e returning to the front after being wounded. It will be
simple enough, and all we shall want will be rifles. We must manage to
get hold of two Mausers and bandoliers. I suppose we shall have to
steal them, but then, all is fair in war, and when you come to think of
it, all the weapons the Boers possess have been paid for by Uitlander
gold."

"By Jove, Jack, I believe you are right!" exclaimed Guy
enthusiastically. "The bolder we are, the more chance we shall have of
getting through. I think, however, that we ought first of all to make
the attempt towards the east. If that fails, we can try the south. But
how about those rifles?"

"Oh, we must get them somehow, Guy!" answered Jack firmly. "Look down
the street," he continued, pointing in the direction of the government
buildings. "Opposite Government House there is always a guard of six
men, and they live in the little shed close by. I know something about
them, for I have watched them change guard every day I have been here.
If you look closely you will see that the four men off duty place their
rifles in the rack outside the house, and sling their bandoliers over
the muzzles. Surely we could manage to get possession of a couple of
them."

"Yes, we might," agreed Guy dubiously, "but how?"

"Well; break one of the windows of Government House, for instance. How
would that do?" asked Jack. "After all, we only want to call the
sentries' attention away from the guard-room for a few moments. There
ought not to be much difficulty about it. One of us could manage the
window and the other walk off with the rifles. But it is a kind of
matter to be settled on the spot. Another thing we must think of is
food. Our rations here are none too plentiful, and I fancy that
provisions are scarce in every part of the Transvaal. But we have put
by some of ours this last week, and that will keep us going for a time."

"Well, then, the sooner we make the attempt the better," cried Guy.
"What do you say to to-night?"

"To-night will do as well as any, Guy, and we will slip through this
window as soon as it gets dark."

A few minutes later, as Jack and his friend were talking over the plans
for their escape that night, the Boer doctor entered the hospital and
walked up to them.

"My friend," he said, placing his hand on Jack's shoulder, "I am sorry
to say that from to-day you and I must part company. You are now
sufficiently well to leave this hospital and make roo