Ladysmith. But we are bound to make
a stand somewhere, just to show the beggars that they cannot have things
all their own way.

"I hear all the enemy came over the border on the evening of 11th
October, and on Saturday they were at Newcastle. Since then they have
been pushing slowly south, while hundreds of wagons have followed them.
They mean business, do those Boers, and we shall have a pretty hard job
to turn them out of Natal when reinforcements reach us."

"Then you think we shall have to retire?" said Jack.

"I'm sure," replied the officer. "Joubert is as cunning as a fox, and a
clever soldier. He is marching in three columns. One came through
Botha's Pass, close below Majuba. The centre one has passed through
Newcastle, and the third, on our right, is marching down the eastern
border, and will no doubt make a dash to cut our communications. They
are too many for us. We shall have a go at them, hammer them, and then
retire to Ladysmith, where we shall entrench ourselves and wait for
reinforcements, which will take some weeks to reach us.

"I suppose you fellows are going up as volunteers? There are lots more
like you. If you have never been under fire, you will have that
experience before long. It's not so bad after all. Keep cool, and
take, advantage of every scrap of cover. Keep an eye overhead, too, if
you can. It is possible to dodge a shell, and the farther you can get
away from it the better."

It was late on the evening of 19th October when Jack and Farney reached
the British tents at Craigside Camp, between Dundee and Glencoe, and
close against Talana Hill, which was to be the scene of the next day's
battle.

A few enquiries soon brought them to the Hussar quarters, and having
introduced themselves to Roper's friend, by means of his note, they were
both able to get a shake-down in a tent near by for the night, as well
as a good meal.

They had had a long and tiring ride, and were soon asleep, wrapped in
the blankets which each one had carried strapped behind his saddle.

Just as daylight dawned on the following morning they were startled from
their sleep by a succession of loud reports, followed in a few seconds
by the screaming of several shells overhead and by an explosion close at
hand.

"By Jove, they've started already, so we're in the nick of time!"
exclaimed Jack, jumping up and rushing outside the tent, where he was
joined by Farney. "What has happened?" he asked an offi