ant to be taken prisoners again."

"That's the truest speech you've made for twenty-four hours, my lad,"
said Ingleborough coolly, "but, all the same, that seems to be the
wisest thing to do."

"Make for the kopje?"

"Yes, for we want water, shelter, and rest."

"But if the Boers are there too?"

"Hang it, lad, there aren't enough of the brutes to occupy every kopje
in the country; some of them must be left for poor fellows in such a
mess as we are."

"Ride on and chance it then?"

"To be sure!" was the reply; and they went on at a steady canter
straight for the clump in front, a mile or so away, turning every now
and then to watch the line of horsemen which seemed to be going at right
angles to their track. Just as they reached the outskirts of the
eminence the leading files of the patrol bore off a little and the
fugitives had the misery of seeing that the enemy they wished to avoid
seemed to be aiming straight for the place they had intended for a
refuge, while to have ridden out to right or left meant going full in
sight of the patrol.

To make matters worse, the sun was beginning to light up the stony tops
of the kopje, and in a very few minutes the lower portions would be
glowing in the morning rays.

"Cheer up!" said Ingleborough; "it's a big one! Now then, dismount and
lead horses! Here's cover enough to hide in now, and we may be able to
get round to the other side without being seen."

"And then?"

"Oh, we won't intrude our company upon the enemy; let's ride off as fast
as we can."

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.

FALSE ALARMS.

The bottom and surroundings of the eminence afforded plenty of cover,
and the fugitives pushed on in and out among dense patches of low
growth, and, leading their sure-footed little ponies, they climbed over
and around piles and masses of stone that would have been difficulties
even to mules, while twice over West scaled a slope so as to carefully
look down and backward at the enemy.

This he was able to do unseen, and came down again to report that the
patrol was still making for the kopje as if for rest, but that their
movements were too careless and deliberate for those of an enemy in
pursuit.

The far side of the pile of granite and ironstone was reached in safety,
placing the fugitives about a quarter of a mile from the Boers in a
direct line, but quite a mile of intricate climbing if measured by the
distance round; and they paused in a green patch full of ref