CHAPTER TWENTY THREE.
FALSE ALARMS.
The bottom and surroundings of the eminence afforded plenty of cover,and the fugitives pushed on in and out among dense patches of lowgrowth, and, leading their sure-footed little ponies, they climbed overand around piles and masses of stone that would have been difficultieseven to mules, while twice over West scaled a slope so as to carefullylook down and backward at the enemy.
This he was able to do unseen, and came down again to report that thepatrol was still making for the kopje as if for rest, but that theirmovements were too careless and deliberate for those of an enemy inpursuit.
The far side of the pile of granite and ironstone was reached in safety,placing the fugitives about a quarter of a mile from the Boers in adirect line, but quite a mile of intricate climbing if measured by thedistance round; and they paused in a green patch full of refreshingbeauty, being a wide ravine stretching up into the height, and with abubbling stream of water running outward and inviting the ponies at onceto take their fill.
"This settles it at once!" said Ingleborough, letting his bridle fallupon his mount's neck.
"Yes; we can go well in yonder, leading the ponies along the bed of thestream. There is plenty of cover to hide half a regiment."
"Of Boers," said Ingleborough shortly. "It will not do for us."
"Why?" said West, staring. "We can hide there till they have gone."
"My dear boy," said Ingleborough; "can't you see? The beggars evidentlyknow this place, and are making for it on account of the water. We sawnone on the other side."
"Very well," said West sharply; "let's ride off, and keep the hillbetween us and them."
"Too late!" said Ingleborough. "This way; come on!"
For as he spoke there was the loud beating noise of many hoofs,indicating that the whole or a portion of the commando was coming at agallop round the opposite side of the kopje from that by which thefugitives had come; and to have started then would have meant a gallopin full sight of a large body of men ready to deliver a rifle-fire ofwhich they would have had to run the gauntlet.
"We're entering another trap," said West bitterly, as they led theirreluctant ponies along the bed of the stream, fortunately for them toostony for any discoloration to be borne down to show the keen-eyed Boersthat someone had passed that way, and at the same time yielding noimpress of the footprints of man or beast.
As far as the fugitives could see, the ravine went in a devious course acouple of hundred yards into the eminence, but, as it proved, nearlyacross to the other side. It was darkened by overhanging trees andcreepers, which found a hold in every ledge or crack of the almostperpendicular sides, and grew darker and darker at every score of yards;but the echoing rocks gave them full notice of what was going on nearthe entrance, the voices of the Boers and the splashing noise of theirhorses' feet coming with many repetitions to drown any sound made bytheir own.
"It isn't a bad place!" said Ingleborough, as they hurried on, with theravine growing more narrow and the sides coming more sharply down intothe water. "It strikes me that we shall find the water comes out ofsome cave."
Five minutes later Ingleborough proved to be quite correct, for theypaused at a rugged archway between piled-up fern-hung blocks, out ofwhich the water rushed in a fairly large volume, but not knee-deep; and,upon leaving his horse with his comrade and boldly wading in, West foundthat the cave expanded as soon as the entrance was passed, so that thespring ran outward along a narrow stony bed, and on either side therewas a bed of sand of considerable width.
"Come along!" said West. "The water gets shallower, and there is a dryplace on either side."
Ingleborough waded in at once, but unfortunately the ponies shrank fromfollowing, and hung back from the reins, one of them uttering a loudsnort, which was repeated from the interior so loudly that the secondanimal reared up wildly and endeavoured to break away.
West dashed back though directly and relieved his companion of one ofthe refractory beasts, when by means of a good deal of coaxing andpatting they were finally got along for some yards and out onto thesandy side, where they whinnied out their satisfaction and recoveredtheir confidence sufficiently to step towards the running waters andresume their interrupted drink.
"Rifles!" said Ingleborough shortly, when West unslung his and stoodready, following his companion's example as he stood in the darknesswith his piece pointing out at the bright stream with its mossy andfern-hung framing.
"Did you hear anyone coming?" whispered West.
"No, but they must have heard our ponies and be coming on," was thereply.
"Let them come; we can keep the whole gang at bay from here!"
But five minutes' watching and listening proved that they had not beenheard, for the Boers were too busy watering their horses, the voices ofthe men and the splashings and tramplings of the beasts coming inreverberations right along the natural speaking-tube, to strike clearlyupon the listeners' ears.
Three several times the fugitives stood on guard with rifles cocked,ready to make a determined effort to defend their post of vantage, forthe voices came nearer and nearer, and splashing sounds indicatedmovements out towards the mouth of the ravine; but just when theirnerves were strained to the utmost, and they watched with starting eyesa corner round which the enemy would have to turn to bring them withinrange, the talking and splashing died out, and they simultaneouslyuttered a sigh of relief.
"I couldn't bear much of this, Ingle," said West, at last. "I halfthink that I would rather have them come on so that we could get intothe excitement of a fight."
"I don't half think so, lad; I do quite," replied Ingleborough.
"But you don't want to fight?"
"Of course not; I don't want to feel that I've killed anybody; but atthe same time I'd rather kill several Boers than they should kill me.However, I hope they will not attack us, for if they do I mean to shootas straight as I can and as often as is necessary. What do you say?"
West was silent for a few moments, during which he seemed to be thinkingout the position. At last he spoke: "I have never given the Boers anyreason for trying to destroy my life, my only crime being that I amEnglish. So, as life is very sweet and I want to live as long as I can,I shall do as you do till they get disheartened, for I don't see howthey can get at us, and--"
"Here, quick, lad!" whispered Ingleborough, swinging round. "We'reattacked from behind!"
West followed his example, feeling fully convinced that the Boers hadafter all seen them seek refuge in the cavern, and had taken advantageof their knowledge of the place to creep through some tunnel which ledin from the other side, for there was a strange scuffling and rustlingsound a little way in, where it was quite dark. With rifles pointedtowards the spot and with fingers on triggers, the two friends waitedanxiously for some further development, so as to avoid firing blindlyinto the cavern without injury to the enemy while leaving themselvesunloaded when their foes rushed on.
"Can't be Boers!" said Ingleborough, at the end of a minute, duringwhich the noise went on; "it's wild beasts of some kind."
"Lions," suggested West.
"Oh no; they'd go about as softly as cats! More like a pack of hyaenastrying to get up their courage for a charge!"
"If we fired and stood on one side they'd rush out!" replied West.
"Yes," said Ingleborough grimly; "and the Boers would rush in to seewhat was the matter. That wouldn't do, for it's evident that they don'tknow we're here."
"But we must do something, or they'll injure the horses! Why!" criedWest excitedly; "it must be that they've pulled the poor beasts down andare devouring them."
"Without our little Basutos making a kick for life? Nonsense! They'dsqueal and kick and rush out. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
To West's astonishment his companion burst into a prolonged fit ofgentle laughter.
"Here, come along!" he said. "Of all the larky beggars! Here, you tworuffians, stow that, or you'll smash up those saddles!"
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Ingleborough dashed in, followed at once by West, and as they got infurther from the cave's mouth they dimly saw their mounts spring up fromhaving a good roll and wriggle upon the soft dry sand to rest theirspines and get rid of the larvae of some worrying pernicious horse-fly.
The moment the two ponies were on all-fours they gave themselves avigorous shake, and then whinnied softly and advanced to their riderswith out-stretched necks, expectant of a piece of bread or some otherdelicacy with which they had been petted from time to time.
"Why, you larky little rascals!" cried Ingleborough, patting the twobeasts affectionately; "what do you mean by frightening us out of ourseven senses? I mean frightening me, for you weren't scared a bit--eh,West?"
"Frightened? It was horrible! I can understand now why the Boers can'tbear being attacked from behind!"
"Of course! I say, though, no wonder children are afraid of being inthe dark." He turned to the ponies, and said: "Look here, my lads, Isuppose you don't understand me, but if you could take my advice you'dlie down to have a good rest. It would do you both good, and if thefiring did begin you'd escape being hit."
To this one of the ponies whinnied softly, and then moved gently to itscompanion's side, head to tail, bared its big teeth as if to bite, andbegan to draw them along the lower part of the other's spine, beginningat the root of the tail and rasping away right up to the saddle, whilethe operatee stretched out its neck and set to work in the same way uponthe operator, upon the give-and-take principle, both animals gruntingsoftly and uttering low sounds that could only be compared to bleats orpurrs.
"They say there's nothing so pleasant in life as scratching where youitch," said West, laughing. "My word! They do seem to enjoy it."
"Poor beggars, yes!" replied Ingleborough. "I believe there's nocountry in the world where animals are more tortured by flies than inAfrica. The wretched insects plunge in that sharp instrument of theirs,pierce the skin, and leave an egg underneath; the warmth of the bodyhatches it into what we fishing boys called a gentle, and that whitemaggot goes on eating and growing under the poor animal's coat, livingon hot meat always till it is full-grown, when its skin dries up andturns reddish-brown, and it lies still for a bit, before changing into afly, which escapes from the hole in the skin it has eaten and flits awayto go and torture more animals."
"And not only horses, but other animals!" said West quietly.
"Horses only? Oh no; the bullocks get them terribly, and the variouskinds of antelopes as well. I've seen skins taken off blesboks andwildebeestes full of holes. And there you are, my lad; that's a lectureon natural history."
"Given in the queerest place and at the strangest time a lecture wasever given anywhere," said West.
"It is very horrible, though, for the animals to be tortured so!"
"Yes," said Ingleborough thoughtfully; "but the flies must enjoythemselves wonderfully. They must have what people in England call ahigh old time, and--eh? What's the matter?"
"Be ready!" whispered West. "Someone coming; there's no mistake now!"