We'll pull up before sunrise at some sheltered place and have a good look-out for danger before letting the ponies graze and having breakfast.

Let's see what happens then!" But the sun was well up before a suitable kopje came in sight, one so small that it did not appear likely to contain enemies, but sufficiently elevated to give an observer a good view for miles through the clear veldt air.
"Looks safe!" said Ingleborough; "but burnt English children fear the Boer fire.

Let's have a good circle round." This was begun, and the black instantly grasped what was intended, and hanging well down from West's stirrup-leather, he began to search the ground carefully for tracks, looking up from time to time and pointing out those of antelopes, lions, and ostriches, but never the hoof of horse or the footprint of man.
"No Boer there!" he said.

"No one come.

Good water," he continued, pointing to the slight tracts of grass which had sprung up where a stream rising among the rocks was losing itself in the dry soil, but which looked brighter and greener as it was nearer to the kopje, which was fairly furnished with thorn-bush and decent-sized trees.
"Any Boers hiding there ?" said West sharply.
"Boers ride there on ponies!" replied the Kaffir decisively, as he pointed down at the drab dust.