ugh there was nothing the matter with
you. I shall send in my name as a despatch-rider, and let you know what
happens. Now I'll say good-bye for the present. To-morrow I have to
give evidence against Piet Maartens, and after that I expect I shall
clear out of Ladysmith. So long, old chap, and mind you keep quiet, as
you have been told, or something will go wrong with your wound."

Pressing Guy's hand, Jack took his leave, after exchanging a few words
with the other wounded soldiers lying in the tent.

On the following morning he attended the court-martial upon the Boer
prisoners and gave formal evidence. It went much against his wishes,
but the stern necessities of war demanded that spies should be summarily
dealt with.

There was no doubt about their guilt. All had been caught red-handed,
and in a deathly silence sentence was passed upon them that at dawn on
the following morning they should be shot for their offence, in sight of
all the troops.

Piet Maartens was a pitiable sight. Unarmed and a prisoner, he was a
very different individual from the bumptious Boer who had been taught a
lesson by Jack only a few months before. At the reading of the death
penalty he turned white with terror, his limbs shook, and perspiration
rolled from his forehead. With a shriek of fear he fell upon his knees
and begged the president of the court to reconsider his decision. Then,
finding him obdurate, he turned to Jack and besought him to say
something for him.

Of very different moulding were his companions. Stern, sunburnt young
men, they held their heads erect and heard their doom like men, and even
harshly remonstrated with Piet Maartens for his cowardice.

Just as the sun rose on the following morning, and one of the loveliest
of lovely African days dawned, a dozen rifles cracked, and Piet Maartens
and his companions had paid the last penalty of all spies.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN.

OUT OF THE TRAP.

On the following day a mounted orderly dashed up to the tent in which
Jack was living with Mr Hunter and Mr Richardson, and handed him a
note. It was brief and terse, and asked him to call at once at a
certain house in the town, close to General White's quarters, where a
proposition would be made to him. Jack at once jammed his hat on his
head, and, slinging his rifle and bandolier over his shoulder, set out
to keep the appointment.

"Ah, good-day, Somerton!" said a young officer of the staff who was
standing out