trampling of horses, feeling sure +that the Boers were close at hand. + +Instinctively his hand was reached out to grasp the rifle, which he had +laid by his side and covered from the dew or hoar frost, whichever might +come, by throwing over it part of his blanket. + +As he touched it the cold perspiration began to start from every pore, +for there was a whiff of hot breath upon his face, and he could dimly +see that some large animal was stretching down its muzzle towards him, +and for a few brief moments he lay as if paralysed, expecting to feel +himself seized and dragged away, for now came back with keen clearness +the recollection of having heard the distant roaring of a lion. + +He had hardly grasped this when once more, from somewhere near, the +lion's terrifying cry arose, evidently, as he thought in a flash, one of +the companions of the huge beast at his side. In an instant now he had +grasped the truth, for as the distant lion roared there came from his +right the peculiar stumbling movement of one of the hobbled horses +striving to get closer to where there would be human companionship, if +not protection. "Poor beast!" thought West, as his fascinated eyes +stared at the dim shape above him, so close that it shut out from him +the light of the stars. + +Then the half-paralysed listener saw clearly, for the beast raised its +head and uttered a low whinnying cry, which was answered from the +direction where the other hobbled pony was moving. + +"Woho, my boy!" whispered West, with the blood now tingling through his +veins, and as the pony whinnied softly again West raised himself up with +his rifle in his right hand and stretched out his left for it to come in +contact with the soft warm muzzle of his pony, which pressed against it, +the poor brute uttering a low sigh. Quite a minute then passed, the two +ponies remaining motionless, and West listening with every nerve on the +strain, knowing as he did that a lion must be in very close proximity, +and fully expecting every moment that there might be a tremendous bound +and the savage brute would alight either upon him or upon one of the +poor shivering beasts. + +Then, from evidently pretty close at hand, there was a low muttering +growl, the barrel of West's rifle fell into his left hand as he held the +weapon pistol-wise and fired low down in the direction of the sounds. + +At the flash and in company with the report there was a yelping snarl +and a couple of angry roars in quick succession. + +West fired again as nearly as he could judge where the beast would be, +and the next moment Ingleborough was kneeling by his side. + +"What is it--lions?" he panted. + +"Yes," whispered West, whose fingers were busy re-loading, and he +listened for the next sound, but only to hear a deep sighing breath on +either side, telling that the horses had been too much terrified to +start away, or else felt that they would be safer with their masters, +and that to try to gallop off meant the springing of a savage enemy upon +their backs. + +The silence continued for nearly a minute, and then there was a vicious +snarling, apparently some fifty yards away, while without a moment's +hesitation Ingleborough raised his rifle to his shoulder and fired as +nearly as he could judge at the spot from whence the noise came. He +fired twice, the shots being so close together as almost to be like one +for a while. Then after a perceptible interval they were echoed from +the walls of a distant kopje, and again from another, before they died +away. + +"That has startled the lions," said Ingleborough; "but I'm afraid it +will startle the Boers and bring them to see what's the matter." + +"Yes, the lions are gone," said West. "Hark at that! Who says horses +have no sense?" + +For the _crop, crop, crop_ of the browsing animals had begun again from +close at hand, and the comrades stood listening for some little time +while the otherwise unbroken stillness once more reigned. + +"What's to be done?" said West. "Shall we make a start at once, or wait +for daylight?" + +"I was thinking," replied Ingleborough. "If we start now we have the +advantage of the darkness to hide us, but the disadvantage too, for we +may go blundering right into the midst of some commando. I don't think +the firing could do us any harm, after all, for the enemy would not be +able to tell where the sounds came from. I think we had better stay +where we are and wait for morning." + +"I think so too," said West, with a sigh of relief; "but one of us ought +to watch in case the lions come back." + +"They will not come back!" said Ingleborough decisively. "From what I +know of their habits they'll have been too much scared to risk their +lives again. You hit one of them; there's no doubt about that." + +"You think there was more than one?" + +"I should say it was a family party of an old lioness and two or three +half-grown cubs." + +"Then we may lie down and sleep again?" + +"Yes; we must trust to our luck, Noll; there's a good deal of chance in +these affairs." + +West hesitated for a few minutes, and then followed his companion's +example, lying awake for some time thinking of what a strange change +this was from his quiet life in the offices of the company; and then, as +he began to ponder over what might be to come, the subject grew too +difficult for him and he fell fast asleep. + +But he was the first to awaken in the grey dawn, to find that the horses +were close at hand, browsing away contentedly enough, and ready to neigh +softly and submit to his caress when he walked up to them; while, as +soon as he had satisfied himself that they had not suffered in any way, +he walked in the direction in which he had fired during the night, to +find footprints in several directions, and in one place the dust among +some stones torn up and scattered, as if one of the brutes had fallen on +its side and scratched up the earth. Plainer still in the way of proof +of what had happened, there were spots and smudges of blood, giving +thorough evidence that one of the lions had been wounded by the chance +shot, and had fallen, and struggled fiercely to regain its feet. + +He had just arrived at this conclusion when Ingleborough found him. + +"Hallo!" cried his companion; "that was a good blind shot, Noll. Well +done, lad! A full-grown lion too! Look at its pads. It must have had +a nasty flesh-wound to have bled like this." + +"Do you think it'll be lying anywhere near, half-dead, or quite?" + +"No! A cat has nine lives, they say; and really this kind of beast is +very, hard to kill. Look, there are the pugs, along with those of three +more, all half-grown, going right away yonder into the open veldt. We +might hunt 'em down, but we don't want to, eh?" + +"Absurd! We want to get on at once. Can you see any pug, as you call +it, of Boers?" + +"No. I've had a good look round, and as soon as we've had a mouthful +we'll be off. I say, it's wonderful, isn't it, how one can sleep out +here on the veldt?" + +"Surrounded by dangers!" replied West. Then laconically: "Yes." + +Their scanty meal was soon eaten and washed down with a draught of pure +water, after which they both climbed to the top of the highest part of +the kopje to take a good survey of the surrounding plain. + +"There's nothing in sight," said Ingleborough quietly; "so we'll hurry +on at once while our shoes are good." + +The ponies looked as fresh as ever when they were saddled and ready to +start, and after an examination of the compass Ingleborough pointed out +that they ought to keep along north-east to strike the Vaal somewhere +that evening, and then go along its southern bank till a ford was +reached, after which their journey would be north by west. + +"But we must be on the look-out for some lonely farm to-day," said West. +"We ought to well fill our haversacks before we start again." + +"Never fear; we shall find plenty of food for sale so long as we have +money to show the Boer ladies. Ready?" + +"Yes," replied West, and together they sprang into their saddles and +rode down the slope, their horses carefully picking their way among the +stones, till the open veldt was reached. They then struck off at a +quiet canter towards a rocky ridge so as to put that between them and +the kopje where they had slept, in case by any possibility their shots +had been heard and a party of the enemy should ride up to it to make a +search and in the course of it see them in the distance riding away. + +"And that would mean pursuit, a race, and the fastest horses to win," +said West. + +"As they generally do when there is fair play," replied Ingleborough +quietly. "Keep a sharp look-out forward, and I'll keep on casting an +eye back at the kopje." + +The ridge was only about a couple of miles distant from their previous +night's resting-place, proving to be fairly high, but with a gradual +slope: while just as they reached the spot where the ascent began +Ingleborough turned in his saddle from a long look-out backwards. + +"This is like wringing one's own neck," he cried. "Now then, let's +canter up this bit, and as soon as we have topped it we need not be so +cautious. Ready?" + +"Yes," cried West. + +"Then off! Steady! No galloping; a gentle canter." + +It was fortunate for the pair that they did not breathe their horses, +but rode up the gentle slope at a regular lady's canter, to find the +ridge pleasantly fringed with a patch of open woodland, through which +their steeds easily picked their way, and on to the farther slope, which +was more dotted with forest growth; but there was nothing to hinder +their rate of speed--in fact, the horses began to increase the pace as a +broad grassy stretch opened before them. + +The moment they passed out of the woodland on to the open space West +uttered a word of warning and pressed his pony's side, for the first +glance showed him that they had come right upon a Boer laager which was +in the course of being broken up. Oxen were being in-spanned, men were +tightening the girths of their ponies, and preparations were in progress +everywhere for an advance in some direction. + + + +CHAPTER FOURTEEN. + +MAN-HUNTING. + +Whatsoever this may have been, the sudden appearance of the two fresh +horsemen decided the course of some thirty or forty, who stood about for +a few moments staring wonderingly at the pair flying down the descent, +before mounting in some cases, in others seizing their rifles and +flinging themselves upon the ground to load rapidly and take aim. + +"Mind how you go, Noll!" shouted Ingleborough. "A fall means being +taken prisoner now!" + +He had hardly shouted the words before the bullets came buzzing about +their ears like bees after disturbers on a hot swarming day in old +England. + +"Take care!" cried West excitedly. "It will be a long chase; so don't +press your nag too hard. Lie down on your horse's neck; the bullets are +coming more and more, and we shan't be safe for another mile." + +"Bah! It's all nonsense about their marksmanship," cried Ingleborough, +who seemed to be suffering from a peculiar kind of elation in which +there was no feeling of fear. "Let them shoot! We're end on to them, +and have a clear course! They're trained to shoot springbok, I suppose, +when they get a chance; but they haven't had much experience of +galloping men. Fire away, you cowardly brutes!" he roared, as if he +fancied that the enemy could hear him. "I don't believe you could hit a +runaway railway truck or a cantering furniture-van, let alone a horse +with a man on its back." + +"Ah!" cried West, at that moment, as he turned from looking back and +snatched off his broad-brimmed hat. + +"Noll, boy, don't say you're hit!" cried Ingleborough passionately. + +"No," said West, drawing his breath with a peculiar sound. "I've +escaped; but I thought I'd got it! I felt as if my hat was being +snatched off, and something touched my ear." + +"Turn your head this way!" said Ingleborough huskily. + +"Wait a moment!" replied West, who had passed his hat into his rein +hand, to afterwards clap his right to his head and draw it away. + +"First blood to them!" he said, with a mocking laugh. + +"Here, we must ease up and let me bandage it," said Ingleborough. + +"No, thanks: that's a likely tale with the bullets flying like this! +Keep on, man; we've got a fair start! Let's get past those trees +forward yonder; they'll shelter us a bit!" + +"But your wound, my lad?" + +"They've only nicked the edge of my ear. It will stop bleeding of +itself. There's nothing to mind!" + +Ingleborough watched him eagerly as he spoke, and seeing for himself +that there was only a feeble trickle of blood from the cut ear, he +pressed on in the required direction. + +"Give me warning," he cried, "if you feel faint, and we'll pull up, +dismount, and cover ourselves with our horses while we try what practice +we can make if they come on." + +"_If_ they come on!" said West bitterly. "Look for yourself; they're +already coming!" + +Ingleborough turned his head sharply, to see that a line of galloping +men had just been launched from the Boer laager to the right and left, +and were streaming in single file down the slope, leaving ample room +between them for their dismounted companions to keep up a steady fire +upon the fugitives. + +"That's their game, is it?" said Ingleborough, between his teeth. "Very +well, then, we must make a race of it and see what our picked ponies can +do." + +"That's right!" cried West. "Let's open out a little!" + +"Right, and give them less to aim at! The bullets are flying wildly +now. Ten yards apart will do." + +They separated to about this distance, and at a word from West each +nipped his pony's flanks with his knees and rose a little in the +stirrups, with the result that the wiry little animals stretched out +greyhound fashion and flew over the veldt as if thoroughly enjoying the +gallop. + +"Steady! steady!" shouted West, at the end of ten minutes. "We're +leaving the brutes well behind, and the bullets are getting scarce. +Don't let's worry the brave little nags! With a start like this we can +leave the Boers well behind." + +Ingleborough nodded after a glance backward and followed his companion's +example, drawing rein so that their steeds settled down into a +hand-gallop, still leaving their pursuers farther behind. The ground +was now perfectly level, stretching for three or four miles without an +obstacle, and then the horizon line was broken by one of the many kopjes +of the country, one which lay right in their line of flight. + +"What about that?" said West. "Shall we make for it and get into +shelter ready for using our rifles?" + +"I don't like it!" replied Ingleborough. "There might be another party +there, and then it would be like galloping into another hornets' nest." + +"I don't like it either," said West; "but we must think of our horses, +and by the time we get there half of this pursuing lot will have tailed +off, while I don't believe the rest will come on if we shoot pretty true +from behind some rock." + +"That's right!" said Ingleborough. "We mustn't let them keep us on the +run, for the horses' sake." + +"Look out!" said West, in warning tones. + +"What is it?" + +"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 +space, 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-fashioned 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 scrap 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 glass from where it +was slung and looking back, to see that the enemy was remounting and +continuing the pursuit. + +"Not they!" replied Ingleborough. "They're too fond of whole skins to +run risks! They'll lie down in holes and corners to fire at us, but +they will not attack us if we are well in cover, and they find we can +hold our rifles straight." + +"Then we must!" said West quietly. "Only we shall want a bit of rest +first, for my nerves are all of a quiver, and the blood feels as if it +was jumping in my veins." + +"Come along then! We'll soon find a place where we can lie down behind +the stones! The sooner the better too, for I'm beginning to feel rather +murderous." + +"Murderous!" cried West. + +"Yes: don't you? I'm not going to be shot at for nothing! Look here, +Nolly, my lad, life's very sweet, and I value mine. I'm peaceably +disposed enough, but these brutes have invaded our country, and you've +had proof that they are trying their level best to make us food for the +crows. Under the circumstances don't you think it's time for the +lambs--meaning us--to turn upon the butchers--meaning the Boers--and let +_them_ feed the crows instead?" + +"Don't talk in poetical metaphors, Ingle," said West, with a grim smile. +"If it comes to the point, we'll make our rifles speak in a way that +will keep the enemy from stopping to hear the end of what they have to +say." + +"Ha! ha! ha!" laughed Ingleborough; "who's talking metaphorically now?" + +"I've done," said West. "Walk!" he cried loudly, and they drew rein, to +let the ponies pick their way up the commencement of a slope dotted with +small stones, while but a short distance farther on the front of the +castle-like kopje was gashed with little gorges and ravines, offering +plenty of places where horses and men might hide. + +"Rather awkward if we were to find that there were some more of the +enemy here!" said West, as the nature of the ground forced him to follow +his companion, instead of their riding abreast. + +He had hardly spoken when it was as if a trumpet had rung out a +challenge from one of the little gorges in front, and West answered by +shouting: "Right-about face!" and leading the way back. It was no +trumpet, but the loud neigh of a Boer horse, while shot after shot was +fired as they galloped away, fortunately being able to shelter +themselves from the fire by striking off to the right as soon as they +were clear of the stones, the higher ones proving their salvation, being +in the way of the enemy's aim. + +"Out of the frying-pan into the fire!" cried Ingleborough; "and the +fire's going to be hotter than the pan." + +"Yes," cried West. "Give them their head! Gallop right for the river +now." + + + +CHAPTER FIFTEEN. + +A DESPATCH-RIDER'S WORK. + +"Hurrah!" cried West, as soon as they were once more well out in the +open, their horses breathed, and ready to answer to any demand made upon +them by their riders. "Keep abreast, and open out more. Faster! +faster! We have only a short start this time." + +"But we'll make the best of it," cried Ingleborough, between his teeth. +"Bend down well! The firing has begun!" + +"It is speaking for itself," said West grimly, as the buzzing whirr of +the bullets began again, while faintly heard there came, half smothered +by the thudding of their own horses' hoofs, the clattering of Boer +mounts being led out over the stones of the ravine in which they had +been hid. + +"See any more of the old party?" cried West, as they rode well out now +on to the level. + +"No; we've turned off so much that they are quite in our rear." + +"Then the way's clear for the river?" + +"If we can reach it, lad," said Ingleborough; "and if we do it may be in +flood, or impassable where we hit it." + +"Or a hundred other things," cried West angrily, as they tore along at +full gallop now, with the bullets flying round them. + +"Don't begin to prophesy evil! I say we're going to leave the Boers far +behind and escape." + +"I can't look at our chance in the same flowery light as you do, my +boy," replied Ingleborough. "My breakfast wasn't good enough to inspire +me with so much hope, and I should advise you to open your haversack." + +"Nonsense! I could not eat now!" + +"But you must be ready to if you don't begin, my lad. My advice is that +you get ready to eat those sandwiches, for you mustn't let the good +verbal meat inside get into the enemy's hands." + +Ingleborough had hardly spoken before his horse suddenly checked, +throwing him forward upon its neck and nearly sending him off. But he +clung to it desperately, while the poor beast's next act was to rear up, +pawing hard at the air. In spite of the difficulty, Ingleborough +shuffled himself back into the saddle, speaking encouraging words to the +shivering animal, which kept on pawing at the air for a few moments and +just gave its rider time to throw himself off sidewise before it went +right over backwards, struck out with all four legs in the air, and then +subsided--motionless. + +West drew rein instantly as he tore by, and cantered back, reckless of +the whistling bullets which were flying around. + +"Beg their pardon!" cried Ingleborough, struggling to his feet after a +heavy fall. "I retract my words." + +"Hurt?" cried West excitedly. + +"Rather! Ground is pretty hard!" + +"Here," cried West, leaping off; "jump into my saddle, and I'll hold on +by the mane and run." + +"Nonsense! Absurd! Don't be a fool!" cried Ingleborough angrily. "The +game's up for me! Jump up and gallop again! Don't let the brutes take +you too." + +"Likely!" said West, taking out his handkerchief and beginning to fold +it bandage fashion. "Your head's bleeding. Let me tie this round." + +"Let it bleed!" cried Ingleborough angrily, and picking up his soft felt +hat, which had fallen in the dust, he stuck it on tightly. "That's +bandaged!" he said. "Now then, be off before it's too late." + +"Of course; that's just what you would have done!" said West quietly. + +"Never mind what I would have done," cried Ingleborough angrily. "Ride +for your life!" + +"Do you take me for a Dutchman?" said West coolly. + +"Oh, you fool--you fool!" cried Ingleborough, stamping his foot angrily. +"You'll be too late! No, they're dismounting. Now then, up with you +and make a dash." + +West gave a glance to right and left, to see that some twenty of the +enemy had leaped from their horses and were advancing, while twice as +many more, who covered them with their rifles, came slowly on, shouting +to him the Dutch for "Hands up!" + +The position was perilous, though the chances were even still about +being taken or riding clear if he went at full gallop; but West did not +stir. + +"No, thankye, old fellow," he said. "It would be such dull work riding +alone. What do you say to taking cover amongst the bushes?" + +"Bah! Cover for the front, and none for flank or rear!" + +"We could squat down back to back," said West coolly, "and shoot a few +of them first. I want to fight the brutes with their own weapons." + +"Once more, will you make a bolt of it?" cried Ingleborough faintly. + +"No--I--will--not!" said West slowly and distinctly, and then, making a +dash, he caught his comrade round the waist, letting him sink gently +down upon the sand and stones, for his legs had given way and his face +turned ghastly. + +"Thanks, old man," said Ingleborough, with a feeble smile and his eyes +looking his gratitude. + +He lay still now, with his countenance seeming to grow fixed and hard; +but West opened his water-flask and poured a few drops between the poor +fellow's lips, when he began to revive at once, and lay perfectly still +while his comrade removed his hat and proceeded to bind the ready-folded +handkerchief tightly about the bleeding wound, caused by sharp contact +with a stone when he fell. + +"West," groaned Ingleborough, recovering now a little, "once more, lad, +think, think; never mind me! Mount; never mind the firing; ride for +your life!" + +"Once more, old fellow," said West, through his teeth, "I won't leave +you in the lurch!" + +"But the despatches, lad. I am only one, and they are to save a +thousand." + +"Ah!" cried West, springing to his feet as if the object of his journey +had been driven out of his head by the excitement of the moment, and he +took a step towards his horse, just as, to his intense surprise, +Ingleborough's mount suddenly threw up its muzzle, made a plunge, and +found its feet, shook itself violently, and whinnied, as if it had just +recovered from being stunned. + +"Here, make one effort," cried West, seizing the steed's bridle and +leading it to where its rider lay. + +"Look--your pony's all right again! Can you mount?" + +"No," said Ingleborough faintly, as he made an effort to struggle to his +knees, but only fell back with a groan. "Can't! Feel as if my neck's +broken and my shoulder numbed. Now will you make a dash while you can?" + +West hesitated, and duty mastered friendship and humane feeling for his +companion. He was but one, and the despatch might deal with the lives +of a thousand men in peril of their lives. + +"Yes, I must go!" he groaned, making for his horse; but he was too late. + +For though the Boers, apparently from a feeling that they were quite +sure of their prey, had advanced slowly and cautiously, each man with +his rifle presented and finger on trigger, their movements showed plenty +of cunning. They had opened out so as to get round the horses, watching +the young man's actions all the time, and when he at last made for his +mount they were close up, and rifle-barrels bristled around, every +muzzle threatening and grim. + +"Throw up your hands!" came in chorus from a score of throats, and +directly after the same order was given in fair English by two of the +ragged, unkempt, big-bearded enemy. + +West looked fiercely round like a hunted animal brought to bay by the +hounds, waiting to seize the first one that sprang, and ground his teeth +with rage; but he paid no heed to the men's words. + +"Throw up your hands!" roared one of the men. + +"Throw up your own!" said West defiantly, and then to his bitter +annoyance he started on one side, for there was a flash, simultaneously +a whizz close to his face, and instantly the sharp report of a rifle. + +Recovering from the sudden shock to his nerves caused by his previous +unbelief that the enemy would be so cowardly as to fire upon a perfectly +helpless prisoner, West swung himself round to face the man who had +fired at him from such close quarters that the flash of the powder had +scorched his cheek. + +The Boer was busily thrusting a fresh cartridge into the breech of his +piece, and as he met the young man's eyes he burst out into a coarse and +brutal laugh. + +"Throw up your hands, then, you cursed rooinek!" he cried, "or I'll blow +out your brains!" + +"Not if I die for it!" cried West. "You cowardly cur!" And turning as +the Boers closed him in, he continued, with bitter contempt, and +speaking in their own tongue: "I suppose you are a specimen of the brave +peasant farmers making a struggle for their liberty!" + +"You keep a civil tongue in your head, young man," growled out one of +the party in English, "unless you want to feed the crows!" + +"You keep your cowardly gang in order first before you dictate to me!" +cried West, turning upon the speaker sharply. "Do you call it manly to +fire at close quarters upon a party of two?" + +"No!" said the man shortly, as he turned round and said a few angry +words in the Boer jargon--words which were received by some with angry +growls, while the major portion remained silent and sullen. + +"You're not our cornet! Mind your own business, before you're hurt!" +cried the man who had fired, taking a few steps towards the spot where +West stood, and, seizing him savagely by the throat, he tried to force +him to his knees. + +But he tried only with one hand--his left--his right being engaged by +his rifle, and to his utter astonishment the prisoner retorted by +kicking his legs from under him and flinging him upon his back. + +A yell of anger arose from some, and of delight from others, all looking +on while the discomfited Boer sprang up with a cry of rage, cocked his +rifle, and, taking quick aim, would have fired point-blank at the +prisoner had not his act been anticipated by the Boer who had before +spoken. Quick as thought he sprang upon his companion, striking the +presented rifle upwards with a blow from his own, and then grasping the +infuriated man by the collar. + +"None of that!" he cried fiercely in Dutch. "Cornet or no cornet, I'm +not going to stand by and see a cowardly murder done! We've got to +fight, brother burghers, but we'll fight like soldiers and men. Our +name's been stained enough by what has been done already." + +"Here, you'd better go and fight for the rooineks," cried the +discomfited Boer fiercely. + +"I'm going to fight for my home and country, brothers," cried West's +defender, "the same as you are: not help to murder a helpless boy who +has behaved like a brave man." + +The portion of the force who had seemed disposed to side against the +speaker were disarmed by his words, and there was a general cheer at +this, while the cause of the trouble growled out: "You're a traitor to +your country, and the commandant shall hear of this." + +"No, no, no, no!" came in chorus. "Serves you right." + +West made no resistance now, as his defender signed to him to give up +his rifle, which, plus the bandolier, was handed over with a sigh, +Ingleborough's having already been taken away. + +The next thing done was to search the prisoners' pockets--watch, purse, +and pocket-book being taken away, but the inner belts containing the +greater part of their money were entirely overlooked, while West stood +breathing hard, his face wrinkled up and an agonising pain contracting +his heart, for the Boer who had defended him unbuttoned the flap of his +haversack, thrust in his hand, and brought out a couple of cake loaves, +and then, one after the other, two carefully wrapped-up sandwiches, +standing for a few moments with them in his hand, hesitating, while +Ingleborough, who had recovered his senses, darted a meaning look at his +suffering companion. + +"It's all over with our expedition!" he said to himself. "Why didn't +poor Noll eat his sandwiches?" + +The moments were as agonising to him as to West, who could only stand in +silence; but, having become somewhat versed in the tricks of those who +fought the law through his friendship with Norton, an idea crossed his +mind, and turning in a faint appealing way to the Boer who seemed to be +holding in suspense the scales of success and failure, he said: "Don't +take our bit of provisions away! We're prisoners; isn't that enough?" + +The Boer fixed him with his eyes, noted his pallid face and the blood +trickling down from the cut caused by his fall, and then, as if +satisfied and moved by a feeling akin to compassion, he nodded his head, +thrust the cake and the sandwich-like papers back into West's haversack, +and let it swing again under the young man's arm. + +"Lucky for them we're not hungry!" he said, in his own tongue, "or we +shouldn't have left them much." + +"Why don't you make them eat it?" cried the man who had fired. "For +aught we know, it may be poisoned." + +"Bah!" cried their friend, who had done the pair so good a turn; "let +them be!" + +A couple of the Boers then approached with reins, but, in spite of the +opposition that had taken place, the man who had taken West's part again +interfered, just as they proceeded to raise Ingleborough to bind his +hands behind his back. + +"There is no need!" said the man sharply. "Can't you see that he is too +weak to stand? Help him upon his horse, and one go on either side to +keep him in the saddle." + +Then turning to West, he continued: "Mount; but you will be shot down +directly if you attempt to escape." + +"I am not going to leave my friend," said West coldly. "I could have +galloped away had I wanted to. Let me walk by his side to help him." + +The man looked at the speaker searchingly and then nodded, West taking +the place of one of the Boers, who placed himself just behind him with +rifle ready. Then the little party moved off towards the kopje where +the prisoners had been surprised. + +"How are you?" asked West, as soon as they were in motion. + +"I feel as if I were somewhere else!" was the half-laughing, half-bitter +reply. "All use seems to have been completely knocked out of me, and +the hills and kopjes go sailing round and round." + +"That will soon pass off," said West, and then after a short pause: +"Well, we're prisoners after all. It does seem hard now we have got so +far! I wonder where they'll send us?" + +"It does not much matter!" said Ingleborough. "Anywhere will do, if I +can lie down and rest till this dreadful swimming and confusion passes +off. As soon as it does we'll escape--to eat the sandwiches," he added +meaningly. + +"If we can," said West; "but don't talk about them again! Oh, Ingle, I +wish I had your sharp wits." + +"Pooh! Where there's a will there's a way," said Ingleborough faintly. +"You might have escaped, but as you insisted upon being taken to share +my lot I was obliged to do something, and now I must do nothing but +think of how to get away." + +The effort of talking was evidently too much for the poor fellow, and +West confined himself to keeping him upright in the saddle, from which +he would certainly have fallen but for his comrade's willing arm. + +West was so fully occupied by his task, the two Boers offering not the +slightest aid, that he paid no heed to the fact that their captors led +them right round to the far side of the kopje, and then through a narrow +gap of the rocks into a natural amphitheatre, wherein there was ample +room for the formation of a great laager, the wagons being arranged in +an irregular ellipse, thoroughly hidden from the veldt outside, while +the rocks of the kopje roughly formed a rampart of vast strength, and +apparently quite impregnable. + +West took in all he could as he and his companion in misfortune were led +through and within the barricade of wagons to where the horses and +cattle were securely tethered, while a burst of cheering saluted the +returning party as soon as it was seen that they had prisoners and a +couple of likely-looking mounts. It was a surprise, for no one +journeying across the veldt could for a moment have supposed that so +secure a natural stronghold existed behind the rocky barriers. + +The next minute the prisoners saw their sturdy ponies tied up to the +tail of one of the great wagons, so near that West began to wonder +whether when darkness came it would be possible to creep to their side, +cut them free, mount, and make a old dash for liberty. + +But a glance at Ingleborough showed him that this would be impossible, +for the poor fellow had sunk over sidewise as soon as he had been lifted +out of the saddle, and lay perfectly inert and with his eyes +half-closed. West knelt down by him and, taking his slung water-bottle, +he raised his injured companion's head a little and began to trickle, a +few drops at a time, a little water between the sufferer's lips. + +He was occupied in this way when he noted that a large group of the +Boers had approached, one of whom, a short sturdy-looking individual, +with swarthy skin and thick black beard plentifully sprinkled with grey, +suddenly said, in good English: "What is the matter with him--shot?" + +"No," replied West. "His horse was struck, and reared up, and my friend +was thrown heavily upon his head." + +"Oh, is that all?" said the Boer nonchalantly. "Let him sleep it off! +But listen, you: we shoot prisoners who try to escape." + +"I shall not try to escape and leave him," said West coldly. + +The Boer commandant, for such he proved to be, gave him a keen look and +then turned away to speak to one of the men, the result of the orders he +gave being that Ingleborough was carried to one of the wagons forming +the laager, and West ordered to follow and wait upon his friend, who, +after his injury had been carefully bathed and bandaged, sank into a +swoon-like sleep, leaving West to sit thinking of their position and +pondering upon the fact that the two Basuto ponies were tethered in +sight of where he sat, and that he still had the treasured-up despatches +safe. + +His great trouble now seemed to be whether he should conceal the papers +about his person or leave them in the haversack carelessly hung from the +side of the wagon-tilt, lest he should be searched again and with a more +serious result than the loss of watch and purse. + +Night came at last, with the difficulty still unsolved, and a yet more +serious one to keep him awake. + +It was this: Ought he to wait till well on in the night, and then creep +out by the sentry on duty outside, get to one of the ponies, and try and +steal away? + +And the time glided on, with the question still unanswered. There was +the horse, and there was the despatch; but there were also the Boers by +the hundred, hemming him completely in, and, even if he were disposed to +leave Ingleborough to his fate, any attempt seemed to be mad to a +degree. + + + +CHAPTER SIXTEEN. + +AFTER A REST. + +West started up into wakefulness the next morning from a dream in which +he was galloping for his life with the Boers in full pursuit, and then +he sighed and wondered when and how he had dropped asleep, for he could +only recall being miserable, awake, and puzzled as to what to do, and +then all seemed to have become blank till he was awakened by his +captors' busy stir and the crackling of the fires being lighted. + +West's first steps were to see to his companion, who did not seem to +have moved, and the first feeling was one of satisfaction; but directly +afterwards he felt uneasy, for Ingleborough seemed to be unnaturally +still, and a shiver ran through him as he leaned over where his friend +lay on the floor of the wagon, to place a hand upon the injured man's +forehead below the bandage which made him look so ghastly. + +Then came reaction as it was proved that the sufferer had only been in a +deep sound sleep. + +For Ingleborough's eyes opened, to gaze at him wonderingly. + +"What's the matter? Oh, it's you, Noll!" + +"Yes; you startled me!" + +"Eh? What did I do?" + +"You lay so still!" + +"Did I? Oh, of course. I've been very fast asleep, I suppose. What +time it is--nearly sundown?" + +"No, it's morning--sunrise." + +"I'm blessed! What, have I slept all night?" + +West nodded and smiled. + +"Soundly, I suppose!" he said. "But how are you?" + +"Horribly stupid and muddled! I don't quite make out! Oh yes, I do +now. I came down such a quelch that it knocked all the sense out of me, +and my head feels all knocked on one side. But tell me: what about the +despatch?" + +"I have it all right so far!" + +"That's good. Where are our ponies?" + +"Tied up yonder to the wheel of a wagon." + +"That's good, too, lad! Then all we've got to do is to help ourselves +to them the first chance and ride away." + +"Yes," said West drily, "the first chance; but will there be a first +chance?" + +"Why not? It's of no use to look at the black side of things! Where +there's ill luck there's always good luck to balance it, and we're bound +to have our share of both. We had the bad yesterday; the good will come +to-morrow, or next day, or the day after--who knows? We were not +killed. You had your ear nicked and I had a bad fall which will cure +itself as fast as the slit in your ear grows up. I call it grand to +have saved the despatch! Are they going to give us any breakfast?" + +"Hah!" sighed West; "you've done me good, Ingle. I was regularly in the +dumps." + +"Keep out of them, then!" was the reply. "You didn't expect to get your +message delivered at Mafeking without any trouble, did you?" + +"No, no, of course not! Then you think we might make a dash for it some +time?" + +"Of course I do; but I don't suppose the chance will come to-day. Let's +hope that our next move may take us nearer our goal, for I don't suppose +the Boers will take us with them. They'll send us prisoners to +Pretoria, I suppose; and we must make our dash somewhere on the road." + +Ingleborough was right: the chance for the dash did not come that day, +nor the next, nor the next. For the Boer commando did not stir from the +natural stronghold which had been made its halting-place. In fact, two +fresh parties, for which there was plenty of room, joined them, and a +good deal of business went on: men going out on expeditions and +returning: wagons laden with provisions and ammunition and two big +field-pieces arriving, as if the force was being increased ready for +some important venture--all of which busy preparation took place under +the eyes of the two prisoners, who, while being fairly well treated in +the way of rations, were carefully guarded. + +"One would like to know a little more what it all means!" said +Ingleborough. "As it is, one seems to be quite in the dark!" + +"And we're doing nothing!" sighed West. "Oh, it's terrible! I must +begin to stir, even if it is only to bring about another check." + +"What would be the good of that?" + +"Ease to one's brain!" said West passionately. "Here have I been +trusted with this mission and am doing nothing, while all the time the +poor fellows at Mafeking must be watching despairingly for the despatch +that does not come." + +"Look here, old lad," said Ingleborough sympathetically; "when a +fellow's chained down hand and foot it's of no use for him to kick and +strain; he only makes his wrists and ankles sore and weakens himself, so +don't do it! Believe me, the proper time to act is when they take you +out of your chains! It's very depressing, I know; but what can't be +cured--" + +"Must be endured. I know, Ingle; but here we are prisoners, and I can't +help getting more hopeless." + +"But you must! Things can't go on like this much longer! Either our +troops will come here and attack the Boers, or the Boers will go and +attack the British. Just have patience and wait!" + +"But here we are, just as we were nearly a week ago, and nothing has +happened." + +"Oh yes, something has!" said Ingleborough, with a smile. "I've got +well again! The first morning I couldn't have mounted my pony and +ridden off even if they had brought it to the end of the wagon here and +said: `Be off!' To-day I could jump on and go off at full gallop. Do +you call that nothing?" + +"No, of course not!" said West. "There, you must forgive me! I'm very +discontented, I know; but you see why." + +"To be sure I do! I say, though, you've been at that satchel! The +sandwiches are gone." + +West nodded. + +"Haven't eaten them, have you?" + +"No, they're sewed up in the belt of my jacket. I did it two nights +ago, and I'm living in hopes that they will not search us again." + +"That's it, is it? Well, I'm glad you did that! There, keep a good +heart; something is sure to happen before long!" + +"I only hope it may; even evil would be better than this miserable state +of inaction. I think till I feel half-mad." + +"Well, we won't hope for the evil, only for something in the way of +change, if it's only to pay a visit to Pretoria gaol." + +"What!" + +"Only so as to get some news to give to old Norton when we get back. It +will interest him. I wonder whether he's keeping his eye on Master +Plump-and-Pink. Well, I am blessed!" + +"What is the matter? Are they making a move?" cried West excitedly, for +Ingleborough had sprung to the end of their wagon prison to stand +looking out. + +"Someone has!" cried Ingleborough angrily. "Look here! Why, old Norton +must have been asleep." + + + +CHAPTER SEVENTEEN. + +BAD SHILLINGS ALWAYS COME BACK. + +West stepped to his companion's side, looked out between the rough +curtains of the wagon, and saw a group of mounted Boers surrounding a +freshly-arrived wagon with its long team of bullocks, the black +voorlooper at the head and the driver with his enormous whip on the box. + +"Well," said West, after a sharp glance, "there's a fresh load of +provisions, I suppose! What of it?" + +"Rub your eyes, lad, and look again." + +"They don't want rubbing." + +"Well, of all the fellows! Look there, beyond those mounted men who +escorted the wagon in--there where the commandant and the dismounted +party are talking together." + +"Yes, I see where you mean; but what has it to do with us? I don't-- +yes, I do. Why, it's Anson!" cried West excitedly. + +"Anson it is! I began to think you were going blind!" + +"But how strange! They have taken him prisoner then. Look here; we're +not going to have him with us." + +"It doesn't look as if he is a prisoner," said Ingleborough; "they all +seem too friendly. I believe the scoundrel has deserted from the town +and come to join the Boers. What has old Norton been about?" + +"Is it possible?" + +"Oh, it's possible enough, if old Norton has been to sleep. Rats desert +sinking ships!" + +"Kimberley isn't a sinking ship!" said West indignantly. + +"I don't know so much about that, lad! There is a very small force +ready to defend it; it's a long way from help; and, as we see here, the +enemy is swarming down upon it from all directions. You see, it's so +far from our forces and so near to the Free State border." + +"Ah, there he is plainly enough, laughing with the commandant! Look, he +clapped him on the shoulder!" + +"Yes, I give him credit for anything!" said Ingleborough. "I shouldn't +wonder if he was in full correspondence with the Boers and is ready to +sell us as well as buy diamonds. As likely as not, he has slipped away +with his swag so as to escape before the fighting begins. But how +Norton can have let him get away is more than I can understand!" + +"Well, it's plain enough that he's here!" said West; "and I can't help +feeling glad that he is not a prisoner, for if he had been put with us +it must have come to a quarrel. Look here, seeing what the treacherous +thief is, we ought to denounce him to the commandant." + +"Don't do anything of the kind! What good would it do?" + +"But he is such a despicable wretch!" + +"What's that to you?" + +"Ingleborough!" + +"Oh yes, I know what you're ready to say; but you've got something else +to do besides playing the virtuous part of denouncing Master Anson as a +diamond-dealer. Besides, I don't believe the Boers would think any the +less of him if they believed you." + +"They couldn't help believing our evidence!" said West. + +"Nonsense! It isn't your business!" + +"It's every honest man's business!" cried West hotly. + +"Not if he is on Government service with a despatch to deliver in +Mafeking," said Ingleborough, with a peculiar look at his companion. + +"Hah!" cried West; "you are right again! But--oh!" + +"Oh, what?" + +"Why, he was present when we volunteered to carry the despatch!" + +"To be sure, so he was!" cried Ingleborough excitedly. + +"Then as soon as he knows we have been captured he'll denounce me to the +commandant as the bearer of the message, and oh, Ingle, we shall be +searched again!" + +"Yes," was the thoughtful reply; "and you've got it on you. We might +change jackets, but that would be no good. Could you rip it out of +yours?" + +"Yes, of course, in a few moments." + +"Then you'd better." + +"Not now; it's too late. We must wait for a better opportunity." + +"But--" + +"No, no, I tell you," cried West excitedly; "look, he's not a prisoner. +The scoundrel has recognised us and is coming here. Why, Ingleborough, +he's a traitor--a rebel. No wonder he got through the Boer lines. +Look! there can be no doubt about it; he has joined their side. Those +men, the Boer leaders, the commandants and field-cornets, cannot know +that he is a thief." + +"But they soon shall!" answered Ingleborough hoarsely. + +"No, no, keep quiet," whispered West; "he's laughing with them and +coming here. Don't say a word; wait! It's my advice now." + +"If I can!" muttered Ingleborough. "The skunk! He's sending the blood +dancing through my veins! He must be denounced, and if he begins to say +a word about your volunteering to bear the despatch I'll let him have it +hot and strong." + +"Why, you seem to have completely turned your coat!" said West bitterly. + +"I have! What we have just been saying has stirred up all my bile. But +I wish I could turn your coat too--out of the wagon." + +"Why not?" said West, as a thought occurred to him, and running to the +other end of the vehicle, stripping off his jacket as he did so, he +thrust out his head and called to the sentry whose duty it was to guard +against any attempt to escape. + +"What is it?" said the man quietly. + +"Take my coat and hang it on the rocks yonder," he said. "I've been +sleeping in it night after night, and it's all fusty and damp. Out +yonder, right in the sun." + +The request was so simple and reasonable that the man nodded, took the +jacket, and was turning to go away. + +"Don't let anyone meddle with it," said West; "it's my only one, and I +don't want a Kaffir to carry it off." + +"He'd better not try!" said the Boer, with a meaning laugh, and he bore +the jacket right away to where the sun was beating hotly upon the rock, +where the next minute the garment was spread out. + +"Talk about me having a ready wit in an emergency!" said Ingleborough +merrily; "why, I'm a baby to you, West, my son! There: I'm proud of +you." + +"Oh, but the risk!" whispered the young man. "That precious garment +lying carelessly yonder!" + +"Carelessly? That's just the way to keep it safe. Who'd ever think of +examining the coat lying out there?" + +"The first man who goes near it!" + +"The first rogue, and he'd only feel in the pockets. But there's no +fear: that sentry would fire at any thief who tried to steal! That's +safe enough!" + +"I wish I could think so!" replied West. "The first thing when they +come will be to ask me what I have done with my jacket." + +"Pooh! In that loose, dark flannel shirt they'll never think of it. I +thought they'd have been here, though, before now." + +They had to wait for some little time still, for the Boers had gathered +about the new-comer, forming a half-circle, evidently to listen while +Anson talked to them earnestly, his gesticulations suggesting to Ingle +borough, rightly or wrongly, that he was describing the arrangements for +defence made by the British garrison at Kimberley, which he had so +lately left; and as he spoke every now and then the listeners nodded, +slapped the stocks of their rifles, turned to make remarks to one +another, and gave the speaker a hearty cheer. + +"Oh, you beauty!" growled Ingleborough. "I can't hear a word you say; +but I'm as certain as if I were close up that you're telling those +chuckle-headed Dutch that all they've got to do is to march straight in +and take Kimberley, for they'll find it as easy as kissing their hands." + +"If he is telling them the weak points it's downright treason," said +West bitterly, after a glance out of the wagon in the direction of the +rocks on which lay his jacket. + +"It's stand him up with a firing party, and a sergeant with a revolver +to finish the work if it isn't quite done," said Ingleborough. "The +cowardly scoundrel: he'll be getting his deserts at last! I say, +though, isn't it sickening? A blackguard like that, who doesn't stop at +anything to gain his ends!" + +For Anson had finished speaking and the Boers had closed round him, +patting him on the back and pressing forward one after the other to +shake his hand, while he smiled at them in his mildest, blandest way. + +After a few more friendly words the ex-clerk began slouching slowly up, +followed by half-a-dozen of the principal men, till he was close to the +tail of the prison wagon where West and Ingleborough were seated trying +to look perfectly indifferent, but the former with his heart beating +heavily and a flush coming hotly into his cheeks, when the Boers stopped +short, leaving Anson to speak, listening the while as if they +anticipated a little amusement from their new friend the informer +hailing the prisoners in the wain. + +"Hullo!" cried Anson, with one of his most irritating smiles--one full +of the triumph over them he enjoyed and the contempt he felt, "hullo! +Who'd have thought that the virtuous West and the enthusiastic sham +detective Ingleborough would have come out here to join the Boers? But +don't tell me. I know: I can see how it is. You've both been bled, and +that's let some of the bounce out of you." + +He stopped for a moment for those he insulted to reply, but as they both +sat looking at him in cool contempt he went on jeeringly: "The Boers +know what they're about, I see. When a horse has the megrims they bleed +him in the ear, and judging that the same plan would do for a donkey +they've bled cocky West there, and bull-headed Ingleborough on the +skull." + +West's face grew of a deeper red, and he drew in a long deep breath, for +those of the Boers who understood English burst into a hearty laugh at +this sally of the renegade's. + +"Well, I'm glad of it!" continued Anson, taking the Boers' laughter as +so much approval. "It was all you wanted, Bully West, and I daresay, +now that you've come to your senses, you'll make a decent Boer. There, +I'll give you a recommendation for a clerkship, for you do really write +a decent hand." + +"Say thanks," growled Ingleborough, with a sneer which told of his +contempt; "he will no doubt have plenty of interest. He has come up to +lead the Boer army's band and give lessons on the flute." + +Anson started as if he had been stung. + +"Quiet, man, quiet!" whispered West to Ingleborough; but it was in vain. + + + +CHAPTER EIGHTEEN. + +THE RINGING OF THE SHILLING. + +People make their plans in cold blood and forget all about them when the +blood grows hot. + +It was so here. West had made up his mind what to do while cool, but +acted just in the fashion he had cried out against to his companion. + +For as soon as Anson lounged up to them in his supercilious jaunty way, +West's cool blood warmed, grew hot at the scoundrel's contemptuous look +of triumph, and at the insult respecting the Boers boiled over. + +"How dare you!" he raged out. "Keep your distance, you contemptible +cur, or, prisoner though I am, I'll give you such a thrashing as shall +make you yell for mercy!" + +"Hullo! What does this mean?" said one of the Boer officers, closing +up, followed by the others. + +"The prisoner is a bit saucy!" said Anson contemptuously. "You did not +bleed him enough!" + +"You know these two?" asked the officer. + +"Well, in a way," said Anson, in a haughty, indifferent tone. "They +were a pair of underlings where I was engaged at the diamond-mines. +Insolent bullying fellows, both of them! But you'll tame them down." + +The Boer leader nodded. + +"A bit sore at being taken prisoners!" he said. + +"No," cried West; "it is the fortune of war, sir. We are Englishmen, +and we made a dash to escape Kimberley, and got through your investing +lines." + +"To carry despatches to the rooineks?" + +"No," replied West. "Your men searched us and found no despatches." + +"Messages then. You were going to the British forces?" + +"We should have joined them after a time, perhaps," said West, speaking +more coolly. + +"He's lying!" said Anson sharply. "Have them searched again!" + +The Boer commandant nodded, gave the order, and half-a-dozen of his men +came forward, after which the prisoners were ordered out of the wagon, +and they let themselves down, when they were thoroughly searched from +head to heel--of course, without result, and the Boer chief turned +frowningly to Anson. + +"They must have hid the letter somewhere about the wagon then!" + +"Two of you get in and search!" said the commandant. + +This was carefully carried out, and the men descended. + +"Then they must have destroyed their message before you took them," +cried Anson, "or somehow since." + +"They were carefully searched as soon as they were taken," observed one +of the field-cornets. + +"Yes," said the commandant, "and I saw it done. Well, they will not +carry any news to Mafeking. Tell them that the British are being swept +into the sea east and south, and their rule is at an end. I want brave +men who can ride and fight, so if they like to join the Federal forces +and do their duty there will be a prosperous time for them. If they +refuse there will be a long imprisonment, perhaps something worse." + +"Mr Anson, the renegade, need not trouble himself, sir," said West +quietly. "Neither my companion nor I will do as he has done." + +"You had better!" said Anson sneeringly. "It's a grand chance for you +now your characters are gone and the I.D. detectives are after you." + +Ingleborough looked at the speaker sharply; but Anson made believe not +to notice it and went on. + +"You've no character now, either of you," he continued coolly. "Old +Norton came after me as I was trekking south, utterly sick of the +English lot. He came on the old pretext: that I had bought diamonds and +was carrying them off. He searched again, and then I told him the +simple truth--that you two had volunteered to carry despatches so as to +get clear off with the swag you had acquired--after accusing me; but he +professed not to believe me, and took me back to Kimberley, but the very +next day he started off with half-a-dozen men to fetch you back, and I +came away." + +"With the diamonds you had hidden?" said Ingleborough sharply. + +"Perhaps," replied Anson coolly. "So, you see, you had better join our +party, for even if you escaped it would only be for the police +superintendent to get hold of you both, and if he did, you wouldn't find +him such an excellent friend." + +"Wants thinking about!" said Ingleborough drily. "But `our' +party--`our'?" + +"Yes," said Anson coolly. "I've made up my mind to belong to the right +owners of the country for a long time past. We've got the gold at +Johannesburg, and the diamonds at Kimberley are ours by right, and we're +going to have them." + +There was a murmur of satisfaction from the Boers at this, and Anson +went on nonchalantly: "That is one reason why I consented to serve the +company in such a beggarly position. I wanted to learn all I could +about the mining so that it might come in useful when we of the Boer +party took possession." + +"And then, I suppose," said Ingleborough, "you'll expect to be +manager-in-chief?" + +"Well, I don't go so far as that," said Anson; "but, with my knowledge +of the management of the mining business, I feel sure my Boer friends +will find it to their advantage to retain me high up on the staff. You +see, there are so many things in the way of checking losses which I have +mastered." + +"Stopping the illicit-diamond-buying and selling, for instance," said +Ingleborough sarcastically. + +"Exactly!" replied Anson, apparently without noticing the sarcasm; "and +I've been thinking that no doubt I could put a good thing in both your +ways. Of course, we have been bad enough friends; but I'll pass over +all that if you'll serve me as faithfully as you did the company. What +do you say?" + +"Say?" cried West. + +"Stop! Hold hard, Oliver!" cried Ingleborough, stopping him short; +"this is a thing that can't be settled in a minute. We want time. All +I say now, Mr Anson, is that I'm glad we bear such a good character, +seeing that we are illicit-diamond-dealers escaping with the plunder +that we haven't got." + +"Exactly!" said Anson. "Very well, then, I'll give you till to-morrow +night to think it over, and you'll soon see which side your bread's +buttered." + +"Don't stop me, Ingle," said West hotly. "I can't stand this. I must +speak. This--" + +A sharp report from behind the wagon checked further words, and every +man made a rush for this place or that in full expectation that a sudden +attack had been made upon the laager within the rocky walls. + +At the same moment a Kaffir of the blackest type and with his hair +greased up into the familiar Zulu ring bounded into sight, tripped, fell +upon his hands, sprang up again, ran on, and disappeared, whilst a rush +was made for the man who fired, leaving Anson and the prisoners +together. + +The next minute West's blood felt as if it was running cold in his veins +as he saw, only a few yards from him and close to the stone upon which +his jacket had been stretched, the sentry slowly re-loading his pistol. +But the coat was gone. + +West had hard work to repress a groan. "My orders were to fire at +anyone I saw stealing," said the man surlily, and West heard every word. + +"Well, who was stealing?" asked one of the officers. + +"A Kaffir," replied the sentry. "I'd got a jacket stretched out upon +the stones yonder, to get aired in the sunshine, and I only took my eyes +off it for a minute, when I saw a foot rise up from behind a stone, grab +hold of the coat with its toes--" + +"Nonsense!" cried the officer; "a foot could not do that!" + +"Not do it?" said the man excitedly. "It had to do it; and it was +creeping away, when I fired, and the black sprang up and ran." + +"Where's the jacket?" + +The officer's question woke an echo in West's breast, and he started, +for it was just as if the question was repeated there, and it seemed to +be echoed so loudly that he fancied those near must have heard it. + +"He's got it, I suppose," said the sentry coolly. "Carried it away, and +a bullet too somewhere in his carcass." + +A miserably despondent feeling attacked West at these words, for he had +clung to the hope that he might be able to recover the despatch, succeed +in escaping and delivering it in safety, however late; while now the +desire to get away died out, for how could he return to Kimberley and +confess that he had failed? + +He turned to glance at Ingleborough, who met his eyes and then shrugged +his shoulders as much as to say: "It's a bad job, and I pity you." + +At that moment a hand was clapped heavily upon West's shoulder, and the +Boer who had saluted him so roughly pointed to the wagon, and he saw +that his companion was being treated in the same way, while, the scare +being over, upon their walking back and preparing to climb in, they were +called upon to stop. Naturally the prisoners obeyed, and, turning, they +found the group of Boers in earnest conversation once more with Anson, +who at the end of a few minutes nodded decisively and approached his two +old fellow-clerks, making West's heart begin to thump with excitement +and his eyes gleam, for the despair he felt at the loss he had sustained +made him ready to turn fiercely upon the first enemy who addressed him. + +"Take it calmly!" whispered Ingleborough. "Let me diplomatise. You'll +do no good by making a row." + +"Take it calmly!" whispered back West, "and at a time like this! I +can't!" + +"Look here, you two," said Anson coolly. "Let's have no more bones +about the matter. These gentlemen say they have too much to think about +to bother over any shilly-shallying on the part of a couple of +prisoners. You know it's a good chance, and I've told them you'll both +join along with me. Just tell them out and out you will." + +"You miserable renegade, how dare you!" cried West fiercely. + +"Here, what does that mean?" cried the Boer commandant sharply. + +"Shamming!" replied Anson, with a contemptuous laugh. "They're going to +join us, knowing, as they do, that the game is all up at Kimberley; but +they put on all this make-believe. They want to be able to say that +they were forced to serve, so as to hedge--so as to make it all +comfortable with their consciences, as they call them." + +"It is false!" cried West furiously--"a tissue of lies! Don't believe +him; this man is no better than a miserable contemptible thief!" + +"What!" shouted Anson, lowering the rifle he carried and taking a step +forward with what was intended to be a fierce aspect. + +But he only took one step, being checked suddenly by the action of West, +who, regardless of the weapon, sprang at him, and would have wrenched +away the rifle had he not been seized by a couple of the Boers, who held +him fast. + +"Pooh! I don't want to shoot the wretched cad!" said Anson +contemptuously. "An old fellow-clerk of mine! He's savage and jealous +of my position here! He always was an ill-tempered brute!" + +"But he says that you are a thief!" said the Boer commandant sternly. + +"Pooh! A spiteful man would say anything!" cried Anson contemptuously. +"Look here, sir, I've watched the Boer troubles from the first: I've +seen how the English have been trying to find an excuse for seizing the +two republics: I know how they got possession of the great diamond-mines +by a trick arranged with the surveyors of the boundaries." + +There was a low murmur of assent here from the gathering crowd of Boers +who had now surrounded him. + +"Yes," he said, raising his voice, "I knew all the iniquities of the +British Government--how the English had seized the diamond-fields, and +how they were trying to get the gold-mines, and as soon as the war broke +out I made up my mind to join the people fighting for their liberty." + +There was a burst of cheering from the few who could follow the speaker, +and then a roar as soon as his words were explained to the crowd, while +Anson looked round with his fat face growing shiny, as he beamed upon +his hearers. + +"Yes," said the Boer leader coldly; "but this young man, who knows you, +charges you with being a thief." + +"All cowardly malice!" cried Anson contemptuously, and giving his +fingers a snap. "A thief?--a robber?--nonsense. Pooh! I only dealt in +and brought away with me a few of the stones, which were as much mine as +theirs. I was not coming away from the enemy empty-handed. I said to +myself that I'd spoil the Egyptians as much as I could, and I did." + +There was a shout of delight at this, and one of the field-cornets gave +the speaker a hearty slap on the shoulder. + +"Yes, I brought some away," continued Anson, rejoicing fatly in the +success of his words; and, raising his voice, he said, first in English +and then in Boer-Dutch: "I brought some away, and I wish I had brought +more." + +There was a fresh and a long-continued roar of delight, repeated again +and again, giving the speaker time to collect his thoughts, and as soon +as he could gain silence he continued. + +"Look here," he said: "I came and joined the Boers because I believed +their cause to be just; and I said to myself, knowing what I do of the +secrets of the diamond-mines, I will be the first as soon as Kimberley +is taken to show the commandants where the British tyrants have hidden +away the stones that belong of right to the Boers, the stones that have +been stolen from the earth--the land they fought for and won with their +blood from the savage black scum who infested the country. I know where +the stones are hidden away, and I can, if you like, lead you to what the +British think you will never find. But if you are going to believe the +words of this malicious boy, and consider me to be a common thief, I've +done. You can have the few paltry stones I brought away to sell and pay +for my bread and meat till the war is over, and let me go. I don't want +to act as your guide into Kimberley! It's nothing to me! I have told +you what I did; and what is more, I'd do it again!" + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, in a whisper to West, as he sat holding his +hand to his injured head: "I believe him there." + +West nodded, and the next minute they saw Anson being led away in +triumph by a crowd of Boers; but the commandant, with half-a-dozen more +who seemed to be officers, and the man who had defended them when they +were captured, remained close by the prisoners, talking together. + +Soon after, the commandant approached them, glanced at Ingleborough, who +lay back, evidently in pain, and then turned to West: "You heard what +your old friend said?" + +"Yes," replied West. + +"It is all true?" + +"His base confession is," said West boldly. "The man is a detected +illicit-diamond-dealer." + +"He only bought what the British wrongly claimed!" said the Boer warmly. +"What right had they to make laws forbidding people to buy what was +freely given up by the earth for the benefit of all?" + +"It is of no use for me to argue about the matter!" said West coolly. +"I shall never convince you, and you will never convince me." + +"Oh yes, I should, after you had come to your senses! There, we are not +brutes, only men fighting for our liberties, and I like you, for you are +brave and manly. Why not join our cause? It is just." + +West looked the Boer full in the eyes, thinking the while that the man +spoke in all sincerity and belief that his cause was right. + +"Well, what do you say?" cried the Boer. + +West tightened his lips and shook his head. + +The Boer frowned and turned to Ingleborough. + +"Well," he said, "you join us, and you will not repent. Prove faithful, +and you will gain a place of trust among us!" + +West listened for his comrade's reply. + +"Oh, I can't join without him," said Ingleborough. "He's master, and +I'm only man!" + +"Then he was bearer of the despatch--what that man Anson said was true?" + +"Oh yes, that part of his story was true enough." + +"That you were despatch-riders on the way to Mafeking--you two?" + +"Quite right." + +"And you two had been diamond-dealers, and brought away a quantity?" + +"Just as many, as we schoolboys used to say, as you could put in your +eye with the point of a needle. All a lie! Anson was putting his own +case. All we brought away was the despatch." + +"Then where is it?" said the Boer sharply. + +"I don't know; I was not the bearer," said Ingleborough quietly, "But +you know where it is now?" + +"I--do--not," said Ingleborough firmly. "I have not the slightest idea +where it is!" + +"Then you have sent it on by someone else?" + +"No," said Ingleborough. "There, you know that we have failed, and if +you set us at liberty, all we can do is to go back to Kimberley and say +what has happened." + +"You will not go back to Kimberley," said the Boer, speaking with his +eyes half-closed, "and if you did it would only be to go into prison, +for the Diamond City is closely besieged, and if not already taken it +will in a few days be ours. There, go back to your wagon, and spend the +time in thinking till I send for you again. The choice is before you--a +good position with us, or a long imprisonment before you are turned out +of the country." + +He pointed towards their temporary place of confinement, and then turned +away, while a couple of the Boers marched them to the wagon and left +them in the sentry's charge. + + + +CHAPTER NINETEEN. + +THE SKY CLEARS. + +Once more in the wagon, one ox a pair of despondent prisoners, hot in +temper as well as in person with the excitement of what he had so lately +gone through, West cast himself down upon the floor ready to groan, +while his more experienced, harder comrade sat down cross-legged to +think. + +"If I only knew where the coat was!" said West, with a groan. + +"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough. "I'm afraid it's gone for ever! That +Kaffir was one of the Boers' slave-like servants, of course, or he +wouldn't have been in the camp; and after the attempt at theft, if he +was not too badly wounded, he would bolt right off for his own people. +It's a sad business, old lad: but I don't think you need fear that it +will fall into the Boers' hands." + +"No, I don't fear that!" replied West. "But it is the misery and shame +of the failure that worries me! I did so mean to succeed!" + +"Hah! Yes," sighed Ingleborough again; "but someone said--hang me if I +know who!--`'Tis not in mortals to command success.' You're only a +mortal, old fellow, and you must make the best of it." + +West groaned. + +"It's horribly hard; just, too, as I had hatched out a way of escape," +continued Ingleborough. + +"I don't want to escape now." + +"What? You don't mean to join the Boers as old Fat Face suggested?" + +"Why not?" said West dismally. "I dare not go back to Kimberley." + +"You daren't turn traitor to your country, and, though you feel right +down in the dumps, you dare go back to Kimberley and walk straight to +the Commandant and speak out like a man, saying: `I did my best, sir; +but I failed dismally!'" + +"Ah!" sighed West. + +"And he would reply: `Well, it's a bad job, my lad; but it's the fortune +of war.'" + +West held out his hand as he sat there tailor-fashion by his friend in +the bottom of the wagon, and there was a warm grip exchanged. + +"Bravo, boy! You're coming round! I knew it. You only wanted time." + +"Thank you, Ingle! Now then, what was your idea of escaping?" + +"Oh, a very simple one, but as likely to succeed as to fail." + +"Tell me at once! It will keep me from thinking about that miserable +despatch." + +"And the jacket! You and I will have to take turn and turn with mine +when the cold nights come, unless we pretend to lovely Anson that we are +going to stop, and ask him to get you a fresh covering for your chest +and back." + +"Oh, none of that, Ingle! I can't bear lying subterfuges. I'd sooner +bear the cold of the bitter nights." + +"Don't use big words, lad! Subterfuge, indeed! Say _dodge_--a war +dodge. But about my plan! You have noticed that for some reason they +have not taken our ponies away." + +"Yes, they are still tethered to the wheel ox that wagon. What of that? +It would be impossible to get to them and ride out unchallenged." + +"Oh no: not my way!" + +"What is your way?" said West excitedly. + +"Last night was dark as pitch." + +"Yes; but there are double lines of sentries about." + +"With sharp eyes too; but there was a commando rode out, evidently to +patrol the country and look out for our people." + +"Yes; I heard them ride away." + +"And I heard them come back at daybreak; but I was too lazy to get up." + +"I don't see what you are aiming at," said West wearily; "but I suppose +you have some good idea--I hope a plausible one." + +"I think it is, old lad," said Ingleborough, speaking now in a low +whisper. "Suppose when that commando musters after dark--I am supposing +that one will go out again to-night--suppose, I say, when it musters we +had crept out of the wagon and crawled as far as that one where our +ponies are tethered?" + +West's hand stole forward to grip his comrade's knee. + +"Ah, you're beginning to grasp it!" said Ingleborough. "Then, as I +still have my knife, suppose I cut the reins and we mounted." + +"And joined the muster?" said West, in a hoarse whisper. + +"It isn't a dragoon troop, with men answering the roll-call and telling +off in fours from the right." + +"No, just a crowd!" said West excitedly. + +"Exactly! There's only one reason why we shouldn't succeed." + +"What's that?" + +"We don't look rough and blackguardly enough." + +"Oh, Ingle, I quite grasp it now!" + +"I've been quite aware of that, old lad, for the last minute--that and +something else. I don't know what will have happened when the war is +over, but at present I don't wear a wooden leg. Oh, my knee! I didn't +think your fingers were made of bone." + +"I beg your pardon, old fellow!" + +"Don't name it, lad! I'm very glad you have so much energy in you, and +proud of my powers of enduring such a vice-like--or say vicious--grip +without holloaing out. Next time try your strength on Anson! Why, your +fingers would almost go through his fat." + +"Ingle, we must try it to-night." + +"Or the first opportunity." + +"Why didn't you think of that before we lost the despatch?" + +"Hah! Why didn't I? Suppose it didn't come!" + +West rose and crept to the end of the wagon and looked out. + +"The ponies are still there," he whispered, and then he started +violently, for a voice at the other end of the wagon cried: "Hallo, you +two!" + +West turned, with his heart sinking, convinced that the man must have +heard. + +"I'm just off sentry!" the Boer said good-humouredly. "I must have +shaved that Kaffir somewhere and not hurt him much. As soon as I was +relieved I went and had a good look for him; but there wasn't so much as +a drop of blood." + +"Poor wretch!" thought West. + +"Lucky for him!" said Ingleborough, in Dutch. + +"But I made the beggar drop the jacket," said the Boer, laughing; and, +to the delight of the prisoners, he sent it flying into the wagon. + +That was all, and the sentry strode away, just as West bounded upon the +recovered garment like a tiger upon its prey. + +"Say bless him!" whispered Ingleborough. + +"Oh, Ingle!" groaned his companion, in a choking voice: "I can feel the +despatch quite safe." + +"Hah!" ejaculated Ingleborough. + +"And such a little while ago I was ready to curse fate and the very hour +I was born!" + +"And very wrong of you too, my son!" said Ingleborough, in tones which +betrayed some emotion. "Cursing's a very bad habit, and only belongs to +times when wicked old men lived in old-fashioned plays and indulged in +it upon all kinds of occasions, especially when they had sons and +daughters who wanted to marry somebody else." + +"Oh, Ingle! Oh, Ingle! The sky doesn't look so covered with black +clouds now." + +"By no means, my lad! I can see enough blue sky to make a Dutchman a +pair of breeches--for Dutchman let's say Boer. I say, what do you say +to going out on patrol to-night?" + +"Yes, yes, of course! But we have no guns!" + +"Nor bandoliers, and that's a fact! Well, it's of no use to think of +getting our own back again, even if we said we repented and meant to +join the Boers at once." + +"They wouldn't trust us!" + +"Too slim! Fools if they did!" + +"Then it is hopeless!" said West. "Someone would notice it at once!" + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, "and those were beautiful rifles too. But +look here: I could see a way out of the difficulty, only you are so +scrupulous. One mustn't tell a diplomatic fib." + +"I can't stand telling an outrageous lie, even under stern necessity!" +said West, pulling down his jacket after putting it on. + +"And you are so horribly honest!" + +"Yes," said West bitterly. "I have not, as Anson declared, been busy +buying illicit-diamonds. But why do you say this--what do you mean?" + +"I meant that I'd have risked it as soon as it was dark, and crept away +to steal a couple of the Boers' Mausers--just like a cat--mouser after +Mauser--I say, what a horrible joke!" + +West was silent. + +"They say they're splendid pieces; but it would be a terrible theft, +because I should take the bandoliers too." + +West was still silent. + +"I say, lad," whispered Ingleborough, laughing gently: "you couldn't +object to my stealing the rifles that would be used to kill our men." + +"How would you manage?" whispered West. + +"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough, relieving his breast of a long pent-up +breath, as he looked up at the arched-in wagon-tilt: "this fellow's very +nearly as wicked as I am." + +"Don't--don't joke!" said West: "the matter is too serious. How would +you manage?" + +"Never you mind, old Very Particular! Leave that to me! By the way, +though, before I lie down and have a good nap, in case I should be out +all night, I don't think there is the slightest probability of our +joining the Boer forces, do you?" + +"Not the slightest!" answered West drily. "There'll be plenty of +traitors to their country without us!" + +Five minutes later Ingleborough, whose head troubled him more than he +owned to, was sleeping soundly, leaving West thinking deeply over the +prospects of a daring escape, and every now and then glancing out and +across the laager to make sure that the ponies had not been moved, as +well as to fix the position of every wagon well in his mind ready for +the time when his comrade and he would be stealing across in the dark, +and thinking at times that the Boers must be mad to leave their +prisoners' mounts tethered in sight of their temporary prison. + +"But they're altogether mad!" he mused, "or they would never have dared +to defy the power of England in the way they have done!" + +This thought had hardly passed through his mind when he saw a group of +the laager's occupants come by the prison wagon, each with a couple of +well-filled bandoliers crossbelt-fashion over his breast, and rifle +slung, making for the range forming one side of the laager. They broke +up into twos and threes, and as they approached they unslung their +weapons and took off their cartridge-belts to place them beneath the +wagon-tilts, while they settled down to prepare a meal before having a +rest. + +"Just come off duty!" thought the prisoner, and, with his heart beating +fast, he sat watching two of the men and then gazing hard at the nearest +wagon, piercing in imagination the thick canvas covering spread over the +arching-in hoops, and seeing, as he believed, exactly where two Mauser +rifles and the Boers' bandoliers had been laid. + +"Why, if it were dark," he thought, "I could creep out and secure those +two rifles as easily as possible--if they were not taken away!" + +West's face turned scarlet, and it was not from the heat of the sun upon +the wagon-tilt, nor from the sultry air which passed in from one end and +out at the other. + +He drew a deep breath and moved towards Ingleborough to tell him of the +burning thoughts within him; but his comrade was sleeping so peacefully +that he shrank from awakening him. + +"He'll want all his strength!" thought West, and then he fell to +wondering whether or not they would succeed. + +The plan was so wonderfully simple that it seemed very possible, but-- + +Yes, there were so many "buts" rising up in the way. The slightest +hitch would spoil all, and they would be detected and subjected to the +roughest of usage, even if they were not shot. But it was worth the +risk, and the thinker's heart began to beat faster, and his hand stole +to the part of his jacket where he had hidden the despatch, and as he +did so he mentally saw himself and his companion riding through the +darkness with the Boers, and waiting for an opportunity to dash off, +taking the enemy so by surprise that they would be off and away and well +into the gloom before they could be followed. + +Once well mounted, with the open veldt before them, and the darkness for +their friend, he felt that it would go hard if they did not escape. + +He had come to this point, and was full of a wild exhilaration, feeling +at heart that the venture only wanted the dash with which they would +infuse it, when his attention was taken up by seeing the Boer leader +with about half-a-dozen of his field-cornets pass by the open end of the +tent and cross the laager. + +He watched them with some anxiety, and then all at once his heart began +to sink with a sudden attack of despair, for two of the party went off +in front, unfastened the reins by which the two Basuto ponies were +tethered to the wagon-wheels, and led them to where the Boer leader and +the rest had halted, prior to putting the little animals through their +paces as if to test their powers in connection with some object in view. + +A castle in the air dashed down into nothingness, and he uttered a low +groan, which made Ingleborough start up with a wondering look in his +eyes. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY. + +HOW TO ESCAPE. + +"What's wrong?" said Ingleborough, in a whisper. + +"Look out at the bottom of the wagon," was West's reply. + +Ingleborough rose to his knees, and at a glance grasped the meaning of +his companion's troubled look. + +"Going to adopt our little Basutos for their own use, eh?" he said +coolly. "Well, I wonder they haven't done it before! Bah! There are +plenty more horses about! What worries me is how I'm to get a couple of +rifles and the ammunition. I was rather too cock-a-hoop about that when +I talked to you, for these beloved Dutch cuddle up their pieces as if +they loved them with all their hearts." + +West smiled. + +"Oh, don't do that because I said cuddled." + +"I smiled because I see the way to get a couple of rifles as soon as +it's dark," said West, and he told what he had noted. + +"Then there's no reason for you to look glum. I'll get a couple of +horses somehow if you'll get the guns. Here, I'd whistle or sing if I +were not afraid of taking the sentry's attention. We're all right, lad, +and that bit of sleep has taken away the miserable pain in my head which +I keep on having since my fall. Now then, what are they going to do +with those ponies?" + +Sitting well back, the prisoners watched all that went on, and saw the +ponies mounted and put through their paces by a couple of big Boers of +the regular heavy, squat, Dutch build. + +"Bah! What a shame!" whispered Ingleborough; "it's murdering the poor +little nags. A regular case for the Society for the Prevention of +Cruelty to Animals. Those fellows want a couple of dray-horses to carry +them." + +"Yes, and they've found it out," said West softly. + +For as they looked on they saw the two Boers pull up after a canter up +and down the full length of the laager, and then drop clumsily off, with +the result that the ponies spread out their legs and indulged in a good +shake which nearly dislodged their saddles. + +Then a couple more of the onlookers tried the little mounts, but stopped +after one trot up and down, and a general conversation ensued, resulting +in the ponies being led off and tied up again in the same place, making +West's heart beat as fast as if he had been running hard, while all the +time he tried to crush down a feeling of elation, lest he should be +premature in his hopefulness and be met with a fresh disappointment, +for, though he saw the reins fastened in the same places, there was +plenty of time before dark for the ponies to be removed. + +Just then their examination of the Boers' proceedings was brought to an +end by one of their captors bringing the roughly-prepared portion of +food that was served out to them every day. + +It was rough, but good of its kind, for the Boers seemed to like to live +well, and they did not stint their prisoners, who, at a word from +Ingleborough, fell to at once. + +"Appetite or no appetite, eat all you can," he said. "We may have to +work very hard to-night, and shall need all our strength." + +There was a fair amount left after they had done, and this was carefully +tied up ready for taking with them if they were successful that night. +After this there was nothing more to be done but to wait till darkness +fell, and they sat back watching while the sentry was again changed, +when the fresh man visited the wagon, to climb in, look carefully round, +and eye them suspiciously before returning to his post. + +"Does that fellow suspect anything?" whispered West. + +"Of course; but nothing fresh. He comes on duty under the full +impression that we mean to escape if we can, and he feels that if we +attempt it his duty is to send a bullet through each of us." + +"Then you don't think he suspects that we are going to make an attempt +to-night?" + +"Pooh! How could he? But look! There goes Anson! Not coming here, is +he?" + +"No: going to his own wagon! I say, Ingle, do you think he has any +illicit-diamonds with him?" + +"I'm sure of it! He could not, according to his nature, have come away +without robbing the company somehow. I only wish I had the searching of +his wagon! I suppose Norton did not have a chance!" + +"Yes, look! He has gone to his wagon. Where should you search if you +had the chance?" + +"Not quite sure yet!" said Ingleborough gruffly. "But don't talk to me. +I want to think of something better than diamonds." + +"You mean liberty?" + +"That's right. And now, once for all, we don't want to make any more +plans: each knows what he has to do, and as soon as it is dark he has to +do it." + +"No," said West gravely; "your part must wait until I have managed to +get the rifles." + +"Well, yes; I must not be in too great a hurry. But I say, wouldn't it +be better for us to go together to the horses, and hide by them or under +them till the Boers muster?" + +"But suppose the sentry takes it into his head to come and examine the +wagon, and gives the alarm?" + +"Oh, don't suppose anything!" said Ingleborough impatiently. "We must +chance a good deal and leave the rest to luck." + +West nodded, and fixed his eyes upon the wagon he had previously singled +out, noticing that the Boers who occupied it were lying right beneath, +sleeping, each with a rolled-up blanket for a rug. + +A little later he saw a big heavy-looking Kaffir come up, look +underneath at the sleepers, and then go off for a short distance, to lie +down upon his chest, doubling his arms before him so as to make a +resting-place for his forehead, and lying so perfectly motionless that +it became evident that he also was asleep. + +The evening was closing in fast now, and the men began to move about +more as if making preparations for some excursion which they had in +view. + +"That looks well!" said Ingleborough. "There's going to be some +movement to-night. All was so still half-an-hour ago that I began to +think we should have to put off our attempt." + +"Oh, don't say that!" said West. "We _must_ go!" + +Further conversation was checked by the coming of the sentry to look in +upon them, scowling heavily before he slouched away. + +Ten minutes or so later the darkness began to fall, increasing so fast +that within half-an-hour the laager would have been quite black if it +had not been for a lantern inside a wagon here and there; but, in spite +of the darkness, the camp began to grow more animated, a buzz of +conversation seeming to rise from the wagons like the busy hum of the +insects outside. + +All at once, as Ingleborough was going to draw his companion's attention +to this fact, he felt a hand steal along his arm to grip his hand. Then +it was withdrawn, a very faint rustling followed, and the listener felt +that he was alone. + +"Good luck go with him!" he muttered. "I wonder whether he'll succeed?" + +Leaning a little forward, he seemed to strain his ears to listen, though +he felt that this was absurd, till all at once it struck him that he +heard the soft sound of stealthy steps approaching from the other end of +the wagon, and, creeping towards the sounds, he felt more than heard two +men approaching, and as he got his head over the wagon-box he heard a +whisper. + +"Anson and the sentry!" he said to himself. "The spy, come to find out +whether we're safe. Yes, that was Anson's whisper! Then we're done if +he brings a lantern and finds me alone." + +He paused for a moment or two, asking himself what he should do; and +then the idea came. + +Subsiding into a reclining position, he suddenly gave his thigh a sharp +slap and started as if the blow had roused him up. + +"Don't go to sleep, stupid!" he said aloud. "One can't sleep all these +awful long nights! Oh dear me, this is precious dull work. I wish we +had a lantern and a box of dominoes! I wonder whether there is a box in +the laager?" + +"Bother!" he said, in a low smothered tone, with his hands covering his +face. "I wish you wouldn't! I was dreaming about old Anson and that +he'd got ten thousand pounds' worth of diamonds in a bag aboard his +wagon." + +"Like enough!" continued Ingleborough, in his natural voice. "Ha, ha, +ha!" he laughed. "I should like to serve the beggar out!" + +"How?" he said, in the smothered sleepy voice. + +"How? I'll tell you how it might be done if he had got them. Find out +where his wagon is in the laager, and then wait till the sentry's +asleep, and crawl out of this thing, and nobble the lot." + +"Rubbish!" + +"Not it! We could get them easily enough and bring them back here. +Nobody would suspect us! But there would be no getting them away! I +say, are you asleep again?" + +"No," said West quietly. "What's the matter with you? Are you talking +in your sleep? I was afraid to come in, thinking someone was with--" + +He got no farther, for Ingleborough clapped a hand over his mouth and +continued. + +"Heigho! What bosh one does talk! I wish there wasn't a blessed +diamond in the world!" + +He removed his hand, and feeling that there was some reason for all +this, West said quietly: "Why?" + +"Why? See what a lot of trouble they cause! This fighting is as much +about the diamond-fields as anything, and--Hullo! how you startled me?" + +It was quite true: he was horribly startled, feeling that their plan was +spoiled, for there was a faint sound at the end of the wagon and the +door of a lantern was suddenly opened, throwing the light within, and +giving the prisoners a glance of the sentry's and Anson's faces looking +in. + +"All right?" said the sentry, in his own tongue. + +"Oh yes, all right!" replied Ingleborough; "but look here: you might as +well leave us that lantern! We won't set fire to the bed-curtains, I +promise you!" + +"No," said the Boer, and with a chuckle he closed the door of the +lantern and walked whistling away to his companion. + +"Anson!" said West, with his lips close to Ingleborough's ear. + +"Yes: the fox! How you startled me! I didn't hear you come! I was +keeping up a sham conversation, for they were stealing down upon us to +catch us on the hop! You failed, then, or were you obliged to turn +back?" + +"Neither: I succeeded!" + +"What? You got the rifles?" + +"Yes." + +"Then they must have seen them when the light was thrown in!" + +"No," said West quietly; "they are outside, leaning against the near +hind wheel." + +"West, lad, this seems too good to be true. How did you manage?" + +"Easily enough. I had marked down one wagon--the one I pointed out to +you while it was light--and as soon as I dropped down from here I went +on my hands and knees to crawl towards it. You know what a short +distance it was, and by going very slowly I passed two others where the +Boers were sitting outside talking. This was easy enough, for they were +so much interested in their conversation that they took no notice of any +noise I made." + +"And they couldn't see you?" + +"I couldn't see them," replied West; "so, of course, they did not see +me." + +"Go on." + +"I did," said West, "and then I thought it was all over, for the next +wagon faced in another direction, and I saw what I had not seen before-- +a lantern was hanging in front over the driver's box, and it sent a dull +path of light forward on the ground, and I stopped, for I had to cross +that path, and I felt that I must be seen." + +"Tut-tut-tut!" clicked Ingleborough. + +"But after a few moments I recollected how much my drab brown jacket was +like the soil, and I determined to risk it." + +"And crawled on?" + +"Yes, but not on my hands and knees. I lay flat on my chest and worked +myself along upon my hands and toes. It was only about a dozen yards +where it was light, but it seemed like a mile." + +"Never mind that!" said Ingleborough impatiently. "You did it unheard?" + +"Yes; but a man sitting in the wagon suddenly moved when I was half +across, and I was about to spring up, thinking that he was searching for +his rifle." + +"Phew!" whistled Ingleborough softly. + +"It was well I did not; for directly after, to save getting up and +opening his lantern, the Boer struck a match, and as I lay perfectly +still, fully expecting to be shot, the whole place seemed to be lit up, +and instead of hearing a rifle cocked I smelt a whiff of strong coarse +tobacco, and I felt that I was safe." + +"Go on and get it over!" whispered Ingleborough. "You are making my +hands feel wet." + +"I lay some time before I dared to move." + +"That you didn't, for you weren't gone long." + +"Well, it seemed an hour to me: and then I crept on and out of the light +into the black darkness again, rose to my hands and knees, wondering +whether I was going right, and the next minute my hand rubbed softly +against a wagon-wheel, and I knew I was right." + +"Bravo!" whispered Ingleborough. + +"I rose up directly, and began to feel about carefully for the tilt, and +once more my heart seemed to rise to my mouth, for from under the wagon +there came a dull deep snoring, and I felt it was impossible to do more +for fear of being heard." + +"But you made a dash for it?" + +"No: I waited to get my breath, for I was just as if I had been running. +But as soon as I could I went on feeling along the edge of the tilt, +and then my heart gave a jump, for my hand touched the barrel of a rifle +and directly after that of another." + +"Hurrah!" panted out Ingleborough, and West went on. + +"I began to draw the first towards me, but, as soon as I did, to my +horror the other began to move, and I felt that if I kept on the second +one would fall and wake the sleeping Boers. So I reached up with my +other hand, got well hold, and drew both together. But it was terrible +work, for they would not come readily, because the bandoliers were +hanging to them, and as I pulled I fully expected that something would +catch and discharge one of the pieces, to alarm the whole laager for +certain, even if it did not kill me. But by lifting and easing and +turning the rifles over I at last got the two pieces nearly out, when +they suddenly seemed to be held fast, and I stood there gradually +getting drenched with perspiration." + +"Why, the edge of the tilt must have caught them!" said Ingleborough +excitedly. + +"Yes, that's what I found to be the case, and by turning them over again +they came free, and I was standing by the wheel with what we wanted." + +"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough. + +"But even then I had a chill, for the snoring ceased and the sleeper +began to mutter, taking all the strength out of me, till I felt that +even if he or they beneath the wagon should rouse up I could escape +through the darkness if I was quick." + +"So you slung the rifles and bandoliers over your shoulders, went down +on your hands and knees, and crept back?" + +"No, I did not. I felt that there was not time, and that I had better +trust to the darkness to escape, so I just shouldered the pieces and +stepped out boldly walking across the broad path of light." + +"Good; but you should have struck off to your right, so as to get where +it would be more feeble." + +"I thought of that," said West quickly; "but I dared not, for fear of +missing our wagon. So I walked boldly on, and almost ran against a +Boer." + +"Tut-tut-tut! Did he stop you?" + +"No: he just said: `Mind where you are coming!' and passed on." + +"Well?" said Ingleborough. + +"That's all. I marched along to the wagon here and stood the rifles up +before venturing to get in, for I fancied that you were talking in your +sleep and would bring the sentry upon us. There, I've got the arms, and +I don't want such another job as that." + +"Pooh! Nonsense, lad! The game has only just begun! You ought to feel +encouraged, for you have learned and taught me how easy the rest of our +job will be! Just a little cool pluck, and we shall succeed!" + +"Very well!" said West. "I'm ready! What next?" + +"We must lie down and wait till we hear the commando on the stir, and +then--" + +"Yes," said West softly; "and then?" + +"Let's wait and see!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY ONE. + +EVERYTHING COMES TO THE MAN WHO WAITS. + +What seemed like a couple of the weariest hours they had ever passed +went slowly by, with everything quite still in the laager; and at last +West, who was lying on his back, side by side with his companion, +whispered: "They're not going on patrol to-night. We must creep out and +escape on foot." + +"Without knowing the way through the entrance among the rocks, and with +dozens of sentries about? Can't be done!" + +"Pst!" whispered West, for his quick hearing had detected the approach +of someone, and directly after a light was flashed in under the tilt, a +little whispering followed after the dull rays were shut off, and once +more there was silence. + +The pair lay a good five minutes without attempting to move or speak, +and then West whispered: + +"Two sentries." + +"No: one and Fathead." + +"How do you know? I daren't look, for fear they should see the gleam of +my eyes." + +"I could smell him." + +"Scented--out here?" + +"Yes; I believe he'd put some scent on his handkerchief and some pomatum +on his hair even if he were going to be shot." + +"Hist! Listen," said West quickly; "they're on the stir." + +Ingleborough started up, for a voice was heard giving an order, and it +was as if a stick had suddenly been thrust into a beehive and stirred +round. + +"Right!" said Ingleborough, in a low tone. "Now's our time! Take a +long deep breath, and let's make the plunge. It will be all right if +you keep close to me!" + +West instinctively drew a long breath without thinking of his +companion's advice, for it was to him like a reflection of old boyish +days when he summoned up his courage to take a plunge into deep water +while wanting faith in his powers as a swimmer. But it was only the +making of the plunge. + +Following Ingleborough, he dropped off the end of the wagon, boldly led +him to the rifles, and together in the darkness they slipped on the +bandoliers, two each, crossbelt-fashion, slung their rifles behind, put +on their broad felt hats well down over their eyes, and then, imitating +the Boer's heavy slouching walk, they hurried on through the laager in +the direction of the horses. + +It was, if possible, darker than ever, and they passed several Boers, +quite half of whom were leading horses, and one of them startled and +encouraged them by growling out in Dutch: "Now then--look sharp, my +lads!" + +"We will!" whispered Ingleborough, as soon as they had passed on; "but +oh, if the ponies are gone!" + +In another minute they knew that they were still safely tethered as they +had seen them last, while a little search at the end of the empty wagon +brought busy hands in contact with their saddles and bridles. + +"Oh, it's mere child's play!" whispered Ingleborough, as they hurried +back to the ponies, which recognised their voices and readily yielded to +being petted, standing firm while the saddles were clapped on and they +were girthed. + +"Ready?" said West. + +"Yes. Shall we lead them to where the muster is being made?" + +"No; let's mount and ride boldly up!" said West. + +The next minute they were in the saddle, and, stirred by the natural +instinct to join a gathering of their own kind, both ponies neighed and +ambled towards the spot where about fifty men were collected, some few +mounted, others holding their bridles ready for the order to start. + +There was a startler for West, though, just as they were riding towards +the gathering patrol, one which communicated itself to Ingleborough, for +all at once out of the darkness on their left a voice exclaimed: "Here, +Piet, have you moved my rifle?" + +"No," came back. + +Then after a pause: "Here, what does this mean? Mine's not where I left +it! Come, no nonsense! We may want them at any time! You shouldn't +play tricks like this; it might mean a man's life!" + +The intending fugitives heard no more, their horses hurrying them from +the spot, expecting to hear an alarm raised at any moment; but this did +not occur. + +It was too dark for the recognition of faces, and the men were for the +most part sleepy and out of humour at being roused up, so that they were +very silent, thinking more of themselves than of their fellows. + +There was one trifling episode, though, which was startling for the +moment, for West's pony, being skittish after days of inaction, began to +make feints of biting its nearest neighbour, with the result that the +latter's rider struck at it fiercely and rapped out an angry oath on two +in company with an enquiry delivered in a fierce tone as to who the +something or another West was that he could not keep his pony still. + +Fortunately, and setting aside all necessity for a reply, a hoarse order +was given, causing a little confusion, as every dismounted man climbed +into his saddle, and the next moment there was a second order to +advance, when the leading couple went forward and the rest followed, +dropping naturally into pairs, fortunately without West and his +companion being separated. + +Then began the loud clattering of hoofs upon the stony way, while they +wound in and out amongst ponderous blocks of granite and ironstone, +trusting to the leading horses, whose riders were warned of danger in +the darkness by the sentries stationed here and there. + +Before they were half-way clear from the rocks of the kopje, both West +and Ingleborough were fully convinced that to have attempted to escape +on foot in the darkness must have resulted in failure, while minute by +minute their confidence increased in the ultimate result of their ruse, +for it was evident that the couple of Boers next to them in front and in +rear could have no more idea of who they were than they could gain of +their neighbours. + +For every man's time was fully taken up in providing for his own and his +mount's safety--much more in seeking his own, for the sure-footed ponies +were pretty well accustomed to looking after themselves in patches of +country such as in their own half-wild state they were accustomed to +seek for the sake of the lush growth to be found bordering upon the +sources of the streams. + +There was not much conversation going on, only the exchange of a few +hoarse grunts from time to time, sufficient, however, to encourage the +two prisoners to think that they might venture upon an observation or +two in Boer-Dutch, both imitating their captors' tones and roughness as +far as they could. But they did not venture upon much, and carefully +avoided whispers as being likely to excite suspicion. + +"Have you any plans as to the next start?" said West. + +"Only that we should go off north-west as soon as we are well on the +open veldt, and gallop as hard as we can go." + +"Which is north-west?" + +"Hang me if I have the slightest idea! Have you?" + +"No. But it does not matter. Let's get clear away if we can, and shape +our course afterwards when the sun rises." + +"Capital plan! Anything more?" + +"I've been thinking," answered West, "that if we turn off suddenly +together the whole troop will go in pursuit at once, and then it will be +the race to the swiftest." + +"Of course! It always is!" + +"Oh no," said West drily; "not always: the most cunning generally wins." + +"Very well, then we shall win, for we are more cunning than these +dunder-headed Boers." + +They rode on in silence after this for a few minutes, gradually feeling +that they were on level ground, over which the ponies ambled easily +enough; but they could not see thirty yards in any direction. + +"Look here," said Ingleborough gruffly: "you've some dodge up your +sleeve! What is it?" + +"Only this," replied West; "I've been thinking that if we can get a +hundred yards' clear start, and then strike off to right or left, we can +laugh at pursuit, for they will have lost sight of us and will not know +which way to pursue." + +"Yes, that's right enough, but how are you going to get your hundred +yards' start?" + +"I'll tell you how I think it can be done," and, bending over towards +his companion, West mumbled out a few words in the darkness and +Ingleborough listened and uttered a low grunt as soon as his friend had +finished. + +Then there was utter silence, broken only by the dull clattering sound +of the horses' hoofs upon the soft dusty earth, West listening the while +in the black darkness till he heard Ingleborough upon his left make a +rustling noise caused by the bringing round and unslinging of his rifle, +followed by the loading and then the softly cocking of the piece. + +"Ready?" said Ingleborough, at last. + +"Yes," was the reply. + +"Then one--two--three--and away!" said Ingleborough softly. + +At the first word West began to bear upon his horse's rein, drawing its +head round to the right, and at the last he drove his heels sharply into +the pony's flanks and wrenched its head round so suddenly that the +startled little beast made a tremendous bound off towards the open +veldt, its sudden action having a stunning and confusing effect upon the +line of Boers. + +"Hi! stop!" roared Ingleborough directly, shouting in the Boer-Dutch +tongue, while as West tore on his companion stood up in his stirrups, +fired two shots after him in succession, and then with another shout he +set spurs to his pony and dashed off as fast as his mount would go. + +The fugitives plunged one after the other into the darkness on the +little column's flank, and the burghers saw them for a few moments ere +they disappeared and their ponies' hoofs began to sound dull before they +recovered from the stupor of astonishment the suddenness of the incident +had caused. + +Then a voice shouted fiercely: "A deserter! Fire and bring him down!" + +"No: stop!" shouted the leader, in a stentorian voice. "Do you want to +shoot your faithful brother?" + +There was a murmur of agreement at this, and the rustle and rattle of +rifles being unslung stopped at once. + +"Who is the burgher who followed the traitor?" continued the leader. + +There was no reply, only a low muttering of voices as the Boers +questioned one another. + +"Wait," continued the officer in command. "I daresay our brother has +wounded him and will bring him back in a few minutes." + +The Boers waited with their little force drawn up in line and facing the +black far-stretching veldt, every man wondering which two of their party +had been traitor and pursuer, and naturally waited in vain. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY TWO. + +QUERY: FREEDOM? + +The dash for liberty had been well carried out, West getting his sturdy +pony into a swinging gallop before he had gone far, and keeping it up +straight away till he could hear Ingleborough's shout in close pursuit, +when he drew rein a little, till in its efforts to rejoin its companion +the second pony raced up alongside. + +"Bravo, West, lad!" panted Ingleborough, in a low tone that sounded +terribly loud in their ears, which magnified everything in their +excitement. "It's a pity you are not in the regulars!" + +"Why?" + +"You'd soon be a general!" + +"Rubbish!" said West shortly. "Don't talk or they'll be on us! Can you +hear them coming?" + +"No; and I don't believe they will come! They'll leave it to me to +catch you. I say, I didn't kill you when I fired, did I?" + +"No," said West, with a little laugh, "but you made me jump each time! +The sensation was rather queer." + +"I took aim at an angle of forty-five degrees with the horizon or +thereabouts, to be exact," said Ingleborough pedantically; "and those +two, my first shots with a Mauser rifle, no doubt have travelled a +couple of miles at what they call a high trajectory. But what glorious +luck!" + +"Yes; I never dared to hope that the plan would succeed so well." + +"Talk about humbugging anyone--why, it was splendid!" + +"But oughtn't we to go off at right angles now?" said West anxiously, as +he turned himself in his saddle and listened. + +"Quite time enough to do that when we hear them tearing along in full +pursuit, and that will not be to-night." + +"Think not?" + +"I feel sure of it, lad! Of course they can't hatch it out in their +thick skulls that their two prisoners were the actors in this little +drama: they can't know till they get back that we have escaped." + +"Of course not." + +"And you may depend upon it that they'll stand fast for about a quarter +of an hour waiting for me to come back, either with my prisoner alive or +with his scalp--I mean his rifle, ammunition, and pony." + +"And when they find that you don't come back?" said West, laughing to +himself. + +"Then they'll say that you've taken my scalp and gone on home with it: +think it is just the fortune of war, and promise themselves that they'll +ride out by daylight to save my body from the Aasvogels and bury it out +of sight." + +"And by degrees they will put that and that together," said West, "and +find that they have been thoroughly tricked." + +"Yes, and poor Anson will distil pearly tears from those beautiful eyes +of his, and we shall not be there to see them rolling down his fat +cheeks. West, lad, I never yet wanted to kill a man." + +"Of course not, and you don't now!" + +"That's quite correct, lad; but I should like to be a grand inquisitor +sitting on Master Anson for his renegade ways and superintending in the +torture-chamber. My word, shouldn't he have the question of the water; +no, the rack; or better still, the extraction of his nails. Stop a +minute: I think hanging from the ceiling by his wrists with a weight +attached to his ankles, and a grand finish-off with the question of fire +would be more fitting. Bless him for a walking tallow sausage, wouldn't +he burn!" + +"Ugh! Don't be such a savage!" cried West angrily. "You wouldn't do +anything of the kind. I should be far more hard-hearted and cruel than +you'd be, for I would have him tied up to the wheel of a wagon and set a +Kaffir to flog him with a sjambok on his bare back." + +"Oh!" exclaimed Ingleborough sharply. + +"What's the matter?" + +"And I've come away without having the oily rascal stripped of his +plunder." + +"What! His diamonds?" + +"Yes. I know he has a regular pile hidden in that wagon of his, and, +what's more, I know where to look and find them." + +"Where?" + +"Never you mind till the time comes! I have a sort of prescient idea +that some day we shall face that fellow again with the circumstances +reversed; and then I'm going to have his loot cleared out." + +And this and much more as the fugitives cantered easily along through +the darkness, giving their ponies their heads and letting them increase +the distance more and more, till all at once West broke the silence by +exclaiming: "I say, Ingle, is it really true?" + +"Is what really true--that Master Anson's a fat beast?" + +"No, no; that we have escaped and are riding away at full liberty to go +where we please? It seems to me like a dream, and that in the morning +we shall awake and find ourselves once again in that dreary wagon." + +"Partly true, partly imaginary," said Ingleborough bluntly. + +"What do you mean?" said West, in a startled tone. + +"It's true that we've made a jolly clever escape, thanks to you; but it +isn't true that we're at liberty to go where we like." + +"Why not?" said West wonderingly. + +"Because you've got that despatch in your jacket somewhere, I hope." + +"Yes," said West, after running his hand down a seam. "It's safe +enough!" + +"Well, that despatch says we must go to Mafeking; so we're prisoners to +duty still." + +"Of course!" said West cheerily. "But look here: it's of no use to tire +our ponies. We're far enough off now to let them walk, or dismount and +let them graze till we know which way to steer." + +"It's all right; keep on, lad! We're steering as straight as if we had +a compass. I believe the ponies know where we want to go, and took the +right line at once." + +"Nonsense! You don't believe anything of the kind. What makes you +think we're going in the right direction?" + +"Because the clouds yonder thinned out a bit half-an-hour ago, and I saw +three dim stars in a sort of arch, and continuing the line there was +another brighter one just in the place where it ought to be. I know +them as well as can be of old: the big one sets just in the north-west." + +"Are you sure of that?" cried West eagerly. + +"As sure as that I bore off a little to the right as soon as I saw that +star, so as to turn more to the north and straight for Mafeking. I +don't guarantee that we are keeping straight for it now the stars are +shut out; but we shall know as soon as it's day by the compass." + +"Why don't we strike a light and examine it now?" said West eagerly. + +"Because we haven't a match!" replied Ingleborough. "Didn't our sturdy +honest captors take everything away but my knife, which was luckily in +my inner belt along with my money?" + +"To be sure!" sighed West. + +"And if we had matches we dare not strike them for fear of the light +being seen by one of the Boer patrols." + +"Yes," said West, with another sigh. "I suppose they are everywhere +now!" + +At that moment the ponies stopped short, spun round, almost unseating +their riders, and went off at full speed back along the way they had +come; and it was some minutes before they could be checked and soothed +and patted back into a walk. + +"The country isn't quite civilised yet," said West; "fancy lions being +so near the line of a railway. Hark; there he goes again!" + +For once more the peculiar barking roar of a lion came from a distance, +making the air seem to quiver and the ponies turn restless again and +begin to snort with dread. + +"Steady, boys, steady!" said Ingleborough soothingly to the two steeds. +"Don't you know that we've got a couple of patent foreign rifles, and +that they would be more than a match for any lion that ever lived?" + +"If we shot straight!" said West banteringly. "There he goes again! +How near do you think that fellow is?" + +"Quiet, boy!" cried Ingleborough, leaning forward and patting his pony +on the neck, with satisfactory results. "How far? It's impossible to +say! I've heard performers who called themselves ventriloquists, but +their tricks are nothing to the roaring of a lion. It's about the most +deceptive sound I know. One time it's like thunder, and another it's +like Bottom the Weaver." + +"Like what?" cried West. + +"The gentleman I named who played lion, and for fear of frightening the +ladies said he would roar him as gently as a sucking dove. Now then, +what's to be done?" + +"I don't know," said West. "We did not calculate upon having lions to +act as sentries on behalf of the Boers." + +"Let's bear off more to the north and try to outflank the great cat." + +Changing their course, they started to make a half-circle of a couple of +miles' radius, riding steadily on, but only to have their shivering +mounts startled again and again till they were ready to give up in +despair. + +"We'd better wait till daybreak," said West. + +"There's no occasion to," said Ingleborough, "for there it is, coming +right behind us, and we're going too much to the west. Bear off, and +let's ride on. I don't suppose we shall be troubled any more. What we +want now is another kopje--one which hasn't been turned into a trap." + +"There's what we want!" said West, half-an-hour later, as one of the +many clumps of rock and trees loomed up in the fast lightening front. + +"Yes," said Ingleborough sharply, "and there's what we don't want, far +nearer to us than I like." + +"Where?" asked West sharply. + +"Straight behind us!" + +"Why, Ingle," cried West, in despair, "they've been following us all +through the night!" + +"No," said Ingleborough, shading his eyes with his hand; "that's a +different patrol, I feel sure, coming from another direction." + +"What shall we do?" + +"Ride straight for that kopje; we're between it and the patrol, and +perhaps they won't see us. If they do we must gallop away." + +"But suppose this kopje proves to be occupied?" said West. "We don't +want to be taken prisoners again." + +"That's the truest speech you've made for twenty-four hours, my lad," +said Ingleborough coolly, "but, all the same, that seems to be the +wisest thing to do." + +"Make for the kopje?" + +"Yes, for we want water, shelter, and rest." + +"But if the Boers are there too?" + +"Hang it, lad, there aren't enough of the brutes to occupy every kopje +in the country; some of them must be left for poor fellows in such a +mess as we are." + +"Ride on and chance it then?" + +"To be sure!" was the reply; and they went on at a steady canter +straight for the clump in front, a mile or so away, turning every now +and then to watch the line of horsemen which seemed to be going at right +angles to their track. Just as they reached the outskirts of the +eminence the leading files of the patrol bore off a little and the +fugitives had the misery of seeing that the enemy they wished to avoid +seemed to be aiming straight for the place they had intended for a +refuge, while to have ridden out to right or left meant going full in +sight of the patrol. + +To make matters worse, the sun was beginning to light up the stony tops +of the kopje, and in a very few minutes the lower portions would be +glowing in the morning rays. + +"Cheer up!" said Ingleborough; "it's a big one! Now then, dismount and +lead horses! Here's cover enough to hide in now, and we may be able to +get round to the other side without being seen." + +"And then?" + +"Oh, we won't intrude our company upon the enemy; let's ride off as fast +as we can." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY THREE. + +FALSE ALARMS. + +The bottom and surroundings of the eminence afforded plenty of cover, +and the fugitives pushed on in and out among dense patches of low +growth, and, leading their sure-footed little ponies, they climbed over +and around piles and masses of stone that would have been difficulties +even to mules, while twice over West scaled a slope so as to carefully +look down and backward at the enemy. + +This he was able to do unseen, and came down again to report that the +patrol was still making for the kopje as if for rest, but that their +movements were too careless and deliberate for those of an enemy in +pursuit. + +The far side of the pile of granite and ironstone was reached in safety, +placing the fugitives about a quarter of a mile from the Boers in a +direct line, but quite a mile of intricate climbing if measured by the +distance round; and they paused in a green patch full of refreshing +beauty, being a wide ravine stretching up into the height, and with a +bubbling stream of water running outward and inviting the ponies at once +to take their fill. + +"This settles it at once!" said Ingleborough, letting his bridle fall +upon his mount's neck. + +"Yes; we can go well in yonder, leading the ponies along the bed of the +stream. There is plenty of cover to hide half a regiment." + +"Of Boers," said Ingleborough shortly. "It will not do for us." + +"Why?" said West, staring. "We can hide there till they have gone." + +"My dear boy," said Ingleborough; "can't you see? The beggars evidently +know this place, and are making for it on account of the water. We saw +none on the other side." + +"Very well," said West sharply; "let's ride off, and keep the hill +between us and them." + +"Too late!" said Ingleborough. "This way; come on!" + +For as he spoke there was the loud beating noise of many hoofs, +indicating that the whole or a portion of the commando was coming at a +gallop round the opposite side of the kopje from that by which the +fugitives had come; and to have started then would have meant a gallop +in full sight of a large body of men ready to deliver a rifle-fire of +which they would have had to run the gauntlet. + +"We're entering another trap," said West bitterly, as they led their +reluctant ponies along the bed of the stream, fortunately for them too +stony for any discoloration to be borne down to show the keen-eyed Boers +that someone had passed that way, and at the same time yielding no +impress of the footprints of man or beast. + +As far as the fugitives could see, the ravine went in a devious course a +couple of hundred yards into the eminence, but, as it proved, nearly +across to the other side. It was darkened by overhanging trees and +creepers, which found a hold in every ledge or crack of the almost +perpendicular sides, and grew darker and darker at every score of yards; +but the echoing rocks gave them full notice of what was going on near +the entrance, the voices of the Boers and the splashing noise of their +horses' feet coming with many repetitions to drown any sound made by +their own. + +"It isn't a bad place!" said Ingleborough, as they hurried on, with the +ravine growing more narrow and the sides coming more sharply down into +the water. "It strikes me that we shall find the water comes out of +some cave." + +Five minutes later Ingleborough proved to be quite correct, for they +paused at a rugged archway between piled-up fern-hung blocks, out of +which the water rushed in a fairly large volume, but not knee-deep; and, +upon leaving his horse with his comrade and boldly wading in, West found +that the cave expanded as soon as the entrance was passed, so that the +spring ran outward along a narrow stony bed, and on either side there +was a bed of sand of considerable width. + +"Come along!" said West. "The water gets shallower, and there is a dry +place on either side." + +Ingleborough waded in at once, but unfortunately the ponies shrank from +following, and hung back from the reins, one of them uttering a loud +snort, which was repeated from the interior so loudly that the second +animal reared up wildly and endeavoured to break away. + +West dashed back though directly and relieved his companion of one of +the refractory beasts, when by means of a good deal of coaxing and +patting they were finally got along for some yards and out onto the +sandy side, where they whinnied out their satisfaction and recovered +their confidence sufficiently to step towards the running waters and +resume their interrupted drink. + +"Rifles!" said Ingleborough shortly, when West unslung his and stood +ready, following his companion's example as he stood in the darkness +with his piece pointing out at the bright stream with its mossy and +fern-hung framing. + +"Did you hear anyone coming?" whispered West. + +"No, but they must have heard our ponies and be coming on," was the +reply. + +"Let them come; we can keep the whole gang at bay from here!" + +But five minutes' watching and listening proved that they had not been +heard, for the Boers were too busy watering their horses, the voices of +the men and the splashings and tramplings of the beasts coming in +reverberations right along the natural speaking-tube, to strike clearly +upon the listeners' ears. + +Three several times the fugitives stood on guard with rifles cocked, +ready to make a determined effort to defend their post of vantage, for +the voices came nearer and nearer, and splashing sounds indicated +movements out towards the mouth of the ravine; but just when their +nerves were strained to the utmost, and they watched with starting eyes +a corner round which the enemy would have to turn to bring them within +range, the talking and splashing died out, and they simultaneously +uttered a sigh of relief. + +"I couldn't bear much of this, Ingle," said West, at last. "I half +think that I would rather have them come on so that we could get into +the excitement of a fight." + +"I don't half think so, lad; I do quite," replied Ingleborough. + +"But you don't want to fight?" + +"Of course not; I don't want to feel that I've killed anybody; but at +the same time I'd rather kill several Boers than they should kill me. +However, I hope they will not attack us, for if they do I mean to shoot +as straight as I can and as often as is necessary. What do you say?" + +West was silent for a few moments, during which he seemed to be thinking +out the position. At last he spoke: "I have never given the Boers any +reason for trying to destroy my life, my only crime being that I am +English. So, as life is very sweet and I want to live as long as I can, +I shall do as you do till they get disheartened, for I don't see how +they can get at us, and--" + +"Here, quick, lad!" whispered Ingleborough, swinging round. "We're +attacked from behind!" + +West followed his example, feeling fully convinced that the Boers had +after all seen them seek refuge in the cavern, and had taken advantage +of their knowledge of the place to creep through some tunnel which led +in from the other side, for there was a strange scuffling and rustling +sound a little way in, where it was quite dark. With rifles pointed +towards the spot and with fingers on triggers, the two friends waited +anxiously for some further development, so as to avoid firing blindly +into the cavern without injury to the enemy while leaving themselves +unloaded when their foes rushed on. + +"Can't be Boers!" said Ingleborough, at the end of a minute, during +which the noise went on; "it's wild beasts of some kind." + +"Lions," suggested West. + +"Oh no; they'd go about as softly as cats! More like a pack of hyaenas +trying to get up their courage for a charge!" + +"If we fired and stood on one side they'd rush out!" replied West. + +"Yes," said Ingleborough grimly; "and the Boers would rush in to see +what was the matter. That wouldn't do, for it's evident that they don't +know we're here." + +"But we must do something, or they'll injure the horses! Why!" cried +West excitedly; "it must be that they've pulled the poor beasts down and +are devouring them." + +"Without our little Basutos making a kick for life? Nonsense! They'd +squeal and kick and rush out. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!" + +To West's astonishment his companion burst into a prolonged fit of +gentle laughter. + +"Here, come along!" he said. "Of all the larky beggars! Here, you two +ruffians, stow that, or you'll smash up those saddles!" + +Ingleborough dashed in, followed at once by West, and as they got in +further from the cave's mouth they dimly saw their mounts spring up from +having a good roll and wriggle upon the soft dry sand to rest their +spines and get rid of the larvae of some worrying pernicious horse-fly. + +The moment the two ponies were on all-fours they gave themselves a +vigorous shake, and then whinnied softly and advanced to their riders +with out-stretched necks, expectant of a piece of bread or some other +delicacy with which they had been petted from time to time. + +"Why, you larky little rascals!" cried Ingleborough, patting the two +beasts affectionately; "what do you mean by frightening us out of our +seven senses? I mean frightening me, for you weren't scared a bit--eh, +West?" + +"Frightened? It was horrible! I can understand now why the Boers can't +bear being attacked from behind!" + +"Of course! I say, though, no wonder children are afraid of being in +the dark." He turned to the ponies, and said: "Look here, my lads, I +suppose you don't understand me, but if you could take my advice you'd +lie down to have a good rest. It would do you both good, and if the +firing did begin you'd escape being hit." + +To this one of the ponies whinnied softly, and then moved gently to its +companion's side, head to tail, bared its big teeth as if to bite, and +began to draw them along the lower part of the other's spine, beginning +at the root of the tail and rasping away right up to the saddle, while +the operatee stretched out its neck and set to work in the same way upon +the operator, upon the give-and-take principle, both animals grunting +softly and uttering low sounds that could only be compared to bleats or +purrs. + +"They say there's nothing so pleasant in life as scratching where you +itch," said West, laughing. "My word! They do seem to enjoy it." + +"Poor beggars, yes!" replied Ingleborough. "I believe there's no +country in the world where animals are more tortured by flies than in +Africa. The wretched insects plunge in that sharp instrument of theirs, +pierce the skin, and leave an egg underneath; the warmth of the body +hatches it into what we fishing boys called a gentle, and that white +maggot goes on eating and growing under the poor animal's coat, living +on hot meat always till it is full-grown, when its skin dries up and +turns reddish-brown, and it lies still for a bit, before changing into a +fly, which escapes from the hole in the skin it has eaten and flits away +to go and torture more animals." + +"And not only horses, but other animals!" said West quietly. + +"Horses only? Oh no; the bullocks get them terribly, and the various +kinds of antelopes as well. I've seen skins taken off blesboks and +wildebeestes full of holes. And there you are, my lad; that's a lecture +on natural history." + +"Given in the queerest place and at the strangest time a lecture was +ever given anywhere," said West. + +"It is very horrible, though, for the animals to be tortured so!" + +"Yes," said Ingleborough thoughtfully; "but the flies must enjoy +themselves wonderfully. They must have what people in England call a +high old time, and--eh? What's the matter?" + +"Be ready!" whispered West. "Someone coming; there's no mistake now!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR. + +A REAL ALARM. + +Ingleborough drew in his breath with a hiss, and once more stood on his +guard with his comrade right in the darkness, and in front of the two +ponies, where a good view of the stream outside and the corner rock +fringed with ferns could be obtained. + +For voices could be heard as of two men talking together, while plash, +plash, plash their footsteps in the water echoed for some moments from +the rocky sides of the chasm, before they came leisurely into sight +round the corner and stood knee-deep looking straight into the cave, +little thinking of the peril in which they were, for a couple of rifles +covered them, and the slightest pressure upon the triggers would have +sent the long thin bullets upon their errand to pierce the Boers through +and through. + +But no pressure came, those within the cavern seeing clearly enough from +the men's careless manner that they felt perfectly safe and were upon no +unusual errand. + +They were roughly enough clad, and their outer garments showed that they +had been slept in for some time and exposed to all kinds of weather; but +there was something about their mien, and more in the words they let +fall, which showed them to belong to a superior type of Boer. + +"Yes, there it is," said one of the two in Boer-Dutch, "just as it was +ten years ago when I was here on a hunting trip. The source is +perennial, and beautiful water. That's why I wanted Dietz to come out +of our way." + +"Does it go in far?" + +"About a hundred yards, and there the water suddenly gushes out of the +floor; but there are some nasty holes about, plunging down no one knows +how deep, and I shouldn't like to venture in without a light." + +"Why didn't we bring a lantern?" + +"Because we don't want to go burrowing into the kopje." + +"Speak for yourself. I do!" said the second man. "Here, I've got +plenty of matches--come along." + +"No, thank you," said the first. "One never knows what may be in a +place like that." + +West pinched his companion's arm. + +"What is likely to be there?" + +"Who can tell? A lioness and her full-grown cubs, perhaps, or a pack of +jackals! Worse still, snakes or some of the wandering bushmen with bows +and poisoned arrows." + +"Hardly likely!" said the second Boer. + +"I think very likely," said the first speaker, peering so steadfastly +into the cavern that for a few moments West felt certain that they were +seen. "One of the Kaffir tribes would not enter that place to save +their lives." + +"Why?" + +"Because they believe that a great water demon hides in the spring who +rises up and seizes anyone who approaches, drags him down, and devours +him." + +"All of which must be perfectly true!" answered the other Boer, with a +sneer. "Of course you are a believer?" + +"I'm a full believer in its being dangerous to go into caves without +proper lights," said the first speaker coldly, "and I think we are +undergoing risks enough every day from the rooineks' rifles and their +lancers' spears, without chancing a fall down some horrible pit." + +"Where there is a water demon!" said his companion, with another sneer. + +"Just for the sake of gratifying a little idle curiosity." + +"Oh, very well then! I don't like to come to such a natural curiosity +without exploring; so here goes alone." + +The next moment the first speaker had stretched out his hand and barred +his companion's way with his rifle. + +"What do you mean by that?" cried the Boer. + +"To stop you going." + +"What!" cried the other. "I shall go if I please!" + +"No!" said the first speaker sternly. "I order you not!" + +"You--you order me?" cried the other wrathfully. + +"Yes; recollect that you are a soldier for the time being, and under my +command. I order you not to go, for we have too much need of all our +brave burghers to defend the country to let any man risk his life in a +foolhardy adventure." + +"Pish!" + +"Silence!" said the other sternly. "I am going back. Had I known of +this, I would not have let you come!" + +"Look here," said the other insolently, "we are not on duty now, and +once for all I tell you that while I serve I am not going to put up with +bullying from any man who is a step above me in the ranks." + +The first speaker looked at him sternly, and Ingleborough placed his +lips close to West's ear. + +"Look here," said Ingleborough, "if we shoot, both take aim at that +obstinate brute, and give the other a chance to run for his life!" + +A nod was the only answer, as both listened to what was said further. + +"You fellows, because you get made field-cornets by a bit of luck, don't +know how to contain yourselves, and--" + +"Back to your horse!" said the first speaker, the veins in whose +forehead stood out in a network beneath his flap-brimmed hat, while his +voice sounded full of suppressed fury. + +"Back yourself!" cried the other. "I'll obey your orders in the field, +but we of the Free State are getting tired of the overbearing ways of +you men of the Transvaal. Put down your rifle, sir! By all that's +holy, if you hold it towards me in that threatening way, I'll send a +Mauser bullet through you. If I die for it, I will." + +At that moment, just as there seemed to be every possibility of a deadly +encounter between the two men, there was a loud hail from beyond the +rock, and, as it was not replied to, another cry was heard, in company +with loud echoing splashes in the water, and half-a-dozen Boers waded +into sight, evidently in a high state of excitement. + +"Hullo there!" shouted the foremost, "didn't you hear us call? We began +to think you had fallen into an ambush! Quick, back with you: there's a +patrol of the rooineks out yonder coming this way, the mounted men with +the spiked poles." + +"Many or few?" said the man addressed as the field-cornet, and, +apparently forgetting his anger in the excitement, he began to hurry +away from the cavern mouth, talking loudly the while. "I'll see! If +they'll come on, we'll stay here; if not, we might try and surround them +and capture the whole gang!" + +The next minute the walls of the gully were echoing the hurried +splashing made by the party, as the last of them turned the corner and +disappeared across the veldt. + +"Phew! What a pity!" said Ingleborough, taking off his hat to wipe his +forehead. + +"A pity!" cried West. "What: the news that some of our people are +near?" + +"No, no; I meant that the row came to an end. I was in hopes that we +were going to have a new version of the Kilkenny cats, and two enemies +of Old England were going to tear each other to pieces and leave only a +tail behind." + +"Oh, be serious, Ingle!" said West excitedly. "We might venture out +now." + +"Don't be rash! We've got to find out what they mean to do." + +"Come along then, and let's leave the horses where they are. We must +try and climb up somewhere to see what is going on." + +"Very well, but take care! These are awfully breakneck walls to mount." + +"Yes, but it has to be done! Why not up that crack?" + +West pointed to a rift half-full of wiry-looking shrubs mingled with +ferns, which ran up the rocky wall of the gully diagonally. + +"Think you can do it?" + +"Yes, it's easier than it looks. Let's try!" + +"Right!" said Ingleborough. "Up you go!" + +West waded across to the side, slinging his rifle as he went, then +pulling his hat on tightly, he reached up as high as he could, and drew +himself up a foot or two. Then, carefully taking advantage of the +angles and edges of projecting rocks for his feet and getting hand-hold +of the tough shrubs, he was soon up twenty feet above the rushing +stream. + +"Come along!" he said. "It's not bad climbing!" + +"Matter of opinion," replied Ingleborough, "but here goes!" and he began +to mount, while West went on. + +"Oh yes," he said, "it's all right! Why, it puts one in mind of the +Lady--I say, lad, ugh!--that was slippy!" + +"Hold on then!" cried West excitedly, for one of Ingleborough's feet +glided over the edge of a stone, which yielded, and he was left hanging +by his hands, to strive to get a footing. + +"Get out!" said Ingleborough, panting. "That's better. Just as if I +shouldn't hold on! Think I wanted a cold bath?" + +"You gave me quite a turn!" said West. "Will you leave it to me? I can +manage it!" + +"Go on, you vain young coxcomb! So can I manage it! If you don't look +out, I'll be up first! Well, what are you stopping for?" + +"Look down there!" said West. + +Ingleborough held on tightly while he twisted his head to see that the +two ponies had hurried out of the cave to wade to the place where they +had started from, and were looking up wonderingly. + +"Ha, ha!" laughed Ingleborough. "They're afraid of being left behind! +Here, you two, be off back into your stable," he continued, getting hold +of a loose piece of rock with the intention of dropping it into the +water to scare the lookers-on. + +"No, no, don't do that!" said West softly. "You may scare them into +cantering down into the midst of the Boers!" + +"Right," said Ingleborough, replacing the stone. "I don't suppose +they'll mind." + +At that moment one of the ponies whinnied, and the other took up the cry +of discontent. + +"Quiet, will you? Look here!" said Ingleborough, speaking as if in the +full belief that the two animals understood every word. "If you make +that row, you'll have the Boers down upon us, and that will mean new +masters, with worse treatment than you get from us! That's settled +them," continued Ingleborough, speaking again to his companion, and as +it happened the two animals did not repeat their challenging cry, but +began to nibble at the greenery overhanging the water. + +Meanwhile the climbing grew more difficult as the adventurers got higher +and more excited, for all at once the rapid crack-crack-crack of rifles +began telling of attack and defence, and making the climbers strain +every effort to get to the top, which was at last accomplished by West, +who drew himself over the edge of the rocks and lay panting for a few +moments before looking down. + +"Can't you manage it?" he said; for Ingleborough had come to a stand +some twenty feet below. + +"No!" was the reply. "My right foot has slipped into a crack here, and +is wedged tight. Don't wait for me! Go on, only let's have all the +news as soon as you can!" + +West's first idea was to lower himself down; but, feeling that one was +enough to find out all they wanted, he obeyed his comrade's orders and +went on climbing upon all-fours what was now an easy slope with plenty +of cover in the shape of bushes and huge blocks of stone. + +A few minutes brought him to the top of the kopje, whence he had a clear +view of all that was going on, while the firing was now general. + +He saw at a glance that the Boers had not attempted to hold the natural +stronghold, for upon discovering their numbers, the half-troop of +lancers, some thirty in number, had begun to retire, and the Boers, of +whom there seemed to be about a hundred and fifty, were streaming out in +two directions, evidently with the intention of surrounding and taking +them prisoners, both sides keeping up a steady fire the while. West +stopped no longer than was necessary to satisfy himself that the Boers +were getting rapidly farther and farther from the kopje, and then +hurried back down the slope to the top of the gully, where, leaning +over, he found Ingleborough busy at work, apparently driving his +rifle-barrel down into a crevice. "Ahoy!" cried West. "Hallo there! +What news, lad?" + +"Small party of lancers in full retreat, and the Boers very strong in +pursuit. They're a mile away now." + +"Then we shall get no help from our people; but, if they are taking the +enemy away, that's all we want. Coming down?" + +"Yes," said West, lowering himself over the edge very cautiously, for it +was terribly dangerous work, and Ingleborough shivered and hung back, +watching him till his companion reached the ledge where he had been +checked. + +"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough; "that's better. I've been wishing for the +last five minutes that the stream below was ten feet deep!" + +"Why?" panted West, who was breathless from his exertions. + +"For you to fall into! But now help me to get my boot! I'm afraid to +lever it out with my rifle-barrel, for fear of bending it." + +"Let me try!" said West, and, thrusting his arm down into the crack, he +got well hold of the boot, gave it a jerk sidewise, and it was free. + +"Look at that now!" said Ingleborough. "My word! it's a fine thing to +have been born clever. How did you do it?" + +"Pulled it out," replied West, smiling. + +"Of course; but _I_ couldn't! It took me all my time to get it unlaced +and to draw out my foot. Stuck, for it was so wet!" + +In another five minutes, while the cracking of the rifle-fire was +growing more distant, the boot was replaced, the dangerous descent +continued, with several slips and slides, each saving his friend in turn +from a bad fall, and the pair reached the water only minus a little +skin, to be welcomed by their ponies, who came up to them at once, ready +to be led cautiously to the entrance of the gully. + +But there was no need for the extra care, inspection proving that no +Boers were left behind, and that they were too far distant now to +distinguish what went on at the resting-place they had left. + +"Think they'll make the lancers prisoners?" said West, after they had +stood scanning the level veldt for some minutes. + +"Not unless they can surround them, and I should give our cavalry credit +for being too cautious to let them do that!" said Ingleborough. "Now +then, what do you say for another try Mafeking-ward?" + +"Forward!" was the reply, and after a glance at the compass to lay down +their course, the friends mounted and, refreshed, though not much +rested, they cantered off, making a bee-line almost due north, with the +intention of cautiously approaching some farm on their way to purchase +food. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE. + +AT TANTE ANN'S. + +It was growing dark before a suitable place presented itself, this being +a typical Boer farm in a very desolate part of the veldt, the spot +having been evidently chosen by its occupants on account of the tiny +kopje and abundant supply of water welling out, besides being a perfect +spot for the branch of farming the owner carried on, there being pen +after pen of ostriches, the great foolish-looking large-eyed birds +staring at the two horsemen wonderingly as they approached the door +where the owner stood looking distant and glum, as he smoked his big +pipe. + +Yes, he said, he would sell them some provisions for themselves and corn +for their horses if they had money to pay for what they wanted. + +This was at once produced, and the farmer looked on after summoning a +huge Kaffir to help with the horses and get out the corn; while his fat +wife, after coming to the door to glare at the visitors, condescended to +put on a kettle to prepare them tea, and see if there was a chicken that +could be killed and broiled, and some eggs for frying. + +There were several bits of consultation carried on by the husband and +wife from time to time, and everything showed that the visitors were far +from welcome. + +"Never mind," said Ingleborough; "all we want is a good meal, and we +shall be off in the morning as soon as it is light." + +"That shed with the iron roof is to be our bedroom, I suppose?" said +West. + +"Yes, and we're lucky to get that and a few sacks." + +Just then the Boer came slowly sidling up, smoking hard the while, to +know if they had seen anything of the war, and he seemed deeply +interested on hearing that a skirmish had been going on not so many +miles from his farm. + +"Why are you two not fighting?" he said suddenly. + +"Because we don't want to," was West's smiling reply. + +"But you are Englanders?" said the Boer. + +"Yes, but all Englanders don't want to fight," said West, while +Ingleborough looked on, quite unmoved. + +"Oh, don't tell, me!" said the Boer, shaking his head. "They all want +to fight and kill the Boers before robbing them of their homes and +farms. Don't tell me--I know!" + +He walked away to where the Kaffir was seeing to the horses, and West +noticed that he took a good deal of notice of them, glanced two or three +times in the direction of his visitors, and then ran his hands down +their legs in a most professional way, narrowly escaping a kick from +West's steed, before he walked thoughtfully back to his rough--looking +house, into which he was careful not to allow his guests to enter. + +"We're to share the stable with the nags," said Ingleborough; "but it +doesn't matter. Let's go and see how they are getting on," he +continued, as the Boer disappeared indoors. "We can't afford to have +them fed on some of his lordship's refuse. I know something of the +tricks of these gentlemen of old." + +They entered the rough stable, where the big Kaffir was standing on one +side and greeted them with a heavy scowl. + +"Well, Jack," said Ingleborough, "are the ponies eating their corn?" + +"Yes, baas," said the black gruffly; "eat um all fast." + +"Ah, I thought so," said Ingleborough quietly, sniffing and blowing on +the musty trash. "Do you feed your horses on stuff like this?" + +He turned so sharply on the Kaffir that the man shrank as if from a +blow; but his questioner smiled. + +"Not your fault, I suppose?" + +"Baas say, `Give ponies thaht,'" he replied apologetically. + +"Of course, my lad," said Ingleborough, drawing out a shilling and +slipping it into the black's hand. + +"Now you get some of the best corn, and see that the horses eat it. You +understand?" + +"Yes, baas," said the man, with a sharp click, as his eyes glistened and +he showed his white teeth in a satisfied grin. "Soon my baas go away, +give them good to eat." + +"Is your baas going away?" + +"Iss; saddle pony; go away." + +As the black spoke he pointed to the farther end of the long mud-walled +shed, where another pony was tied up. + +Just then the shrill voice of the Boer vrouw was heard calling, and the +Kaffir gave a shout in reply. + +"Tant' Ann want um," he said, and he ran out, joined the lady at the +door, and was dismissed to get some fuel from a heap, while the farmer +came out, smoking away, and Ingleborough left the shed with West as if +to join him. + +"Are you going to give him your opinion?" said West. + +"No: we can't afford to quarrel. The Kaffir will take care of our nags +now, and get another tip for his pains." + +The next minute they were close up to their host, who had evidently been +thinking over the words which had last been exchanged. + +"You Englanders," he said, "think you are very clever; but the Boers +beat you before, and they're going to beat you more this time, and drive +you all into the sea." + +"Very well!" said West, smiling. "I hope they'll give us time to get +into the ships." + +"Perhaps!" said the Boer, smoking more rapidly in his excitement. "But +it's all going to be Dutch now! No more English!" + +"All right," said Ingleborough; "but I want my supper very badly." + +"Want to eat? Yes; come in! The vrouw says it is nearly ready." + +"That's right; then let's have it." + +"You can come in the house," continued the farmer, and Ingleborough +raised his eyebrows a little in surprise. + +But a greater surprise awaited the pair on entering the mud-floored room +to find quite a decent meal awaiting them on the table, and their +sour-looking heavy hostess ready to wait on them with a kind of surly +civility. + +The pair were too hungry to think of anything then but appeasing their +appetite, and they made a good meal, their host making no scruple about +bringing a stool to the table and taking a larger share than either. + +He said little, but his little keen eyes examined everything in +connection with his visitors' costume, paying most heed to their +weapons, while his wife saw to the wants of all from time to time, +retiring at intervals to a second room which led out of the first and +seemed to have been added quite lately. + +"You'll want to sleep soon?" said the farmer inquiringly, when the meal +was ended. + +"Yes, the sooner the better," said Ingleborough, rising; an example +followed by West; "and we shall be off in the morning early. We'll take +a couple of these cakes." + +The Boer nodded. + +"Shall I sell you some biltong?" he said. + +"Yes, certainly." + +"I will have it ready. Where are you going now?" + +"To look at the ponies." + +"Oh, they are all well. My Kaffir has seen to them." + +"But I suppose we are to sleep out there?" said Ingleborough. + +"No," said the Boer; "you can sleep there," and he pointed to a +rough-looking bed in one corner of the room. "My Kaffir sleeps with the +horses. My vrouw and I sleep in the other room." + +"Then as soon as we can we should like to turn this dining-room into our +bedroom," said Ingleborough. + +"But we'll look at our ponies first." + +The Boer grunted and proceeded to refill his pipe, while the two young +men went out and across to the rough shelter, where they found their +ponies looking evidently the better for a good feed, and the Kaffir +grinning and ready to pat their plumped-out figures, the ponies taking +the touch of his hand as a friendly caress. + +"Eat a big lot," said the Kaffir, in the Boer tongue. "Ah, like this," +and he held a native basket for their inspection, at the bottom of which +was a specimen of the corn with which the ponies had been fed. + +"That's right, Jack! Capital; hard as shot! There's another shilling +for you!" + +The Kaffir grinned again with delight as he took the money. + +"Good baas!" he said. "Two good baas! Baas want boy, Jack come 'long +with you!" + +"Not this time, my lad!" + +"Very glad to come 'long with good baas!" said the man, in a +disappointed tone of voice. + +"No, we can't take you, my lad," said West, patting the big fellow on +the shoulder. "Have the ponies saddled at daylight. We're going +early." + +The black nodded his head, and the pair, weary enough now from their +long journey, and drowsy after their hearty meal, strode slowly back to +the house, to find that the table had been cleared, save that a couple +of big bread cakes lay on one end alongside of a little pile of biltong, +the sun-dried mahogany-looking strips of ox-flesh so much in use among +the rough farmers of the veldt. + +The dirty-looking room smelt hot and stuffy, but a little window at the +back had been thrown open, and the soft air blowing from off miles of +plain made the place a little more bearable. + +A common lamp had been lighted, and a streak of light came from beneath +the ill-fitting door which led into the other room, from which the low +murmur of voices could be heard as the young men entered talking +cheerily together. + +This announced their return, and the door creaked upon its hinges, +giving entrance to the farmer, who pointed to the next day's provisions +and significantly held out his hand. + +"How much?" said West, and the man demanded an unconscionable amount, +which made the pair exchange glances. But Ingleborough nodded as much +as to say: "Pay the thief!" and the money was handed over and taken with +a grunt. After this the Boer passed into the next room, closing the +door after him; but it did not prevent the acid voice of the vrouw from +reaching the visitors' ears as if to protest. + +"The old scoundrel won't hand over the plunder," said Ingleborough, with +a chuckle. "I hope she'll give him what we didn't--a thorough good +tongue-thrashing." + +He had hardly spoken when he found that he had jumped at a wrong +conclusion, for the door was pulled open again and the Boer reappeared. + +"Tante Ann says you are to make haste and put out the lamp," he growled, +"for she don't want to be burned in her bed." + +"All right, uncle," replied Ingleborough. "Good night, and bless you +for a fine specimen of the noble, freedom-loving Boer. Say good night +to Tante too, and tell her that our sleeping chamber is the very +perfection of domestic comfort." + +"Hunk!" ejaculated the farmer, and he disappeared again. + +"I wonder that he did not turn upon you," said West, rather +reproachfully; "he must have understood that you were speaking +sarcastically." + +"Not he," said his companion. "Thick-headed, muddy-brained brute; more +like a quadruped than a man! The Kaffirs are gentlemen to some of these +up-country farmers, and yet they are the slaves." + +"Too tired to discuss moral ethics!" said West sleepily; "but really +this place is awful. Agricultural implements in one corner, sacks of +something in another, horns, saddles, tools--oh, I'm too sleepy to go +on. Hallo! He has taken those two rifles away that were slung over +that low cupboard." + +"To be sure; so he has! Afraid we should steal them, perhaps, and be +off before he woke! I say, did you notice how he examined ours?" + +"Yes; I fancied he had noticed that they were Mausers." + +"Oh no. They were fresh to him. Well, I'm going to take care that he +doesn't help himself to them. I don't know what you're going to do, but +I'm going to lie down on one side of that bed just as I am, bandolier +and all, and I vote we lay the rifles between us." + +"I shall do the same," said West. "What do you say to leaving the door +and window open for the sake of the fresh air? No fear of lions here?" + +"I don't know so much about that, but we should get some warning from +the horses and oxen. Bah! It's not likely. What now?" + +There was a heavy thumping at the door leading into the other room, and +the vrouw's shrill voice was heard ordering them to put out the light. + +"Tell her, West, that her royal commands shall be instantly obeyed by +her obedient slaves." + +"Shan't," replied West. "That will quiet her," and he turned out the +light, putting an end to its abominable emanation of coarse petroleum, +while the soft starry light of a glorious night stole in, showing the +shapes of door and windows. + +"Hah! That's better!" said Ingleborough, making the rough bedstead +creak as he laid himself gently down. "I hope none of these cartridges +will explode. Oh, how I can sleep!" + +"And so can I," sighed West, "even dressed up like this," after laying +his rifle alongside of his companion's, straight down the middle of the +bed. + +"We didn't tell Jack the Kaffir to bring our shaving-water at daybreak," +said Ingleborough, who now that he was in a horizontal position seemed +to have suddenly grown wakeful. "I say." + +"Well?" + +"I wonder how our dear friend Anson is!" + +West made no reply. + +"I say! West!" + +"Oh, don't talk, please. I want to sleep." + +"All right, you shall, till I see the pearly dawn streaming in through +that little window at the back here. I say, though, if you hear me turn +round in the night and the cartridges begin to pop, just wake me up, or +there may be an accident." + +West again made no reply. + +"And we should have Tante Ann waking up, when there would be a greater +explosion still. There, good night!" + +"Good night." + +Then silence, save that the cry of some prowling creature far out on the +veldt sounded wonderfully like the baying of a dog. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SIX. + +A DARK VISITOR. + +An hour must have passed away, during which neither of the weary bearers +of the despatch moved. Then in a low whisper West spoke. + +"Asleep, Ingle?" + +"Asleep? No," was whispered back. "I can't close my eyes." + +"Neither can I." + +"Why not?" + +"Over tired and excited, I suppose. All this is so strange too." + +"What have you been thinking about?" + +"At first I could only think of the despatch and wonder whether we +should get it to Mafeking. Then I began thinking of that black out in +the stable and what he said." + +"About his master wanting his pony saddled?" whispered Ingleborough. + +"Yes. What did he want his pony saddled for at that time of night?" + +"How strange!" said Ingleborough. "That's what kept on bothering me!" + +"Ingle." + +"Yes." + +"Do you think that fellow meant treachery?" + +"I don't know; but I'd believe in any treacherous act on the part of a +Boer." + +"Would he be likely to ride off somewhere to where there is a commando?" + +"For the sake of getting us taken prisoners or shot?" + +"Or so as to get possession of our ponies! I saw him examining them as +if he liked them." + +"So did I." + +There was silence again, and West spoke. + +"Ingle," he said, "I can't sleep here; the despatch seems to be sticking +into me to remind me of my duty. We shall rest better in our saddles +than on this wretched bed. What do you say--the free cool air of the +veldt, or this stuffy, paraffiny room?" + +"Let's be off, and at once!" + +"We will. We can slip out quietly without waking these people, and most +likely we are misjudging the man, who has the regular racial hatred of +the British." + +"Perhaps; but we must be careful, for if he heard us going to the shed +and meddling with the horses he'd likely enough begin blazing away at us +with his rifle." + +At that moment West clutched his companion's arm, for they heard no +sound, but all at once the dark silhouette of a man's head appeared +framed in the little back window against a background of starry points +which glistened like gold. + +Ingleborough's hand stole to his rifle, which he grasped, as both held +their breath; but he did not attempt to raise it, for the head was +thrust inside, and a voice whispered the one word: "Baas." + +"Yes," said West softly. "What is it, my lad?" + +"My baas take pony and ride away. Go to fetch fighting Boer to shoot +good baas. You and good baas him." + +"Ah?" said West. + +"Iss. Jack put saddles on Basuto ponies; put bridles on Basuto ponies. +Good baas both come and ride away. Tant' Ann never hear nothing. Sleep +all night." + +"And if we go what will your baas do to you when he comes and finds the +ponies gone?" said West. + +"Bad baas never see me again! Going home to my country to-night." + +"Ah, that's better!" said Ingleborough. "Here, take the two rifles, and +we'll get out here. Jack, my lad, you're a trump, and you shall have +five two-shilling pieces for this, to buy new blankets." + +The Kaffir chuckled and clicked with satisfaction as he stood holding +the rifles till Ingleborough slipped out, West pausing to cram the bread +cakes and biltong into their satchels, after which he too slipped out, +and the trio hurried towards the stables. + +"How far has your baas to ride to the fighting Boers?" West asked the +Kaffir. + +"Long ride," replied the black. "Many Boers yesterday, many Boers other +day, many Boers come in morning with baas." + +"Then we're all right for a good start," said Ingleborough. "I say, +West, you're always taking me into some trap: hadn't I better lead?" + +"You are leading now," replied West. "How do we know that there are not +a dozen of the enemy in the stable?" + +"What! Oh, nonsense! Come along!" + +The ponies whinnied as they entered, and the black struck a match and +lit a wagon lantern, showing that they were ready bridled and their +heads tied up to a rail, while examination proved that the saddles were +properly girthed ready for a start. + +"Here, stop a minute!" said Ingleborough, as the man began to unfasten +the reins attached to the ponies' heads. "Here, I promised you five +two-shilling pieces," and he counted them out ready in his hand, making +the black's eyes sparkle with delight in the lamplight. + +"Stop," said West sharply; "the poor fellow's losing his place, such as +it is, by helping us. I have our expenses money, and I shall give him a +sovereign." + +"Well, he deserves it," said Ingleborough, as West pushed back his +companion's hand containing the silver coins with his left, and held out +the sovereign, which looked very bright and new in the yellow light shed +by the lantern. + +A sudden change came over the Kaffir's face at once. Instead of the +grinning white teeth and twinkling eyes his lips were drawn tightly over +his teeth, and a scowl contracted his eyes. + +"No, no, no," he cried, with child-like petulance, in the Boer-Dutch, +sadly mutilated. "No want one. Say five big shillings." + +"What!" cried West. "Why, this is worth twice as much." + +"No, no," cried the man angrily. "Want to cheat poor black Kaffir. No, +no; Olebo want to help white baas! White baas want cheat poor black +Zulu!" + +"Poor old chap!" said Ingleborough, laughing merrily; "his education has +been sadly neglected. Here, Jack--Olebo, or whatever your name is--take +the sovereign, and you shall have the five two-shillings pieces as +well." + +"Eh? No cheat Zulu boy?" cried the man doubtingly. + +"No, all right; catch hold. There, now you can buy many blankets, and +may you never be tricked any worse!" + +"Hah! Yes; buy lot, take home!" And the white teeth were shown again +as the coins were gripped fast, including the sovereign, which was held +up first to the light. "White shilling? No: yellow farden." + +"All right; but take it to an honest man, my lad. Now then, untie those +reins." + +The black turned to obey, but stopped short and stood staring away +through the open side of the shed for a few moments, with the light +shining full upon his face, showing his starting eyes, open mouth, and +dilated quivering nostrils. + +"What's the matter? Can he hear a lion?" whispered West. + +"Here, stop, stop!" cried Ingleborough. "Finish your job!--We've paid +him too well and too soon. He's off to run amok among the brandy and +blanket dealers." + +For the black had darted outside, but in the gloom they saw him suddenly +throw himself down and lay one ear to the ground. + +"Yes, he can hear a lion," grumbled Ingleborough; "but the ponies +haven't caught it yet." + +He had hardly finished speaking before the Kaffir sprang up again and +dashed into the shed, where he reached up and dragged something from the +rafters which proved to be an elephant-hide shield with three assegais +secured to the hand-hold inside. + +"Baas hold this!" he said excitedly. "Boer coming. Olebo hear horses!" + +Half throwing the weapons to Ingleborough, who caught them, and leaned +them against his side while he examined the charges of his rifle, an +action imitated by West, the Kaffir rapidly unfastened the reins, +setting the ponies' heads free, and then darted at the lantern, opened +the door, and blew out the light. + +"Now come 'long," he whispered, and taking the ponies' heads he placed +himself between them and led them along, stopping the next moment to +hold them steady while their riders mounted. + +"Olebo run 'long with two baas show the way," he said. "Basuto ponies +tumble over ostrich pens." + +"Hah! Good idea!" said West, and, listening now, he fancied he made out +the sound of a troop of horse in the distance; but Ingleborough said he +could hear nothing yet. + +Leaving themselves to the guidance of the Kaffir, they found to their +surprise that, instead of striking straight off, he led them to the +house, and then round to the back, where the little window by whose +means he had stolen close to where they lay and given the alarm stood +open. + +"Here, take your shield!" said Ingleborough. + +"Wait a bit!" replied the black, chuckling. + +"Hist! You'll have the old vrouw hear." + +"No," said the black confidently; "fast asleep. Wicked old witch! +Throw kettle at Kaffir, hot water burn back! Wait a bit; you see!" + +Dependent as they were on the man's guidance through the darkness +amongst the enclosures, the fugitives left him to himself for a few +moments, wondering what he was about to do. + +They soon knew, for he stopped the ponies close to the little window, +left their heads, and went close up, to begin fumbling about his spare +garments, whence came the chink of the coins he had just received. + +"Matches," he said, and West made out that he took a few from the box he +held in his hand, and then reached in at the window, chuckling softly. + +"Ingle," whispered. West, with horror in his voice. "What's the +matter?" + +"Do you know what he's doing?" + +"Nobbling a couple of the blankets because he isn't going to stay for +his wages?" + +"No; I'm sure he has emptied the match-box on the straw mattress, and is +going to burn down the house." + +"Nonsense!" + +_Crack_! went a match by way of endorsement of West's words, and the +next moment the little flame began to burn inside the Kaffir's hands, +lighting up his exulting countenance as he waited till the splint of +wood was well alight. + +"What are you going to do?" said West hoarsely, as he leaned forward and +laid his right hand upon the black's shoulder. + +"Don't shake light out!" was the answer. "Olebo going make big fire, +roast Tant' Ann! Big fat witch, soon burn!" + +As the Kaffir finished he lowered one hand, leaving the match blazing +brightly, and he was in the act of leaning in to apply it to the little +heap of matches he had placed upon the loose straw mattress, when a +sharp snatch at his shoulder jerked him back, and the burning splint +dropped to the ground. + +"Ah-h-ah!" growled the man savagely, and he drew another match across +the box he still held. + +"None of that!" growled Ingleborough sternly. + +"Wicked old witch!" said the black, in remonstrance. "Burn Olebo! +Don't give him enough to eat! No good!" + +"You come along," cried West. "I can hear the Boers coming fast. Now +then, lead the horses clear of the pens!" + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY SEVEN. + +NIGHT ON THE VELDT. + +The Kaffir grunted, and began what Ingleborough afterwards called +"chuntering," but he obeyed at once, leading the ponies at a quick walk +in and out amongst several ostrich enclosures, till they were quite a +quarter of a mile from the farm, from which there came the buzz of +voices and the occasional stamp of a horse on the still night air. + +"No more wire fence!" said their guide, and indicating that they should +urge the ponies forward he took his shield and spears from Ingleborough, +caught hold of the mane of West's pony, and then as they broke into a +canter, ran lightly by the animal's side, talking softly, and now and +then breaking out into a merry laugh. + +"Ought burn Tant' Ann!" he said. "Wicked old witch! Very fat! Make +her good vrouw!" + +"I'm afraid Jack's morals are sadly in need of improvement, lad," said +Ingleborough at last. + +"What a horrible idea!" replied West, with a shudder; "and the worst of +it is that the fellow seems to consider that it would have been a good +piece of fun." + +"Yes, it is his nature to, as we are told of the bears and lions in the +poems of Dr Watts. I dare say the old woman had been a horrible tyrant +to the poor fellow!" + +"But the hideous revenge!" + +"Which hasn't come off, my lad! But the black scoundrel's ideas are +shocking in the extreme, and I would not associate with him much in the +future. Here! Hi! Olebo, stop!" + +The young man drew rein, and the black looked up enquiringly. + +"Lie down and listen for the Boers!" + +The Kaffir nodded, and trotted a dozen yards away from the side of the +ponies, threw himself down, listened, jumped up, and repeated the +performance three times at greater distances before returning. + +"No hear!" he said. "Gone other way." + +"It would be safe then to strike a match and look at the compass," +suggested West, and, taking out his box, he struck a light, shaded it in +his slouch hat, and then held the little pocket compass to it. + +"Well, which way are we going?" + +"Due east." + +"Then we'll turn due north, and travel that way till to-morrow night, +and see what that brings forth." + +Starting off again, they journeyed on, sometimes at a walk, sometimes at +an easy canter, so as to save the horses as much as possible, while the +Kaffir kept up, seeming not in the slightest degree distressed, but +ready to enter into conversation at any time, after changing from one +side to the other so as to hold on by a different hand. + +"Soon be daylight now," said West; "but I hope this fellow does not +expect to keep on with us, does he?" + +"Oh no, I don't think so for a moment. We'll pull up before sunrise at +some sheltered place and have a good look-out for danger before letting +the ponies graze and having breakfast. Let's see what happens then!" + +But the sun was well up before a suitable kopje came in sight, one so +small that it did not appear likely to contain enemies, but sufficiently +elevated to give an observer a good view for miles through the clear +veldt air. + +"Looks safe!" said Ingleborough; "but burnt English children fear the +Boer fire. Let's have a good circle round." + +This was begun, and the black instantly grasped what was intended, and +hanging well down from West's stirrup-leather, he began to search the +ground carefully for tracks, looking up from time to time and pointing +out those of antelopes, lions, and ostriches, but never the hoof of +horse or the footprint of man. + +"No Boer there!" he said. "No one come. Good water," he continued, +pointing to the slight tracts of grass which had sprung up where a +stream rising among the rocks was losing itself in the dry soil, but +which looked brighter and greener as it was nearer to the kopje, which +was fairly furnished with thorn-bush and decent-sized trees. + +"Any Boers hiding there?" said West sharply. + +"Boers ride there on ponies!" replied the Kaffir decisively, as he +pointed down at the drab dust. "No ponies make marks." + +"That's enough," said Ingleborough. "Come along." + +Without hesitation now they put their mounts to a canter, rode up to the +pleasant refreshing-looking place, and after leaving the ponies with the +Kaffir and climbing to one of the highest points, took a good look +round. This proved that there was not a mounted man in sight, and they +descended to select a spot where there was plenty of herbage and water +for their steeds, when they sat down and began to breakfast. + +"Nothing like a fine appetite," said West, after they had been eating +for some little time; "but this biltong is rather like eating a leg of +mahogany dining-table into which a good deal of salt gravy and furniture +oil has been allowed to soak." + +"Yes, it is rather wooden," said Ingleborough coolly. "Must wear out a +man's teeth a good deal." + +"Eland," said the Kaffir, tapping his stick of the dried meat on seeing +his companions examining and smelling the food. "Old baas shoot eland, +Olebo cut him up and dry him in the sun. Good." + +"Well, it isn't bad, O child of nature! But I say, how far do you mean +to come with us?" + +"No go any more," replied the man. "Go Olebo kraal, see wife. Give her +big shilling and little yellow shilling.--Good?" + +He brought out the sovereign from where it had been placed, and held it +up. + +"Good? Yes," said West, and he set to work to try and explain by making +the black bring out a florin and then holding up his outspread ten +fingers, when the man seemed to have some idea of his meaning. + +"Look here, I'll get it into his benighted intellect; but I should have +thought that he would have known what a sovereign was worth." + +Just then the Kaffir nodded sharply, after examining the coin. + +"Gold?" he said, in Dutch. + +"Of course," said Ingleborough, taking out a sovereign and ten more +florins, which he placed in a heap and at a short distance from the +little pile he laid down the sovereign. "Look here, Olebo," he said, +taking up the ten florins. "Buy four blankets!" + +The Kaffir nodded, and his instructor replaced the heavy coins in his +pocket to take up the sovereign. + +"Now, see here," said Ingleborough, holding it out. "Buy four +blankets." + +"Ah!" cried the delighted black, snatching out his own treasured coins, +the gold in one hand, the silver in the other. "Buy four blankets for +Olebo wife," he cried, holding forward the silver. Then putting it +behind him he held out the sovereign: "Buy four blankets for Olebo." + +"Now we've got it," cried West, laughing, and watching the way in which +the black hid his cash away. "I say," he continued, to his companion, +speaking in English, "where does he put that money to keep it safe?" + +"I dunno," said Ingleborough. "It seems to come natural to these +Kaffirs to hide away their treasures cunningly. See how artful they are +over the diamonds! He doesn't put the cash in his trousers pockets, nor +yet in his waistcoat, nor yet his coat, because he has neither one nor +the other. I expect he has a little snake-skin bag somewhere inside his +leather-loincloth. But here, I'm thirsty; let's have some water!" + +As he spoke Ingleborough sprang up and walked towards the head of the +spruit, followed by his companions, and they passed the two ponies, +which were hard at work on the rich green herbage along the border of +the stream. Then, getting well ahead of them, all lay down and +thoroughly quenched their thirst. + +"Now," said West, "what next? We ought to go on at once," and he +unconsciously laid his hand upon the spot where the despatch was hidden. + +"No," replied Ingleborough, "that won't do. We seem safe here, and we +must hasten slowly. We're ready enough to go on, but the ponies must be +properly nursed. They want more grass and a rest." + +"The sun is getting hot too," said West, in acknowledgment of his +comrade's words of wisdom. + +"We'll stop till evening, lad," continued Ingleborough, "and take it in +turn to sleep in the shade of those bushes if we can find a soft spot. +We had no rest last night." + +"I suppose that must be it," replied West, and he joined in a sigh on +finding a satisfactory spot beneath a mass of granite from which +overhung a quantity of thorn-bush and creeper which formed an +impenetrable shade. + +The black followed them, noting keenly every movement and trying hard to +gather the meaning of the English words. + +"Two baas lie down long time, go to sleep," he said at last, in broken +Dutch. "Olebo sit and look, see if Boer come. See Boer, make baas wake +up." + +"No," said West; "you two lie down and sleep. I'll take the first +watch." + +Ingleborough made no opposition, and after West had climbed up to a spot +beneath a tree from which he could get a good stretch of the veldt in +view, the others lay down at once and did not stir a limb till West +stepped down to them, when the Kaffir sprang up without awakening +Ingleborough. + +"Olebo look for Boers now," he said. + +West hesitated, and the Kaffir grasped the meaning of his silence. + +"Olebo come and tell baas when big old baas go to fetch Boers," he said. + +"So you did," cried the young Englishman warmly, "and I'll trust you +now. Mind the ponies don't stray away." + +The black showed his beautiful, white teeth in a happy satisfied laugh. + +"Too much grass, too much nice water," he said. "Basuto pony don't go +away from baas only to find grass." + +"You're right!" said West. "Wait till the sun is there!" he continued, +pointing to where it would be about two hours after mid-day, "and then +wake the other baas." + +The Kaffir nodded, and West lay down to rest, as he put it to himself, +for he was convinced that he would be unable to sleep; but he had not +lain back five minutes, gazing at the sunlit rivulet and the ponies +grazing, before his lids closed and all was nothingness till he was +roused by a touch from Ingleborough. + +The sun was just dipping like a huge orange ball in the vermilion and +golden west. + +"Had a good nap, old fellow?" + +"Oh, it's wonderful!" said the young man, springing up. "I don't seem +to have been asleep five minutes." + +"I suppose not. Well, all's right, and Blackjack is waiting to say +good-bye. He wants to start off home." + +The Kaffir came up from where he had been patting and caressing the +ponies, and stood looking at them as motionless in the ruddy evening +light as a great bronze image. + +"Olebo go now," he said, turning his shield to show that the remains of +his share of the provisions were secured to the handle by a rough net of +freshly-plaited grassy rush. "Olebo see baas, both baas, some day." He +accompanied the words with a wistful look at each, and before they could +think of what to say in reply he turned himself sharply and ran off at a +rapid rate, getting out of sight as quickly as he could by keeping close +to the bushes, before striking out into the veldt. + +"Humph! I suppose they are treacherous savages, some of them," said +Ingleborough thoughtfully; "but there doesn't seem to be much harm in +that fellow if he were used well." + +"I believe he'd make a very faithful servant," said West sadly. "I'm +beginning to be sorry we let him go." + +"So am I. We shall feel quite lonely without him. But the despatch." + +"Ah, yes, the despatch!" said West, pulling himself together. "Now +then, boot and saddle, and a long night's ride!" + +"And a good day's rest afterwards! That's the way we must get on." + +A quarter of an hour after, they had taken their bearings by compass and +mounted, when the well-refreshed ponies started off at once in a brisk +canter, necessitating the drawing of the rein from time to time; and +then it was on, on, on at different rates beneath the wonderfully bright +stars of a glorious night, during which they passed several farms and +one good-sized village, which were carefully avoided, for they had +enough provisions to last them for another day, and naturally if a halt +was to be made to purchase more it would have to be at a seasonable +time. + +"Yes," said Ingleborough laughingly, "it would be a sure way of getting +cartridges if we wanted them and roused up a Boer farmer in the night. +He would soon give us some, the wrong way on." + +"Yes," said West, "and there would be the dogs to deal with as well. +Hark at that deep-mouthed brute!" + +For just then the cantering of their ponies had been heard by the +watch-dog at one of the farms, and it went on baying at them till the +sounds grew faint. + +Then it was on and on again till a strange feeling of weariness began to +oppress them, and they had to fight with the desire which made them bend +forward and nod over their ponies' necks, rising up again with a +dislocating start. + +At the second time of this performance West made a great effort and +began watching his companion, to see that he was just as bad. Then the +intense desire to sleep began to master the watcher again. + +"Hi, Ingle!" he cried. "Rouse up, and let's walk for a mile or two." + +"Yes, yes.--What's that?" cried Ingleborough, springing off his pony and +cocking his rifle. + +For there was a sudden rushing noise as of a great crowd of animals, of +what kind it was still too dark to see; but it was evident that they had +come suddenly upon a migratory herd of the graceful-limbed antelopes +that had probably been grazing and had been startled into flight. + +"Pity it was not light!" said Ingleborough, with a sigh. "We could have +got some fresh meat, and then at the first patch of wood and pool of +water we could have had a fire and frizzled antelope-steaks." + +But a couple of hours later, when they halted for their rest and +refreshment, it was stale cake, hard biltong, and cool fresh water. + +"Never mind, we're miles nearer Mafeking!" said West. "How many more +nights will it take?" + +The answer to that question had not been arrived at when they dropped +asleep, lulled by the sound of rippling water and the _crop, crop, crop_ +made by the grazing ponies, and this time their weariness was so great +that sleep overcame them both. Ingleborough was to have watched, but +nature was too strong, and both slept till sundown, to rise up full of a +feeling of self-reproach. + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT. + +A LOUD REPORT. + +Days of rest and nights of travel succeeded, during which the +despatch-riders began to wonder at the ease with which they progressed. + +"I thought it would be twice as hard a task!" said West. "Here have we +been two days without a sign of a Boer! We must be very near Mafeking +now." + +"Yes, very," said Ingleborough drily; "nearer than I thought. Halt!" + +He drew rein as he spoke, West's pony stopping short at the same time as +its companion. + +They had been riding steadily on through the night, and now as the +ponies stood side by side they stretched out their necks in the soft +cool darkness, and the sound of their cropping told that they were +amongst grass. + +"Why did you pull up?" said West, in a cautious whisper. + +"For you to hear how near we are to Mafeking now." + +"Near?" + +"Yes; can't you hear the firing?" + +"No," said West, after a few moments' pause. "Yes, now I do," he cried +eagerly, for all at once there was a dull concussion as if a blow had +been delivered in the air. + +"A heavy gun," cried West excitedly. + +"Hist!" + +"I forgot," said West softly. "That must be one of the siege guns," he +continued. + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, "and it must be near daybreak, with the +bombarding beginning. Be careful; perhaps we are nearer the enemy than +we thought." + +At the end of a couple of minutes there was the dull concussion of +another heavy gun, and this was continued at intervals of ten or fifteen +minutes during the next hour, while the adventurers advanced cautiously +at a walk, keeping a sharp look-out through the transparent darkness for +a patch of rocks or woodland which might serve for their next halt. But +day had quite dawned before a suitable place of refuge presented itself, +in the shape of one of the low kopjes. + +"Dismount!" whispered Ingleborough sharply, and they spent the next ten +minutes carefully scanning the district round in full expectation of +seeing some sign of the enemy. + +But nothing worse was in view than two or three of the scattered farms +of the open veldt, and in the distance a dark indistinct patch which +appeared to be a herd of grazing cattle, but so distant that neither +could be sure. + +On their way to the patch of rock and brush that was to be their last +resting-place before making a dash for the beleaguered town, they struck +upon the trail going north and south, and in two places scared off +vultures from the carcass of an unfortunate ox, shrunken and dried in +the sun till little but the bones and hide were left. + +They were too distant to make out the smoke, but steadily increasing +fire told plainly enough that they were quite near enough for a dash +into the town when darkness set in that night. + +"You think then that this will be the best way?" said West, as they +reached their shelter without seeing a sign of danger. + +"I am not sure yet!" replied Ingleborough. "In fact, I'm very doubtful +whether we should not fail, for the place is certain to be surrounded by +the enemy, and we should very likely be ridden or shot down." + +Oliver West laid his hand upon the despatch, pressing it so that the +paper crackled beneath the cloth. + +"Then we had better ride in as near as we dare, and then try and creep +in at the darkest time." + +"Let's pray for the clouds to be thick then!" said Ingleborough; "for +the moon's getting past the first quarter. Last night would have done +exactly." + +"But we were not here. Hark at the firing!" + +"Yes; it sounds as if Mafeking will be taken before we get there!" + +"For goodness' sake don't talk like that!" + +"Don't let's talk at all then. Let's get well into shelter. But I see +no sign of water yet." + +Neither did the speaker after they had carefully explored the rocky +hillock, but fortunately there was an ample supply of succulent grass +for the ponies, which were soon after luxuriating in a good roll, before +grazing contentedly away, while their riders, after another examination +of the place and glance round from the highest point, had to satisfy +themselves with a very scanty shelter and a much scantier meal. + +"Never mind," said Ingleborough; "we shall be breakfasting in luxury +to-morrow morning, I hope, with our appetites sharpened by the knowledge +that we have achieved our task." + +"I hope so!" said West gravely. + +"But don't doubt, my lad," cried Ingleborough cheerily. "Don't be +downhearted now we are so near!" + +"I can't help it!" replied West. "I feel on thorns, and my state of +anxiety will grow worse and worse till we get there. Hark at the +firing!" + +"I can hear," said Ingleborough coolly. "Be very deaf if I couldn't! +There, that's the last scrap of cake, so let's drown our troubles in +sleep. You have first turn!" + +"No," replied West. "I feel too anxious to sleep! You begin." + +"Can't," was the reply. "If anything, I feel more anxious than you do. +I couldn't rest!" + +"I wish we could canter gently on till we were seen by the Boers, and +then go on full gallop right into the town!" said West. "Would it be +too dangerous?" + +"Just madness!" replied Ingleborough. "No; it must be done with guile. +They would cut us off for certain." + +"I'm afraid so!" said West. "Very well, then, we must wait for the +evening." + +"And sit wakeful," said Ingleborough. + +"Yes," said West. "Sleep is impossible!" + +And sit there wakeful they did, hour after hour, their only satisfaction +being that of seeing their weary horses enjoying a good feed untroubled +by the increasing heat, or the cares which harassed their masters. + +For as the sun rose higher the distant firing increased, till it was +evident that a terrible attack was going on, and in his weariness and +despair no words on the part of Ingleborough had any effect upon West, +who felt convinced that before they could continue their journey +Mafeking would have fallen into the enemy's hands. + +There was no further talk of sleep. The heat, flies, hunger, and a +burning thirst were either of them sufficient to have kept them awake, +without the terrible feeling of anxiety and the alarms caused by bodies +of horsemen or lines of wagons journeying in the direction they were +waiting to take. + +Again and again parties of the Boers seemed to be coming straight for +the hiding-place, and West and his companion crept on hands and knees +towards their ponies, getting hold of their reins, and then crouching by +them ready to mount and gallop for their lives should the necessity +arise. + +But it did not, and in a strangely-feverish dreamlike way the day glided +on and evening at last came, bringing with it wafts of cooler air and, +what was of more consequence to them still, a feeling of hope, for +though the firing still went on, it had dwindled down into the slow +steady reports of one heavy piece discharged at about the same rate as +when they had first heard the firing in the morning. + +"And it tells its own tale with truthful lips!" said Ingleborough. "The +town is still holding out, and the defenders have ceased to reply." + +"Because they are nearly beaten!" said West sadly. + +"By no means, you croaking old raven!" cried Ingleborough cheerily. +"It's because they want to save their ammunition! They only want to +fire when they have something worth firing at. As for the enemy, they +have the whole town to shoot at, and keep on pitching their shells in at +random. There, don't be grumpy!" + +"I can't help it!" cried West passionately. "Give me credit for having +kept up well till now. It's because we are so near success that I feel +everything so keenly." + +"I know, old fellow, and you may trust me!" said Ingleborough. "I +didn't play a false prophet's part just to encourage you. I'm speaking +the simple truth! Just a little more patience, and you shall deliver +your despatch." + +"If I could only feel that!" cried West. "It may be the saving of +Mafeking to receive news perhaps of help being on the way." + +"Be patient then! It will soon be night, and then we'll mount and make +our final dash!" + +"No," said West bitterly; "we shall have to make it now. Look." + + + +CHAPTER TWENTY NINE. + +HARD PUSHED. + +Ingleborough shaded his eyes and turned very grave, for on gazing in the +direction pointed out by his companion's finger he saw a column of +horsemen creeping over the veldt as if coming straight for their +resting-place, while as they came nearer the eager watchers could make +out that the party were guarding a long train of wagons drawn by great +teams of oxen. They found that there were two other teams, not of oxen, +but of ponies similar to their own, and not dragging the great +tilt-covered wagons, but something heavy and comparatively small. + +"Guns!" said Ingleborough laconically. + +"Yes, and heavy guns too!" cried West. + +"You're right, lad; and they will not come near us. It's an ammunition +train, and they'll go straight for Mafeking! That's another false +alarm!" + +Ingleborough was quite right, for the distant train crept slowly on +along the track till it grew dim and distant as the sun sank lower and +finally disappeared in the haze of dust. But the troubles of the +despatch-bearers were not at an end, and they lay watching the west with +its great masses of lit-up clouds, glorious in their colouring, till the +last bright lights had died out, before they turned to look in the +direction of the east. And then West drew his companion's attention to +the fact that behind them the sky was perfectly clear, and the pale +moon, a couple of days past the first quarter, was gradually growing +brighter and brighter in what promised to be a perfectly unclouded +night. + +"Yes," said Ingleborough coolly; "we shall have a glorious time for our +ride." + +"A glorious night for the Boer outposts to take aim at us as we ride +in." + +"No," said Ingleborough coolly. "I think not!" + +"What do you mean?" said West, turning sharply upon his companion. "You +have some fresh idea?" + +"Well, yes. Being in such a pickle as this sets a man sharpening his +wits to try and make them keen." + +"Of course. What are you going to do?" + +"Wait a bit and see!" replied Ingleborough coolly. "I'm sharpening +still." + +West turned away impatiently, to go, stooping as low as he could, +towards his pony, which was straggling away, and bring it back to the +bushes which had helped to hide them all the day, after which they sat +in silence for about an hour, until it was quite plain that the night +was as dark as it was likely to be. Then in a nervous excited way he +turned to Ingleborough again. + +"Yes," said the latter, without waiting for West to speak; "it will grow +no darker unless we wait hours for the moon to set, and by that time I +hope we shall be in Mafeking." + +"What do you mean to do then?" + +"Mount and ride steadily on at a gentle canter till we get in touch with +that ammunition train." + +"But we shall be challenged by their rear-guard." + +"Perhaps," said Ingleborough coolly; "perhaps not. I reckon on getting +pretty close up without. If we are challenged, I want you to do as I +tell you." + +"Of course," replied West. "Anything to fulfil our task!" + +"Ready?" + +"And waiting!" + +"Then mount!" + +Their ponies were waiting patiently by their sides, and the next minute +they had sprung into the saddles and rode off in the direction taken by +the train. + +West asked no questions, for he was full of confidence in his long-tried +companion, and with the ponies well-refreshed and eager from their rest, +they rode steadily on, keeping a sharp look-out for danger, but meeting +with no adventure for quite a couple of hours, by which time both felt +that they must be getting near to the end of their journey. + +But they had nothing to guide them, for they were off the track, and +even had they been on, it would have been impossible to follow it in the +strange eerie light shed by the quarter-moon. Once they had evidence +that they were in all probability going right, for a horrible odour +suddenly assailed their nostrils, making them press their ponies' sides +and go past something indistinct at a gallop, holding their breath till +they were well beyond what was in all probability the body of some +wretched horse or ox that had died of overwork and exhaustion. + +"We must keep on now!" whispered Ingleborough. "I feel that we are +going right." + +"But the Boer laagers and outposts!" whispered back West. + +"Somewhere ahead, lad; but we must leave something to chance. We are, +say, within half-a-dozen miles of Mafeking, so I put it; perhaps not +more than two or three. Keep a sharp look-out for lights." + +"The enemy's?" + +"Or friends'," replied Ingleborough. "There's a good deal of chance +now, and we must trust a little to our luck." + +"In other words, you mean make a bold dash?" + +"Yes, but not a blind one! I want to put a little gumption into what we +do! You'll trust me?" + +"I will!" + +"Forward then, and give the ponies their heads!" + +West gave vent to a deep low "Hah!" of satisfaction, and away they went, +with their mounts seeming to exult in the freedom from pressure on their +bits, keeping close together, and bounding along over the level veldt as +if perfectly familiar with the way, though their riders knew it to be +bespread with pitfalls in the shape of the burrows made by the aardvarks +and other animals that made the wide open veldt their home. + +The moon shone brightly now, though the light was puzzling, and the +distance ahead looked strange and weird; but the pace at which they were +going had a peculiarly exhilarating effect upon both of the riders, who +seemed to share the excitement of their ponies. + +For, guesswork though it was, West felt that Mafeking must lie right +ahead, and as they dashed on he began to feel a kind of certainty that +if left to themselves their sagacious steeds would take them right into +the town. + +A good four miles must have been passed over in this way, and at last a +fresh sensation began to attack West, filling him with anxiety lest they +should be going in the wrong direction. For he argued that they must +before now, if right, have come upon signs of the besiegers, and he was +in the act of leaning over towards Ingleborough to make him acquainted +with his fears, when all doubt was chased away by a loud challenge from +his right, followed by a flash and a report. + +That one shot was the opening note of an overture, for directly after +the balls began whistling over their heads, and the first reports grew +into a loud rattle followed by the trampling of horses and loud +shouting. + +"It's all right," said Ingleborough coolly; "they're firing at random. +It's impossible to take aim on a night like this! Can you see them?" + +"No; only the flashes!" said West excitedly. + +"That's enough! Then they can't see us! We're through their lines too, +for they're firing behind us, and I'll back our horses to beat theirs in +a race." + +Reports now began to ring out on their right, and directly after they +came from their left. + +"Shall we shout?" whispered West. + +"No. What for?" + +"We must be getting among our own people!" + +"No such luck, my lad! Keep steadily on! Ah! Poor beast!" + +"What is it?" said West excitedly, as his mount stopped short, obeying +its natural instinct and the love of companionship of a gregarious +animal. For Ingleborough's pony had suddenly uttered a peculiar +neighing cry, reared up, and fallen backwards. + +"Are you hurt?" whispered West again. + +"No; I just escaped! Quick; jump down." + +West was on his feet directly, and Ingleborough grasped his arm. + +"I'd say ride for it alone, lad," he whispered, with his lips close to +his companion's ear; "but my way is safest. Now down on your hands and +knees and let's play wild dog or baboon!" + +"I don't understand you!" whispered West. + +"Never mind; do as I do!" and the next minute they were going along on +hands and knees over the level ground, feeling it quiver with the +trampling of galloping horses all round, while the flashing of rifles +and the crackling reports seemed to be coming from all directions. + +So near to them came some of the horsemen that West felt certain they +must be seen; but there was no hail, no whistling bullet, and, wearisome +though the way of progression was to the muscles and painful to hands +and knees, West kept on side by side with his companion till the firing +began to drop off and then ceased, though the hurrying to and fro of +horses still went on. + +"It was sooner than I intended," said Ingleborough at last; "but I meant +for us to dismount at last and crawl. If we are seen the enemy will +take us for hyaenas or dogs." + +He had hardly whispered these words before a shot was fired from, their +left, the bullet whistling over them, when to the astonishment of West, +Ingleborough uttered a snarling yelp, followed by an excellent imitation +of a dog's bark. + +"Do as I do!" he whispered, and the next moment he had thrown himself +upon his side and lay perfectly still. + +"What folly!" West was disposed to say; but he followed his companion's +example, letting himself sink sidewise like a dying quadruped, feeling +the despatch crackle beneath him as he lay listening to the trampling of +horses growing more distant, and waiting for Ingleborough to speak. + +"Seems a stupid sort of dodge!" said the latter at last; "but I thought +it better to let them think we were hyaenas than human beings." + +"But we had a narrow escape of being shot!" replied West. + +"Yes, and escaped. If they had taken us for human beings we should have +been either shot or taken prisoners. Now we're safe!" + +"Safe, with this bright moon shining ready to show every movement?" + +"Then why move until we are safe, lad? The enemy will not come near us +so long as they think we are dead animals." + +"But if they make out what we are--how then?" + +"How then?" said Ingleborough, with a low sarcastic laugh. "Why, then +they'll behave like Boers, and come and see if there's anything worth +taking in our pockets. They are sweet people! But wait a bit. As soon +as they are farther off we'll continue our journey." + +"Without our horses?" + +"Yes; poor beasts! I'm sorry they're gone; but daybreak will show us +that we are close to Mafeking, I feel sure. We'll crawl on as far as we +can, and then get up and run for our lives." + +"Yes; but you know how clever they are at bringing down a running buck!" + +"Some of them!" said Ingleborough drily. + +"Well, if I am brought down, don't hesitate a moment: out with your +knife, rip open my jacket, get the despatch, and run on." + +"Do you mean that?" + +"Of course." + +"What about you? Are you to be left wounded here on the veldt?" + +"Yes: until the despatch reaches the proper hands. Then come and save +me if you can." + +"I understand," said Ingleborough drily. "That's if matters come to the +worst! Let's hope they will not!" + +He raised his head a little and had a good look round as soon as he had +finished speaking, for all was now very still, and as far as he could +make out in the eerie light there was not a Boer within sight. + +"Now then," he said softly; "let's go on! No, no; not like that. +Crawl, man, crawl." + +He only spoke in time, for West was about to spring up. Then their +painful imitation of some quadruped recommenced, West following his +comrade patiently and unquestioningly till a change seemed to come over +the light. + +"Morning coming fast!" said West. + +"The sooner the better," was the reply; "for I'm not sure that we are +going right." + +"I'm sure we're going wrong," said West quickly. + +"Why?" + +"Because we are going straight for that great wagon laager." + +"Yes; there's Mafeking, with its corrugated-iron roofs, off to our +right." + +"Hah!" ejaculated West, for at that moment there was a flash from the +front of the laager they were approaching, followed by a tremendous roar +and a hissing sound overhead, as a shell winged its way towards the +town, whose outskirts were certainly not more than a couple of miles +away. + +"We've wasted ever so much strength," said Ingleborough; "but never +mind: we know exactly where we are. It's about two miles' run to the +nearest houses. What do you say--go on crawling, or make a dash?" + +"It will be broad daylight directly," replied West, "then we shall be +discovered, and become the mark for every rifle within range. I say +let's get up and walk steadily on till we see that we are discovered, +and then run for our lives." + +"Wait a moment! Do you know how we shall find out that we are +discovered?" + +"Yes," said West coolly; "we shall have the bullets whistling about us." + +"Well, you are cool!" said Ingleborough. "That's it; and in addition we +shall have some of the mounted Boers coming at full gallop." + +"Perhaps," said West; "and perhaps the Mafeking outposts will begin +firing to cover us. Now then, I feel breathless to begin, for it's +rapidly getting lighter. Come on!" + +They rose quietly, and set off, making straight for the nearest +building--a long, low, broad place with a corrugated-iron roof which +seemed to be perfectly deserted; but it had one advantage--it was the +nearest object to where they were, and it would, if they could reach it, +form cover from which they could fire upon any mounted Boer who came in +pursuit. + +Then with the day broadening rapidly they walked steadily on, with shell +after shell arching over their heads, to fall and burst far in advance, +right away in the town; but there was no sign of pursuit for quite ten +minutes, and not a friend anywhere visible in the outskirts the +fugitives approached. + +"Now then," shouted Ingleborough suddenly; "be cool, and as you run +unsling your rifle and be ready for a shot, for I'm going to fight to +the last." + +"Make for that shed?" + +"Yes. Forward; here they come." + +Away they went, for West at his companion's warning had looked sharply +round, to see about a score of mounted Boers dashing after them at full +gallop, and the fugitives had hardly got into the full swing of their +stride before they heard _cracky crack, crack_, the reports of rifles +far in the rear, and _ping, ping_, _ping_, the whistling buzz of the +thin bullets, several of which came unpleasantly near. + +"Open out half-a-dozen yards," said Ingleborough, "and lessen their +mark! Think we shall reach that shed?" + +"No," said West coolly. "It's farther off than I thought. Let's stop +at that clump yonder, and lie behind it to fire back." + +"Very well; but they'll ring round us and we shall be taken in flank and +rear." + +"Not till we've brought down two of them," said West, through his teeth. + +"Two apiece," said Ingleborough. "Now then, put on a spurt, and let's +get to that heap, or they'll be down upon us before we're half-way to +the shed. Run!" + +They did run, with all their might; but out on the open veldt distances +are horribly deceiving, especially in the early morning light, and to +the despair of the fugitives the Boers came rapidly nearer, while the +clump of earth for which they made seemed to be as distant as ever. The +only thing they made out was that it became more diffused, and they +plainly saw that it was a long ridge of earth freshly thrown up, +evidently from a ditch beyond. + +"Why, it's a long rifle-pit," cried Ingleborough. "Run, lad, run; we +must do it now!" + +But the pursuing Boers were coming on fast, and the fugitives felt that +in a minute or so they would be overtaken. + +There was something, though, in their favour, for as the enemy converged +upon them the firing from a distance ceased, those who were using their +rifles fearing to hit their own friends. + +"It's of no use; we can't do it!" panted West, as Ingleborough, now that +there was no need to try and diminish the mark at which the Boers fired, +closed in again. + +"Not two hundred yards away now!" said Ingleborough hoarsely. + +"Let's turn and have a couple of shots at them!" cried West. + +"No: we should be bound to miss. Run, run!" + +It was not the distance but the pace that was killing, and Ingleborough +was right. To have stopped and turned to fire, with their pulses +throbbing, breath coming in a laboured way, every nerve and muscle on +the jump, must have resulted in missing; and the next moment the enemy +would have ridden over them and they would have been either shot or +prisoners. + +Knowing this, they tore on till the rifle-pit was only a hundred yards +away. The foremost Boers spread out like a fan not fifty yards distant, +and came on at full gallop, with the result appearing certain that +before the fugitives had torn on despairingly another score of yards +their enemies would be upon them. + +"My despatch!" groaned West to himself, and then aloud: "Halt! Fire!" + +True to his comrade in those despairing moments, Ingleborough obeyed the +order, stopped short, swung round, and following West's example, he was +in the act of raising his rifle to his shoulder with his quivering +hands, when-- + +_Crack, cracky crack, crack, crack, crack_, half-a-dozen flashes and +puffs of smoke came from over the ridge of the low earthwork in front, +emptying four saddles, while one horse went down headlong, pierced from +chest to haunch by a bullet, and the fleeing pair saw the rest of their +pursuers open out right and left, to swing round and gallop away back, +pursued by a crackling fire which brought down six more before they were +out of range. + +Meanwhile twice over the big gun from its earthwork far away sent a +couple of shells right over the fugitives' heads on their way to the +beleaguered town, and a few seconds later a cheery English voice had +shouted: "Cease firing!" Then a dozen men came hurrying out of the +rifle-pit where they had lain low, to surround the exhausted pair. + +"Hands up!" shouted their leader loudly. "Who are you--deserters?" + +"Deserters!" cried West hoarsely, as he pressed his left hand upon his +breast and let his rifle fall to the ground. "Despatch--Kimberley-- +Water--for Heaven's sake--help!" + +He sank upon his knees, for everything seemed to be swimming round him +before he became quite blind. + +But he could hear still as he swooned away, and what he heard was a +hearty British cheer. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY. + +AT THE GOAL. + +"It has more than paid for it all!" said West that night, when they lay +down to rest after a wildly-exciting day. + +"Yes," replied Ingleborough, laughing. "I felt quite jealous!" + +"I don't believe you!" said West sharply. "You couldn't; they all made +as much fuss over you as they did over me, from the chief downward!" + +"Well, I suppose they did; but I began to have the horrors once!" + +"Horrors?" + +"Yes; knowing as I did that they must be short of food, I began to think +that they were welcoming us so warmly because we were something good to +eat, and all the feasting was the beginning of fattening us up." + +"Of course you did!" said West drily. + +"I say though," continued Ingleborough; "if it is not a state secret, +what was it the chief said to you when he took you aside?" + +"Oh, it's no secret from you!" replied West. + +"Let's have it then!" + +"Well, first of all, it was a lot of flattery." + +"Flattery?" + +"Yes, about being so brave, and bringing the Kimberley despatch through +the Boer lines." + +"That was not flattery. You did bring the despatch to its destination +very bravely." + +"So did you!" said West sharply. + +"Oh, very well, so did I then! It was _we_ if you like! Being buttered +is not an unpleasant sensation when you can honestly believe that you +deserve it; and, without being vain, I suppose we can feel that our +consciences are at rest." + +"Never mind that!" said West hurriedly. "I don't like being buttered, +as you call it. The chief said then that he should have to send another +despatch back to Kimberley, and that he should ask us to take it." + +"What a cracker!" cried Ingleborough. + +"Cracker--lie? I declare he did!" + +"I don't believe you." + +"Very well!" said West stiffly. + +"No; it is not very well! Come now, he didn't say anything about _us_. +He said you. Confess: the truth!" + +West began to hesitate. + +"He--well--perhaps not exactly in the words I said." + +"That will do, sir!" cried Ingleborough. "You are convicted of +cramming--of making up a fictitious account of the interview. He did +not allude to me." + +"But he meant to include you, of course!" + +"No, he did not, Noll; he meant you." + +"I say he meant both of us. If he did not, I shan't go!" + +"What!" + +"I shall not go a step out of the way without my comrade!" + +"What!" cried Ingleborough, holding out his hand. "Well, come, I like +that, lad, if you mean it." + +"If I mean it, Ingle!" said West reproachfully. + +"All right, old chap! You always were a trump! There, _we'll_ take the +despatch back! And now no more butter! We're very brave fellows, of +course, and there's an end of it. I say, I wonder how Anson is getting +on." + +"The miserable renegade!" cried West. "I should like to see the +scoundrel punished!" + +"Well, have patience!" said Ingleborough, laughing. "It's a very +laudable desire, which I live in hopes of seeing gratified. But don't +you think we might as well go to sleep and make up for all we have gone +through?" + +"Yes, but who is to sleep with all this terrible bombarding going on?" + +"I for one!" said Ingleborough. "I'm getting quite used to it! But I +say, I can see a better way of making a fortune than keeping in the +diamond business." + +"What is it?" said West carelessly. He was listening to the roar of the +enemy's guns and the crash of shells, for the Boers were keeping up +their bombardment right into the night. + +"I mean to go into the gunpowder trade, and--oh dear, how--" + +West waited for the words that should have followed a long-drawn yawn, +but none came, for the simple reason that Ingleborough was fast asleep. + +Ten minutes later, in the face of his suggestions to the contrary, and +in spite of the steady regular discharge of artillery, sending huge +shells into the place, West was just as fast asleep, and dreaming of +Anson sitting gibbering at him as he played the part of a monkey filling +his cheeks with nuts till the pouches were bulged out as if he were +suffering from a very bad attack of mumps. The odd part of it was that +when he took out and tried to crack one of the nuts in his teeth he +could not, from the simple fact that they were diamonds. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY ONE. + +BAD FOR ONE: GOOD FOR TWO. + +"It's a bad job--a very bad job," said West, with a sigh, as he mounted +one of the pair of very excellent ponies that had been provided for the +despatch-riders by the gallant chief in command at Mafeking, with the +laughing comment that the two brave little animals ought to consider +themselves very lucky in being provided with two such masters, who would +take them right away from the beleaguered town, where, if they stayed, +their fate was bound to be that they would be minced into sausages or +boiled down into soup. + +They were two beautiful little beasts; but West always sighed and said +it was a bad job whenever he mounted, for his heart was sore about the +pony he had lost before they entered Mafeking. + +"I say, young fellow," said Ingleborough, with one of his grim smiles: +"how much longer are you going to stay in mourning?" + +"Stay in mourning?" said West, staring, as he bent forward to pat his +mount's back. + +"Yes: for those two ponies we lost; because it seems to me very absurd! +To begin with, it's downright folly to bemoan the loss of one pony when +you have been provided with another equally good; secondly, it is more +absurd to bemoan a pony at all; and thirdly, it is the most absurd thing +of all to be mourning for one that in all probability is not dead." + +"Oh, they're both dead enough by this time!" said West bitterly. + +"Mine may be, for it was hit; but from the way it reared up and kicked +out it had no bones broken, and these Basuto ponies are such hardy +little beasts that I daresay it got better; while yours was so good that +you may depend upon it some Boer has it nipped tightly between his legs, +and is making the most of it." + +"I hope you are right!" said West. "And there, I will not mourn for +them, as you call it, any more, but make the best of things. Let's see; +this is the sixth day out from Mafeking." + +"Seventh," said Ingleborough correctively. + +"Of course; so it is, but I lose count through being so intent upon the +one idea of getting back to Kimberley. Do you think we shall manage to +get through the Boer lines?" + +"Think? Why, we've got to get through them. We shouldn't be long if we +could only ride straight away, and not be always running right on to +some fresh party who begin to make game of us directly." + +"That's rather an ambiguous way of speaking, Ingle," said West, +laughing, as he caressed his pony. "If anybody else heard you he would +think you meant that the Boers bantered and chaffed us." + +"But nobody else does hear us, and you think that I mean that they begin +to pump out bullets at us just as if we were a pair of springboks. I +say, I'm beginning to think that we are leading a charmed life, for it +is wonderful what escapes we have had from their long-carrying rifles." + +"I'm beginning to think in a much more matter-of-fact way," replied +West; "and I think this, that five hundred yards' range is quite long +enough for any rifle used on active service. I know that when one takes +aim beyond that distance one is very doubtful of hitting." + +"I feel so after half that distance," replied Ingleborough, and then: +"Hullo! See something?" + +"Yes; I thought we were going to have a good long ride in peace this +morning, but look yonder!" + +The two young men drew rein and leaped to the ground, each hurriedly +getting out his glass, for the commandant at Mafeking had supplied them +with fresh ones, to steady it by resting it upon the saddle he had just +quitted, their well-trained ponies standing perfectly motionless. + +"What do you make of it?" said Ingleborough, scanning a mistily-seen +dark line right away beneath the sun. + +"Wagons trekking," replied West quietly. + +"Friends?" + +"Who can say? I think not. Reinforcements and stores on the way to the +besiegers, I should think." + +"I'm afraid you are right! Well, we had better let the nags feed while +we lie down and watch, for I don't think they have seen us yet." + +"Very well," said West. "I'm tired of so much running away!" + +The next minute they were lying amongst some stones and their ponies +grazing, Ingleborough coolly filling his pipe and lighting it with a +burning-glass, but keeping a watchful eye upon the long train of wagons +and horsemen plodding along at the customary rate of about two miles an +hour, and ready at any moment to spring upon his pony in case a party of +the enemy should make up their minds to try and drive in the two ponies +when they caught their eye. + +This he knew was doubtful, for it was beginning to be a common sight +upon the veldt--that of a wounded or worn-out horse or two picking up a +scanty living from the grass and green points of the shrubs, while an +investigation generally proved that the poor brutes were not worth the +trouble of the ride. + +Still, on the other hand, the suspicious nature of the Boers might +prompt them to see whether riders were near the grazing animals, and an +opportunity for capturing a prisoner or two be theirs. + +The pair kept a keen look-out; but it seemed for a long time that they +were to be left in peace, the long line of wagons and horsemen plodding +steadily onward, completely blocking the way the bearers of the +Kimberley despatch had to take. + +At last, though, just after West had expressed his opinion that the +Boers were too intent upon getting their heavy guns on towards Mafeking, +Ingleborough, unnoticed by his companion, made a sudden movement, +dropping his pipe and altering the small lenses of his field-glass, +through which he lay gazing, supporting himself upon his elbows. + +"Hah!" said West, who was similarly occupied; "they've got four heavy +guns and a tremendous lot of stores. Wouldn't one of our generals give +something to have his men so arranged that he could cut them off in all +directions! The country is so open, and not a kopje in sight. What a +prize those guns would be!" + +"Yes," said Ingleborough sharply; "but there is no British force at +hand, so they are going to surround us instead." + +"What!" cried West excitedly. + +"That they are, and no mistake!" continued Ingleborough, slewing himself +round so as to look in a different direction. + +"You don't mean--oh, Ingle! Three strong bodies coming from behind, +north and south. Why, we're trapped!" + +"We are, my lad; for here they come from the front." + +West turned his glass again in the direction of the long line of wagons +after his look round, to see that a party of the Boers were riding out +straight for them. + +"Trapped; but we must dodge between the wires, eh?" cried West, who, +like his companion, had made at once for where his pony was grazing. +"Hah! Look out, Ingle!" + +Ingleborough was looking out, but left helpless. West had caught his +pony, but his companion had startled the other by the suddenness of his +approach, and, throwing up its head, the little animal cantered off with +his rider after him. + +"Stop, stop!" shouted West. "You only scare the brute more." + +"Right!" said Ingleborough sadly, and he stopped short and began to +return. "There!" he cried, as West sprang into his saddle; "you have +the despatch. Off with you through that opening! I won't hinder you! +I'll turn prisoner again for a change." + +"Lay hold of my pony's tail and run! I'll keep him to a canter, and +change with you as soon as you're tired!" said West, scanning the +opening between the end of the Boer line and the party of horsemen away +to his left who were making straight for them, lying towards the middle +of the line, where the big guns were being dragged along. + +"No good!" said Ingleborough. "Off with you, and save your despatch!" + +"Can't leave you, old fellow! Do as I tell you!" cried West. "Hook +on!" + +"I will not! They won't kill me if I throw up my hands! Save your +despatch if you can!" + +"Obey orders, sir!" roared West fiercely, "and don't waste time! I'm +going to trot after your mount, and he'll join us." + +"Hah! Bravo, sharp brains!" cried Ingleborough excitedly, and twisting +the long thick hair of the pony's tail about his left hand he ran +lightly after his companion, the pony West rode uttering a shrill neigh +as they went off, which made the other stop, cock up its ears, answer, +and come galloping after them, so eager to join its fellow that it +brushed close past Ingleborough, who caught the rein without trouble. + +"Right!" he shouted, and the next minute he was in the saddle, with the +ponies cantering along side by side. + +"More to the left!" cried West. "The Boers are bearing away to cut us +off!" + +This was plain enough, and the fugitives saw that if a fresh party +started from the end of the long line they were bound to be cut off. + +"Never mind," cried Ingleborough; "we may get away! Those fellows are +quite a mile from us, and their mounts will be pumped out if they push +forward like that. Easy, easy! Let the ponies go their own pace!" + +Settling down into a canter, the fugitives now began to look away to +their left, where they had seen the other parties closing them in from +their flank and rear. + +"Hallo! Where's the rest of the enemy?" cried West. + +"Yonder, out of sight! The ground lies lower there; but I say, these +fellows are coming on at a tremendous rate! Gallop or they'll cut you +off." + +"Then we'll gallop!" cried West. "We, old fellow! Just as if I were +going to leave you behind!" + +"Very nice of you," said Ingleborough merrily; "but you're not fit for a +despatch-rider. You're about the worst I ever knew of!" + +"Because I won't forsake a friend?" + +"Friend be hanged! There's no friendship in wartime. Ah, here come +some of the flankers." + +"Yes, I see them," said West; "but what does this mean?" + +For all at once the galloping party on their right--that which had come +straight from the centre of the Boer line--began to pull up until all +were halted in the middle of the plain. + +"They see their companions coming," said Ingleborough, "and that we are +safely cut off. Well, it is giving us a better chance!" + +"But they're turning and folding back," cried West excitedly. "Here +come the others, full gallop! Look, look, how they're opening out! +Gallop full speed now! No, no. Look, look! Why, Ingle, those are not +rifles they're carrying--they're lances." + +"You're dreaming!" growled Ingleborough. "Never mind what they're +carrying; they're going to cut us off, and we've got to save that +despatch!" + +"And we shall save it too!" cried West, his voice sounding full of +exultation. "Those are our Lancers--a regiment of them!" + +"You're right!" cried Ingleborough excitedly now, and he began to draw +rein. "Look at the Boer line. There's proof! They're turning back +from the front and hurrying up their rear so as to form laager round +their big guns. Hurrah!" he yelled, rising in his stirrups to wave his +hat. + +"And hurrah a hundred times more!" yelled West, following his +companion's example, as he saw now in no less than four directions +little clouds of horsemen moving over the widely-spreading plain. + +The next minute they had their glasses out and were watching the Boers-- +a line no longer, but broken up into what at first seemed to be wild +confusion, out of which order began to form, for whoever was in command +of the reinforcements on their way to Mafeking possessed enough +soldierly knowledge of what was the best thing to be done under the +circumstances. As the wagons in front were wheeled round to retire upon +the centre formed by the four heavy guns, and those from the rear were +hurried up to join in making a great square, cloud after cloud of +mounted men galloped forward to seize upon any patch of shelter to hold +against the advancing British force. + +"It's well meant," said Ingleborough, without taking his eyes from his +glass; "but they will not have time to form a strong laager. Why, our +men will be among them before a quarter of an hour is past." + +"Before ten minutes!" cried West, in wild excitement. "Hurrah! Trapped +this time! Look right across the laager; there are men coming on +there!" + +It was so, and Ingleborough cheered wildly again. For the British +general must have had abundant information of the coming convoy, and had +taken his precautions and made his plans so accurately as to timing the +advance that he had completely surrounded the long line with cavalry and +mounted infantry, who now raced for the laager, heedless of the fire +opened upon them by the Boers. The enemy only fired a few shots, and +then, finding themselves taken in front, flank, and rear, made for their +horses and took flight in every direction, but not before the Lancers +got among them and dotted the veldt with horse and man. + +The Boer commander and those with gun and wagon worked well, bringing +their heavy guns to bear on the main advance; but they were not directed +at masses of men in column or line, but at a cloud of cavalry covering +the plain and mingled with the enemy's own flying horse, so that before +a second discharge could be belched forth from the two large guns which +were re-loaded, the Lancers, Hussars, and Volunteer Light Horse were +among the gunners, and it was every man for himself, _sauve qui peut_. + +West and Ingleborough were so intent with their glasses, watching the +utter rout of the Boers, that they did not see a body of Lancers bearing +down upon them at a gallop, and the noise of the scattered firing kept +up by the Boers drowned the trampling of hoofs, till there was a shout +which made the two despatch-bearers start round in their saddles, to see +a dozen sun-browned, dust-covered Lancers galloping at them with weapons +levelled, headed by a young officer waving them on with his flashing +sword. + +"Up hands!" yelled Ingleborough, and glass 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 +breasts; "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 scum 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 passed 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. + +But when morning came the General demurred to letting them go. + +"You must wait a day longer," he said, "until my boys have done more, to +clear the way, for your road must be full of revengeful Boers, the +remains of the force we defeated yesterday, and I am certain that +neither you nor your despatch would reach Kimberley if I let you go!" + +"We are very anxious to be off, sir," said West, in a disappointed tone. + +"And I am very anxious that the Kimberley people should have your good +news, my lad," said the general, smiling, "and the news too of how we +have taken the guns and stores meant to be used against Mafeking; but, +as I have told you before, I don't want the news you are to carry to be +found somewhere on the veldt, perhaps a year hence, along with some rags +and two brave young fellows' bones." + +"Thank you, sir," said West quietly; "but when do you think we might +continue our journey?" + +"That depends on the reports I get in from the men still away in +pursuit." + +The men in camp were in high glee, for they had been struggling hard for +weeks to get to conclusions with the enemy, but without success, while +now their highest expectations had been more than fulfilled; but there +was plenty of sorrow to balance the joy, many poor fellows having met +their end, while the number of injured in the hospital ambulances and +tents made up a heavy list. + +West and Ingleborough saw much of this, and spent no little time in +trying to soften the pangs endured by the brave lads who lay patiently +bearing their unhappy lot, suffering the agony of wounds, and many more +the miseries of disease. + +There was trouble too with the prisoners, and West and his companion +were present when a desperate attempt to escape was made by a party +worked upon by one of their leaders--a half-mad fanatical being whose +preachings had led many to believe that the English conquerors were +about to reduce the Boers to a complete state of slavery. + +The attempt failed, and the leader was one of those who fell in the +terrible encounter which ensued. + +Both West and Ingleborough were witnesses of the resulting fight, for +the attempt was made in broad daylight, just when such a venture was +least expected, and, after those who seized upon a couple of score of +the captured horses and tried to gallop off had been recaptured, the +young men worked hard in helping to carry the wounded to the patch of +wagons that formed the field hospital. + +"Ugh!" said West, with a shudder, after he and Ingleborough had +deposited a terribly-injured Boer before one of the regimental surgeons; +"let's get down to the spruit and wash some of this horror away." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, after a glance at his own hands; "we couldn't +look worse if we had been in the fight! Horrible!" + +"It's one thing to be in the wild excitement of a battle, I suppose," +said West; "but this business after seems to turn my blood cold." + +Ingleborough made no reply, and the pair had enough to do afterwards in +descending the well-wooded, almost perpendicular bank to where the +little river ran bubbling and foaming along, clear and bright. + +"Ha!" sighed West; "that's better! It was horrible, though, to see +those poor wretches shot down." + +"Um!" murmured Ingleborough dubiously. "Not very! They killed the +sentries first with their own bayonets!" + +"In a desperate struggle for freedom, though! But there, I'm not going +to try and defend them!" + +"No, don't, please!" said Ingleborough. "I can't get away from the fact +that they began the war, that the Free State had no excuse whatever, and +that the enemy have behaved in the most cruel and merciless way to the +people of the towns they have besieged." + +"All right! I suppose you are right; but I can't help feeling sorry for +the beaten." + +"Feel sorry for our own party then!" said Ingleborough, laughing. "Why, +Noll, lad, we must not holloa till we are out of the wood. This last is +a pretty bit of success; but so far we have been horribly beaten all +round." + +"Yes, yes; don't talk about it," said West sharply; "but look over +there. We needn't have been at the trouble of scrambling down this +almost perpendicular place, for there must be a much easier spot where +that fellow is walking up." + +"Never mind; we'll find that slope next time, for we shall have to come +down again if we want a wash." + +They sat down chatting together about the beautifully peaceful look of +the stream, while Ingleborough lit his pipe and began to smoke. + +"It does seem a pity," said Ingleborough thoughtfully, exhaling a cloud +of smoke: "this gully looks as calm and peaceful as a stream on old +Dartmoor at home. My word! I wish I had a rod, a line, and some flies! +There must be fish here. I should like to throw in that pool and +forget all about despatch-bearing and guns and rifles and men using +lances. It would be a treat!" + +"It looks deep and black too in there," said West. "Yes, a good day's +fishing in such a peaceful--Ugh! Come away. Let's get back to the +camp." + +"Why? What's the matter?" cried Ingleborough, starting up, in the full +expectation of seeing a party of the enemy making their way down the +farther bank to get a shot at them. + +But West was only pointing with averted head down at the deep black +pool, and Ingleborough's face contracted as his eyes took in all that +had excited West's horror and disgust. + +For there, slowly sailing round and round just beneath the surface, were +the white faces of some half-dozen Boers, wounded to the death or +drowned in their efforts to escape the British cavalry, and washed down +from higher up by the swift stream, to go on gliding round and round the +pool till a sudden rising of the waters from some storm should give the +stream sufficient power to sweep them out. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY THREE. + +THAT BASE COIN. + +"Let's see; this will take us round by the hospital wagons," said +Ingleborough. "I vote we go round the other way, for we don't want any +more horrors now!" + +They chose a different direction to return to their temporary quarters +in the camp, one which took them round by the row upon row of captured +wagons and the roughly-made enclosure into which the prisoners had now +been herded, and where they were doubly guarded by a strong party of +mounted infantry, who had stringent orders to fire at the slightest sign +of trying to escape. + +"They'll accept their lot now, I expect," said Ingleborough. "Who are +these with this next lot of wagons? Non-combatants, I suppose!" + +"Yes; drivers of the provision wagons and traders," replied West. "Why, +that's the man we saw going up out of the spruit." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, and as he spoke West noted that the man who +had been seated at the front of one of the wagons suddenly turned his +back and walked round to the other side. + +West turned to Ingleborough. + +Ingleborough turned to West. + +They stood looking enquiringly in each other's eyes for a few moments +before the latter said suddenly: + +"Which way will you go?" + +"Left," said Ingleborough. + +"And I'll go right." + +They started at once, walking towards the wagon that had taken their +attention, Ingleborough making for the front where the man had +disappeared, and which necessitated passing the team of bullocks +crouching down to ruminate over the fodder that had been cut for them, +while West hurried round by the rear, the young men timing themselves so +exactly that they met after seeing a pair of stout legs disappear +between the fore and hind wheels of the wagon where the man they sought +to face had dived under. + +Quick as thought, West and Ingleborough separated and ran back lightly +and quickly, this time to come upon the man they sought just as he was +getting heavily upon his legs again, evidently in the belief that he had +not been recognised. + +He was thoroughly roused up to his position, though, by Ingleborough's +heavy hand coming down upon his shoulder and hoisting him round to face +the pair. + +"Hallo, Anson!" cried Ingleborough banteringly; "this is a pleasant +surprise!" while West's eyes flashed as he literally glared in the +cowardly scoundrel's face, which underwent a curious change as he +glanced from one to the other, his fat heavy features lending themselves +to the dissimulation, as he growled out slowly: "Don't understand." + +"What!" cried Ingleborough, in the same bantering tone; "don't you know +this gentleman--Mr Oliver West?" + +"Don't understand!" was the reply, and directly after: "Goodnight, +Englishmen; I'm going to sleep!" + +The next moment the heavy-looking fellow had turned his back again, +stepped to the front part of the wagon, and sprawled over part of the +wood-work as he tried to draw himself on to the chest before getting +inside. + +But Ingleborough was a strong man, and he proved it, for, stepping +behind the man, he caught him by the collar of his jacket and the loose +part of his knicker-bocker-like breeches, and dragged him off the wagon, +to plant him down in front of West. + +The result was that their prisoner began to rage out abusive words in +Dutch, so loudly that in the exasperation he felt, Ingleborough raised +his right foot and delivered four kicks with appalling vigour and +rapidity--appalling to the receiver, who uttered a series of yells for +help in sound honest English, struggling the while to escape, but with +his progress barred by West, who closed up and seized him by the arm. + +The outcry had its effect, for the called-for help arrived, in the shape +of a sergeant and half-a-dozen men, who came up at the double with fixed +bayonets. + +"What's all this?" cried the sergeant sharply, as he surrounded the +party. + +"Only a miracle!" cried Ingleborough. "This so-called Boer, who could +not speak a word of English, has found his tongue." + +"What are you, prisoner--a Boer?" cried the sergeant. + +"Ah, yah, yah," was the reply, gutturally given; "Piet Retif, Boer." + +"Well, sir, orders are that the Boer prisoners are not to be ill-used," +said the sergeant. Then, turning to the prisoner: "This your wagon and +span?" + +"Ah, yah, yah, Piet Retif." + +"He says Yah, yah, sir," said the sergeant, "which means it is his +wagon." + +"Oh yes, it is his, I believe," said Ingleborough. + +"Then what have you against him?" + +"Only that he's a renegade Englishman, a man who deserted from Kimberley +to the Boers." + +"It's a lie, sergeant," cried the man excitedly. + +"That's good English," cried Ingleborough. "I told you I had worked a +miracle; now perhaps I can make him say a little more. He's an +illicit-diamond merchant and cheat as well, and his name is not Piet +Retif, but James Anson, late clerk to the Kimberley Company. What do +you say, West?" + +"The same as you," replied West. + +"It is a lie!" cried the man. "Piet Retif, dealer in mealies and corn." + +"Mealies and corn!" cried Ingleborough scornfully. "The man is what I +say: an utter scoundrel, cheat, and, worse than all, a renegade and +deserter to the Boers." + +Anson's jaw dropped, and his face seemed to turn from a warm pink to +green. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR. + +ANOTHER START. + +Before Anson's jaw had time to return to its place the sergeant and his +men sprang up to attention, looking as stiff as if on parade. + +West was the first to see the reason, and he nudged Ingleborough, just +as a stern voice asked what was wrong. + +"Bit of a row, sir, between the two despatch-riders and this prisoner, +sir," replied the sergeant. "Prisoner charges these two gentlemen with +assaulting him. Says he's a Boer!" + +The new-comer, who had four officers in attendance upon him during what +was apparently a tour of inspection of the camp, turned sharply on the +two friends. + +"I cannot have the prisoners ill-treated," he said. "Why is this?" + +"Because he is not a Boer, sir," said Ingleborough sharply. "This man +was in the company's office with us at Kimberley. He is little better +than a thief, or worse, for he is a receiver of stolen goods, an +Englishman, an illicit buyer of diamonds, and a renegade who gave +information to and deserted to the Boers." + +"That will do," said the General. "Half of your charges would condemn +him. Sergeant, see that this prisoner is carefully guarded. He will be +tried later on. I am too busy to attend to such matters now." + +Anson gave vent to a gasp, after listening to the general's orders for +his safe custody. + +But, though he was listening to the orders given, his eyes were +otherwise employed. They were half-closed, but fixed intently upon +West, and they did not quit his face till the sergeant clapped him on +the shoulder, saying: "Now, Mr Piet Retif, this way!" + +Then he started violently, and was marched off to be placed with certain +of the prisoners who were the most carefully guarded. + +"Did you notice anything in particular just before Anson was led off?" +said Ingleborough. + +"No. Poor wretch. I'm sorry for him!" + +"Keep your sorrow for a more worthy object, my lad, and mind and give +that fellow a wide berth if ever he gets his liberty again." + +"Which he will, of course." + +"Well, perhaps so, for the Company can't give the diamond-buyer all they +would like! But when he does get free, you be careful!" + +"Why, what harm can he do me?" + +"Can't say," said Ingleborough abruptly; "but something or another ill +you may take it for granted he will do. I've been watching his face, +and read what it means! Of course, he doesn't like me, for I've been +fighting against him all along; but somehow he seems to hate you, and, +mark my words, he'll try his best to do you a mischief! He gives you +the credit of being the cause of all this trouble!" + +"But I've not been!" said West. + +"No; I've done the scoundrel ten times the mischief that you have, for I +disliked him from the very first day we met. He was too oily for me, +and I always thought that he would turn out a bad one. I'm the culprit, +but he means to let me alone and to take all the change out of you! +That's all--only don't give him a chance!" + +"Not I; but we shall not see much more of him, I suppose." + +"What? There'll be a trial in a day or two, and I've got a pill for my +gentleman." + +"What do you mean--not a lead pill?" + +"Tchah! Nonsense. I mean to ask for the scoundrel's wagon to be +searched. I was afraid they would let him go back to it." + +"The wagon? Of course," said West thoughtfully. "I had forgotten +that." + +The young men's eyes met as if they were trying to read each other's +thoughts; but no more was said then, and the next morning West and +Ingleborough were summoned to the General's wagon. + +"Good morning," said the officer sharply. "Your despatches are, of +course, very important, and it is urgent that they should be delivered +at once?" + +"Yes, sir," said West eagerly. "Then we may go on at once?" + +The General smiled. + +"No," he replied; "all through the night scouts and natives have been +coming in, and in general from different sources one has a great variety +of news; but in this case, coming from parts widely asunder, I get the +same announcement. Stung by the defeat I have given them and the loss +of their convoy and big guns, they have been collecting in great force, +evidently to try and surround me in turn and recover all they have +lost." + +"Then we had better make a dash for it at once, sir, before the way is +completely closed," said West. + +"The way is completely closed, young man," said the General gravely. +"East, west, north, and south, there are strong commandos with guns, and +there is only one way open for you." + +"And that is?" said West excitedly, for the General had stopped. + +"By going nearly due west, and cutting your way through." + +"Cutting our way through!" said West blankly, and he turned to look at +Ingleborough for an explanation, but the latter only shrugged his +shoulders. + +"Ah, you are both puzzled!" said the General, smiling. "You want to +know how you are to cut your way through! I'll tell you: by keeping +with me and letting my fellows clear the road for you!" + +"But--" began West. + +"There is no `but' in the matter, sir," said the General. "You are both +willing messengers; but you cannot do impossibilities. If you go on in +your own way you will be either shot down or captured, and in either +case your despatches will fall into the enemy's hands." + +"Unless I destroyed them first!" said West bitterly. + +"Of course. That is what you would try to do, my lad, if you had time. +But as you would naturally defer that till the last extremity, the +probabilities are that this necessary task would be left undone. +Rifle-bullets fly very swiftly, and the Boers' traps are cleverly set, +as our people are finding to their cost." + +"But the despatches must be delivered, sir," said West excitedly, "and +it is my duty to go on at any risk!" + +"And mine to do two things, young gentleman," said the General, speaking +very sternly. "One is, to assist you in the task you have in hand; the +other, as I find that Kimberley is being hard pressed, to try and cut my +way through to the help of the brave people who are holding it against +great odds. Now, as the two objects work together, your way must be +with us. I may not be able to force my way through, but I can certainly +see you well on your way." + +"Then we are to stop with your cavalry brigade, sir?" said West, in +disappointed tones. + +"Certainly, as long as I am making a forward movement, which will +commence at once. If I find it necessary to diverge from the course +laid down, on account of the extent of the convoy I have captured and +the number of prisoners, I shall give you fair warning, so that you may +make a dash for yourselves. There, gentlemen, I am busy. You will +attach yourselves to my staff, and help keep a watch over the loot in +diamonds." + +Taking this to be a dismissal, the two young men retired to talk the +matter over in their own quarters. + +"I don't like it!" said West excitedly. "We have our orders as to what +we are to do about the despatch! Ought we to let a cavalry general +override those instructions?" + +"I suppose so," replied Ingleborough. "Perhaps, after all, he is +right." + +"Right?" + +"Well, he knows from good information the state of the country, and we +do not. It would be better for your despatch never to be delivered than +for it to fall into the enemy's hands." + +"Of course!" + +"Then why not take matters as you find them? Are we not going to take +news for our General over yonder, and reinforcements as well?" + +"Yes, I hope so," replied West; "but one does not like when one's plans +are made to have them interfered with." + +"Of course not," said Ingleborough, laughing; "but we started with fixed +plans from Kimberley, and we've been interfered with and baffled ever +since." + +"But we did get the despatch to Mafeking!" + +"Yes, even when it seemed quite hopeless; and we're going to get the +answer back to Kimberley yet." + +"I hope so," said West gloomily. + +"Bah! What a grumbler you are, Noll! Nothing seems to satisfy you! +Haven't we turned the tables completely upon that fat pink innocent?" + +West nodded his head. + +"Isn't he prisoner instead of us?" + +"Yes, that's true!" + +"And hasn't he proved your innocence and his own guilt before those +officers?" + +"Yes, he has done that!" said West, with his puckered face smoothing +out. + +"Then just confess that you are a growling, discontented, +hard-to-satisfy young humbug." + +"I do--frankly!" cried West, laughing outright. + +"Come, that's something; and I begin to think that I will forgive you +and stick to you after all, instead of following out my own ideas." + +"Your own ideas?" said West, looking at his companion enquiringly. +"What were those?" + +"Well," said Ingleborough, in his dry stolid manner; "Shakespeare was a +very able man." + +"My dear Ingle," cried West, staring, "whatever has Shakespeare got to +do with your plans?" + +"Everything, you young ignoramus. Doesn't he say something about there +being a tide in the affairs of men which, taken at the flood, will lead +to fortune?" + +"I believe so; but I wish he could point out the tide that would take +our live barque safe into Kimberley." + +"Ah, but you see he does not; his works were written for people living +in a wet country where there are plenty of rivers and seas. He didn't +know anything about the veldt, and, in fact, he was not very strong in +his geography, or he wouldn't have written about the sea coast of +Bohemia." + +"There," cried West, "you're getting into one of your long-winded +arguments, and I'm waiting to hear your plans!" + +"Oh, they are only these!" said Ingleborough very gravely. "Being a +poor man and seeing the tide at its height, I thought to myself that +there could be no harm in annexing a rogue's plunder when it is as plain +as the nose on one's face that we have as good a right to it as all the +officers and Tommy Atkinses of this brigade. I came to the conclusion +that I'd get you to stand in with me on fair halves principle, and go +off with the diamonds in that barrel, calling at Kimberley as we go to +leave that despatch, and then going on to the Cape, and then home." + +"No, you did not, Ingle," said West quietly; "so don't talk bosh! Look, +they're striking tents, inspanning, and getting off." + +"By George! so they are. And hallo! what does this mean--an attack?" + +"A battery of Horse Artillery guns," cried West. "Then we are going on +in real earnest." + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, "and so our friends the Boers will find." + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE. + +THE NET AND THE FISH. + +The start was made more quickly than either West or Ingleborough had +anticipated; in fact, the celerity was wonderful considering that the +cavalry brigade was burdened with the great convoy of wagons captured +from the Boers. + +But there was a keen soldier in command, and one who knew how to be +ready for every emergency likely to occur in an enemy's country. + +As the two despatch-riders mounted their ponies, the cavalry regiments +were in motion, some taking up ground in advance and on the flanks, +while two more, a Lancer and a Dragoon regiment, stood fast ready for +action as rear-guard, giving the six-gun battery an opportunity to +off-saddle and rest their horses, fresh from a twelve-mile march that +morning. + +The wagon lines were in perfect order, steadily moving off after two of +the big newly-captured guns, freshly manned by picked crews, the other +two being reserved for the centre of the train and taking up their +position easily enough, drawn as they were by double teams of sturdy +ponies which made them far more mobile than would have been the case if +trusted to the slow-moving oxen. + +"They won't attempt to use those guns if we are attacked," said West, as +he watched the preparations going on; "our men will be quite ignorant of +how to work them." + +"Our men will try if the necessity comes," said Ingleborough +confidently; "and that's half the battle!" + +"Yes," said West; "but it's hardly likely that the enemy will attack so +well-armed a body of men." + +"They will, though, and do us no end of mischief if they get the +chance." + +But the General for the first three days gave the enemy no chance, for +he carefully avoided kopjes and broken ground, keeping out a cloud of +mounted men scouting in every direction, and camping each night on the +banks of some spruit. + +In fact, every military precaution was taken on defensive principles, +for the captured convoy was too valuable for any risks to be run by +attacking one or other of the commandos trying to hem in the brigade. + +It was soon found that the Boers were in motion in front, rear, and on +both flanks, awaiting an opportunity to swoop down and stampede sheep, +cattle, and horses, spread confusion amongst the men, and so open up a +chance to re-capture the guns and stores. + +But no chances were given, for everything had been arranged, and during +seven days' march West had a fine experience in the manoeuvring of a +cavalry brigade. So, in fact, had the enemy, but theirs was at a bitter +cost. + +Finding that the British force would not attack any of the natural +strongholds nor step into any of the traps contrived at river crossings +where the perpendicular banks were filled with trench, pit, and shelter, +but that the carefully-guarded convoy went on slowly towards safety day +after day, the enemy became more daring, changed their tactics, and +gathered together for attacks, getting their guns into action ready for +their own captured artillery to be halted, and with a few well-directed +shots at a tremendously long range to put the carefully planted guns out +of action and compel a rapid retreat. + +If they surrounded the convoy in their thousands with knots of mounted +riflemen, there was a rush, a flying cloud of dust kicked up, and away +went half the Horse Artillery battery to one knoll, the other half to +another, and before the intention of the General could be grasped the +shells were falling fast among those knots, bursting and untying them in +an appalling way which littered the dry earth with dead horses and men; +while, whenever a bolder dash than usual was made to capture either of +the half-batteries, the Boers found that, mobile as they were, the +British cavalry could nearly double them in swiftness of evolution, and +Lancers and Hussars cut them up and sent them flying in every direction. + +Day after day this went on, with the result that the reinforcements the +enemy received were pretty well balanced by the constant dribbling away +of ambulance wagons loaded with wounded men. + +"Isn't it splendid?" Ingleborough kept on saying. "Why, we could go on +journeying like this for months. I like this defensive game! Chess is +nothing to it!" + +"So do the Boers like a defensive game!" + +"Yes," said Ingleborough, laughing. "Did you hear what one of the Boers +taken said to the officer in command of the prisoners' guard?" + +"No. I did not catch it; but I saw our men laughing. What was it?" + +"He said our officers did not fight fair, and when our man asked him +what he considered was fair fighting, the scoundrel gave him to +understand that we ought to attack them when they were well entrenched +in a kopje ready to shoot all our men down." + +"Well," said West, "what did our officer say?" + +"Laughed at him, and told him that if they were so very anxious to fire +at targets we would arrange butts for them with a series of mantlets and +a good supply of the Bisley Running Deer. But that wasn't the best of +it," said Ingleborough, laughing; "what do you think the fellow said?" + +"I don't know," said West, who was watching the evolutions of a couple +of the Light Horse Volunteer regiments and as many of the Lancers, for, +tired of the plodding life of keeping with the tremendous baggage train +for a whole week, the two friends had ridden out in advance over a wide +open series of rolling downs covered with dry scrubby growth, parched to +greyness by the torrid sun. + +Ingleborough laughed heartily for a few moments. + +"There they go," he said, pointing to the leading troop of the Hussar +regiment as it disappeared over a ridge about a mile in advance. "Let's +make for that wave-like place." + +"Very well," said West; "I suppose we shall be safe there!" + +"Safe enough, of course, for our men have swept it clear! Forward! How +the ponies enjoy a gallop! But I didn't tell you what the miserable +ruffian said." + +"No," cried West, enjoying the motion as much as the ponies. "This is +delightful after all that slow walking; but we had better turn back when +we have seen what those fellows are about! Now, what did the Boer say?" + +"Said he had always heard we were cowards at Majuba; now he knew for +himself." + +"The insolent hound!" cried West. "What did our officer say?" + +"That it was lucky for the Boer that he was a prisoner, for if he had +been free he would have tasted a flogging from the flat of a sabre. But +hullo! where are our men?" cried Ingleborough, as they reached the crown +of the low ridge and looked down at a strip of open veldt, beyond which +was another ridge. + +"Gone over there!" said West quietly. "They must have galloped!" + +"Shall we follow, and come back with them?" said Ingleborough. + +"We may as well," was the reply; "they must be trying to cut off some of +the Boers." + +"Or going in for a charge to scatter them, for we want no more +prisoners. Come on, then; I should like to see the charge!" + +The ponies seemed to share their desire, for, answering a slight +pressure on their flanks, they spread out and went down the slight slope +like greyhounds, avoiding as if by instinct the holes and stones with +which the veldt was dotted away in front. + +"Steady, steady!" cried West. "We don't want to overdo it!" + +"Of course not," shouted Ingleborough; "but my word, what delicious air, +and what a place for a gallop! I should like to see a herd of antelope +appear on that ridge to the left. I should be obliged to go after them; +we might get one for the officers' mess." + +"There they are, then!" cried West. + +"Where?" said Ingleborough. + +"Coming over that continuation of the ridge a mile away to the left. +No: mounted men! Ingle, old chap," cried West excitedly, "they're the +party our men have cut off! They've headed them, and they're trying to +escape by this opening!" + +"By jingo! No!" cried Ingleborough. "Our men have gone off to the +right, I believe, and those Boers have seen us. Noll, old fellow, we've +come a bit too far. Steady! Right turn! Now off and away, or somebody +else will be cut off or shot; perhaps both of us, for we're in for it +once more." + +"Oh no," said West coolly; "be steady, and we'll show the Boers how +English fellows ride!" + +"Yes, but hang it all! It's showing the beggars how we ride away." + +"Never mind; we must ride for the convoy." + +"But we can't," cried Ingleborough savagely; "there's another party +cutting us off." + +"Forward then over the ridge in front! Our fellows must have gone over +there." + +"No, I don't think they did." + +"Then we will," cried West excitedly; "that must be south and west. +Forward for Kimberley; it can't be far now; and let's deliver the +despatch." + +"Hold hard! Look before you leap!" shouted Ingleborough; and, rising in +his stirrups, he gave a hasty glance round, to see Boers here, Boers +there, in parties of from six to a dozen, spreading out as they came +along at a gallop, forming more and more of a circle, till there was an +opening only in one direction--to the south-west--and after grasping +this fully he turned to West as he settled himself in his saddle. + +"Why, Noll, lad," he cried, "it's like the drawing of a seine-net in +Cornwall, with us for the shoal of mackerel. They've got it nearly +round us, and if we don't start, in another ten minutes we shall be +enclosed. It looks fishy, and no mistake!" + +"Then come on!" cried West. + +"Off with you, but at a gentle gallop. We must nurse our nags, for the +obstinate brutes will make it a long chase." + +As he spoke he pressed his pony's sides, and away they went together at +a long easy gallop, their mounts keeping so close together that the +riders' legs nearly touched, and the brave little animals taking stride +for stride and needing no guidance, the best management being to give +them their heads and perfect freedom to avoid all the obstacles which +came in their way in the shape of rock, bush, and the perilous holes +burrowed in the soil by the South African representatives of our +rabbits. + +Once settled down in their saddles, with the opening in the Boer net +straight before them, the fugitives had no difficulty in carrying on a +conversation, and this ensued in the calmest matter-of-fact way +concerning the predicament in which they had landed themselves. + +"It's very awkward, Noll!" said Ingleborough. + +"But, to use your favourite argument, it seems all for the best," +replied West. "We can easily reach the open ground yonder before the +enemy, and then ride right away." + +"If," said Ingleborough. + +"If they don't stop when they find us likely to go through the horns of +the dilemma they have prepared for us." + +"And lie down and begin shooting?" + +"Exactly! Their bullets will go faster than our ponies!" + +"Yes, but we shall put them at full speed, and they will find it hard to +hit us at a gallop." + +"I hope so!" said Ingleborough. "My word! How they are coming on!" + +"Yes; but they will not get within five hundred yards of us!" cried West +excitedly. + +And so it proved, for as the horns of the partly-finished circle drew +nearer, that nearness proved to be nearly a thousand yards from point to +point, while half-way between, and with their ponies racing over the +ground stretched out like greyhounds, the two despatch-riders dashed +through, forcing the enemy to alter their course as they were left +behind. + +"That's done it!" cried West joyously. "Now then for Kimberley; it +can't be very far away!" + +"Sit close!" cried Ingleborough. "They'll fire now if they can do so +without hitting their friends." + +West glanced back to his right, and saw the truth of his companion's +words, for the next minute the firing was commenced on both sides, the +bullets coming over their heads with their peculiar buzzing sound, and +the dusty soil being struck up here and there as the fugitives tore +along. + +"This will put their shooting to the test!" cried West, leaning forward +to pat his pony's neck. + +"Yes; it will puzzle the best of them!" replied Ingleborough. "I'm not +afraid of their marksmen, but I am of the flukes. However, we're in for +it! Easy now! We're getting more and more ahead as they close in. +There, those behind are obliged to leave off firing for fear of hitting +their friends." + +Ingleborough was right, for after another useless shot or two the firing +ceased, and it became a chase where success, barring accidents, would +rest with the best and freshest horses. + +Knowing this, the fugitives eased their ponies all they could after +placing a greater distance between them and their pursuers, but keeping +a good look-out ahead and to right and left, knowing full well as they +did that the appearance of fresh Boers ahead would be fatal to their +progress. + +Half an hour glided by, during which first one and then the other +glanced back, but always with the same result of seeing that some two or +three dozen of the enemy were settled down to a steady pursuit. + +"How long do you think they will keep this up?" said West at last. + +"Well, if they are French mercenaries they'll give up directly; if they +are Germans they'll stick to our heels for hours; but if they're all +Free Staters or Transvaal Boers they'll go on till they drop or we do. +The stubborn, obstinate mules never know when they are beaten!" + +"Then they're not French adventurers!" said West. + +"Nor yet Germans!" said Ingleborough. "No; we've got the genuine Boer +after us; and it's going to be a long chase." + +"How far do you think it is to Kimberley?" + +"Just as far as it is from Kimberley to here!" replied Ingleborough +gruffly. + +"Thank you for nothing!" snapped out West. "What's the good of giving +foolish answers?" + +"What's the good of asking foolish questions? Look here, lad, we may as +well look the position in the face." + +"Of course." + +"Very well, then; we've got a score and a half or so of Boers after us, +meaning to take us prisoners or shoot us down." + +"Oh yes, that's plain enough!" + +"Very well! Then as to distance to Kimberley, the General has dodged in +and out so to avoid the enemy that, though I know a little about the +country, I'm regularly puzzled as to where we are. I think it lies out +here, but whether Kimberley is five miles away or a hundred I don't +know. What I do know is that the surest way of getting there is to make +right away west for the railway. Once we can hit that--" + +"Yes, I see, and if we keep it on our right, riding south, we shall get +there." + +"That's correct, my lad, but recollect this: we left the town invested, +and you may depend upon it that the enemy are round it in greater +strength than ever, so that how we are to get through their lines when +we reach them I don't know." + +"Neither do I!" said West. "But we did not know how we were to get into +Mafeking! Still we did it, and we're going to do this somehow." + +"Ah, somehow!" + +"Look here," said West, after another glance back at their pursuers: "do +you think you could put matters in a blacker light if you were to try?" + +"To be frank, old fellow," said Ingleborough, laughing, "I really don't +think I could!" + +"No more do I!" + +"But look here: it's as well always to look the blackest side full in +the face. Then you know the worst at once, and can act accordingly. +Hooray! One to us!" shouted Ingleborough, glancing back. + +"What is it? I see one of the enemy broken down and another pulled up +to help him. It's two to us." + +"There, you see now the good of looking at the worst of it." + +"It's quite cheering!" cried West. + +"Not very, for the rest are making a spurt." + +"Let them!" said West. "Our ponies are full of go. We will not push +them unless absolutely obliged." + +"Words of wisdom! A long, steady pace wins. Keep on; we can afford to +lose a little ground, for we have been gaining for some time!" + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY SIX. + +CLOSE PURSUIT. + +Hour after hour passed, and the chase continued over the wide rolling +veldt, the fugitives making their course more and more westerly so as to +hit the railway, hoping every time they reached the top of one of the +wave-like ridges to find that they were close at hand. + +But it was always the same--veldt, veldt, veldt, stretching on towards +the horizon, with a village or farm once in a way, and the enemy always +at the same distance behind, keeping doggedly on. + +Twice over, though, the fugitives had scraps of encouragement from one +of their pursuers pulling up, and in each case another drew rein and +stopped with him. + +At last a spruit was reached, with the fresh bubbling water tempting the +escaping pair to alight in a way only to be understood by one who has +been similarly situated. + +It was just after the Boers had pulled up to let their horses walk after +a long ascent, and they were still going on at the same pace, when West +checked his pony. + +"It's of no use; we must drink," he said. "Dismount, unsling your +rifle, and get behind that stone and try and hold the enemy in check +while I water the horses and fill the bottles." + +Ingleborough said nothing, only obeyed, and the next minute West was +leading the ponies down to the shallow crossing, leaving his companion +with his rifle-barrel resting upon the big stone that formed a natural +breastwork. + +Seeing that the pair had stopped, the Boers began to press forward, even +after Ingleborough had fired twice; but the next shot made them pull up +short, open out, and take up position, beginning to return the fire +then. + +A few minutes later the horses had had a good drink, the bottles were +re-filled, and all was ready on the far side of the spruit for +continuing the flight. + +West shouted to his companion, who placed a block of stone about the +size of his head upon the natural breastwork and fired twice, dropping +down directly after and wading to the side of the gully, where he threw +himself upon his breast, drank deeply, and then waded across to rejoin +his companion. Then they were off again at a canter, getting a good +quarter of a mile on their road before the Boers discovered by a careful +flanking approach that they had given up their defence of the spruit and +dashed on. + +"They'll be after us now at full speed!" said West, as he stood up in +his stirrups gazing back. + +"No," said Ingleborough; "they'll stop there, I daresay, for an hour to +give their horses water and rest, thinking that they can lull us into +the belief that they have given up the pursuit; and then they'll come on +again, following us steadily so as to trap us as soon as it is dusk." + +"I don't think you are right," said West; "but it is of no use to argue +about it. We shall see!" + +The day wore on and they saw nothing but the wide-spreading brown veldt, +with no sign of the great river, no mountain ridge or other object +familiar to Ingleborough during his travels through the country. + +"No," he said, in reply to a question from West, "I can't make out +anything, only that we are going south-west. The country is so big, you +see. All I can say is that we must be going right. We're making for +the river, and we can't do better. It may be many, many miles away +still!" + +"Well, let's keep on. There's one comfort: the enemy don't seem to be +after us." + +"No," said Ingleborough, after a good look back, and speaking very +drily; "they don't seem to be, but I don't trust them. They mean to run +us down; but we'll give them their work first." + +In this spirit the fugitives rode steadily on hour after hour till the +evening came, and then there was nothing for it but to look out for some +halting-place with cover and feed for the ponies. + +"We can't keep on without giving them a rest," said Ingleborough; "for +we may have to ride all day to-morrow." + +"What?" cried West. "You surely don't think we're so far off still?" + +"I don't know anything, lad," replied Ingleborough; "for, as I said +before, the country is so big, and it is quite possible that we may have +two or three days' journey before us yet." + +"But food--rest?" faltered West. + +"My eyes are wandering everywhere in search of food," replied +Ingleborough, "and I keep on hoping to come upon a farmhouse somewhere +in sight. That will mean food, either given, bought, or taken by +threatening with our rifles. As to the rest, we'll have that when we +get into Kimberley." + +Night fell without a sign of spruit, pool, or farm; but it was a bright, +clear time, with the stars giving them sufficient light to keep on in +the hope that was growing desperate that they must soon come upon some +stream. But they hoped in vain, and the ponies at last began to grow +sluggish and indisposed to proceed whenever some patch of bush was +reached in the midst of the dried-up expanse. + +"There, it's of no use," said Ingleborough; "we may as well let the poor +brutes browse upon such green shoots as they can find! They'll be all +the fresher for the halt. As for us, we must feed upon hope and the +remembrance of the good things we have had in the past." + +"Don't let's give up yet!" replied West. "It is cool travelling, and +every mile brings us nearer to safety." + +"Very well; but we shall find it hard work to get the ponies along." + +So they rode on, with their mounts growing more and more sluggish for a +while, and then West suddenly uttered an exclamation. + +"What is it?" cried Ingleborough. "Your nag?" + +"Yes; he has suddenly begun to step out briskly." + +"So has mine," said Ingleborough. "It's all right. Give yours his +head--they sniff water. I half fancy I can smell it myself; the air +comes so cool and moist." + +Just then one of the ponies snorted, and the pair broke into a canter +which lasted for about a quarter of a mile, when they dropped into a +walk, for the ground was encumbered with stones; but almost directly a +pleasant refreshing odour of moist greenery saluted the riders' +nostrils, and then the ground was soft and yielding beneath the ponies' +hoofs, then rough and gravelly, and the next minute the riders were +gazing down at the reflected stars, which became blurred as the ponies +splashed into water and then lowered their muzzles to drink. + +"A great pool?" said West. + +"No; hark!" + +West listened, to hear the rippling trickle of running water. + +"A river!" he said excitedly. + +"Yes, and it may be the Vaal. If not, it will be one of the streams +running into it." + +"And we must keep on this side and follow it down." + +"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 asserted 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 +sunshine 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 +glass, 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." + +"Quite right, lad; and they are advancing on our front. Noll, my boy, +there is only one thing to be done." + +"What is that?" + +"Turn that patch of rocks there into our fort, and hold out till they've +shot us down, or we've shot them, or they've made us surrender." + +"What about provisions?" + +"Plenty of water," 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 last of which +took it into the river with a plunge of about a dozen feet right into a +deep pool. The water splashed on high, glittering in the sunshine, and +the next minute the unfortunate beast was floating slowly away towards +the swift current, just feebly pawing at the water, and on raising its +head it fell again with a heavy splash. + +"They can shoot well!" said Ingleborough coolly. + +West turned his gaze from the dying pony, irritated beyond measure by +his companion's easy-going coolness, and then saw the full extent of +their trouble, for Ingleborough's pony had sunk upon its knees and then +lain gently over upon its side, to die instantly without a struggle, one +of the Boers' bullets having passed right through its brain. + +"Might have been worse!" continued Ingleborough. "They did not hit us! +Come along, lad! They can't see us now. Follow me, and let's creep to +the fort. Keep down, lad; keep down." + +West had involuntarily dropped on all-fours as Ingleborough spoke, and +none too soon, for another dozen bullets came rattling over them, +cutting the twigs and spattering amongst the rocks, while several passed +close to them with a buzzing sound. + +"There!" cried Ingleborough the next minute. "No question now about +what we're going to do. Here's our fort; there's plenty of water; and +the Boers have shot our provisions ready for us. We must cut some of +the meat up for biltong, and eat as much as we can while the rest of it +is fresh." + +"For heaven's sake don't talk of eating!" cried West. "Look here: let's +creep along through the cover and try and get away." + +"On foot, followed by mounted men? No good; we should be pumped out in +less than a couple of hours!" + +"Then let's make the brutes pay dearly for what they've done!" cried +West angrily. "Now Ingle, let's prove to them that we can use our +rifles too! I'm going to shoot every horse I can." + +"Very well: so am I; and if that does not beat them off I'm going to +bring down man after man till the rest of them run for their lives. Got +a good place?" + +"Yes," said West, whose rifle-barrel rested in a crack between two +stones. + +"Then fire away; but don't waste a shot!" + +"Trust me!" cried West grimly. "Now then, fire; and remember the +despatch!" + +He took careful aim as he spoke, and drew trigger, with the result that +one of the Boer ponies stopped short, spun round, flung its rider, and +galloped madly away. + +The next moment Ingleborough's rifle cracked, and a second pony began to +walk on three legs, while the party opened out, galloping so as to form +a half-circle about their enemies, the two ends resting on the river +bank and forming a radius of about three hundred yards. + +"Sixteen more ponies to bring down," said Ingleborough; "and those two +dismounted men will take cover and begin to stalk us." + +"That's what the whole party will do!" said West bitterly. "We shall +hit no more ponies: they'll get them all into cover, and then come +creeping nearer and nearer." + +At that moment Ingleborough fired again right in front where one of the +Boers dismounted among some trees. + +"There's one more though," said Ingleborough, for the poor brute he had +fired at reared up and then fell, to lie kicking on its flank. "Try for +another yourself, lad!" + +Before he had finished speaking West had fired again, and another pony +was hit, to come tearing towards them, dragging its dismounted rider +after it, for the man clung to the reins till he was jerked off his feet +and drawn along the ground some fifty yards, when his head came in +contact with a stone, and he lay insensible, his pony galloping for +another hundred yards and then falling, paralysed in its hindquarters. + +And now the Boers' bullets began to rattle about the stones which +protected the hidden pair, keeping them lying close and only able to +fire now and then; but they got chances which they did not miss of +bringing down, killing, or disabling five more of the enemy's ponies, +which upon being left alone began to graze, and naturally exposed +themselves. + +Maddened by their losses and inability to see their foes, the Boers kept +reducing the distance, creeping from stone to bush and from bush to +stone, rendering the defenders' position minute by minute one of greater +peril. + +But the danger did not trouble West. It only increased the excitement +from which he suffered, and, with his eyes flashing in his eagerness, he +kept on showing the Boers where he lay by firing at every opportunity, +religiously keeping his aim for the ponies, in the full belief that +before long the Boers would retire. + +"It's no good to play that game!" cried Ingleborough suddenly, and he +made a quick movement, turning a little to his right and firing. + +There was a hoarse yell, and a man sprang up not above a hundred yards +away, dropped his rifle, and turning round he began to stagger away. + +"You are firing at the Boers, Ingle," cried West excitedly. + +"Yes: it was time!" growled Ingleborough, through his teeth, with his +voice sounding hoarse and strange. "I've hit three. Two haven't +moved." + +"What's the matter?" asked West, in a tone of anxiety, for he felt that +something serious had happened to his comrade. + +"Don't talk," growled Ingleborough angrily. "Look! Those two. Fire!" + +Two of the Boers away to West's left front had suddenly sprung up, and +bending low were running towards him, evidently making for a patch of +bush, out of which a mass of grey stone peered, not a hundred yards from +the young men's shelter. Feeling now that it was life for life, West +glanced along the barrel of his rifle, waiting till the Boers had nearly +reached their goal, and then, just as the second dashed close behind his +leader, West drew trigger, shivering the next moment, for as the smoke +rose he saw one of the men lying upon his face and the other crawling +back on all-fours. + +"Good shot!" said Ingleborough hoarsely, and then he uttered a deep +groan. + +"Ingle, old fellow, what is it?" cried West. + +The only answer he obtained was from his comrade's piece, for the latter +fired again, and another Boer sprang into sight not a hundred yards +away, fell upon his knees, and then rolled over. + +"Ingle, old fellow," cried West; "don't say you're hurt!" + +"Oh!" groaned Ingleborough. "Wasn't going to, old man; but that last +brute got me." + +"Hurt much?" + +"Much? It's like red-hot iron through me. Oh, if I only had some +water!" + +"Water?" cried West, springing up. "Yes; I'll get some." + +_Crack, crack, crack_! Half-a-dozen rifles rang out in different +directions, and in an instant West suffered for his thoughtless +unselfish act, for he felt as if someone had struck him a cruel blow +with a sjambok across the face from the front, while someone else had +driven the butt of his rifle with all his force full upon his +shoulder-blade--this blow from the back driving him forward upon his +knees and then causing him to fall across Ingleborough. Then for a few +moments everything seemed as a blank. + +"Hurt much?" came the next minute, as if from a distance. + +"Hurt? No!" said West huskily, and he made an effort and rose to his +knees. Then, stung to rage by an agonising pain which stiffened him +into action, he levelled his rifle once more, took a quick aim at a +couple of the Boers who were running towards them in a stooping +position, fired, and distinctly saw one of the two drop to the ground. + +The next moment someone fired over his shoulder, and the other went +down, just as West's rifle dropped from his hand and he fell over +sideways, yielding to a horribly sickening sensation, followed by a +half-dreamy fancy that someone had felt for and got hold of his hand, to +grip it in a way that was at first terribly painful--a pang seeming to +run up from hand to shoulder. The pain appeared to grow worse and +worse, then deadened, and came again, and so on, like spasms of agony, +while all the time the firing went on from all around. + +"Poor old Ingle!" was about his last clear thought; "they've killed him, +and now they're firing till they've quite frightened me! Oh, how they +keep on shooting! Get it over, you cowardly brutes--nearly a score of +you against two! Oh!" he groaned then: "if I could only have delivered +my despatch!" + +His left hand was raised painfully to his breast to feel whether the +paper was still safe; but the pain of the effort was sickening, and his +hand glided over something wet and warm and sticky. + +"Poor old Ingle! Blood!" flashed through his brain, as the rifle +reports rang out from very close now, and then all was blank. + +The end of everything seemed to have come. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT. + +THE SURGEON'S WORDS. + +"Bad enough, poor fellow; but I think I can pull them both round. +Nothing vital, you see, touched, and these Mauser bullets make +wonderfully clean wounds!" + +"And the other?" + +"Bad flesh-wounds--great loss of blood. I just got at that artery in +time." + +West heard these words spoken by someone whose head kept getting in his +way as he lay staring up at the great bright stars directly overhead, +and it seemed very tiresome. + +He tried to speak and ask whoever it was to move aside; but his tongue +would not stir, and he lay perfectly still, trying to think what it all +meant, and in a dull far-off sort of way it gradually dawned upon him +that the people near him were talking about the Boers he had somehow or +another and for some reason shot down. + +Then, as he thought, the calm feeling he was enjoying grew troubled, and +he began to recall the fact that he had been shooting somebody's ponies +to supply somebody else with food, and that he must have been mad, for +he felt convinced that they would not be nice eating, as he had heard +that the fat was oily and the flesh tasted sweet. Besides which, it +would be horrible to have to eat horseflesh at a time when his throat +was dry with an agonising thirst. Then the terrible thought forced +itself upon him that while shooting down ponies he had missed them and +killed men instead, and once more all was blank. + +The next time the power of thinking came to the poor fellow all was very +dark, and a jarring pain kept running through him, caused by the motion +of his hard bed, which had somehow grown wheels and was being dragged +along. + +Cattle were lowing and sheep bleating. There were shouts, too, such as +he knew were uttered by Kaffir drivers, and there were the crackings of +their great whips. + +After a while he made out the trampling of horses and heard men talking, +while in an eager confused way he listened for what they would say about +those two wounded Boers, one of whom had nearly bled to death before +that artery was stopped. These, he felt, must be the Boers he shot when +he ought to have shot ponies. + +And as he got to that point the trouble of thinking worried his brain so +that he could think no more, and again all was blank. + +At last came a morning when West woke up in a great room which seemed to +be familiar. There were nurses moving about in their clean +white-bordered dresses, and he knew that he was in some place fitted up +as a hospital. Several of the occupants of the beds wore bandages +suggestive of bad wounds, and to help his thoughts there came from time +to time the dull heavy reports of cannon. + +He did not recollect all that had preceded his coming yet; but he +grasped the fact that he had been wounded and was now in hospital. + +He lay for a few minutes with his brain growing clearer and clearer, and +at last, seeing one of the nurses looking in his direction, he tried to +raise one hand, but could not. The other proved more manageable, and in +obedience to a sign the nurse came, laid a hand upon his forehead, and +smiled down in his face. + +"Your head's cooler!" she said. "You're better?" + +"Yes," he replied: "have I been very bad?" + +"Terribly! We thought once that you would not recover." + +"And Ingleborough?" + +"Ingleborough? Oh, you mean your companion who was brought in with +you?" + +West nodded: he could not speak. + +"Well, I think he will get better now!" + +"But his wound: is it so bad?" + +"He nearly bled to death; but you must not talk much yet." + +"Only a little!" said West eagerly. "Pray tell me, he will get better?" + +"Oh yes: there's no doubt about it, I believe." + +"Oh, thank goodness!" cried West fervently. "But what place is this?" + +"This? Why, Kimberley, of course!" + +"Ah!" cried West excitedly, and his hand went to his breast. "My +jacket!" + +"Your jacket?" said the nurse. "Oh, that was all cut and torn, and +soaked with blood. I think it has been burnt." + +"What!" cried West. "Oh, don't say that!" + +"Hush, hush! What is this?" said a deep, stern voice. "Patient +delirious, nurse?" + +A quiet, grave-looking face was bent over West's pillow, and the poor +fellow jumped at the idea that this must be the surgeon. + +"No, sir; no, sir!" he whispered excitedly, catching at the new-comer's +arm. "I am better: it is only that I am in trouble about my clothes." + +"Clothes, eh?" said the doctor, smiling. "Oh, you will not want clothes +for two or three weeks yet." + +"Not to dress, sir," whispered West excitedly; "but I must have my +jacket. It is important!" + +"Why?" said the surgeon, laying his hand upon the young man's brow +soothingly. + +"I was bringing on a despatch from Mafeking when I was shot down, sir," +whispered West excitedly. + +"It was sewn up for safety in the breast." + +"Indeed?" said the doctor, laying his fingers on the lad's pulse and +looking keenly in his eyes. + +"Yes, sir, indeed!" said West eagerly. "I know what I am saying, sir." + +"Yes, you are cool now; but I'm afraid the jacket will have been burned +with other garments of the kind. Of course, the contents of the pockets +will have been preserved." + +"Oh, they are nothing, sir," cried West piteously. "It is a letter sewn +up in the breast that I want. It is so important!" + +"Well, I'll see!" said the doctor gravely, and, signing to the nurse who +had been in attendance, he left the ward, with West in a state of +feverish anxiety. + +At last, to West's intense satisfaction, the horribly blood-stained +garment was brought in, and his hand went out trembling to catch it by +the breast, fully expecting to find the missive gone. + +"Yes," he cried wildly, "it is here!" + +"Hah!" cried the doctor, and, taking out his knife, he prepared to slit +it up, but West checked him. + +"No," he panted: "the Commandant. Send for him here!" + +"My good lad, he is so busy, he would not come! Let me cut out the +message and send it to him." + +"No," said West firmly; "I will not part from it till he comes." + +"But really--" + +"Tell him a wounded messenger from Mafeking has a letter for him, and he +will come." + +West was right: the magic word Mafeking brought the Commandant to his +bedside; and as soon as he came up he stopped short and made what little +blood poor West had left flush to his face, for he cried: + +"Hullo! Why, it is our illicit-diamond-dealer! I thought we were never +to see you again!" + +"It is not true!" cried West. "The man who denounced me lied!" + +"Then you have been to Mafeking?" + +"Yes, sir: Mr Ingleborough and I." + +"And brought back a despatch?" + +"Yes, sir: here it is!" + +"Where?" said the Commandant, glancing down at the stained tunic on the +bed. + +"Open it now, sir," said West to the doctor, who took out his knife +again, slit the cloth, and drew out the big letter, terribly soaked with +its bearer's blood. + +"Bravo! Brave messenger!" cried the Commandant, grasping West's hand +before tearing open the packet and finding enough of the despatch +unstained to allow him to decipher the principal part of the text. +"Hah!" he cried, when he had finished, "on the whole good news; but," he +continued, glancing at the date, "you have been a long time coming." + +"Have I, sir? We lost no time!" + +"The poor fellow has been lying here for a fortnight, sir," said the +surgeon. + +"A fortnight ago? Why, that was the day when the reconnoitring party +returned with the captured sheep and cattle. Yes, I remember now: they +had a brush with the Boers up the river. Of course, yes: they were +attracted by the firing, and saved two young Englishmen. You are one of +them?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well done, then! Our raiding party did good work, though they did have +a desperate fight afterwards to get through the Boer lines. Getting +better?" + +"Yes, sir," said West, with a sigh of relief: "now that I have got my +despatch safely into your hands!" + +"But what about your bad character?" + +"It was a false accusation, sir!" cried West indignantly. "The man who +denounced me was the criminal himself." + +"Well, you have done your duty so truly that I believe you in preference +to him." + +"But I shall be able to fully clear myself, sir, soon, for this man is a +prisoner now with the cavalry brigade. Has that come into the town yet, +sir, with the prisoners, guns, and the convoy they captured?" + +"Hah!" cried the Commandant: "this is news indeed! Has the brigade +captured all you say?" + +"Yes, sir," said West, and he told all that had taken place up to the +time of he and Ingleborough being cut off and chased by the Boers. + +"We knew nothing of this!" said the Commandant. "We are prisoners +ourselves; but your news gives us hope of a speedy release, for the +General is not one to let the grass grow under his feet." + +"He is not, sir!" said West. "Then you shall bring me and the man who +accused me face to face." + +"The sooner the better, my lad!" said the Commandant warmly. "How soon +will he be up, doctor?" + +"Within a fortnight, I hope, sir!" was the reply. + +"Then goodbye for the present, my lad!" said the Commandant. "Your +long-delayed despatch will send a thrill of hope through all here in +Kimberley, for it breathes nothing but determination to hold the Boers +at bay." + +"May I say one word more, sir?" said West excitedly. + +"What do you think, doctor?" + +"He has said enough, sir, and if he talks much more we shall have the +fever back. Well, perhaps he'll fret if he does not get something off +his mind." + +"What is it, then?" said the Commandant. + +"I had a brave comrade to ride with the despatch, sir." + +"To be sure, yes, I remember. What about him? Not killed, I hope?" + +"No, sir, but badly wounded, and lying somewhere here." + +"Poor fellow! I must see him. There must be promotion for you both." + +"If you would see him, sir, and speak to him as you have spoken to me," +said West, with the weak tears rising to his eyes. + +"Of course, yes! There, shake hands, my lad: you have done splendidly! +Don't worry about the diamond charge! I can feel that it was a +contemptible lie! Now, doctor, take me to your other patient." + +"Ha!" sighed West, nestling back on his pillow with a calm look of +content in his eyes, which closed directly after for a sleep that lasted +ten hours at the least. + + + +CHAPTER THIRTY NINE. + +ANSON IN A HOLE--AND SOMETHING ELSE. + +"Don't worry about the diamond charge!" said the Commandant; but Oliver +West did, day after day, though he got better fast and was soon able to +go and sit with Ingleborough, who slowly recovered, as a man does who +has had nearly all the life-blood drained from his body. West worried, +and Ingle borough did too; for those were anxious days, those in +Kimberley, which brought strong men low, even near to despair, while the +wounded, weak, and sick were often ready to think that relief would +never come. + +West and Ingleborough recovered from their wounds only gradually, to +suffer with the rest, returning to duty when really unfit, while the +deadly work went on, the men braving the shell and shot with more spirit +when they knew that the women and children were safe within the mines. + +Then came the day of relief, and with it the feeling that a long night +of misery and despair had ended; and that night West and Ingleborough +grasped hands, the former's pale sallow face lighting up with something +of his old look, as he exclaimed: "Now, if the General would only march +in with his prisoners, and bring Anson before us face to face!" + +Everything, the proverb says, comes to the man who waits, and certainly +it was so here, for the day did come when the General rode in at the +head of his dashing cavalry brigade, and, what was more, with the +prisoners, and with them Anson, very much reduced in weight. + +There was something more than mere eagerness to be freed from an +accusation which led the two young men down to the General's camp next +morning to wait until they could see him in their turn. + +On their way they sought out the sergeant who had had Anson under his +charge, and he grinned at them in recognition. + +"You were about right, gentlemen," he said, "about that prisoner." + +"What about him?" said West eagerly. + +"About his being an Englishman. I've seen a lot of him along with the +other prisoners, and he's as English as can be. Piet Retif! Why, he's +got James Anson written on the tails of his shirts--that is, what he's +got left." + +"But look here, sergeant," said Ingleborough anxiously: "what about his +wagon?" + +"Oh, that's all right, sir! Loaded up." + +"Has he had the run of it?" + +"Not he, sir. He wanted to, but I only let him get some under-toggery, +shirts and such. I couldn't refuse him that!" + +"Did he go alone?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Quite?" + +"Well, not quite, sir, because I was with him." + +"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough, in a tone full of relief. + +"I've stuck to him, by the General's orders, ever since. Like a leech, +sir," said the sergeant, in conclusion--"like a leech." + +The cavalry General welcomed the young men warmly, and, as it happened, +the same four officers were with him, ready to join in the greeting. + +"I never expected to see you two fellows again," said one of them, +laughing. "I was out with my men when you were cut off. Why, you must +have had a very narrow escape!" + +"Of course," said the General, laughing; "but that has been the fashion: +we have all had narrow escapes. Well, you got safely in with your +despatch?" + +"We got in with our despatch, sir!" said West rather grimly, "but not +safely;" and he briefly told their adventures. + +"Bravo! Well done!" was chorussed. + +"Why, you two will have to join the regulars!" said the General. "We +can't have men like you for volunteers! Think it over, and, if you +decide to join, come to me, and I'll see what I can do! Now then, don't +want to be rude; but I have no time for ordinary visitors. You sent +word in that you wanted to see me on important business. What is it?" + +"You speak," said Ingleborough, and West began. + +"We want to know about the prisoner taken that day, sir--the man who +said he was a Boer." + +"I remember," cried the General. "I have him safe." + +"When is he to be tried, sir?" + +"Can't say; he will be handed over to the authorities who see to such +things now. You said he was a renegade who had joined the Boers." + +"Yes, sir, after being charged with illicit-diamond-dealing with the +Kaffirs working at the great Kimberley mines; and we want you to give +orders for the wagon he had with him to be searched." + +"His wagon searched?" cried the General. "How am I to know which wagon +he had?" + +"The sergeant knows where it is, sir," replied West; "and we could +recognise it directly." + +"But why do you want it searched--what for?" + +"For diamonds, sir, that he brought away from Kimberley, and which you +have brought back." + +"H'm! Diamonds, eh? This sounds interesting!" said the General. "You +think he has some there?" + +"We both believe he has, sir, and of great value." + +"What do you say, gentlemen?" + +"Oh, let's have the search made by all means!" cried one of the +officers, laughing. "It may mean salvage and loot, and all sorts of +good things!" + +"Very well! Take the matter up, and I'll see the search made! Let the +prisoner be present, of course. I'll be ready in half-an-hour." + +Punctually to the minute the General was ready, and he walked down +through the temporary camp to where the wagon stood among scores of +others, while the sergeant and four men stood by with Anson, who looked +shifty and uncomfortable, wincing suddenly as he caught sight of West +and Ingleborough, and then gazing sharply about at the mounted Lancers +on duty as patrols, for the prisoners were many, and there had been +several attempts at escape. + +The General looked at him sharply, and then at the wagon. + +"Is that your wagon, prisoner?" + +"It was till you took it!" replied the young man surlily. + +"What do you say, sergeant?" + +"Yes, sir," answered the sergeant, with military brevity. "I marked it +with my knife the day that it was taken." + +As he spoke he laid a finger upon a couple of notches he had made in the +wood-work. + +"Now then," said the General, "before I have the wagon examined--" + +Anson's eyes twitched. + +"Repeat the charge you made against this man!" continued the General. + +Ingleborough now firmly repeated almost word for word what he had before +said, and charged Anson with being an illicit-diamond-dealer. + +"And upon what do you base this charge?" said the General sternly. + +"The personal knowledge of myself and friend here," replied +Ingleborough. + +"All lies, General," cried Anson excitedly. "Those two are charging me +with what they did themselves. They were illicit-diamond-dealers, and +when they were found out they tried to plant the crime on me. All +lies!" + +"Crime? Yes," said the General thoughtfully. "Yes; I suppose it is one +of the greatest crimes that a man can commit in Kimberley. All lies, +eh! Well, sir, not all, for it is evident from your speech that you are +an Englishman and not a Boer. I judge too that you were in the +company's office at Kimberley." + +"Oh yes, General," said Anson; "that is true, and through the plotting +of these two men I was turned out of my situation." + +"And then deserted to the Boers?" + +"No, General. I was obliged to do something for a living, so I bought a +wagon to go in for trade; but I was captured by the Boers and they have +kept me a prisoner ever since. Then you fought the Boers and beat them, +and took me prisoner again. That's why I'm here." + +"An Englishman--prisoner to your own countrymen? Why did you not +declare what you were? What did he say his name was, sergeant?" + +"Said he was a Boer and his name was Piet Retif, sir," said the +sergeant, with a look of disgust at Anson's fat face. + +"Yes; that looks black against him!" said the General. "He is taken +with the Boers, while those who charge him are men of trust, being +chosen to bear despatches." + +"Because they were not found out, sir!" cried Anson. "There never was a +worse pair of cheats and tricksters." + +"Perhaps not!" said the General. "So you were a prisoner with the +Boers, my man?" + +"Yes, General, and very glad to see the British troops come up and gain +such a success." + +"You said that you was a dealer in mealies and corn," growled the +sergeant. + +"Well, a man must do something for his living." + +"Of course," said the General. "Well, you look simple and innocent +enough." + +"I am, sir, really!" cried Anson. + +"And never engaged in illicit-diamond-dealing?" + +"Me, sir? Never," cried Anson virtuously. "I was only charged by those +two to save themselves! Then they got on, and I was trampled down." + +"And joined the Boers out of revenge, eh?" + +"No, sir: it was all fate and accident." + +"Well, fate is very unkind to us sometimes, my man," said the General. +"That is your wagon and span of oxen, you say?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Well, you have prospered by your change. What did you say you traded +in?" + +"Provender, sir--mealies and corn." + +"And you?" cried the General, turning sharply to West. "What do you +think he deals in?" + +"I believe he deals in diamonds, sir," replied West. + +"Why?" said the General. + +"For one reason, sir, because my friend, in whom I have perfect faith, +caught him in the act." + +"Yes: anything more?" + +"I know him to be a cowardly liar, sir, and--" + +"Oh!" groaned Anson. "I never heard anything like it." + +"Go on," said the General. + +"Lastly, sir, because he set it about that I had volunteered to carry a +despatch to Mafeking so as to get away with the diamonds I had +smuggled." + +"And did you?" said the General. + +"I got away to Mafeking with the despatch!" said West, smiling. + +"And where are the diamonds in question?" + +"My friend and I believe that they are in James Anson's wagon," said +West bitterly, for he felt bitter then against the traitor, whose +proceedings he recalled when they were prisoners. Later on he felt a +little sorry for his words. + +"Oh!" cried Anson, throwing up his hands and looking appealingly at the +General, who fixed him with his eyes. + +"Well," he said; "what have you to say to this?" + +"It's abominable, sir--it's atrocious--it's cruel!" + +"Then you have no smuggled diamonds with you?" + +"No, sir," cried Anson excitedly. "They charged me once before, and had +my wagon searched by the police." + +"And did the police find any?" + +"No, sir, not one! It was a blind, sir, so that they might carry off +theirs by throwing the police off the scent. I'll be bound to say they +have a lot with them now!" + +"Well, I doubt that!" said the General, smiling. "Where would they +carry them?" + +"Oh, sir, you don't know what artful tricks are played!" said Anson +eagerly. + +"Oh, I've heard of a few since I came to South Africa; but I don't think +it likely that a couple of despatch-riders would carry many +illicit-diamonds with them!" + +"Have the butts of their revolvers examined, sir, and the stuffing of +their saddles," cried Anson. "I have heard of the butts of rifles being +bored to hold a lot." + +"So have I!" said the General; "but I fancy a wagon would be more likely +to supply hiding-places!" + +"Oh yes, sir, but the police inspector searched my wagon, and did not +find any." + +"You would have no objection, of course, being perfectly innocent," said +the General, "to some of my men searching your wagon?" + +"Of course, I shouldn't like it, sir, but--" + +"But? Ah, you mean conquest gives me the right of search?" + +"It's like casting a slur on a man's character, sir." + +"But it makes it shine out the brighter when you are proved to be +innocent! Here, sergeant, this case begins to be interesting! Search +our friend's wagon." + +Anson tried to master a wince, and merely shrugged his shoulders, +standing with his hands in his pockets while the sergeant and his men +commenced their task, examining every part of the wagon while the +officers waited patiently, lighting up and smoking their cigars until +the sergeant came back to make his report. + +"Well, what have you found?" + +"Nothing but these, sir," replied the sergeant stiffly. "Tucked away +behind the doubled tilt they were, sir," and the man held out a +revolver, Anson's sword-stick, and his little mahogany flute-case. + +"Humph! No diamonds, sergeant?" + +"Not so much as a pin or ring, sir," replied the man. + +"Are these yours, Mr Piet Retif?" said the General. + +"The walking-stick and the flute-case are mine," said Anson coolly. +"The pistol must be the driver's. I had a rifle; but your men took that +away." + +"Nothing else?" said the General. + +"Nothing else, sir. We looked everywhere," replied the sergeant, and he +offered his superior the objects he had brought; but the General +shrugged his shoulders and looked at his officers, who each examined the +revolver, stick, and flute-case, and passed them back to the sergeant. + +"Well, gentlemen," said the General, turning to West and Ingleborough: +"you hear. What have you to say now?" + +"The prisoner owned to these things being his!" said Ingleborough. + +"No, I didn't!" said Anson sharply. "Revolver isn't mine." + +"Only lent to you, perhaps," said Ingleborough, taking the weapon from +the sergeant's hands and cocking it, making Anson wince. + +"I'm not going to fire," said Ingleborough, smiling contemptuously, as +he held the pistol in both hands with his thumb-nails together on the +top of the butt. Then, pressing the cock sidewise, the butt opened from +end to end upon a concealed hinge, showing that it was perfectly +hollowed out and that half-a-dozen large diamonds lay within, closely +packed in cotton wool. + +Anson turned clay-coloured. + +"'Tisn't mine!" he cried. "I know nothing about it!" + +"Well, never mind," said the General; "it is ours now. An interesting +bit of loot, gentlemen!" + +There was a murmur of voices at this, and as soon as the pistol had been +handed round the butt was closed with a sharp snap, and the General +turned to Ingleborough again. + +"Well, sir," he said: "is that all?" + +"I am not sure," replied Ingleborough; "but I am suspicious about that +stick." + +"You think it is hollowed out?" + +"Yes, sir," said Ingleborough, and, taking it in his hands, he drew it +apart, dragging into the light from its sheath a handsome Damascened +three-edged blade, which he held against the cane, proving that the +blade went right down to the ferrule at the end. + +"What about the handle?" said one of the officers eagerly, as +Ingleborough thrust back the blade into its cane sheath. + +"That is what I suspect!" said Ingleborough, and he carefully examined +the silver-gilt tip, but twisted and turned it in vain, for there seemed +to be no way of opening it, till all at once he tried to twist the +sheath portion beneath the double ring which divided hilt from sheath, +when the handle turned for about half-an-inch and was then drawn off, +disclosing a hollow shell lining which held another deposit of diamonds +packed in cotton wool. + +"More loot, gentlemen!" said the General, smiling. "What comes next?" + +"The flute," cried two voices together, and Ingleborough opened the +case, showing the three joints fitting tightly in the velvet-lined +compartments. + +"A silent musical instrument!" said the General, smiling. + +"Can anyone play the overture to the Crown Diamonds?" said one of the +_aides-de-camp_ merrily. + +"This is the overture!" said another, and Ingleborough took out two +joints in turn, perfectly empty, fitted them together, and then took out +the top joint, to put that in its proper position, before raising the +instrument to his lips and running up and down the gamut. + +"Nothing there," said the General. + +But Ingleborough lowered the flute, held it in both hands, and drew it +apart at the tuning-slide, held it sidewise, and then unscrewed the top +plug, showing an opening, out of which he shook a magnificent gem of +great size and perfect make. + +"Bravo!" cried the General excitedly. And then: "I'm afraid, Mr Dealer +in mealies and corn, the judgment will go dead against you. Have you +done?" he continued, turning to Ingleborough. + +"Not quite, sir!" replied the latter. "Come, West, don't let me get all +the credit for unmasking the scoundrel." + +"Look here," cried Anson viciously, "I protest against being called a +scoundrel! Those are my private savings, invested in what were bought +honestly." + +"I think, sir, you had better keep your tongue silent until we have +quite done!" said the General. + +Then, turning to the two young men, he bade them go on. + +"Come, West," said Ingleborough, "you suspect where our friend who is no +scoundrel has hidden more diamonds, do you not?" + +"Well, yes," said West, rather unwillingly, for the whole business +disgusted him. + +"Speak out, then! I am sure it is in the same place as I think he has +more plunder; but you shall have your turn now." + +"No, no; go on," said West warmly. + +"If you suspect that there is some place unsearched," said the General +sternly, "speak out, sir." + +"Then I believe, sir," said West, "that if the water-cask that is slung +under the wagon is opened you will find a number of diamonds hidden +there!" + +There was a burst of excitement at this, everyone present speaking save +the sergeant, who did a bit of pantomime which meant: "Of course!" for +he bent down and gave his leg a sounding slap. + +"Yes," said Ingleborough; "that is where I meant." + +"Why, I thought o' that once," cried the sergeant, "and then I says to +myself: `That's too stoopid a place; no one would hide diamonds where +they're sure to be found'; but I crept underneath on my hands and knees +and gave it a swing so as to make the water wash about inside. That +satisfied me, and I came away." + +"You have hit the mark, Mr West," said the General, smiling. "There is +no doubt about it! Look at the prisoner's face!" + +Anson tried hard to pull it back into its normal shape, for he had been +gazing at West with a malignant look that meant anything from a +rifle-shot to a stab with a bayonet. + +"Now, sergeant, see if you can do better this time!" cried the General, +as Anson's mouth shut with a click. + +Then he stood fast with his brow wrinkled and his hands clenched, +waiting expectantly with the rest of those present until the cask was +set free from the raw-hide reins by which it was slung under the hind +part of the wagon, and then rolled out, giving forth the regular hollow +sound of a barrel half-full of liquid. + +"Only sounds like water!" muttered the sergeant, and he set it running, +to soak into the dry ground, and draining out as much as he could, +before giving an order to the nearest man to take hold of one end while +he raised the other, both men looking stern and severe in the extreme. +Then together they gave the cask a lusty shake, and the sound which +followed was that of some shovels full of pebbles rattling in the +inside. + +The next minute they had set the cask down on end with a grin of +delight, which was taken up by their fellows, while a satisfied smile +dawned upon the faces of the _aides-de-camp_. + +"Here, stop that fellow!" shouted one of the officers, for, in spite of +his heaviness, Anson proved that he could be active enough upon +occasion, and this was one; for, seizing his opportunity, he dived under +the wagon, and by the time the soldiers had run round to the other side +he was off, dodging in and out among the wagons in the mad idea that he +could escape; but before he had gone a hundred yards he came out +suddenly upon a mounted man, and the next instant he went sprawling over +a lance-shaft, and the steel-shod butt end was planted upon his back to +keep him from rising. + +"Pity you should have taken all that trouble!" said the sergeant, as he +came panting up, followed by his men, "because we might want you to tell +us all a bit about the value of them stones! Now then, up with you. +Let him get up, Lancer! And see here, my lad, if you cut and run +again--being a prisoner caught in the act of trying to escape--my men +have orders to fire, and you're so broad and fat that they are sure to +bring you down first shot." + +Anson glared at the men's rifles and fixed bayonets, but he said +nothing, marching back between the men to the spot where he had left the +General and his old fellow-clerks; but the barrel had been carried to a +place of safety, and those who had witnessed his discomfiture had gone. + +Half-an-hour later he had been marched out of the camp, and was under +lock and key in the military prison, a sentry being posted at the door. + + + +CHAPTER FORTY. + +WINDING UP. + +The adventures of Oliver West and his friend Ingleborough were pretty +well at an end; and it was time, for between wounds and exposure they +had been brought to a state which necessitated plenty of rest and +comforts to enable them to quite recover themselves. Of feasting, +praising, and complimenting they had their fill--more than enough, West +said, for he declared that the hues of returning health which were +coming into his cheeks were only blushes caused by the way in which +people talked about his bravery, dash, "and all that stuff." + +Ingleborough took it all more contentedly. + +"I don't mind their praising us!" he said. "Frankly, I rather like it; +and, without bragging, I think we did earn it all!" + +"Well, we did run some risks!" said West; "and of course it's much nicer +for our friends to know that we escaped and are alive and well." + +"And a jolly deal nicer for us too. But what do you say to joining the +army? After what the General said I think we might both get +commissions." + +"Perhaps," said West; "but it's doubtful now that everything is settling +down. I feel disposed to invest my share of the loot and to stop on +with the company after the splendid offer they have made me. Hadn't you +better do the same?" + +"I'm nearly half disposed to, Noll," replied Ingleborough; "but more +than half inclined to go into the police altogether. I've had an +invitation, and I think the life would suit me better than settling down +to a desk. Yes, this settles it! I shall go on to Norton and say +`Yes.'" + +"Well, I'm sorry," said West; "but at the same time I'm glad, for you'll +make a splendid officer!" + +"Here, hold hard! I don't want to hear you begin puffing me. By the +way, you heard the news about Fatty Anson?" + +"No, not a word!" cried West excitedly. + +"Promoted." + +"Nonsense! What a shame!" + +"It's a fact, my lad! He has just received his commission in Mrs +Partington's Brigade." + +"What!" cried West. "Oh, this is some bit of chaff!" + +"Oh no!" said Ingleborough, laughing. "It's a fact. The regiment +employed by the old lady to help her keep out the Atlantic with a mop." + +"Bah! You mean that he has been sentenced with other convicts to help +to build the Cape breakwater?" + +"Good boy! Quite right! For five years!" replied Ingleborough. + +"Well," said West thoughtfully, "I suppose he deserves it, and I hope he +will become a better fellow when he has served his time." + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's A Dash from Diamond City, by George Manville Fenn + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK A DASH FROM DIAMOND CITY *** + +***** This file should be named 21305.txt or 21305.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/3/0/21305/ + +Produced by Nick Hodson of London, England + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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