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