Part 24 (1/2)
”Thank God, lads!” exclaimed Frank Russel earnestly ”It was a close shave, but He saw us safely through it”
”Amen!” muttered Jack and Wilfred in husky voices, while Eileen threw herself in her father's arms and embraced him affectionately
”There's no tiive me a hand with the ponies Frank, you take Eileen outside and wait in front”
Hastening to the kitchen, they searched about for the ponies, but found to their grief and disappointment that all had been killed
”Well, it cannot be helped,” said Jack ”Co their way across the tuarden, and, waiting for a moment to make sure that no one was about, they hurried off across the veldt, leaving the sounds of the conflict on their right It was an adventurous escape, and more than once they were on the point of discovery But they had the fortune to pass by the few Boers ere still hurrying up to help their coe bank of debris and earth which had been re positions of the garrison
”Halt, who goes there!” was shouted Then the dazzling beaht played upon their faces, and the sahted tones, ”Hooray, boys, it's our friends right enough!”
Such a welcoave them On every side they pressed forward to shake thee of the works advanced and rescued thelad to see you safe in our lines,” he exclaiht you would probably strike over for this spot, and so I had everything prepared
When you've had so-officer He has got quarters ready for you”
Jack thanked the officer for his thoughtful kindness, and all four having partaken of a much-needed cup of tea, they prepared to walk across to the centre of the town On their arrival there, the electric light was once more switched upon them, and every man who could be spared, and was not on duty, turned out to look at the four strangers who had so gallantly kept the Boers at bay and taught them such a lesson When it was seen that one of theirl, and that she carried a rifle, hearty cheers burst forth, and the eneround their teeth and s beneath their breath Nor were their te day, a bearer was sent out with a note describing exactly how lish had been hidden in the cellar of the far officer, the world-famous Cecil Rhodes, who had so pluckily stayed behind to take a part in the siege, and a score of officers of the garrison, all stepped forward and shook them by the hand Tom Salter, too, was there, as well as Tim, and as soon as the excitement had abated the former led them away to quarters which had been allotted to the down on an es here are very old and stale, and a little news is alelco that bottle, Frank, and iven him the incidents of the attack upon the house, Tom's face was a study, and the absolute amazement and wonder depicted upon it set the others in a roar
”Well, I'ht it! It just lishar, but this beats all! Your friend, too, has got soirl--well, I never did hear of such downright bravery;” and Toulped down a pannikin of rum and water with a distracted air which seeether too much for him
CHAPTER ELEVEN
TRACKED BY THE ENEMY
It was in the last few days of October, when the hot season and the rains of South Africa were about to set in, that Jack Souered town of Kiht in the farmhouse of the Russels By this tier's ultimatum was despatched on October 9th, and hostilities had commenced on the afternoon of the 11th by an invasion of British territory
We have seen that to meet that invasion and to stem the flow of the jubilant Boers there were only soulars in South Africa at the ti forces of the burghers in Natal, the protection of our northern towns in Cape Colony, and the garrisoning of Mafeking and Kied pluck and determination for which their predecessors had ever been known, that small army had done wonders already
By October 6th, ar seemed so inevitable, 10,000 additional troops were ordered to be despatched forthwith to South Africa; and since the case was an urgent one, the regi, were uns, horses, and ammunition fro water which intervene between England and Cape Colony, is no s Transports have to be chartered and specially prepared; food, forage for the horses, ar, and a thousand-and-one reat importance, have to be conveyed, and cannot be prepared in a minute But in spite of all difficulties the 10,000 troops were soon afloat and _en route_ for the scene of the war
Contrast for a moment these almost insurmountable difficulties with those of the Boer nation e were contending For theuns and ahers a train journey of so ht the, of a commissariat train was obviated by the fact that each and every man carried on his own person, or attached to his saddle, sufficient ammunition and food to last hie Free State had thrown in its lot with the Transvaal Republic called for bigger forces, and on October 7th, the day following the order for the above 10,000 troops, the Ho up of 25,000 of our Reserves, and the mobilisation of an army corps and of one cavalry division Parliament was also sumiven for the Reserves to present themselves, and these ten days may be easily described as a time of intense anxiety to the nation
The old days of lifelong service in the ar men who joined the ranks did so for a few years only, after which they were in a condition of thorough o back to civil life as reserves In this capacity they were paid a certain sum per die that time to be called back to don the queen's uniform and carry a rifle should their country have need of their services It was an experiland will never have cause to blame herself
The revival of the Boer trouble, the ether with the fact that this present as forced upon us against our wishes, sent a thrill of patriotic fervour through the length and breadth of the land