o Harrismith?" asked Mrs Hunter.
"I have driven along it more than once. We can cross the Vaal by the
drift (ford), and by taking that route shall put the Boers off the
scent."

"That's a capital plan, Mrs Hunter!" cried Jack. "What do you think,
Wilfred?"

"Yes, I quite agree with Mother," Wilfred answered. "The Villiersdorp
road will be the one for us, and once we get into the other state we
shall be comparatively safe from molestation, for the burghers there are
not nearly so bitter against us as are these Transvaallers."

Accordingly the cart was driven off the road to the right, and then
across the veldt in a south-westerly direction. Soon they bumped across
the railway, and before dawn were on the other road. Driving along it a
little way they came to a part which was covered with kopjes, and here,
within easy distance of the road, they made a halt, pulling the cart
into a deep donga (big water-course), where it was completely hidden.
Alongside it they stretched out their mackintoshes on the sodden ground,
and having waited till the day had broken, and satisfied themselves that
no one was about, they lay down and fell asleep.

Three nights later they were in the neighbourhood of Harrismith without
having met with any adventure of note upon the way, and on the following
night they drove past Albertina, where they discarded the cart, leaving
it for the first comer to appropriate, and pushed forward to Van
Reenen's Pass in the Drakenberg mountains. This they knew was already
watched by a force of Free Stater Boers, but they were looking more for
an invasion from Natal than for refugees endeavouring to slip through
from their own country.

Jack scouted ahead, and having found the pass free of men, went back and
informed his companions. Then they pushed on again, Wilfred leading one
of the three horses and riding another, while Mrs Hunter boldly clung
to the back of the third. A pitch-black darkness and heavy rain again
favoured them, and they slipped through the pass and down to the plain
below unchallenged.

Two hours later the welcome hail "Who goes there?" in healthy English,
greeted them, and having shouted back "Friends", they halted and waited
for the cavalry patrol to give them permission to go on.

Soon afterwards they were in Ladysmith, and had found rooms at the
hotel, where their arrival after their long and adventurous drive caused
quite a sensation. But all three were too tired to do much