Jack began to wonder what would be the best course to adopt
supposing one of the bombs did happen by ill-luck to find an entry, and
lie in front of them fizzling and spluttering ere it shattered itself
and its immediate surroundings to pieces. He had seen that some of them
did no more than splutter and smoke, and he at once determined in his
own quiet dogged way that he would take immediate action and remove it
to the slabs above. If it burst in his hand--well--neither he nor his
friends would ever know much about it. But if the fuse were not
expended he might be able to remove it in time, and so save all their
lives.

But he was never called upon to take such a desperate risk, and instead
sat silently in his corner, smoking furiously, and watching the smoke
which Frank Russel and Wilfred blew out from their lips. It was quite
fascinating to see it curling slowly up from the dark cellar into the
bright light overhead, and then suddenly cut in twain by a rushing
shell. Even Eileen was interested in it, and, catching Jack's gaze
fixed in the same direction, smiled at him just to show how steady she
felt. "Look out, lads!" exclaimed Frank Russel a few minutes later.
"They've done pumping those shells into us, and we had better get back
to our posts."

All four at once scrambled up the ladder, and, darting across the floor,
looked out over the sunlit veldt. In front it was covered by a number
of galloping ponies, with wild-looking Boers upon their backs.

Jack at once rushed to the other side of the house and gazed in that
direction, but there was no one to be seen.

"They are all in front," he cried. "All the better for us! Each of you
lie full-length on the floor and push your rifle a few inches only
through the wall. That's it! Now wait till I give the word."

Lying flat on their faces the gallant little band held their fire, and
waited in dead silence while the horsemen galloped towards them. Soon,
as they got within 200 yards, one of them gave a shout and threw his
hand in the air. All at once drew rein and walked their ponies forward,
laughing and shouting joyfully to one another; for the fact that no
sharp reports had greeted their rush seemed to show that the shells they
had poured into the farmhouse had been effective, and that all the
defenders had been killed.

Laughing, therefore, and smoking their pipes, they rode slowly towards
the farm, gradually drawing close together as they directed the