cer, who was
passing at that moment.

"Lucas Meyer has occupied Talana Hill," was the reply, "and he is
shelling us with six guns. Wait a few minutes! Our batteries are
galloping out, and you will see how soon they will polish those beggars
off!"

Hastily slinging their belts across their shoulders and picking up their
rifles and blankets, Jack and his friend saddled their ponies, which had
spent the night close by, and cantered out of the camp after the British
guns, which had already taken up a position.

"That was a close one," exclaimed Jack calmly a moment later, as a shell
whizzed just above his head and plunged into the ground behind, where it
failed to explode. "A foot lower and it would have knocked my head to
pieces!"

"Ah, there's many a slip!" laughed Farney light-heartedly. "Look at our
fellows! They are giving our friends over there a good peppering."

Jack turned to watch the British guns, of which there were twelve, and
then directed the field-glasses which he had purchased in Ladysmith at
the heights of the Talana Hill. There he could see six cannon belching
forth sharp spirts of flame, but no smoke, for the latest ammunition was
being used.

As he looked, the British batteries spoke out, and the reports were
followed by a succession of blinding flashes close by the Boer guns.

For twenty minutes the storm of shell continued to fall, and by that
time the enemy had ceased to fire, and their guns stood unattended.

By now the troops had poured out of the camp, and while some remained
behind in case of an attack, the King's Royal Rifles, a gallant corps
commonly known as the 60th, the Dublin Fusiliers, and the Royal Irish
Fusiliers, both regiments composed of stalwart, dashing Irishmen, fell
in on the bugle-call, and formed up for the attack. Smart, bold fellows
they all looked too, clad in their khaki uniforms, with belts, helmets,
and buttons all of the same mud-colour. And true heroes they were soon
to prove themselves, for the bugles now rang out the "Advance", and in
open order they set off for Talana Hill across a wide, sweeping plain,
almost completely devoid of cover, and shortly to be swept by a
murderous hail of Mauser bullets directed by unseen hands.

At this moment another Boer commando was reported advancing from the
left, and the Leicester Regiment and a battery of guns was sent against
them.

"By George, it looks as though we meant to clear that hill!" exclaimed
Farney