ve ceased to reply."

"Because they are nearly beaten!" said West sadly.

"By no means, you croaking old raven!" cried Ingleborough cheerily.
"It's because they want to save their ammunition! They only want to
fire when they have something worth firing at. As for the enemy, they
have the whole town to shoot at, and keep on pitching their shells in at
random. There, don't be grumpy!"

"I can't help it!" cried West passionately. "Give me credit for having
kept up well till now. It's because we are so near success that I feel
everything so keenly."

"I know, old fellow, and you may trust me!" said Ingleborough. "I
didn't play a false prophet's part just to encourage you. I'm speaking
the simple truth! Just a little more patience, and you shall deliver
your despatch."

"If I could only feel that!" cried West. "It may be the saving of
Mafeking to receive news perhaps of help being on the way."

"Be patient then! It will soon be night, and then we'll mount and make
our final dash!"

"No," said West bitterly; "we shall have to make it now. Look."

CHAPTER TWENTY NINE.

HARD PUSHED.

Ingleborough shaded his eyes and turned very grave, for on gazing in the
direction pointed out by his companion's finger he saw a column of
horsemen creeping over the veldt as if coming straight for their
resting-place, while as they came nearer the eager watchers could make
out that the party were guarding a long train of wagons drawn by great
teams of oxen. They found that there were two other teams, not of oxen,
but of ponies similar to their own, and not dragging the great
tilt-covered wagons, but something heavy and comparatively small.

"Guns!" said Ingleborough laconically.

"Yes, and heavy guns too!" cried West.

"You're right, lad; and they will not come near us. It's an ammunition
train, and they'll go straight for Mafeking! That's another false
alarm!"

Ingleborough was quite right, for the distant train crept slowly on
along the track till it grew dim and distant as the sun sank lower and
finally disappeared in the haze of dust. But the troubles of the
despatch-bearers were not at an end, and they lay watching the west with
its great masses of lit-up clouds, glorious in their colouring, till the
last bright lights had died out, before they turned to look in the
direction of the east. And then West drew his companion's attention to
the fact that behind them the sky was perfectly clear, and the pale