that he
had a complete kit to sell, one of the men having been killed on the way
up to Ladysmith in a railway accident.

The clothes were just the right size for Jack, and he quickly became
possessed of them.

"There," said Roper, as he handed them to Jack, "it's not exactly
correct, you know. These should be sold by auction in the regiment.
But no one wants them, and you have paid more than they would have
fetched at a sale."

"Now we want to know whether you can help us to see some of the fun,"
said O'Farnel. "We will volunteer for anything so long as it does not
tie us down."

"Then I should advise your going farther north," said Roper. "Here you
are not likely to come in for much, for the Free Staters compel us to
keep on the watch. But General Symons is at Dundee, up towards the
north of Natal, about thirty miles away, and if you go up there you are
certain to see some fighting. He has 4000 men, and he will strike the
first big blow. Look here, Farney, I'll give you a note to a fellow I
know in the Hussars up there, and if there's to be a battle, he will see
that you both have a share in it."

"Thanks, that will suit us capitally!" said Lord O'Farnel. "We'll start
as soon as you can give me the note, for it would be an awful
disappointment to arrive too late."

A few moments afterwards they returned to their hotel, where Jack
discarded his shabby tweed suit and donned the khaki.

"There you are now," said Farney, looking quizzically at him. "You look
just like the ordinary `Tommy', and will do. My word, though, I thought
what a quiet-looking fellow you were before; but now, what with the
rifle and bayonet and that broad-brimmed hat, you look a regular
mountebank! But come along. There is nothing to keep us, and we may as
well start north at once."

Having paid their bills, Jack and his new friend, Farney, saddled up
their ponies and took the road for Glencoe.

It was a long ride, but the road passed through some wonderful bits of
rugged scenery, and about half-way up they fell in with an ammunition
column, with a small escort, and an officer who proved a perfect mine of
information.

"Oh, yes!" he said, when Farney asked him, "there's going to be a big
battle up this way within a very short time. We are stationed at Dundee
to check the invasion. We cannot stop it, for I suppose there must be
thirty to forty thousand Boers marching south, besides others
threatening our communications with