d a cartridge in in readiness, in case there should be
trouble.

A second later Hans Schloss swaggered up with his Mauser at the slope
across his shoulder, and looked closely at each of the prisoners.

"Ha, Oom Hunter and Oom Richardson!" he laughed brutally, "this is a
fine night for you. It is your last, my English friends, so make the
most of it. Well, you are securely fastened, so I will leave you alone
to think of your wives and your homes."

Neither of the prisoners deigned to answer; but, had the vindictive and
cowardly little German but known it, both were braced and ready to hurl
themselves upon him and strangle the life out of him should he discover
that their bonds were gone.

But, turning round with a sneering and cruel laugh, he walked back to
his post, and all three at the gun breathed freely again. Another
minute, and they would have hurried away, when a faint sound close in
front of them attracted Jack's attention. It was so faint that neither
of the prisoners had heard it, but Jack's trained ear told him that some
men were approaching in the darkness.

"Wait, what is that?" he asked, detaining Mr Hunter and his comrade by
the arm. "Surely the Boers are not coming up to work the gun!"

Next second all three became convinced that a large body of men was
approaching, and even Hans Schloss had his suspicions aroused. He
stopped in his lonely tramp abruptly, faced down the hill towards
Ladysmith, and brought his rifle to his shoulder. An instant later a
figure bounded into sight close in front of him, and the German fired
and turned to fly. But he was too late. The flash of the rifle lit up
the darkness, and to the astonishment of Jack and his two companions
they saw a swarm of kilted men rushing headlong at the gun, while in
front of them was the brawny giant, a fine Scotch lad from the
Highlands, at whom the German had fired. The bullet evidently found a
mark, for the soldier gave a fierce cry of anger and pain, and, bounding
forward, buried his bayonet in Hans Schloss's body, and with the
strength of a Hercules hurled him over his shoulder just as a man might
toss a bundle of hay with a pitchfork. Then someone shouted in the
darkness, "At them boys! Surround the gun and keep everyone back till
we have done the work!"

A second later there was a rush, and a hurricane of bullets swept across
the top of the hill, splashing on the gun, and making it uncommonly
uncomfortable for Jack and hi