head and carried
away a good portion of the roof.

Jack immediately pushed his head up through the trap, and as the Maxim
had stopped, crawled across the floor, clearing a path through the
scattered woodwork and debris. Then he peered through a small aperture
made by a shell, and looked earnestly across the veldt. As he had
expected, the Boers were advancing, bringing their guns with them.

"They are pushing forward," he cried, "but I fancy they do not mean to
rush us. It looks as though they would shell us again. If they do we
must still keep quiet, for if they attack at close quarters and in
force, a surprise will help us more than anything."

By this time the horsemen were within 600 yards, and here the guns
halted, while the Boers spread out and advanced towards the front of the
little farmhouse. Almost immediately the Hotchkiss opened fire, and
soon after the rattle of the Maxim and the continuous rip, rip of the
bullets overhead told the defenders that it was as yet unsafe to venture
up from their cellar. Jack had already slipped down there, but now,
rifle in hand, with bayonet fixed, he stood close to the ladder, ready
to rush up as soon as the time arrived. A glance at him was sufficient
to show that this young Englishman had firmly made up his mind not to
give in till the last drop of his blood had been shed; and Frank Russel
and Wilfred were evidently determined to back him up through thick and
thin. They were without doubt in a tight corner, and might expect to be
rushed at any moment; but for all that, the dangers they had already
passed through seemed only to have increased their doggedness.

Dressed in corduroy riding-breeches, gaiters, and spurs, and with the
sleeves of his shirt turned up over his elbow, Jack looked fit for any
work. A pipe was in his mouth, and his thin lips encircled the stem
closely with what was next door to a smile, showing that, however young
and inexperienced he might be, Jack was certainly by no means dismayed
at the thought of the coming struggle.

"This is going to be the hottest and stiffest fight of all," he cried,
so that all could hear; "and mind you, it will not do for any one of us
to show so much as a finger. They are coming from the front, and we
three will look after them there, opening fire when they are about sixty
yards away. Some of them who have the pluck will get close up to the
house, and will try to force their way in through the broken walls. I