HAPTER EIGHT.

THE BATTLE OF GLENCOE.

When Jack came down to breakfast on the morning following the departure
of Mrs Hunter and Wilfred for Pietermaritzburg, there was only one
vacant place in the cramped little dining-room of the hotel, and on
taking his seat he found himself face to face with a young fellow some
three years older than himself, who was dressed in civilian
riding-costume which closely resembled the khaki uniform worn by
officers.

He was a jovial-looking fellow, with clean-shaven face, laughing eyes,
and a head which was covered with closely-cropped red hair.

"Good morning!" he said, as Jack sat down. "It's not much of a
breakfast this morning; but then what can you expect with so many of
these lusty officers about. They've eaten us out of house and home.
Well, they'll fight all the better. By the way, what are you?
Volunteer, Natal carbineer, or civilian? Excuse my asking, but I am a
stranger here, and am anxious to get information."

"Then you have come to the wrong man this time," Jack answered with a
smile. "I only arrived a day ago, and know simply nothing."

"In that case I dare say I shall be able to teach you then. My name's
O'Farnel, Lord Edward O'Farnel, commonly known as `Farney'. If we're
both strangers we had better look round together."

"Delighted, I'm sure!" Jack exclaimed. "I was wondering what I should
do with myself. I only came through from Johnny's Burg a few days ago,
and before that I had ridden over from Kimberley; so you can understand
I am a perfect stranger here."

"That was a long ride," said Lord O'Farnel. "Tell me about it, and what
kind of an experience you had coming down. By all accounts some of the
refugees had a terrible time of it."

Jack at once complied, and before the meal was over found himself on
most friendly terms with the young lord who sat opposite him.

"Now tell me something about yourself," he said, when he had told
O'Farnel how he had come down from Johannesburg, and how he had spent
his time since arriving in Africa.

"Something about myself, is it?" replied his companion. "Well, there's
very little. I'm twenty-two or thereabouts, Irish, and have no
profession. Away back in good old Ireland I've a castle and a mansion,
and any amount of acres which bring me in about twopence halfpenny a
year. Ah, it's a fine place, and very good to look at, but ruination to
keep up! I said `Good-bye' to it three years ago, and since then I