CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.
CLOSE PURSUIT.
Hour after hour passed, and the chase continued over the wide rollingveldt, the fugitives making their course more and more westerly so as tohit the railway, hoping every time they reached the top of one of thewave-like ridges to find that they were close at hand.
But it was always the same--veldt, veldt, veldt, stretching on towardsthe horizon, with a village or farm once in a way, and the enemy alwaysat the same distance behind, keeping doggedly on.
Twice over, though, the fugitives had scraps of encouragement from oneof their pursuers pulling up, and in each case another drew rein andstopped with him.
At last a spruit was reached, with the fresh bubbling water tempting theescaping pair to alight in a way only to be understood by one who hasbeen similarly situated.
It was just after the Boers had pulled up to let their horses walk aftera long ascent, and they were still going on at the same pace, when Westchecked his pony.
"It's of no use; we must drink," he said. "Dismount, unsling yourrifle, and get behind that stone and try and hold the enemy in checkwhile I water the horses and fill the bottles."
Ingleborough said nothing, only obeyed, and the next minute West wasleading the ponies down to the shallow crossing, leaving his companionwith his rifle-barrel resting upon the big stone that formed a naturalbreastwork.
Seeing that the pair had stopped, the Boers began to press forward, evenafter Ingleborough had fired twice; but the next shot made them pull upshort, open out, and take up position, beginning to return the firethen.
A few minutes later the horses had had a good drink, the bottles werere-filled, and all was ready on the far side of the spruit forcontinuing the flight.
West shouted to his companion, who placed a block of stone about thesize of his head upon the natural breastwork and fired twice, droppingdown directly after and wading to the side of the gully, where he threwhimself upon his breast, drank deeply, and then waded across to rejoinhis companion. Then they were off again at a canter, getting a goodquarter of a mile on their road before the Boers discovered by a carefulflanking approach that they had given up their defence of the spruit anddashed on.
"They'll be after us now at full speed!" said West, as he stood up inhis stirrups gazing back.
"No," said Ingleborough; "they'll stop there, I daresay, for an hour togive their horses water and rest, thinking that they can lull us intothe belief that they have given up the pursuit; and then they'll come onagain, following us steadily so as to trap us as soon as it is dusk."
"I don't think you are right," said West; "but it is of no use to argueabout it. We shall see!"
The day wore on and they saw nothing but the wide-spreading brown veldt,with no sign of the great river, no mountain ridge or other objectfamiliar to Ingleborough during his travels through the country.
"No," he said, in reply to a question from West, "I can't make outanything, only that we are going south-west. The country is so big, yousee. All I can say is that we must be going right. We're making forthe river, and we can't do better. It may be many, many miles awaystill!"
"Well, let's keep on. There's one comfort: the enemy don't seem to beafter us."
"No," said Ingleborough, after a good look back, and speaking verydrily; "they don't seem to be, but I don't trust them. They mean to runus down; but we'll give them their work first."
In this spirit the fugitives rode steadily on hour after hour till theevening came, and then there was nothing for it but to look out for somehalting-place with cover and feed for the ponies.
"We can't keep on without giving them a rest," said Ingleborough; "forwe may have to ride all day to-morrow."
"What?" cried West. "You surely don't think we're so far off still?"
"I don't know anything, lad," replied Ingleborough; "for, as I saidbefore, the country is so big, and it is quite possible that we may havetwo or three days' journey before us yet."
"But food--rest?" faltered West.
"My eyes are wandering everywhere in search of food," repliedIngleborough, "and I keep on hoping to come upon a farmhouse somewherein sight. That will mean food, either given, bought, or taken bythreatening with our rifles. As to the rest, we'll have that when weget into Kimberley."
Night fell without a sign of spruit, pool, or farm; but it was a bright,clear time, with the stars giving them sufficient light to keep on inthe hope that was growing desperate that they must soon come upon somestream. But they hoped in vain, and the ponies at last began to growsluggish and indisposed to proceed whenever some patch of bush wasreached in the midst of the dried-up expanse.
"There, it's of no use," said Ingleborough; "we may as well let the poorbrutes browse upon such green shoots as they can find! They'll be allthe fresher for the halt. As for us, we must feed upon hope and theremembrance of the good things we have had in the past."
"Don't let's give up yet!" replied West. "It is cool travelling, andevery mile brings us nearer to safety."
"Very well; but we shall find it hard work to get the ponies along."
So they rode on, with their mounts growing more and more sluggish for awhile, and then West suddenly uttered an exclamation.
"What is it?" cried Ingleborough. "Your nag?"
"Yes; he has suddenly begun to step out briskly."
"So has mine," said Ingleborough. "It's all right. Give yours hishead--they sniff water. I half fancy I can smell it myself; the aircomes so cool and moist."
Just then one of the ponies snorted, and the pair broke into a canterwhich lasted for about a quarter of a mile, when they dropped into awalk, for the ground was encumbered with stones; but almost directly apleasant refreshing odour of moist greenery saluted the riders'nostrils, and then the ground was soft and yielding beneath the ponies'hoofs, then rough and gravelly, and the next minute the riders weregazing down at the reflected stars, which became blurred as the poniessplashed into water and then lowered their muzzles to drink.
"A great pool?" said West.
"No; hark!"
West listened, to hear the rippling trickle of running water.
"A river!" he said excitedly.
"Yes, and it may be the Vaal. If not, it will be one of the streamsrunning into it."
"And we must keep on this side and follow it down."
"Well, no," said Ingleborough, with a little laugh; "seeing that theBoers are after us, I think it will be safer to follow it down from theother side."
"Very well! What shall we do--get down and wade?"
"I would rather keep dry," replied Ingleborough. "Let's wait till theponies have drunk sufficient, and then try if it is safe enough for themto walk across. I think it will be, for you can hear how shallow itis!"
"Yes," said West; "close in here; but what is it farther out?"
He stood up in his stirrups and followed the reflection of the stars forsome distance.
"It's a big river, Ingle," he said, "and it would be madness to try andford it in the dark."
"Very well; let's get a good drink as soon as the ponies have had theirshare, and then follow the river down till we come upon a place wherethey can graze and we can rest."
This plan was followed out, the ponies being hobbled at a spot wherethere seemed to be plenty of feed, while amongst the dense bushes andrugged stones which barred their way a snug resting-place was soonfound, where, after cautiously making their way down to the river bankand allaying their thirst, the fugitives lay down to rest, listening tothe sound of falling water not far away. Then, in perfect forgetfulnessof Boers, despatches, and all the dangers of their way, both droppedinto the deep sleep produced by exertion--a sleep which lasted till thesun was once more beginning to flood the earth with light.