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