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