front
their services were not wanted, for the war was a stern and sanguinary
one in which only men could take a part; but here, out of sound of the
cannon's roar, they were doing a noble work, and while they ministered
to the poor suffering soldiers, at the same time they eased their own
aching hearts, and distracted in some measure their own troubled
thoughts, for scarcely one of them but had some dear one, husband or
brother, cooped up in the beleaguered camp of Ladysmith and exposed to
the fire of the Boer guns.

Amongst them Jack found Mrs Hunter, and one can imagine with what joy
and tears she greeted him, and how eagerly she listened to the messages
sent her by her husband. In a twinkling the news that someone had
arrived who had recently escaped from Ladysmith spread through the town,
and nurses flocked from every hospital to interview him.

Poor Jack! Naturally a bashful lad, especially where ladies were
concerned, it proved a most trying ordeal for him, and far more so than
his interview with the correspondent. But at last he satisfied them
all, having in the large majority of cases only good news to give. Then
he said good-bye to Mrs Hunter, promised to convey all her messages to
Wilfred, and once more boarding the train, set out for Durban.

Here he was fortunate enough to find a transport sailing for Cape Town,
and that night was again at sea.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

JACK FINDS A SWEETHEART.

When Jack came on deck upon the following morning, after leaving the
port of Durban, it was to discover that the transport on which he had
obtained a passage was conveying a most important personage--one of the
chief officers on the staff of the commander-in-chief in Africa. Like
Jack, this staff-officer had recently journeyed from General Sir Redvers
Buller's camp, and though he was a stranger to our hero, yet, to Jack's
surprise, no sooner did he catch sight of him than he stepped briskly
towards him, and with outstretched hand addressed him in the most
affable tones.

"Ah, Mr Somerton," he commenced, giving Jack's hand a hearty shake, and
smiling at his evident astonishment, "this is a pleasure! I knew, of
course, that you were leaving Chieveley for Lord Roberts's force, but
did not imagine that we should make the sea-trip together. As it is, it
will save me the trouble of finding you at the other end. You must
know, my young friend, that you have made quite a reputation for
yourself as a colonial de