you would have to get to the nearest station. But I can leave
that to you, Jack. You have an old head upon those broad shoulders of
yours."

"I'll do my best, never fear, Mr Hunter," Jack exclaimed. "And now
about starting. I suppose we had better do so at once. Mrs Hunter can
ride Vic, and Wilfred and I will take it in turns to get on Prince's
back."

"Yes, I think you had better go at once, my lad. Mrs Hunter is ready,
and Tom Thumb carried over a hamper of provisions to Ted Ellison's last
night. All I shall ask you to carry is this bag of notes and gold-dust.
Wilfred has another, and Mrs Hunter a third. I shall stay here to
look after the house and property, and to keep an eye on the mines. I
have already asked for a permit, and ought to get it, as I am one of the
oldest residents here."

"By the way, Mr Hunter," said Jack suddenly, "this is the 12th. Has
the war begun yet? I suppose it has, as these Boer fellows seem to have
been in readiness long ago.

"Yes, it has already opened with a sharp affair with an armoured train
below Mafeking, and I am sorry to say our boys, under Captain Nesbit,
V.C., were taken prisoners. The news has only just reached us, but it
appears they made a gallant stand before they were taken, and accounted
for a few of the Boers. They were running up from Kimberley to
Mafeking, and suddenly came upon a part where the rails had been broken
up. It was a regular trap, for the enemy had their guns already laid
for it, and used them freely. Well, it is just the opening incident of
a long campaign, that is all."

By now it was quite dark, and after a tender farewell from her husband,
Mrs Hunter and the two lads, Jack and Wilfred, slipped round to the
stables.

A few minutes later the door was opened silently, and they issued out on
to the veldt, Mrs Hunter and Wilfred mounted respectively upon Vic and
Prince, while Jack walked alongside.

An hour and a half later Ted Ellison's farm was reached. The heavy
spring-cart was already standing in the yard, with the hamper stowed
inside, and it took very little time to put the team in and hook up the
traces.

"Now, Wilfred," said Jack, who had all this time been thinking how best
to arrange matters so as to ensure their safe arrival in Natal, "you hop
up there and take the reins. When you get into the road, keep the team
at a steady trot, and if anyone shouts to you in Dutch, answer them, and
keep rattling on. You know their l