Part 35 (1/2)

Jack accepted the invitation, and much enjoyed it, for it was the first time he had had a repast out of hospital since he ca chair and a large cigar, and ordered to tell the story of the defence of the farmhouse near Kiood deal of good-natured chaff Then he drove off with Guy and Rawlings to the football ground

It was an exciting and fast ga little to choose between the shlanders

The whole camp was there to look on, and evidently the Boers were also watching through their field-glasses, for in the rouped close together, there was a screaed into theone round

Instantly the umpire's whistle sounded, and he shouted: ”Half-tihter followed, and all the players decaround A second later there was a muffled roar, sand and earth were driven in all directions, and a large fraground, passed close to Jack's head, and tore a huge rent in a galvanised-iron shed behind hia the ot back to his tent he was tired out, but by the diht froes of one of the two papers published in the ca but untruths

On the evening of January 5th, as Jack was reclining on his chair looking round the cast the ”, were three whose movements were suspicious They were dressed like colonial volunteers, and carried rifles Passing separately across the open ground, they pushed forithout hesitation, and, once inside the caon Hill, where each in turn disappeared into a hut which had been almost smashed to pieces by one of the enemy's shells

Jack watched the why they did not coether, and what business they had to be out of the camp; and then suspiciously, for their movements were peculiar They looked about them cautiously, and one by one dived into the hut Here they relasses in that direction for half an hour there was no sign of thele sounded the ”Fall in!” all over the caarrison turned out of their tents and for inspection

”That is queer!” he muttered suspiciously ”Who can they be? Not civilians, I am sure, for they have no business over in this direction

I don't like the look of things, and I'll keep ars”

A few e White and his staff rode on to the nearest parade-ground and the guard there presented ar-officer, apeered in all directions, struck the ith his rifle Jack fixed his glasses upon hi looked about the their weapons, hts of Caesar's Ca by their side

”Well, that's ru? I suppose they are going to relieve the pickets, or the guards over the guns But it is an unusual time Of course I know that the colonials take their turn, but they are generallyparade I'll just watch, and at the saht, for they will pass close by th on the ground, lifted the flap, and again watched the volunteers through his field-glasses Soon they were close at hand, and though it was already getting dusk, soht his notice, and that, combined with the peculiarwho he was

”I' to do with that fellow before,” he muttered ”Who can he be?”

Jack puzzled his brains, but could not solve the probleust when thein front of an iron hut used as the payot opposite him, and just in front of Jack, the watchfulthe party at the sa his rifle

He was evidently a young soldier, and eager to be considered wide-awake, or else he would have remembered that it was already dusk and no salute was required Still it served Jack's purpose, for a second later ”Eyes right!” and ”Gun picket!” was shouted out in a voice which le from head to foot and treether told him that it was none other than Piet Maartens, his old enemy, who had so nearly proved the death of hiazine

”Good heavens!” Jack exclaimed in astonishment ”What does it ainst the Boers? No, that's ie! those otherto his feet and gazed after the squad of volunteers Then he thought for a fewdeterain, and, snatching up his rifle, ran across to call Guy Richardson

”Quick, Guy!” he said, pushi+ng his head into the hut in which Guy and Mr Hunter lived ”Co your rifles!”

An instant later all alking rapidly towards the heights of Caesar's Camp, the southern boundary of the defences of Ladysarrison, for with the Boers in possession of it their guns would have forced our troops to surrender

”There's so side by side Then he explained what he had seen, and told them how Piet Maartens, and twotowards Caesar's Ca,” Mr Hunter replied hurriedly

”Nohat had we better do! Ah, I know! You two follow theo to the quarters of the officer in coht and warn him What can those spies want! Keep your eyes open, lads It looks as though our friends were about to make an atteone, and Jack and Guy hurried on till they ithin sight of theascertained the direction in which they werea wide detour, ran up to the trenches at the top of the hill

”Wait here, Guy, while I go over and speak to the officer on duty,” said Jack ”I'll be back directly”

Slipping across the turf, he was soon challenged by a sentry and brought to a sudden stop with the man's bayonet at his chest Then he was taken to the officer

”I've soive you,” he said ”Can I see you alone!”