talking.
They snatched a hasty meal, and retired to bed, where they were soon
sleeping the sleep of exhaustion.

There was no need for them to rise at dusk and set out again, for they
were now in the British camp and in British territory, so that when Jack
did wake, late in the afternoon, he rolled over again and dozed off for
more than two hours longer. Then he turned out, shook Wilfred, who was
asleep in a bed in the same room, and, accompanied by him, crossed the
camp and indulged in a swim in a large pool of water where many of the
soldiers were bathing.

"Now, what is the order?" cried Jack, when they had returned to the
hotel and had sat down to dinner with Mrs Hunter, in a room in which
many of the officers were dining. "I suppose you will go down to
Pietermaritzburg or Durban, Mrs Hunter, and if Wilfred will escort you
there, I will stay here for a day or two, and then make across to
Kimberley. There may be something going on here during the next few
days, and if so I should like to be in it."

"Yes, that is what I shall do, Jack," Mrs Hunter replied. "I have
friends at 'Maritzburg, and will join them to-morrow. Probably any
wounded there may be--and I fear there will be many of them, poor
fellows, before long--will be sent down there to the hospitals, and if
so I shall occupy myself in nursing them. I have had some experience,
and I dare say everyone willing to act the good Samaritan will be
welcomed."

"Then I will take you down there, Mother," said Wilfred, "and after that
will go with Jack if I may. Father told me it was more than probable
that he would be ejected from the Transvaal before long, for he has no
direct connection with the mines. In that case he will come south, and
I shall wait here on the chance of his doing so. We shall hear from him
before long, and if he is able to remain in Johannesburg I shall go
across to Kimberley and join Jack."

"Very well, then, I shall expect you some day, but I think you will have
to wait for the relieving force," Jack said. "Kimberley is already
closely invested, I have no doubt, and you would have no chance of
getting in, for you do not know the country. I do, however, and now
that I have had such practice at long-distance riding, I shall slip in
if I can, and then volunteer to carry despatches either south to De Aar,
or north to Mafeking. Later on, if the town is not relieved--and a long
siege seems to be expected,--I shall get out again, and