I say let's get up and walk steadily on till we see that we are discovered, and then run for our lives." "Wait a moment! Do you know how we shall find out that we are discovered ?" "Yes," said West coolly; "we shall have the bullets whistling about us." "Well, you are cool!" said Ingleborough.

"That's it; and in addition we shall have some of the mounted Boers coming at full gallop." "Perhaps," said West; "and perhaps the Mafeking outposts will begin firing to cover us.

Now then, I feel breathless to begin, for it's rapidly getting lighter.

Come on!" They rose quietly, and set off, making straight for the nearest building--a long, low, broad place with a corrugated-iron roof which seemed to be perfectly deserted; but it had one advantage--it was the nearest object to where they were, and it would, if they could reach it, form cover from which they could fire upon any mounted Boer who came in pursuit.
Then with the day broadening rapidly they walked steadily on, with shell after shell arching over their heads, to fall and burst far in advance, right away in the town; but there was no sign of pursuit for quite ten minutes, and not a friend anywhere visible in the outskirts the fugitives approached.
"Now then," shouted Ingleborough suddenly; "be cool, and as you run unsling your rifle and be ready for a shot, for I'm going to fight to the last." "Make for that shed ?" "Yes.

Forward; here they come." Away they went, for West at his companion's warning had looked sharply round, to see about a score of mounted Boers dashing after them at full gallop, and the fugitives had hardly got into the full swing of their stride before they heard _cracky crack, crack_, the reports of rifles far in the rear, and _ping, ping_, _ping_, the whistling buzz of the thin bullets, several of which came unpleasantly near.
"Open out half-a-dozen yards," said Ingleborough, "and lessen their mark! Think we shall reach that shed ?" "No," said West coolly.