“Certainly not; for two reasons: our horses could not keep on without rest, and we should certainly be seen by the Boers who are crowding over the Vaal.” West was silent again.
“Hang it all!” cried Ingleborough. “Not so much as a grunt now! Look here, can you propose a better plan?”
“I don’t know about better, but I was thinking quite differently from you.”
“Let’s have your way then.”
“Perhaps you had better not. You have had some experience in your rides out on excursions with Mr Norton, and I daresay your plan is a better one than mine.”
“I don’t know,” said Ingleborough shortly. “Let’s hear yours.”
“But—”
“Let’s—hear—yours,” cried the other imperatively, and his voice sounded so harsh that West felt annoyed, and he began:
“Well, I thought of doing what you propose at first.”
“Naturally: it seems the likeliest way.”