h he will never forget. But there are the others too. They will
have a score against you. Altogether, Jack, I think you will be wise to
leave us and get back to England as quickly as you can."

"You say there will be trouble soon, Mr Hunter?" Jack asked, after a
few moments' silence, during which he considered what he should do in
the circumstances.

"Yes, I firmly believe there will be an awful struggle between England
and the Boers before many weeks are past," replied Mr Hunter earnestly.

"Then, if that is the case," said Jack decisively, "we are likely to get
the worst of it for a time, and every man in South Africa will be
wanted."

"That is precisely what I think, Jack. Some, no doubt, would scoff at
me as a pessimist. But I speak from some experience and many years'
knowledge of the Boers. England, it is my firm belief, will be aghast
at the huge armaments and the large force opposed to her, and she will
require every man that can be found able and willing to shoulder a
rifle."

"Then I shall stay, Mr Hunter," Jack said quietly. "I've no great wish
to get back to a crammer's at present. A few months later will do just
as well, so I shall wait and see what happens. There is nothing I
should like better than to take part in a campaign. Not necessarily
against the Boers, for some of them seem good fellows, but in some war
alongside of British troops. Meanwhile, if the Transvaal has become too
dangerous a place for me to stay in, I can easily run down to Kimberley.
A few weeks amongst the mines would be excellent fun."

"Well, Jack, you must do just as you wish," answered Mr Hunter. "If
you stay in the country, you will do well to go to Kimberley, or one
dark night you will be having a bullet flying after you, for the Boers
are not apt to stick at trifles. They are men whom it is not well to
play with, and the code of honour is not so high amongst them as to
prevent their murdering one who possesses a secret likely to endanger
their future plans."

"I should think not, indeed, Father," chimed in Wilfred. "Look at the
mean tricks they played in the last war--firing on white flags and
ambulances, and saving their own skins by running away. You have often
told me how they treated our soldiers, and everyone here knows how they
bully the natives."

"They are a curious and, I believe, unique race," replied Mr Hunter;
"and if you two lads care to listen I will tell you what little I know
about them