s no
one about."

"I'm ready," Guy whispered back, and, dropping from the window, was
standing close at Jack's side in a twinkling.

Taking him by the sleeve Jack led him along close to the wall till he
reached his former post, when he placed a bandolier and a rifle in his
hands.

"Slip the belt on, Guy," he said shortly; "we have no time to lose."

"What! Where did you get these, Jack?" Guy asked hoarsely.

"Stole them, old chap!" Jack chuckled. "I stole them from the
guard-house a few minutes ago. Steady, man! What are you doing?"

The last hurried exclamation followed the accidental dropping of Guy's
rifle, which clattered loudly on the pavement.

Instantly the two sentries became alert, and one of them called out
harshly: "Wie gaat daar?"

"Come along! Quick!" Jack whispered, "Follow me! We must get out of
this at once."

Darting down the street they came to a turning, and waited there to see
what would happen. As they did so, the sentry who had challenged walked
quickly towards the hospital, evidently determined to solve the cause of
the mysterious sound. Finding nothing, he looked up at the windows, and
then looked in at the open one and asked if anyone inside had heard
anything. The reply was unsatisfactory, for he at once shouted that
something was wrong, and called to the hospital attendant to bring a
light. At the same moment the men off guard emerged hurriedly from the
hut, and by simple force of habit went to the rack for their rifles.

"Someone has taken two of our guns and bandoliers," one of them shouted
in the Boer tongue. "What is wrong, Paul? Are there thieves about, or
is it that weak-hearted Englishman, Guy Richardson, who is trying to
escape?"

What the answer was Jack and Guy did not stay to hear. Guy hastily
interpreted what had been said, and realising that their flight had
already been discovered, the two darted off down the street in the
direction of the station. They could still hear excited shouts behind
them, but these soon died away.

"Let us stop here for a minute," said Jack breathlessly, when they were
close to the station. "Now, what is to be done? We must get out of
Pretoria as soon as possible."

"Listen! what is that?" Guy exclaimed eagerly. "It is an engine in the
station with steam up. What luck if a train is about to leave! Let us
make a rush for it."

"Yes, and be collared at once," muttered Jack. "No, Guy, we must be
cool about it. Tha