Part 38 (1/2)
”We shall start to-night, of course,” answered Jack after a long pause
”We have been told that it is ih as early as possible, and by setting out as soon as darkness falls we ought to be at the Tugela by to- with 'Israel', the native runner, a few days ago, and he toldthe country everywhere, particularly to east and west, on either side of their lines of trenches It see the case, a bold course will be the safest We could walk over to the neutral ca, to visit the hospitals, and then cut across for Nelthorpe We shall be within twelve ht even cross it before as in which we could hide up for the day and keep out of sight of the Boers”
”By Jove, I like that idea!” exclaietting through to-night What shall we carry with us?”
”Our rifles and bayonets, and soh to last three days,” Jack answered ”I think we've settled everything now, so I'll go across to my friends Expect me back at five o'clock, and we'll stroll over to Intoazine of your rifle filled in readiness for a tussle”
”Trust , Jack! I'll see you at five”
Jack left hi his rifle, hich every officer was now ar by its conspicuousness led to the death of many a poor felloho had been deliberately picked off by the Boer sharpshooters Then he walked across to Guy Richardson, as progressing well, and afterwards sat down and had a long chat with Mr Hunter
”Good-bye, Jack, lad!” said the latter as the ti friend to keep his appoint fellow I have ever cooes well, as I feel sure it will, we shall et through, and tell all the boys that e've eaten all our horses we'll take to chewing grass before we hand over Ladysht, old boy, when I told you long ago up in Johnny's Burg that Kruger and his pleasant friends had a surprise in store for us Ha, ha! they were going to drive us into the sea, and eat fish dinners in Durban! And they had got all the guns and men ready close to the frontier too! Remember that
We've just checked the one another But, bless you! that won't win this grand country for the Boers They should be up and doing; instead of that, they act on the defensive alone, save here and at Ki, where we've pinched their tails pretty sharply for them whenever they have attacked And all the while our reinforce into the country Mark my words, Jack We've had a troublous tiallant lives, and shall lose more yet; but the tide is on the turn, and soon it will be sweeping in full flood, not towards the coast, but across the Orange Free State to Pretoria”
”Yes, I feel sure it will all coht in the end,” answered Jack, ”and you may be certain of this, when that tide does turn I shall be somewhere near the front, and on my way to renew my acquaintance with his honour the President of the Transvaal Republic”
Jack shook hands cordially with Mr Hunter, pro Poynter He found hi to set out
Half an hour later they were sauntering across to Intombi Spruit, and here they remained till darkness fell Then they set out as if to return to Ladys thest a pile of boulders, they waited for some moments to make sure that they were not followed Ten minutes later they had cut across to the left, and were tra silently over the veldt in the direction of Nelthorpe For two hours they kept on steadily, Jack carefully selecting a path which took theround Then suddenly, as they cliht of an extended line of fires flickering in front of the on either hand as far as they could see
”The road is over to our left,” whispered Jack, ”and our best plan will be to cut down to it boldly, and endeavour to slip through the lines
We shall have to be very cautious, for there lance at the twinkling dots of fire, Jack and his friend pushed forward, but with renewed caution, and nearly an hour later struck the h Nelthorpe and Pieters to Colenso Then, walking along on the turf which skirted the beaten track, they slowly approached the lines in which the Boers were cae collection of tents away on their left attracted their attention, while the nickering eain showed up a solitary canvas shelter, or a tented wagon, in which no doubt those of the burghers ere not on duty were asleep
Suddenly the clatter of hoofs sounded behind the a round as the rider passed, and were on the point of rising to their feet again when the pony was pulled up almost in front of them, and a voice called out a little farther on, in execrable English, which had a highly flavoured foreign accent: ”Stop there! Who is that? Advance and give the pass-word”
”Going rounds,” was the answer Then the rider walked his pony a few feet towards the sentry, who could now be seen in the centre of the road
”Ha, you are wide-awake, I see!” the forht that you and your friends fro to help us Be ready to pass a convoy of wagons We are sending down stores and ammunition to Colenso, besides a few boxes of special shells for the big guns Reer' is the pass-word
Shoot anyone who does not know it” A moment later the Boer had ridden away, and the sentry retired into the darkness at the farther side of the road
”Coently by the sleeve
Rising to their feet, they stepped noiselessly across the turf, and retired some hundred yards from the road
”Look here, Poynter, are you ready to try a risky game?” exclaimed Jack shortly, when they ell out of ear-shot of the sentry ”If so, I believe I have got hold of an idea which will get us safely through the Boer lines”
”Of course I ah ”I place h thick and thin So heave ahead, and tell h those lines ahead of us will be next door to iht up against a sentry, and if the alariven we should have to make a dash back towards Intoet a lift aons of this convoy Each one will be driven by a Kafir, who side his team
Let us select a covered cart and slip into it There ought to be little difficulty about it this dark night, and if we are lucky we et into one drawn by a mule teae, Jack, what a thing to think of!” exclaiest bit of cheek I ever heard of