Part 20 (1/2)
”'Get away from here at once,' Father shouted back, as soon as he had heard what they had to say 'I am a British subject, and shall be to the end None of your republics or presidents for me! Clear off, all of you; and if one of you dares to attehed at his threat, and atteood as his word, and shot one of them at once The others poured a volley into the house, and one of the bullets passed through the wall and wounded Father in the shoulder Then the Boers an to force the door open, and as we knew that they would have little mercy for Father, Tim and I hid him away in a cellar down belohich he had constructed to keep stores and ammunition in
Then ered the trap-door and placed the table over it
”They broke in a few ht he had escaped through theThen they forced ht they would shoot Tim or myself, the leader fell dead and the others ran for their lives”
”Well, you are safe for the present at least,” answered Jack ”Sit down there, Eileen, and rest yourself We will get your father up again
Those felloill not be co back yet awhile, so that we need not fear a surprise Now, Wilfred and Tim, lend a hand and pull up this trap”
A minute later the table had been re down into the cellar, Ti the la upon his back, andfeeble efforts to rise, for the reports of Jack's rifle had roused him from unconsciousness
”Where am I? What has happened?” he asked ”Hallo! is that you, Jack!
Where's Tom Salter?”
Then he suddenly remembered the Boers and sat up with a jerk
”Ah! what has beco at the rifle which had been placed beside hie
”Now don't worry about them,” said Jack kindly ”They've bolted, and Wilfred and I arrived here just in the nick of tiet you up on top and look at the wound When that is seen to, ill discuss the situation”
Frank Russel was still too much dazed to offer any resistance, and was soon carried up the ladder and laid on a bed Then Jack opened up the seams of his jacket, and cut away the shi+rt over his left shoulder A close inspection shoo little blue wounds, the size of a pea, one in front, and one behind where the Mauser bullet had made its exit
There had been scarcely any loss of blood, and luckily no bones broken
Eileen meanwhile had produced a basin of cold water and a soft towel, and with this they dressed the wound and bandaged the shoulder A stiff glass of spirits pulled Frank Russel round, and now that he was over the first shock, he very quickly becaain, for he was as hard as iron, and accustoh life of a colonist Tenpipe, and even using his left hand, so little pain did his wound give him
”Now tellclouds of sreatest satisfaction
As soon as the brutal action of the Boer spy and his friends had been narrated, and followed by a description of their flight, Frank Russel sprang to his feet and shook Jack and Wilfred heartily by the hand
”My lads,” he said in a husky, treratitude of old Frank Russel I'd sooner see every Boer in Africa dead than hear that one of the child Ah! she's all I have left since the ent to her hoirl she is! Come here, Eileen dear, and kiss your father You've had a close shave, and but for these brave Englishmen that brute would have murdered you And Tiret it, for froe I will give him sufficient to ensure his independence
”But noe have other things to think about Kih we are only five miles ae are surrounded by hosts of Boers They will be back here soon, and then it will be all up with us”
”Why not ride off at once?” asked Wilfred ”There are four of the Boer ponies outside, and Jack and I have our own”
”It would be useless,” replied Frank Russel, with a vigorous shake of his head ”Those fellows have already warned the whole district, and by this time we are closely surrounded Look away over there That se in the darkness which every Boer can read No, I fear it is all up with us I'ot in safely if you hadn't co in this direction and helped us in our trouble If there was a chance of your succeeding now, I'd say go at once and leave us But there isn't, not the slightest, and it's only fair to say so”
”We must make the best of o I was in a fix which was every bit as aard I' to be shot or taken prisoner yet awhile if I can help it, and if you all feel the saht if I had a chance!” growled Frank Russel ”But it's no use here They would be a hundred to one against us”
”Wait a minute, Mr Russel,” exclaiacity ”Let us hear what Jack has to say I'm like him, and don't le”
”Ah, well! what is it, Jack?” answered Frank ”But you'd best be quick about it, for those felloill be getting close to us by this”
”I've said I aht for it,” exclaimed Jack, ”and I mean to do so, for froreatest dislike to attacking in the open It is too risky for them, and is apt to lead to fatal consequences, as I have already been compelled to show them Now this house stands clear out on the veldt
There is not even a boulder within half a mile of us, and therefore no cover It is true that at close quarters a Mauser bullet will pierce these walls, but at long range it will not coh Let us es, Frank?”