s companion
went rolling on the floor. But the other cue fell heavily upon his
shoulder, and caused him considerable pain. A moment later he had
snatched it out of Piet's hand, and, breaking it across his knee,
clutched the bully by his collar, and belaboured him till he howled for
mercy. Then Jack let go, and, standing in front of him, waited to see
what would happen, while the Englishmen approached nearer and looked on
silently.

"How dare you?" the Boer panted, scowling angrily at Jack. "If it were
not that you are only a boy I would break you into pieces. Who asked
you to interfere?"

Piet Maartens clenched his fist and, approaching close to Jack, shook it
in his face, while his comrade picked himself up from the floor, and
looked as if on the point of rushing in again. But Wilfred at once
stood by his friend's side, and the Boer retired to the other side of
the room. Meanwhile Jack never moved a step, but, leaning against the
table, laughed scornfully.

"Who asked you to ill-treat my friend?" he cried. "He had not injured
you, and you deliberately poured a glass of water on his head. For that
I gave you a ducking, and when you struck me with your cue I thrashed
you with it. Now you threaten to knock me to pieces. Don't let the
fact of my age prevent you. I am quite ready."

Jack faced Piet Maartens coolly, and proceeded to divest himself of his
coat.

"Now," he said sternly, stepping forward till he was within a foot of
Piet, "put up your fists, and I will endeavour to teach you to keep your
tongue to yourself, and to be careful in future when you speak of my
countrymen."

Jack squared his shoulders, and put himself into a position of defence,
while the onlookers cheered him loudly.

But Piet Maartens had had enough. His eyes dropped before Jack's
determined gaze, and, muttering a fierce oath, he turned on his heel and
left the saloon, followed by his companion.

Jack at once slipped on his coat, and, nodding to all, went out with
Wilfred and returned at once to the house.

"By Jove, Jack," exclaimed his friend enthusiastically, "you have done
what no one else has been able to accomplish, and I admire your pluck,
old chap! But take care of yourself. You have made an enemy of an
unscrupulous brute, who will never forget that you have defied him, and
made a fool of him. Well, I'm glad you did it; and there is one thing,
we shall see less of him at the store. He was always popping in to
s