, I certainly advise you
to do so, for you are not likely to see much fun hero; and besides,
anyone not belonging to the regulars or volunteers is to be rigorously
excluded from General Buller's camp. Ladysmith is a precious tough nut
to crack, and to be honest and perfectly candid, I do not believe we
shall break our way through the Boers till we have distracted their
attention to other quarters, and caused them to weaken their forces
here. We are playing a big game, and while we keep Joubert and the Boer
army before us by feints and attacks in deadly earnest, we are anxiously
awaiting reinforcements to drive them out of Cape Colony, and if
possible invade their own territory."

"In that case," answered Jack, "I shall leave as early as possible and
join the troops under Lord Methuen; they are twelve miles south of
Kimberley, and barred from reaching the town by General Cronje and the
impregnable heights of Magersfontein and Spytfontein. Perhaps a
despatch-carrier will be wanted, for Mafeking if not for Kimberley, and
I shall offer my services."

A few minutes later, after thanking Jack, the war-correspondent retired
to his own tent to write up his despatches, and send them across the
telegraph cables to the head offices of the London newspaper for which
he worked.

Jack joined the officers of one of the regiments at dinner, and
afterwards retired to rest. On the following morning, on mentioning to
one of the staff of the general that he was about to set out for
Kimberley, a letter was given him describing him and his services, and
recommending that he be employed as a despatch-carrier.

Armed with this, Jack took a hearty farewell of young Poynter, and,
climbing on board a coal truck which had come along the line to the
front filled with ammunition, he was whirled south to Pietermaritzburg.
Here he found that all was bustle. Loyal to the heart, the inhabitants
of this old town had for many long weeks been energetically aiding the
Government authorities. Relief committees had been instituted to manage
the funds sent out from the English public, and had already done
enormous good in lessening the sufferings of the poor people who had
fled at the commencement of the war from Johannesburg and other parts of
the two republics, bringing with them only what wealth they could carry.

Hospitals had been arranged in various public buildings, and in these,
ladies--high-born, rich, and poor--worked with a will. At the