s friends, while the sharp crack of a
Mauser close at hand and a series of terrified cries told them that Guy
was performing his allotted task.

"Stop! Don't fire! We are English!" Jack shouted.

"Cease fire there! Steady, men! Cover these fellows till I can get a
look at them!" shouted the officer.

"Why, it's Rawlings!" Jack cried in delight, recognising the voice of
an officer he had met in Ladysmith. "Rawlings, I am Jack Somerton.
Don't let your men fire, and we will explain everything."

At this moment a dark lantern was unmasked, and the rays flashed in
Jack's face.

"By Jove, it's you right enough!" Rawlings cried. "Who are the
others?"

"Prisoners who had been tied to the gun, and whom I and a friend were
rescuing," Jack answered hurriedly. "But I'll tell you all about it
later on. The Boers are away on the left, and that is the side you had
best look to."

"Why, who's this?" the officer demanded a second later, as Guy was
brought up a prisoner and halted in front of him between two Highlanders
with fixed bayonets.

"Don't know, sir," one of the men answered shortly, with a Scotch
accent. "He was firing away like mad down the hill, and there were a
couple of dead Boers at his feet lying over a pile of rifles."

"That's my friend who was helping me, Rawlings," Jack explained hastily.
"Look here; how long are you likely to be on this hill?"

"Just as long as it takes to blow this infernal gun to pieces," the
officer coolly replied. "Why do you want to know? Can I help you?"

"Yes, we left a poor English lady and her child down there," Jack
answered, pointing down the hill. "I'll go and fetch her, and then we
will all get back together."

"That'll suit me, Somerton," Rawlings replied. "A lady in distress, old
boy, and you never need appeal twice to a soldier. Cut along then, and
get back as soon as you can. Sergeant, detail three men to help. Quick
about it, lads! Sing out when you're near again."

A minute later Jack and his escort were tearing down the hill, and
having found Mrs Robb, returned with her to their friends.

"Ah! you're there, are you, Somerton?" Rawlings cried calmly. "All
right then! slip along down the hill and we'll follow you. Now, where's
the lantern? That's it. Line the top of the hill, boys, till the fuse
begins to splutter. Then we'll run for it."

It was an exciting moment, and Jack, who had stayed behind, revelled in
it, for this was just the ki