Part 20 (2/2)

”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 pa.s.sed 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 rus.h.i.+ng, 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 ma.s.ses of granite and ironstone, with shady trees growing in the cracks and crevices, their gla.s.ses 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 gla.s.s 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 gra.s.s, 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 p.r.o.ne 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.

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