Part 25 (1/2)

”No need to apply to anyone,” answered Toht, and told hio froht infor is getting on, and I expect you will be asked to ride in that direction It will be ticklish work, my boy, but it seems to me that you are specially suited for it, for you have already ridden more than once in the enemy's country Come with me now to head-quarters and I will send in your nah the town, and a few -officer's roo was said about the ride to Mafeking he was urged to tell the officers present all about the defence of Mr Russel's house Then he was asked whether he illing to ride to the north with despatches

Jack answered that he was, and pro

”Very well,” said one of the officers, ”ill have the despatches ready for you Co to carry you Above all, do not let anyone know that you are to start

There are spies everywhere”

Jack pro so much as a hint to Wilfred, who joined him a few minutes later, walked all round the defences of the town

Late in the afternoon he filled his bandolier, saw that the azines of his rifle and pistol were prepared, and then walked into the room where the Russels, Tom Salter, and Wilfred were There was now no reason for keeping his mission a secret, and as he joined the party in a cup of afternoon-tea he told the

Wilfred's face at once showed his disappointladly accompanied his friend; while Eileen went suddenly pale to the lips, and almost dropped her cup But she recovered herself quickly, and said good-bye cheerfully

”Good-bye, Jack!” she murmured earnestly ”Take care of yourself, for we should all be sorry if you were captured”

”By Jove, old chap,” Wilfred broke in i with you! It will be awfully flat here without you to liven us up I only hope we shall have plenty of fighting while you are away

Good-bye, and if you ive them fits! You're well able to”

Frank Russel and Tom Salter slapped him heartily on the back and wished hi up the street, with clanking spurs, looking a typical young colonist, and one, moreover, well able to take care of himself

Arrived at the head-quarter office, he was shown in, and accosted by the same officer as before

”Here are your despatches,” he said, producing a thin piece of tissue-paper very finely written upon, ”and noe must decide where to hide them It is an important document, and if it fell into the Boers'

hands would do us a large aaree round your hat for a hiding-place?”

”Well, it see they would search I have been thinking about it as I ca, and believe that a far safer place will be in the case of my Mauser pistol Here it is, under my arm, and it has already escaped detection”

”Splendid! Of course that will be far and away the best place,”

exclaimed the officer ”And now, in case the Boers should capture you, here is a letter stating that you are a despatch-rider acting for the British Without that they would probably shoot you as a spy Now you can start as soon as you like If you reach Mafeking in safety, tell the boys there that all goes swiood-bye, Soo with you!”

They shook hands, and Jack clattered downstairs and into the street, where he found a shaggy-looking horse waiting for hihtly into the saddle, and was riding away towards the nearest gate which lay to the east He had chosen this purposely, for had the Boers obtained an inkling of the direction in which he was to ride, the telegraph hich was at their service between the two beleaguered toould have warned all the burghers to look out for hi a special pass-word, which he had been instructed to use, a lamp was flashed for a moment on his face, and he was allowed to proceed

”Good luck to yer, n ”Give our best respects to the chaps up north, and tell the a fine tio out; they are a bit inclined to scratch yer”

”So long, Joey!” laughed Jack cheerfully, recognising the sentry as one of the volunteers he hadon he carefully avoided the high fence of barbed wire, and, riding through an opening in it, was aled by a picket, and was compelled to pull up suddenly, to find a couple of bayonets pointed at his chest

”Gently, boys!” he called out in a low voice ”You'll be sticking those things through me next time I'ht; 'Buller' it is,” was the answer ”Pass on, Jack, and go easy when you get half aabout over there”

Jack thanked the ain Then he pulled up, dis every now and again to listen and search the darkness in all directions

At this ht fro well above his head was flashed across the veldt in front of hiain

Jack stopped where he was and followed it carefully with his eyes