possible, he rapidly piled up
pieces of rock till there was a complete breastwork round himself and
Farney. Then he sprinkled more water on the latter's face, and finding
that he was recovering consciousness, repeated it till his companion
opened his eyes, looked about him in bewilderment, and then smiled
serenely at Jack.

"That you, Jack?" he asked. "What's wrong with my leg? It feels quite
dead; and where are the other fellows?"

"Oh, the others have gone on, Farney!" Jack replied, "and as far as I
can make out your right leg is broken somewhere above the knee. We're
here alone, old chap, and about a dozen Boers are sitting down firing at
us. But they can keep that up all day without doing us any harm. We
are in a regular fort here."

"Then you'll have to defend it alone," replied Farney, with a groan.
"I'm just like a log. Half a minute though! Lend me that Mauser of
yours. If they try to rush us, I shall be able to use that to some
purpose."

Jack, who was lying flat on the ground all this time, handed his pistol
to his friend, and then raised his head carefully and looked round. As
he did so he saw a white flag flying from a rifle barrel some hundreds
of yards away at the edge of the hollow. He at once tied his own
handkerchief to his rifle and waved it. Then he stood up and advanced
to meet the Boer who had first shown the white flag.

"You are surrounded," the latter said, "and so are all your comrades.
Lay down your arms and surrender at once, or we will not be responsible
for your life."

"Surrender!" said Jack in reply. "I shall certainly not do that yet.
You have been firing at me for a good half-hour without touching me.
Let me advise you to clear off, or else you will find yourselves
prisoners long before you take me. The English are close at hand and
will be here soon. You had better get away as quick as you can."

"Ah! we will see to that," the Boer answered calmly. "I will give you
five minutes longer, and if at the end of that time you have not agreed
to surrender I shall give my men orders to shoot you like a dog."

"Very well," said Jack coolly; "but I should advise you to leave me
alone and get away while you can."

The Boer gave an impatient stamp with his foot and turned round
brusquely, while Jack made his way back to his friend.

"They have called upon me to surrender," he said, "and I have refused,
and advised them to clear off whilst they can. They are to give me