“Quite right, lad; and they are advancing on our front. Noll, my boy, there is only one thing to be done.”
“What is that?”
“Turn that patch of rocks there into our fort, and hold out till they’ve shot us down, or we’ve shot them, or they’ve made us surrender.”
“What about provisions?”
“Plenty of water,” said Ingleborough coolly, nodding towards the river.
“We’re nearly famished now.”
“Yes, lad! I certainly feel as if I could peck a bit of something if I had the chance. But come, there’s no time for talking. There’s a ready-made fort for us, and the next thing is to get the ponies into cover. I say, I was right! I knew that the enemy would stick doggedly to our trail till they ran us down.”
“Look here!” cried West: “I’m going to crawl to those rocks and try and cover you while you follow with the ponies.”
“No need,” replied Ingleborough; “the poor things have eaten till they can eat no more, and they’ll follow us right enough. Let’s try and get under cover before we are seen.”
West hesitated for a moment, for the thought arose that the Boer party might ride away and try to find a ford, but a glance showed him that in the brief period which had passed since he awoke and saw them the enemy were much nearer, and, following his companion’s example, he began to crawl on all-fours towards the clump of rocks pointed out, the horses quietly following them.