Ah! there goes another," he cried.

"No; it's only one of the empty saddle-horses." As we swept past it, I looked at the poor beast struggling to get upon its feet again; and then it was in our rear, and my companion said bitterly the one word, "Down!" "Why, that's the old fort and the kopje yonder, a mile ahead," I said suddenly.

"Are we going there ?" "Eh?
Yes, I suppose so," was the reply, "if the Doppies'll let us.
They're coming on again." He was quite right, for upon glancing to my left I could see a perfect swarm of the Boers galloping as if to cut us off, while I learned from the right that they were also coming on there.

Then came the news that they were advancing in force behind; and from that moment the crackling of rifle-fire ceased, and it became a hard ride for the haven of comparative safety ahead.
"They'll reach the old place just about the same time as we do," said my companion on the left, "unless something's done." Something, however, was done, for the Colonel seemed to have recovered himself, so that he was ready for the emergency; and as we neared the place that offered safety he gave his orders, and these were cleverly carried out.

Half of our flying troops drew rein and faced round, unslung the rifles from their shoulders, and proceeded to fire volley after volley with terrible effect upon the nearest of the Boers.