ingo, and that should be a great
advantage. I am going to keep some way ahead of you, and shall scout on
one side of the road first and then on the other. If you hear a whistle
like this"--and Jack gave a low but peculiarly piercing and
long-drawn-out whistle, which he had learnt from Tom Salter--"pull up at
once, and wait till I tell you the road is clear. If I whistle twice,
turn on to the veldt, and whip up till you are well away from the road."

Having given his directions, Jack vaulted on to Prince's back, and,
leading Vic, turned away from the farm, after thanking Ted Ellison and
his wife, who heartily wished them a safe journey.

For three miles they went at a slow pace, Jack riding close beside the
cart. Then they struck across the main wagon-road to Natal, and Jack at
once cantered ahead on the veldt. To all appearances he was a young
Boer burgher bound for the wars, so that even if he did happen to run
across anyone, he was not likely to be recognised in the darkness as an
Englishman. Beneath his coat he still wore his bandolier, and his
pistol under his waistcoat, while his rifle was firmly strapped to the
side of the empty saddle on Vic's back.

Mile after mile passed by without a single Boer appearing. Then the
sky, which had been open up to this, became banked up with clouds, and
very soon a heavy storm broke, thunder roared, and large, jagged forks
of lightning flickered everywhere, lighting up the lonely road running
across the veldt. Then the rain began to pour down in a heavy deluge.

Wilfred and Mrs Hunter were well provided with waterproofs, and Jack by
this time was enveloped in his large mackintosh, only his head and his
broad-brimmed hat being exposed, while the ends of the rubber sheet fell
over his pony's neck and quarters, and completely protected his legs.

Suddenly, as he was cantering silently along on the veldt, the only
sounds being the noise of the thunder and the squish, squish of the
ponies' feet, a brilliant flash of lightning seemed to pierce the ground
some yards behind him, and almost instantly a hoarse voice cried out:
"Wie gaat daar?"

He cantered on, and a moment after heard Wilfred answer the hail, for it
was evident that Jack himself had escaped discovery, while the team and
cart, trotting along on the open road, had been shown up by the flash.
Then there was a second hoarse hail, and an order for the cart to pull
up. But Wilfred paid no heed, and instead whipped