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.