ow I can make a move!" thought Jack, "and the sooner I get away
from here the better. After what has happened those fellows would shoot
me if they got hold of me."

At this moment he suddenly remembered that at Newcastle he had stowed
his bag of buns away in his pocket. Pulling it out, he finished what
was left, for he had an excellent appetite which no amount of adventure
could disturb. Then, feeling better, he picked his way down the
opposite side of the hill, and, having made a wide detour, turned
towards the railway, and walked on till he came to it. Then he trudged
along by the side of the metals, and in due course reached a small
station midway between Volksrust and Standerton.

There was no one about, but the night was beautifully warm, and Jack
therefore lay down on the veldt outside the station. Early next morning
he walked on to the platform and knocked at the station-master's door.

"Hallo! Who are you?" the latter asked in sleepy surprise, appearing in
a half-dressed state, which showed that he had only just got out of bed.

"Oh, I'm one of the English from Johnny's Burg!" Jack answered easily.
"I've been staying with some people this way, and started last night to
catch the train. But you people don't trouble about sign-posts in these
parts, and so I lost my way. Instead of finding my road to Standerton I
got out of my reckoning and came down here, where I've spent the last
few hours asleep on the veldt. Can you give me something to eat?"

"It's a precious funny story," the station-master, who was a Cape
Dutchman, grumbled in reply. "But, then, you Englishmen, fresh from
home, do all manner of strange things. Come in, and we'll see what the
Tanta has for you. But mind, I can't afford to give you a meal; you
must pay for it."

Jack readily agreed, and ate ravenously when at last a dish of smoking
biltong was placed before him, for his long march across the veldt had
given him a keen appetite again, which his sleep in the open had in no
way diminished. Big cups of smoking coffee were also provided, so that
altogether he fared very well.

Then he lit a cigarette, paid the amount demanded, and went outside on
to the platform, where he and the Dutch station-master walked up and
down in friendly converse till the train for Johannesburg arrived.

Four and a half hours later he stepped on to the platform at the big
mining city, the Golden City of South Africa, and walked to Mr Hunter's
store.