rness in his tone. "Besides, it'll be such a joke on good old
Greenoak when he gets back, to find I've flown."

"Where is Mr Greenoak now?" asked Hazel. "Isn't he here?"

"No. He's away on some secret service."

"Something to help other people, I suppose," rejoined the girl. "He
lives for that."

There was just a little dimming of Dick Selmes' golden vista. Was Hazel
going to recommence booming Greenoak? She had never seemed to tire of
that at Haakdoornfontein. Then he felt thoroughly ashamed of himself.

"I should think he did live for that," declared Dick, heartily. "He
saved my life twice since we crossed the Kei. Do you know, I was twice
captured by the Kafirs, and the rum part of it was, it came off before
the actual war began; but they'd have done for me all the same, as sure
as I sit here--and that in a precious unpleasant manner--if it hadn't
been for Greenoak. But it's something of a yarn, and must keep till
there's time to tell it. Shall I go and see after your inspanning, Mrs
Waybridge?"

"No. Go and see after your own kit, that'll save time. Only, don't
make it bigger than you can help, because the cart isn't a Cobb and Co.
coach."

"Will a flannel shirt and a cartridge shell be overweight?" said Dick,
slily.

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE.

A MISSING LINK.

It is safe to say that no more light-hearted unit among Her Majesty's
subjects existed than Dick Selmes as he rode out that day to the
Waybridges' farm.

Here he was, suddenly and unexpectedly called upon to undergo a wholly
delightful sojourn once more beneath the same roof with this girl who
had held his thoughts during the past three months. And now he was
resolved to bring things to a head, and somehow he thought he had no
reason to despair of doing so. Had he been near enough to catch what
was working in the mind of one of the occupants of the Cape cart--which
he was not, for his horse, fresh and "beany" from stable confinement and
diet, would not be held in to the more sober, jog-trot pace of a
vehicle--he might have thought so still more.

In her first glance at him Hazel had decided that, whatever it was that
she had found wanting in him before, had now been supplied as though it
were the missing link of a chain. The experiences he had been through
since their last meeting had hardened and strengthened Dick Selmes in
every way. He had taken part in more than one battle, and had undergone
perils such as had fallen to the