ce of the
fat little German, Hans Schloss, who had shown himself such a bitter
hater of the English.

"That man is always coming across my path," he muttered grimly to
himself, "but let him look out this time; for if he comes between me and
my object I will put a bullet through his carcass!"

Then he sat up and craned his head to listen.

"What is the matter, Gert?" the German asked in a trembling voice, which
showed that sentry duty in front of these much-despised English was a
task he had little liking for.

"Nothing is wrong, little man," the Boer answered surlily, "but I heard
a sound, and came up here to see whether anything had happened. But
these prisoners are evidently afraid of you, Hans Schloss. Ah! you are
a gallant fighter, and to-morrow you shall help us to work this gun, and
see the English shells come bursting close at hand. It will be a fine
sight for you to watch those prisoners blown to pieces by the very men
they would wish to fight for!"

"Ha, ha, Gert! You were always funny," Hans answered, with a husky
laugh which had no merriment in it, "but to-morrow I have other work to
do. It is a misfortune, for I should dearly have loved to witness the
execution of these traitors."

"Well, keep a bright look-out, Hans," the Boer replied brusquely, "or
else you may never live to see to-morrow's light." Then he turned
about, and swung down the hill past Jack, leaving the little German
quivering with fear. Five minutes later the man addressed as Gert was
once more wrapped in his blankets, and Jack was crawling back to join
Guy.

"Come away over here," he whispered when he had reached him. "Now lie
down flat, and I will tell you what I have seen."

Then he detailed how ten Boers were sleeping upon the hill, and how Hans
Schloss was keeping guard in front.

"With a little luck we shall manage beautifully," he went on, "but there
is always the chance of one of those Boers waking up, or of Hans
discovering us. I had intended removing the stacked rifles, but it was
too risky a job when one of the men was only half-asleep. But we can do
every bit as well by separating. Are you willing to do just as I
suggest?"

"I'll do exactly as you order, Jack," Guy answered. "You're boss of
this show, and had better continue to act as such. Too many cooks spoil
the broth, old chap!"

"Very well, then, you will follow me, and I shall leave you behind a
boulder close to the sleeping Boers. When you are s