" he murmured to
himself, "and as soon as it gets dark I'll get through that window. I
wonder whether they will bring me anything to eat!"

Flinging himself on a bed placed in one corner, Jack remained quiet for
more than an hour, thinking over his plans. Then the door was flung
open, and a man entered, bearing a jug of water and some bread and meat.

"There you are, rooinek," he said surlily. "That is all you will get
to-night. If I had my way you would be sent to keep your countrymen
company at the race-course. How Oom Otto could wish to have you here is
more than I can say."

Jack made no answer, but, turning on his side, closed his eyes as if he
were weary and took no notice of the food. A moment later the man was
gone, and, slipping from the bed, he stole noiselessly across the floor
and carefully inspected the door. It had a large key-hole, and this he
plugged with bread.

Then he sat down on the cot again and ate some of the food.

"Now I am ready," he murmured. "There is enough food here to last me
two days, and by that time I shall have managed to get some more."

Three hours later it was quite dark, and, flinging his haversack over
his shoulder, and carefully feeling beneath his coat to make sure that
his Mauser was still there,--for by a wonderful chance it had escaped
notice when his wound was first dressed,--he crept across to the window
and opened it noiselessly. It was placed high up in the wall, so that
Jack put a wooden stool beneath it, and, mounting on this, was on the
point of hoisting himself up, when, to his horror and dismay, the door
was thrown open, and a man entered bearing a candle in his hand.

A second later he had grasped Jack firmly by the collar and had flashed
the light in his face.

It was a terrible misfortune, and Jack could almost have cried. But,
for the moment, his attention was otherwise occupied, for as the rays
from the candle fell upon the stalwart Boer, he recognised, with a
curious feeling of pleasure and hope, that it was the very man whom he
had handed over to his friends near Vryburg, after wounding him in the
chest.

The recognition was mutual, and the Boer, who a moment before was in the
act of calling for assistance, shut his lips and stared at Jack as
though he were too much surprised to speak. Then he burst into silent
laughter and dragged Jack to the bed.

To resist was useless, and like a wise man Jack at once resigned himself
to his fate.