great black nodded and went off at a trot, taking me over the ridge
and down a steep slope into a large gap in the side of the hill; and a
quarter of an hour later we were alongside a bubbling stream, where
long, rich, juicy grass grew in abundance.

Directly after Sandho was grazing contentedly; and when I had drunk from
the pure fresh water, I was devouring rather than eating the magnified
salt-beef sandwiches of which the satchel contained ample store, while
Joeboy grinned to see the way in which one disappeared.

"Catch hold," I said, pushing a great sandwich towards my black
companion; but he shook his head and shrank away.

"Tant Jenny say all young Boss Val," he said, and then he laughed and
displayed a large packet carefully fastened to the inside of his shield.
This packet he opened, took out a sandwich similar to mine, then
squatted down and began to eat.

"Joeboy had plenty yes'day," he said, and he gave his front a circular
rub as if to suggest that it was still fairly stored, after which he
went on munching slowly as if to keep me company.

"Now," I said after eating a few mouthfuls, "what did my father say?"

"Big Boss say Joeboy go Echo Nek. Stop till son Val come."

"Is that all?" I said wonderingly.

"Yes; all Boss say."

As he spoke, however, Joeboy laid his sandwich upon the shield beside
him, and then began to fumble behind him in the band of his cut-down
trousers, out of a leopard-skin pocket attached to which he drew a
packet of common leather tied up with a slip of the same.

I opened the leather packet with trembling fingers, and found a letter,
which I eagerly read:

"Dear Val,--I take it for granted, my boy, that you will escape from
those ruffians and be lying in wait for my message. I find, though,
that Joeboy is missing, and if he does not return I shall have to come
and meet you myself, and then I can tell you what to do. I will,
however, write this in the hope that I can send it, as I do not want to
leave your aunt and Bob, for there is much to do, burying and hiding a
few valuables in case we are ever able to come back."

"Oh!" I exclaimed, and Joeboy half-sprang to his feet, but subsided as
I went on:

"War has broken out, the Boers having defied the British Government. It
has, of course, all been a surprise to me; but the news is coming in
fast. Hodson has been here, and he tells me the English are all
receiving orders to go. It is ruin to us, and after making su