f any that we could bring against them,
thoroughly outrange ours, and that in addition they have a great number
of repeating-cannon--Maxims and Nordenfelts? Above all, they have a
vast supply of ammunition."

"Where did they get it from?" cried one.

"The moon," shouted another, and there was a roar.

"The fellow's a regular Boer himself," shouted a man behind; and there
was a hiss raised, followed by a menacing groan, which made West's blood
tingle as he closed up to his friend's side.

"The old story," said Ingleborough contemptuously, "You can't bear the
honest truth."

"Yes, we can," cried one of the men; "but we can't bear lies. Do you
think we are fools to believe your cock-and-bull stories about
magazine-rifles and guns that would dwarf all that the British Army
could bring up against the Boers?"

"You can do as you like about believing," said Ingleborough coldly. "I
have only told you what I learned for myself when I was staying in
Pretoria."

"And do you mean to tell us that the Boers have guns like that?"

"I do," said Ingleborough.

"Then where did they get them?"

"From the great French and German makers, From Creusot and Krupp."

"And how did they get them up to Pretoria?"

"From the Cape and Delagoa Bay."

"What nonsense!" cried another voice. "Their arms and ammunition would
have been stopped at once. What do you say to that?"

"The Boers are slim," said Ingleborough. "Hundreds of tons of war
material have been going up-country for years as ironmongery goods and
machinery. They have a tremendous arsenal there, and they mean to
fight, as you'll see before long."

The hissing and threatening sounds ceased, for there was so much
conviction in the tone adopted by the speaker that his hearers began to
feel uneasy and as if there might be something in the declarations,
while, upon Ingleborough turning to West with: "Come Oliver, let's get
home!" the little crowd of volunteers hedged the pair in, and the man
who had been the most ready to laugh laid a hand upon his arm.

"Hold hard a minute," he cried frankly. "I felt ready to laugh at you
and chaff all your words; but I'm not going to be a dunder-headed fool
and shut my eyes to danger if there really is any. Look here,
Ingleborough: are you an alarmist, or is there really any truth in what
you have said?"

"It is all true," replied the young man calmly.

"Well, then, I for one will believe you, my lad; for, now you have
spoken o