t here is Father. Ask him, and he
will tell you all about it."

"Well, Jack, getting along nicely, are you?" exclaimed the latter
heartily. "And you want to know how it was we were attacked by those
ruffians? It's very simple. I have come over from South Africa for a
holiday, and to see the old home. My wife and Wilfred came too, and
during our stay here I have managed to combine business and pleasure. I
brought over some diamonds, and on the day you came so opportunely to
our aid I had been to a stone merchant in the city, and was returning
with all those he had not bought from me; I should say some fifteen
thousand pounds' worth. It would have been a good haul if they had
managed to get away with the bag. No doubt they knew all about me, and
had tracked me all the way from the hotel. But they made a little
mistake. You see in my younger days I had to rough it pretty well, and
of recent years, while living in the Transvaal, life has not been
altogether smooth. Every Boer's hand there is against the Englishman,
Uitlanders as they call us, and so one has to be particularly wary.

"Immediately I caught sight of those rascals I guessed their game, but I
can tell you, my lad, it would have been all U P if it hadn't been for
you and the whistle. Well, we came out of it pretty comfortably, save
for your fractured thigh, and as soon as you are fit to go out those
fellows will be tried and, I trust, will get heavily sentenced.

"By the way, my boy, have you thought about the future? You know it
will be at least three months before that leg of yours is really strong
again; at least that is what the surgeon says."

"No, I haven't given it a thought, Mr Hunter. I suppose I shall go
home to the Grange for a month or so, and then return to the crammer's.
Not that that would be much good, for I cannot possibly go up for the
next exam. I haven't done nearly enough reading, and should certainly
get ploughed if I attempted it."

"Why not come out to Africa with us?" said Mr Hunter earnestly. "We go
as soon as those ruffians are tried, and we should be good companions on
the way. Besides, it would be a splendid `pick-me-up' for you; you
would get the air on the voyage, and still be able to keep your leg in
splints, or whatever is found necessary."

"Mr Hunter, it's awfully kind of you, and I should enjoy it immensely!"
Jack suddenly blurted out, and then stopped abruptly as the thought of
the expense entailed flash