e from Pretoria, but now far more
doubtful of success.

A few minutes later Jack was seated in a four-wheeled cart, and was
driven through the streets towards the outskirts of the town. As they
passed the railway-station a train from Natal had just arrived, and the
Boer driver pulled up his horse and chatted with a comrade who was
standing near.

On the platform there was an immense crowd, mainly composed of women,
and a glance told Jack the reason of their presence. The carriages were
all marked with a big red cross, and it was evident that this was an
ambulance train, of which the Boers had many, perfectly fitted up. All
the doors were open, and ambulance men and bystanders were helping to
carry out the wounded.

A sorry, forlorn set of soldiers they looked, but not more sorry or
woebegone than the women. Things were different now from what they had
been a month before. The Boer forces had not met with that complete and
overwhelming success which at first seemed to be in store for them.
They had invaded the British colonies so far, and there they had been
checked, and there they remained now, waiting till the tide turned, and
the British troops, whom all had been taught to think lightly of, rolled
their ranks back towards the frontier. And then--what would happen?
They had never paused to think of that before. They had cheered their
men folk on, and bidden them fight well for their country. But now it
was a different matter. A few names only of killed and wounded had been
returned, but rumour said that hundreds of others had been suppressed.
No wonder, then, that these poor women flocked with tear-stained faces
to the station, and clamoured for news of their husbands and sons.

It was a piteous sight, and Jack felt sorry for them; but he did not
forget that in Cape Colony and Natal and away in Old England there were
thousands more like them, weeping for the lads who had given their lives
for queen and country.

The Boer now put his horse in motion again, and having driven half a
mile outside the town, drew up at a pleasant little farmhouse.

Jack descended and entered. He was met by a field-cornet and a
detachment of five armed men, and was at once placed in a small room at
the back of the building.

Left to himself, he looked round for a means of escape, and noted with
much satisfaction that there was a small window which would suit his
purpose.

"I'll lie down and pretend I am tired by the drive,