ey'll
think it some of their own people."

"Um!" said Joeboy, and as he said it I knew I was wrong, for I recalled
what I had read, that in time of war sentries challenge, and, failing to
receive the password of the night, fire at once. It was a startling
thought; but we went on all the same, I for my part feeling I must trust
to my good-luck.

As we got farther in towards the mountains the obscurity increased and
the air grew cooler. I now began to feel how impossible it would have
been for me to have come alone and found my way in the darkness, for in
a few minutes I was quite helpless; but Joeboy seemed in nowise
confused, and did not hesitate once. It was as much as I could do to
make out his black head and shoulders, and only at times found that the
nodding ostrich-plumes were bobbing about just in front of me, as their
wearer walked steadily on, holding my horse's head. So we went on for
nearly an hour, with Joeboy leading Sandho in and out among the great
blocks of stone which strewed our way, keeping him where the sand was
soft by getting well in front, so that the horse's steps were pretty
nearly in his own. I could make out that we were gradually rising, and
that the rocks towered up to a great height left and right; but though I
rode with every sense upon the strain, I could neither hear nor see sign
of the enemy.

Fortunately the night was cloudy, and I knew it would be long before the
waning moon rose--not, I hoped, till we had been right through the pass.
In fact, as we went steadily on without interruption, I began to
believe the Boer I had seen must have been one of a small outpost placed
there for observation during the daylight, and that they must have
retired at dusk, while I was asleep; for I thought we must now be pretty
well through the highest part of the opening, and had there been any one
there I must have heard a challenge.

I was just about to whisper my opinion to Joeboy when he stopped our
progress and stood holding the horse's head tightly, showing me
something was wrong. I raised myself in the stirrups to peer forward,
but everything in front was nearly black; and though I listened, holding
my breath, there was not a sound. Then suddenly a voice from somewhere
above on the right front demanded in Dutch, "Who goes there?"

For answer Joeboy stepped on at once, and for the first time Sandho
kicked against a stone, one of his shoes not only giving out a sharp
_clink_, but strikin