beating. Tell me what to do, and you can rely upon my carrying it out."

"Very well," replied Jack; "as soon as we are well in the Boer camp at
Colenso I will call the Kafir, and when he puts his head in the tent I
will ask him for his whip. The sight of my rifle will persuade him to
part with it, I have no doubt. Then I will tell him to clear off, and
at the same moment you will pick up the reins, which you will find
hooked up above, and will set the team going for all they are worth.
You can leave the rest to me."

"Right!" exclaimed Poynter jovially. "I'm to keep these mules going,
and if anyone or anything gets in the way I am to drive clean over or
through them, while you pick off any of the beggars who may be
following. Jack, I'll wager a pair of boots that we pull this business
off."

"Can't take you," answered Jack shortly. "We're going to get this wagon
through at all costs!"

By now the presence of a number of Boer horsemen galloping about, and a
collection of houses, showed that the outskirts of Colenso had been
reached, but the wagon still kept on. Then a large open space was
reached, evidently in the centre of the town, and a burgher was seen
galloping towards them, evidently with orders for them to halt alongside
the others already collected there.

"Now is our time," whispered Jack. Then he tapped on the woodwork and
gave a hoarse shout. Almost instantly they heard the Kafir driver jump
on the plank in front, and a second later he pulled the curtain of the
tent aside and thrust his head in. Poynter at once grasped his whip,
while Jack presented his rifle at his head.

For a moment the Zulu's eyes nearly started out of his head, and he was
speechless with astonishment. Then, with a yell of fear he started back
and tumbled off the wagon. Poynter at once stepped out, and, picking up
the reins, shook them in a manner that showed he was a practised hand,
and with a crack of his whip set the team trotting down the road.
Another crack above their heads and they were cantering, and at this
pace he kept them, knowing that he could still expect more of them, and
that, however fast he drove, he could never keep ahead of the Boer
horsemen.

Meanwhile Jack had thrown himself upon the mealie bags, and, lifting the
flap of the tent behind, peered out in readiness to act should they be
followed. At first little notice was taken of them, but the Kafir
driver had taken to his heels, shouting that his