Part 29 (1/2)

A second later he dislance at the Boer's face told him that here at least was onehis hand, blurted out his thanks, and aclose to the wall once he had dropped outside, Jack paused for a few ht in a room at the side, and fro to it Jack lifted his head cautiously and peeped in, to find that the field-cornet and his five men were seated on some benches in a cloud of tobacco slishman in their care would escape, and, thankful for the fact, for the longer his absence remained undiscovered the better, Jack hurried away in the darkness, and a quarter of an hour later entered the streets of Pretoria

When he reached the neighbourhood of the hospital in which Guy was living, he slipped off his boots, and, carrying theuard-house opposite the governet those rifles now,” he thought

”Perhaps so the hospital, and then we could never hope to get possession of any weapons, and to pass as Englishmen on the Boer side we ed The hour for that is ten o'clock, and it is not far fro hiuard-house, Jack waited patiently, and soon had the satisfaction of seeing two e from it and relieve their comrades It was quite an informal matter, and perforlish troops S their pipes, the two men stepped out of the hut and called to the others to come to them Then each took a bandolier and a rifle fro, strolled across to their posts and stopped in front of the big building to continue a conversation which they had broken off in the hut

Noas Jack's chance, and he seized it Slipping along close to the wall, he crossed the road noiselessly, peeped into the guard-house to see that all was quiet, and then, with his eyes upon the careless sentries, slipped two of the bandoliers across his shoulder, and carefully lifted two rifles fro back to his forround A few minutes passed, and as all was still quiet, he slipped up to theof the hospital close to which Guy's bed was placed, and gently tapped on the -fraht, and fortunately thestood wide open A second later Guy was leaning through it

”Is that you, Jack, old boy?” he whispered

”Yes Co, Guy,” Jack answered ”Slip out at once There is no one about”

”I' fro

Taking hi close to the wall till he reached his former post, when he placed a bandolier and a rifle in his hands

”Slip the belt on, Guy,” he said shortly; ”we have no tiet these, Jack?” Guy asked hoarsely

”Stole theuard-house a few ?”

The last hurried excla of Guy's rifle, which clattered loudly on the pavement

Instantly the two sentries becaaat daar?”

”Coet out of this at once”

Darting down the street they ca, and waited there to see ould happen As they did so, the sentry who had challenged walked quickly towards the hospital, evidently deter nothing, he looked up at the s, and then looked in at the open one and asked if anyone inside had heard anything The reply was unsatisfactory, for he at once shouted that so, and called to the hospital attendant to bring a light At the saed hurriedly from the hut, and by simple force of habit went to the rack for their rifles

”Souns and bandoliers,” one of the, Paul? Are there thieves about, or is it that weak-hearted English to escape?”

What the ansas Jack and Guy did not stay to hear Guy hastily interpreted what had been said, and realising that their flight had already been discovered, the two darted off down the street in the direction of the station They could still hear excited shouts behind them, but these soon died away

”Let us stop here for a minute,” said Jack breathlessly, when they were close to the station ”Nohat is to be done? We et out of Pretoria as soon as possible”

”Listen! what is that?” Guy exclaiine in the station with steam up What luck if a train is about to leave! Let us make a rush for it”

”Yes, and be collared at once,” muttered Jack ”No, Guy, weLet us brazen the hers, and join the train as though we had a right to Cooes the whistle! It will be off in atheir Mausers behind their backs, Jack and Guy coolly walked through the gates of the station, and es were standing on the point of h there were plenty of time to take their places, and as if there could be no question as to their right to be there, they had passed a good half-way up the platforan to revolve Glancing hastily into the carriages, Jack selected one which had only two occupants, and sprang into it, followed by Guy Then they sat down in the two corners facing one another, and coe, ere dressed in the usual Boer costued in an anihts But they were conscious of the fact that strangers had joined them, for they immediately sank their voices to a whisper