Part 16 (2/2)

Jack was close to Farney, and as, like the mounted infantry, neither possessed a sword, they had fixed their bayonets on their rifles, and holding the latter close to the lock, with the bayonet well advanced, prepared to use the ene men out of their saddles But all the tiht, and Jack and his friend were using their bayonets to advantage It was a wild tenthat time Jack never knew Almost before he had expected it, Boers rose up in front of hirazed his forehead and sent his hat flying, while another s about it at the ti him well in hand, he leant forward in the saddle prepared to act at any e, bearded Boer stood in his way, half-hidden by a boulder, and, waiting till Jack was aler What happened to the bullet Jack never knew; probably it went beneath his arht was over, but the concussion and flash of light almost blinded him Next iven aled his bayonet into the Boer's body

Then he dashed on and set his pony full-tilt at three of the eneazines into the troopers One he despatched with his bayonet, a second was knocked senseless by Prince's shoulder, and the third was cut down a second later by aclose behind Jack

But ed to reach their ponies, and were galloping away to join their friends; and after theallant little body of horsemen spurred, determined to teach them a lesson if they could only reach theround, a line of fire spurted out from some bushes, and Lord O'Farnel, who had kept close to Jack, was thrown senseless to the ground, a bullet having killed his pony Jack at once pulled up and disround with one leg twisted suspiciously beneath hilance told Jack that it was broken, and that it would be i had been done As a prelihtened the limb out, and then turned Farney on his back and opened his collar That done, he sprinkled so it from his friend's bottle, and looked round to see what had becoed

They were out of sight, and it looked as though the two young felloere alone, but the phit, phit of two bullets flying past his head, and the loud thuds and spurts of dust which followed, told hihbourhood and were firing at hih he searched all round He and his friend lay in a wide hollow about half a mile across, and close to an isolated patch of boulders which cropped up in the centre

”There are soht Jack, ”and if I a to get hit or taken if I can help it”

Deterht for it, and protect his unconscious friend, he took Farney by the shoulders and dragged hiently as possible till he was in a spot with an almost complete barrier of boulders round him Then he called Prince and ordered him to lie dohich the obedient animal did at once

A few moments later Jack hi his own and Farney's rifle, and in laying cartridges close at hand ”That's all right,” he ood account of etting so closer tohis body sheltered as much as possible, he rapidly piled up pieces of rock till there was a complete breastwork round himself and Farney Then he sprinkledthat he was recovering consciousness, repeated it till his companion opened his eyes, looked about him in bewilderment, and then smiled serenely at Jack

”That you, Jack?” he asked ”What's wrong with ? It feels quite dead; and where are the other fellows?”

”Oh, the others have gone on, Farney!” Jack replied, ”and as far as I canis broken somewhere above the knee We're here alone, old chap, and about a dozen Boers are sitting down firing at us But they can keep that up all day without doing us any harular fort here”

”Then you'll have to defend it alone,” replied Farney, with a groan

”I'h! Lend me that Mauser of yours If they try to rush us, I shall be able to use that to soround all this time, handed his pistol to his friend, and then raised his head carefully and looked round As he did so he sahite flag flying froe of the hollow He at once tied his own handkerchief to his rifle and waved it Then he stood up and advanced to

”You are surrounded,” the latter said, ”and so are all your comrades

Lay down your arms and surrender at once, or ill not be responsible for your life”

”Surrender!” said Jack in reply ”I shall certainly not do that yet

You have been firing atme

Let me advise you to clear off, or else you will find yourselves prisoners long before you take lish are close at hand and will be here soon You had better get away as quick as you can”

”Ah! ill see to that,” the Boer answered caler, and if at the end of that tiive ”

”Very well,” said Jack coolly; ”but I should advise you to leave ave an impatient stamp with his foot and turned round brusquely, while Jack made his way back to his friend

”They have called upon me to surrender,” he said, ”and I have refused, and advised theiveby then they will attack”