“Seems a stupid sort of dodge!” said the latter at last; “but I thought it better to let them think we were hyaenas than human beings.”
“But we had a narrow escape of being shot!” replied West.
“Yes, and escaped. If they had taken us for human beings we should have been either shot or taken prisoners. Now we’re safe!”
“Safe, with this bright moon shining ready to show every movement?”
“Then why move until we are safe, lad? The enemy will not come near us so long as they think we are dead animals.”
“But if they make out what we are—how then?”
“How then?” said Ingleborough, with a low sarcastic laugh. “Why, then they’ll behave like Boers, and come and see if there’s anything worth taking in our pockets. They are sweet people! But wait a bit. As soon as they are farther off we’ll continue our journey.”
“Without our horses?”
“Yes; poor beasts! I’m sorry they’re gone; but daybreak will show us that we are close to Mafeking, I feel sure. We’ll crawl on as far as we can, and then get up and run for our lives.”
“Yes; but you know how clever they are at bringing down a running buck!”