with his long tramp, a horn
was sounded, and hosts of men flocked towards him, and, gathering in a
circle round him, listened while Colonel Baden-Powell--affectionately
known as B.-P. by his men--questioned him.

A stiff glass of brandy made him feel quite fresh again, and, sitting
down on a box at the colonel's invitation, Jack detailed his news and
delivered his despatch. That done, he was hurried off by a number of
the town volunteers to an underground cell built close behind a parapet
of sand-bags, and there given a couple of blankets to lie on. He was
tired out by his long march, and in a few moments was asleep.

When he woke again the afternoon was far advanced. Rising from his bed,
he crawled out of the cell and found a young fellow busily tending some
pans suspended over a blazing fire.

"Oh, there you are at last!" the latter exclaimed cheerfully. "We've
been dying to hear all your news, but have had to wait patiently for you
to wake up. Can I do anything for you?"

"Yes, if you could tell me where I can obtain a bucket of water and a
makeshift for a towel I should be obliged," answered Jack cheerfully.
"I haven't had a wash for three days."

"Oh, that's nothing!" the other answered, with a gay laugh. "It's
nearly three weeks since I had a shave, and when I got a look at myself
in a bit of glass yesterday I nearly had a fit. Such a fright I look
with this beard! But we're all the same, that's one comfort. But you
want some water! You'll find some behind that house over there. Keep
your eyes open as you go, and if you hear the horn sound make a bolt for
this bomb-proof cell. We always keep a fellow on watch, and as soon as
he sees the smoke from the Boers' guns he sounds his horn and we all run
for shelter. It generally gives us plenty of time to get under cover.
But sometimes some poor chap is caught."

Jack thanked the volunteer for his information, and strolled across to
the house. There was a pump and trough behind it, and, stripping off
his coat and shirt, he enjoyed a thorough rinse. He had already
borrowed a towel, and on returning he obtained a small piece of comb and
the corner of a splintered looking-glass, and made his hair tidy. Then
he stood outside the cell and chatted with the volunteer who had first
spoken to him, and asked him to tell him what had occurred at Mafeking.

"Oh, we've had pretty lively times, I can tell you, Somerton!" the young
fellow exclaimed jovially. "O