I say, it's wonderful, isn't it, how one can sleep out here on the veldt ?" "Surrounded by dangers!" replied West.

Then laconically: "Yes." Their scanty meal was soon eaten and washed down with a draught of pure water, after which they both climbed to the top of the highest part of the kopje to take a good survey of the surrounding plain.
"There's nothing in sight," said Ingleborough quietly; "so we'll hurry on at once while our shoes are good." The ponies looked as fresh as ever when they were saddled and ready to start, and after an examination of the compass Ingleborough pointed out that they ought to keep along north-east to strike the Vaal somewhere that evening, and then go along its southern bank till a ford was reached, after which their journey would be north by west.
"But we must be on the look-out for some lonely farm to-day," said West.
"We ought to well fill our haversacks before we start again." "Never fear; we shall find plenty of food for sale so long as we have money to show the Boer ladies.

Ready ?" "Yes," replied West, and together they sprang into their saddles and rode down the slope, their horses carefully picking their way among the stones, till the open veldt was reached.

They then struck off at a quiet canter towards a rocky ridge so as to put that between them and the kopje where they had slept, in case by any possibility their shots had been heard and a party of the enemy should ride up to it to make a search and in the course of it see them in the distance riding away.
"And that would mean pursuit, a race, and the fastest horses to win," said West.
"As they generally do when there is fair play," replied Ingleborough quietly.

"Keep a sharp look-out forward, and I'll keep on casting an eye back at the kopje." The ridge was only about a couple of miles distant from their previous night's resting-place, proving to be fairly high, but with a gradual slope: while just as they reached the spot where the ascent began Ingleborough turned in his saddle from a long look-out backwards.
"This is like wringing one's own neck," he cried.