ast
as they could fire, the hidden covering party in the wood were
supplementing the Maxim and gun fire by emptying their magazines into
the two horror-stricken mobs. For they were nothing better, as in a
selfish kind of madness to escape they dragged their horses' heads round
and lashed and beat at them with the butts of their rifles, to begin
frantically galloping back by the way they came.

But the worst of their misfortune had not come. Each wing had to gallop
for some distance within shot of the major's little force, which poured
in volley after volley before "Cease firing!" was sounded, the Boers
having continued their flight right away, evidently making for their
ruined laager, leaving horse and man dotting the veldt.

The men were too busy congratulating each other upon their victory, and
helping to round up the cattle scared by the firing, to pay much heed at
first to the wounded enemy; but as soon as a dozen of the best riders
were mounted on some of the Bechuana ponies which, minus their riders,
had begun to contentedly browse on such green herbage as could be found,
the major set a party to work bringing the wounded Boers into the shade.

"Their own people will see to them as soon as we are gone," said the
major. "What do you make out, Edwards?" he continued to that officer,
who was scanning the retreating enemy through his glass.

"They seem to me to be gathering together for another advance," said
Captain Edwards.

"No," said the major, "they will not do that. This has been too severe
a lesson for them. They'll wait till we are gone, and then come to see
to their killed and wounded. That was a sudden turn in the state of
affairs."

"Ha!" replied Captain Edwards. "I was beginning to wonder how many of
us would get back to Groenfontein."

"Yes," said the major; "so was I."

In a very short time the ambulance party and the convoy, with its great
train of cattle, were once more on their way to the camp, well-guarded
by half the party Colonel Lindley had so opportunely sent to the help of
the expedition, the rest, with the major's little force, following more
deliberately, keeping on the alert for another attack from the Boers,
who waited till their foes were quitting the field before coming slowly
on. But not for a new encounter; their aim now was only to carry off
their wounded comrades and bury their dead.

"Yes," said the major, "they have had one of the sharpest lessons we
have given the