t,
entered a low subterranean chamber, lighted by a spluttering candle
stuck into the neck of a bottle standing upon a table in the centre. It
was Tom Salter's sanctum, in which he and three others lived and
sheltered from the Boer shells, thousands of which had fallen into the
beleaguered town since the commencement of the siege.

"Now, put your traps down there and have a wash," said Tom, indicating a
bucket of water and a towel; "then I will take you along to Frank and
his girl. Halloo! Come in!" he shouted, as a knock was heard just
outside the chamber.

The next moment Wilfred Hunter burst in, and rushed up to Jack. The two
lads shook hands warmly.

"Back again, Jack? I'm glad to see you, old chap!" Wilfred cried
excitedly. "Why, what a whopping big fellow you've got; as broad as a
house, and taller, I am sure. But come along, I must not forget my
message. The Russels want to see you, and ordered me to bring you along
immediately. Ah, you lucky dog! I'd give anything to be in your shoes,
for she's the best and sweetest girl that I or any other fellow ever set
eyes on!"

Jack blushed red with pleasure, and his chest swelled and his heart beat
with pride and hope, for, young though he was, since he had met Eileen
Russel his thoughts had dwelt continuously upon her. Had he been at
home, perhaps it would have been ridiculous folly; but for months now he
had been doing man's work, and doing it well too,--work which required
strength and pluck, and which moreover brought him at any hour of the
day face to face with a sudden death. No wonder then that, sobered down
from the usual impulsive rashness of a boy, our hero had thought
seriously of Eileen. Many a time, as he lay in Pretoria suffering from
his wound, had he wondered how she was, and whether she ever gave a
thought to him. Sometimes he felt certain she did, and then at others
the fear that it was some other--someone older and more of a man than
he--turned his heart sick, and made the hopes which were now beginning
to gain ground disappear in an instant. But they would return again,
and as he had ridden towards Kimberley that day they had been surging
through his heart, and he had determined to see Eileen, if she were yet
alive, and ask the question for himself.

As if in a dream he sluiced his head and hands with water, and tidied
his hair before a small, angular piece of cracked glass, a process which
he had scarcely troubled about for many