of Vic and Prince, and was
soon cantering along by the side of the road as before in the direction
of Hoopstad. By four in the morning, when the clouds in the east were
beginning to brighten, he had ridden some sixty miles, and was within
fifteen of Hoopstad. He now searched about for a secure hiding-place,
and presently came across an isolated farm standing a few miles back
from the road. Leaving his ponies hidden upon the side of another
convenient kopje, he stole forward, and soon reached the building.
There was no one about, not even a dog, and he at once boldly walked up
to the door. It was locked, but a window he tried was unlatched, and
Jack at once squeezed through it and drew up the blind. The farmhouse
consisted of two large rooms, a kitchen and a bedroom, and both were
empty.

"Ah, all gone to the war!" thought Jack. "This place will suit me
perfectly. It's well away from the road, so that no one is likely to
come near, and if anyone does, he will find the door locked, and will
probably go away at once."

Unlocking the door, he went out and fetched his ponies, leading them
into the farmhouse, and stabling them in the kitchen. Then he searched
about in the few outhouses, and having discovered some straw and oats,
came back and made his animals quite comfortable. Another journey
procured water for them, and then, locking the door once more and
pulling down the blind, Jack first indulged in a much-needed meal, and
then lay down in a bed in the sleeping-room.

When he awoke the sun was already more than half-way overhead, and as
soon as it was dark he set out again, and by early morning had reached
the neighbourhood of Reitzburg. Here he was forced to camp in the open,
in a thick belt of scrub composed of acacias and mimosa shrubs, for
there was no comfortable farmhouse available. But it was much the same
to Jack. He enjoyed a good meal, watered Vic and Prince, knee-haltered
them, and once more lay down to sleep.

Early on the following morning, as day was beginning to break, he rode
round to the back of Johannesburg and pulled up at Mr Hunter's house.
No one was to be seen, so he stabled his ponies, and then knocked loudly
at the door.

"_Who's_ that?" Mr Hunter shouted from above; and then, when Jack had
made himself known and had been admitted, cried in astonishment: "Good
heavens, my boy! I did not expect you for two days at least, and
perhaps not then, for I asked you to do an almost imp