“Can’t you manage it?” he said; for Ingleborough had come to a stand some twenty feet below.
“No!” was the reply. “My right foot has slipped into a crack here, and is wedged tight. Don’t wait for me! Go on, only let’s have all the news as soon as you can!”
West’s first idea was to lower himself down; but, feeling that one was enough to find out all they wanted, he obeyed his comrade’s orders and went on climbing upon all-fours what was now an easy slope with plenty of cover in the shape of bushes and huge blocks of stone.
A few minutes brought him to the top of the kopje, whence he had a clear view of all that was going on, while the firing was now general.
He saw at a glance that the Boers had not attempted to hold the natural stronghold, for upon discovering their numbers, the half-troop of lancers, some thirty in number, had begun to retire, and the Boers, of whom there seemed to be about a hundred and fifty, were streaming out in two directions, evidently with the intention of surrounding and taking them prisoners, both sides keeping up a steady fire the while. West stopped no longer than was necessary to satisfy himself that the Boers were getting rapidly farther and farther from the kopje, and then hurried back down the slope to the top of the gully, where, leaning over, he found Ingleborough busy at work, apparently driving his rifle-barrel down into a crevice. “Ahoy!” cried West. “Hallo there! What news, lad?”
“Small party of lancers in full retreat, and the Boers very strong in pursuit. They’re a mile away now.”
“Then we shall get no help from our people; but, if they are taking the enemy away, that’s all we want. Coming down?”
“Yes,” said West, lowering himself over the edge very cautiously, for it was terribly dangerous work, and Ingleborough shivered and hung back, watching him till his companion reached the ledge where he had been checked.
“Hah!” sighed Ingleborough; “that’s better. I’ve been wishing for the last five minutes that the stream below was ten feet deep!”
“Why?” panted West, who was breathless from his exertions.