ed
into the night, and the guns opened fire, tearing the elopes and the
flats below with bursting shrapnel.

But the darkness aided the Boers, and in a few moments they were upon
our men.

They had got so far, but they were not to make another step forward, for
by now the Gordon Highlanders and the Rifle Brigade had arrived, and,
rushing forward with fixed bayonets, they dashed pell-mell at the enemy,
and after a fierce and bloody conflict broke them, and hurled them
shattered and bleeding down the steep hillside.

It was desperate work. As the night lifted, and the grey haze of dawn
lay upon the grassy slopes of Caesar's Camp, Briton and Boer stood face
to face and fought for supremacy. Every man of ours had need of all his
courage and strength, and not one failed to do his duty to his queen.
Magnificently the brave fellows kept up the reputation of the army, and
in spite of the havoc wrought by Mauser bullets, pressed the enemy still
closer, and when they fled sent a taunting cheer after them, and stood
ready and willing to meet them again.

Jack and Guy took a full share in the work. Deafened by the reports of
the field-artillery and the incessant tat, tat of the rifles, they stood
shoulder to shoulder in the trench, and when their comrades charged,
rushed forward with them and helped to hurl back the Boers. But that
was the least difficult part of the task. Some minutes before the
much-needed reinforcements arrived they were closely pressed, and barely
held their own. The Boers swarmed up the hill, and now that the alarm
was given, opened a hot fire upon them. Then they rushed at them, and
surrounded the small party of defenders.

Standing back to back, Jack and his friend, with Mr Hunter, beat off a
determined assault, but a second which followed parted them, and the two
young fellows found themselves alone and cut off from their friends,
while Mr Hunter had been forced back amongst the Highlanders.

Side by side Jack and Guy thrust fiercely at the Boers, parrying the
swinging blows aimed at them, and escaping the flying bullets by a
miracle.

"Surrender, and lay down your arms!" shouted a big, bearded man,
presenting his rifle at Jack's head. "You are surrounded and cut off
from your friends."

"Never!" cried Jack, hoarsely. "Come and take us it you can!"

"Very well, then," the Boer answered roughly, and at once pulled his
trigger, falling himself in a heap upon the ground at the same moment