work carried on, and with the prosperous condition of everyone in
the town. From Kimberley they returned to Bloemfontein, staying there
only a few hours, for, unlike Pretoria, it was of little interest, while
at the latter place the huge forts, which had recently been built on
most modern lines, were alone well worth a visit.

When they reached Johannesburg again, Jack had been exactly three months
in the country, and liked it so much that he determined to stay still
longer. His leg was now perfectly strong again, but the accident had
been a severe one, and the shock to his system so great that it had
brought to light some slight weakness of the lungs, which up to the
moment when his thigh had been broken had remained completely
unsuspected.

"If you take my advice, my boy," said Mr Hunter, patting him kindly on
the back, one day when Jack had suggested it was time to return home,
"you will stay on here for a complete year. We are some thousands of
feet above the sea-level, and Johannesburg, and indeed most of the
Transvaal, is notoriously healthy. You are not fit to go back to the
cold English climate. Of course there is not much the matter with you,
but I don't like that weakness you sometimes complain of. I have
written to Dr Hanly and your mother, and the former quite agrees with
me that a prolonged stay will do you good."

"There is nothing I should like better, Mr Hunter," Jack replied, "but
what am I to do with myself all day?"

"Oh, that is easily arranged! You seem to have taken quite kindly to
shop life, and I am going to propose that you become one of my regular
assistants. I shall only want you in the mornings, and as we always
open early you will be able to get plenty of exercise in the open air.
You have already made many friends here, and no doubt you will find
plenty ready to accompany you on horseback out into the veldt. There
are two good horses in the stable which you may use whenever you like."

Accordingly it was settled, much to Jack's and Wilfred's delight, that
the former should prolong his visit, and very soon he had quite settled
down to the life. Early morning found the two lads in their shirt
sleeves outside the store taking down the shutters. By breakfast time
everything was dusted and the goods uncovered. After the meal they
stood behind their counters, and before long Jack knew as well as anyone
in Johannesburg what was the current rate of butter and ham, and what
was the