but to Jack the time passed
pleasantly, and the road seemed short, for all the way his thoughts were
occupied with the happy prospects in front of him when the war was over.
He would wait two years perhaps, and then he and Eileen would be
married and live in Africa till he reached the age of twenty-five. His
allowance under his father's will, and the sum he could earn at the
mines, or at Mr Hunter's store in Johannesburg, if that still existed,
when added to it would be amply sufficient to keep them in comfort.
Then they would return to old England, and Eileen would become the
mistress of Frampton Grange.

Jack built many castles in the air, and might have erected many more had
not a party of mounted Boers caught sight of him and given chase. But
our hero was now well able to take care of himself, and he quickly
eluded his pursuers. Then he pushed forward, and in two days' time
arrived at Mafeking.

There was a great change in the town. Scanty rations and absence of all
luxuries had produced their results. Constant fighting and the
explosion of shell on every hand had wrought sad havoc with the gallant
little garrison. Wan of face, pinched and haggard, out more determined
than ever, they still manned their posts, and B.-P., smiling still in
spite of a load of responsibility, still made his rounds and cheered his
men.

And outside, the Boers fired their guns, throwing shell everywhere, not
even sparing the hospital and women's laager, in which many women and
children had already fallen victims. Protests had proved unavailing,
and now the children and their mothers lived elsewhere, while all the
Boer prisoners filled the hospital and laager, and ran the risk of being
slaughtered by their friends outside.

Jack stayed only long enough to deliver his message and obtain some
sleep. Then, loaded with despatches, he slipped from the town once more
and cantered south, _en route_ for Lord Roberts's camp.

CHAPTER TWENTY.

THE ROAD TO VICTORY.

The month of January was just drawing to a close when Jack on-saddled in
the market square of Mafeking, now almost battered out of all
recognition by the tremendous and continuous shell fire to which it had
been so long subjected, and, vaulting into his seat, settled his rifle
across his shoulders, strapped on the water-sack which dangled on one
aide, carrying a supply sufficient to last until he reached the Modder
River, and, picking up the reins, trotted across the o