ht for the camp and leave you and the child there, it will
be too late then to attempt a rescue, and to-morrow will settle their
fate."

"Then I can tell you what to do," exclaimed Mrs Robb. "I will lead you
to the hill where your friends are to be tied, and will accompany you
nearly to the top. Then you must help the prisoners, and as soon as
they are free, we will all strike straight across for the camp, and
endeavour to pass through the pickets."

"Good! That is the very ticket!" Guy cried excitedly. "We cannot find
this hill without you, and as we are all bound for Ladysmith, we will go
together."

"Yes, it's the best way," Jack agreed. "Are you ready to start now,
Mrs Robb?"

"Yes, perfectly," the plucky English lady replied.

"Then give me the child. I will carry him."

Mrs Robb placed the sleeping infant in Jack's strong arms, and,
snatching up a small bundle, blew out the candle, and led the way out of
the house, followed by her two stalwart protectors.

It was still intensely dark, so by a hurried arrangement Jack and Guy
each linked an arm in one of Mrs Robb's, and thus, guided by her and
helping her over the rough ground, they pressed forward at their fastest
pace, knowing well that there was much to be done ere morning.

For an hour they trudged on, and then suddenly halted, and hastily
concealed themselves in a small copse of trees. They were barely in
time, for a moment later some twenty Boers rode slowly by, making no
sound on the grassy plain.

"Those are the men who were told off to tie them to the guns," whispered
Jack. "At least I expect that is who they are, and if so we are lucky
once more."

"I'm sure that the man riding in front is the Boer who was in charge of
the two prisoners," Guy answered. "Come along, Jack. They have gone on
sufficiently far now."

"No, not yet. We will not ruin everything for the sake of a few
minutes, Guy. Let them get well ahead and then we will move on. How
near are we to the hill now, Mrs Robb?"

"Quite close, Mr Somerton," the English lady answered. "If I guide you
on about three hundred yards farther you will be at the foot, and there
I will stop and wait for you. How shall I know that it is you when you
return?"

"I will whistle like this," Jack answered, giving a low whistle. "Of
course, if you hear firing, or any row going on on top, you will know
that we have caught a tartar, and that our hopes of reaching the camp
are over. In