ng the light had
entered the room. It was one of those roomy cupboards often to be found
in old country-houses at home, and once in it, Jack and Guy deposited
their weapons on the floor, and, standing there behind the doors, glued
their eyes to the chinks, of which there were many, and looked out to
see what was happening.

By this time a young Boer, with rifle slung across his back, had placed
on a table a lighted candle which was jammed into the neck of a bottle,
and was looking round for chairs. A second later five men entered, and
one of them they recognised at once as a prominent Boer general, the
commander of the burgher forces in Natal. Another was evidently a
Frenchman on the directing staff, to whom the others showed rough
deference.

Meanwhile Mrs Robb had flown to the cot again and stood bending over
it, ready to protect her child.

"Leave the room, woman!" the general said harshly. "Now," he continued,
turning to the man who had brought the light, "fetch chairs and benches,
and form the court. You can bring in the food or prisoners, whichever
is ready first."

The Boer saluted like a clumsy plough-boy and disappeared, to return
with two others bearing chairs. They placed the table close beside the
cupboard, and a few moments later the general and his staff were seated
behind it, the former being in the middle.

"I am hungry," the general suddenly exclaimed, "and hope the food will
not be long in coming. Then we must eat our meal and get this business
done as soon as possible, for we have many miles to ride to-night. But,
wait! Look in that cupboard, Fritz. Perhaps there is something there
in the way of food on which we can commence."

Jack and Guy heard the words with feelings of despair, and still stood
silent, rooted to the spot and with their hearts pulsating violently.
To reach the cupboard the man addressed as Fritz had to go round the
table; and as he was doing so, and had stretched out a hand to pull open
one of the doors, there was a joyful shout from the men sitting round
the table, and a burgher appeared bearing horn mugs and a plate, on
which was a joint of cold meat.

"Never mind, Fritz; we shall do better with this," the general cried,
and immediately began to carve the meat placed before them.

As for Jack and Guy, they had braced their muscles, and were on the
point of bursting the cupboard door open and making a wild rush for the
window, when the man dropped his hand at th