dysmith might make a sortie at any moment," Guy answered in a low
whisper. "In Pretoria I heard that more than one gun had been put out
of action in that manner. But about these pickets--we must slip between
them. They are not likely to be awake at this hour. About three
o'clock in the morning finds them astir."

"Very well then, unsling your rifle, Guy, but do not load it. If there
is trouble you can open the magazine in a moment, but with a cartridge
in the breech, and the bolt pulled back, the slightest touch on the
trigger would ruin all. Are you ready? Then keep close behind me, and
if any of the Boers challenge I will leave it to you to answer them."

"Trust me, Jack, old boy," Guy whispered back. Then, feeling for his
friend's hand, he gave it a cordial grasp, which was returned as eagerly
with a squeeze which almost made him cry out with pain. "If things go
wrong, Jack," he said earnestly, "we've been good pals. You're a real
brick, old man!"

"Things are not going wrong," Jack answered grimly. "I'm going to get
them both away, or I'll know the reason why!"

For a moment longer the two young fellows stood facing one another in
the darkness, gripping each other by the hand in a manner which said
better than words could do that they were determined on one thing at
least, and that was to be true to one another to death. Then Jack
whispered, "Come along!" And, followed closely by Guy, he commenced to
climb the steep and rugged side of the hill.

At any time it was no easy task, but now, when the displacement of a
stone, or a footstep upon a piece of exposed rock, would easily have
betrayed them, it was a matter of the utmost importance that only soft
and grassy spots should be selected to put their feet upon.

By this time both were on hands and knees, and, feeling carefully in
front of him, Jack wound from side to side, sometimes going a
considerable way out of the direct course in his endeavour to find soft
ground.

It was a long and tedious climb, but at last they were within fifty feet
of the summit, where they came to a halt and looked cautiously round.

There was no one near them as far as they could see, but above them,
standing dimly silhouetted against the sky, was an immense Creuzot gun,
looking like some gigantic animal crouching on all-fours.

"Keep a bright look-out!" Jack whispered, with his mouth close to Guy's
ear. "There must be a guard somewhere close at hand."

"What is t