With Rifle and Bayonet Part 28

One is, that both the Transvaal and the Orange Free State are practically deserted; and the second, that such a mad act as the attempt on the part of an escaping prisoner to cut into Natal, where the Boers are so strongly posted, would never cross their minds. These burghers are slim, very slim, but recklessness is a vice they cannot understand.

Their motto is to take due care of themselves, and to attempt to creep through the enemy's strongest position would mean as much as suicide to them. If Komati Poort and the eastern coast are too carefully watched I think we ought to try to reach Natal and get into Ladysmith. The Boers have failed to take the camp, and from what the doctor here has told me are likely to be kept outside for an indefinite period."

"But we could never hope to get through as we are," cried Guy.

"Remember, Jack, Harrismith is a long way from here, and we should certainly be seen by someone."

"Yes, that is probable," answered Jack calmly, puffing thoughtfully at his pipe, "but we must brazen it out. There are lots of scoundrels, fellows who got into hot water at home, or who were never fit to be called Englishmen, who have taken up arms for the Boers. You have told me so yourself, and that, dressed as we are, we should pa.s.s for them.

Very well, that is what we must do. We must pretend we are Englishmen on the Boer side returning to the front after being wounded. It will be simple enough, and all we shall want will be rifles. We must manage to get hold of two Mausers and bandoliers. I suppose we shall have to steal them, but then, all is fair in war, and when you come to think of it, all the weapons the Boers possess have been paid for by Uitlander gold."

"By Jove, Jack, I believe you are right!" exclaimed Guy enthusiastically. "The bolder we are, the more chance we shall have of getting through. I think, however, that we ought first of all to make the attempt towards the east. If that fails, we can try the south. But how about those rifles?"

"Oh, we must get them somehow, Guy!" answered Jack firmly. "Look down the street," he continued, pointing in the direction of the government buildings. "Opposite Government House there is always a guard of six men, and they live in the little shed close by. I know something about them, for I have watched them change guard every day I have been here.

If you look closely you will see that the four men off duty place their rifles in the rack outside the house, and sling their bandoliers over the muzzles. Surely we could manage to get possession of a couple of them."

"Yes, we might," agreed Guy dubiously, "but how?"

"Well; break one of the windows of Government House, for instance. How would that do?" asked Jack. "After all, we only want to call the sentries' attention away from the guard-room for a few moments. There ought not to be much difficulty about it. One of us could manage the window and the other walk off with the rifles. But it is a kind of matter to be settled on the spot. Another thing we must think of is food. Our rations here are none too plentiful, and I fancy that provisions are scarce in every part of the Transvaal. But we have put by some of ours this last week, and that will keep us going for a time."

"Well, then, the sooner we make the attempt the better," cried Guy.

"What do you say to to-night?"

"To-night will do as well as any, Guy, and we will slip through this window as soon as it gets dark."

A few minutes later, as Jack and his friend were talking over the plans for their escape that night, the Boer doctor entered the hospital and walked up to them.

"My friend," he said, placing his hand on Jack's shoulder, "I am sorry to say that from to-day you and I must part company. You are now sufficiently well to leave this hospital and make room for a burgher who has just arrived from Natal in a serious condition, and your comrade will also be moved to-morrow. Get whatever things you have ready.

There is a cart outside to convey you to a farm on the outskirts of Pretoria. By right you should be sent to the race-course, where all the English prisoners are confined, but I managed to get the authorities to let me keep you here, and afterwards to send you to the farm as a particular favour. We may not meet again till this terrible war is over, but then, whoever wins the day, if you come back here ask for me and I will hand over to you the skin of that lion you helped to slay."

Jack was dismayed at the order, but, recovering from his astonishment, he managed to stutter out his thanks to the doctor, who had been exceedingly kind and attentive to him.

"I can never thank you sufficiently, Dr Otto," he said warmly, "and if I ever return to Pretoria I will certainly look you up and claim the skin. It is a trophy which I should be very glad to possess."

"Very well, then, my dear young fellow," answered the Boer doctor. "We will consider the matter as settled. Ah, how I wish this conflict was over! My heart is not in it. Peace and equality for all is a maxim I have always considered best for this country. But I am busy. Goodbye!

and I trust we shall meet again some day."

Jack shook hands with him, and then commenced to pack up his few belongings.

"Don't be down-hearted, Guy," he exclaimed cheerfully. "This separation is a nuisance, but we are not going to give up our plans. Expect me to-night; I will tap gently at this window and wait underneath it for you. If I fail to get away from this farm to-night, I will find out where you are in the course of a few days, and then you can expect me.

Good-bye, old chap, and keep up your p.e.c.k.e.r! We are going to get out of this cage, and together, too!"

"That we will, Jack," Guy answered brightly. "Be sure I shall be ready when you come along; but if you find that coming for me spoils your own chances, leave me to get away as best I can and make good your escape."

"I'm going to get out of Pretoria, and you are coming with me or I won't go at all!" exclaimed Jack stubbornly, and with more excitement than he was wont to show. "Expect me to-night. It will not be my fault if I fail to turn up."

Shaking hands with one another, the two young fellows parted, still firm in their intention to escape if possible from Pretoria, but now far more doubtful of success.

A few minutes later Jack was seated in a four-wheeled cart, and was driven through the streets towards the outskirts of the town. As they pa.s.sed the railway-station a train from Natal had just arrived, and the Boer driver pulled up his horse and chatted with a comrade who was standing near.

On the platform there was an immense crowd, mainly composed of women, and a glance told Jack the reason of their presence. The carriages were all marked with a big red cross, and it was evident that this was an ambulance train, of which the Boers had many, perfectly fitted up. All the doors were open, and ambulance men and bystanders were helping to carry out the wounded.

A sorry, forlorn set of soldiers they looked, but not more sorry or woebegone than the women. Things were different now from what they had been a month before. The Boer forces had not met with that complete and overwhelming success which at first seemed to be in store for them.

They had invaded the British colonies so far, and there they had been checked, and there they remained now, waiting till the tide turned, and the British troops, whom all had been taught to think lightly of, rolled their ranks back towards the frontier. And then--what would happen?

They had never paused to think of that before. They had cheered their men folk on, and bidden them fight well for their country. But now it was a different matter. A few names only of killed and wounded had been returned, but rumour said that hundreds of others had been suppressed.

No wonder, then, that these poor women flocked with tear-stained faces to the station, and clamoured for news of their husbands and sons.

It was a piteous sight, and Jack felt sorry for them; but he did not forget that in Cape Colony and Natal and away in Old England there were thousands more like them, weeping for the lads who had given their lives for queen and country.

The Boer now put his horse in motion again, and having driven half a mile outside the town, drew up at a pleasant little farmhouse.

Jack descended and entered. He was met by a field-cornet and a detachment of five armed men, and was at once placed in a small room at the back of the building.

Left to himself, he looked round for a means of escape, and noted with much satisfaction that there was a small window which would suit his purpose.

"I'll lie down and pretend I am tired by the drive," he murmured to himself, "and as soon as it gets dark I'll get through that window. I wonder whether they will bring me anything to eat!"

Flinging himself on a bed placed in one corner, Jack remained quiet for more than an hour, thinking over his plans. Then the door was flung open, and a man entered, bearing a jug of water and some bread and meat.

"There you are, rooinek," he said surlily. "That is all you will get to-night. If I had my way you would be sent to keep your countrymen company at the race-course. How Oom Otto could wish to have you here is more than I can say."

Jack made no answer, but, turning on his side, closed his eyes as if he were weary and took no notice of the food. A moment later the man was gone, and, slipping from the bed, he stole noiselessly across the floor and carefully inspected the door. It had a large key-hole, and this he plugged with bread.

Then he sat down on the cot again and ate some of the food.

"Now I am ready," he murmured. "There is enough food here to last me two days, and by that time I shall have managed to get some more."

Three hours later it was quite dark, and, flinging his haversack over his shoulder, and carefully feeling beneath his coat to make sure that his Mauser was still there,--for by a wonderful chance it had escaped notice when his wound was first dressed,--he crept across to the window and opened it noiselessly. It was placed high up in the wall, so that Jack put a wooden stool beneath it, and, mounting on this, was on the point of hoisting himself up, when, to his horror and dismay, the door was thrown open, and a man entered bearing a candle in his hand.

A second later he had grasped Jack firmly by the collar and had flashed the light in his face.

It was a terrible misfortune, and Jack could almost have cried. But, for the moment, his attention was otherwise occupied, for as the rays from the candle fell upon the stalwart Boer, he recognised, with a curious feeling of pleasure and hope, that it was the very man whom he had handed over to his friends near Vryburg, after wounding him in the chest.

The recognition was mutual, and the Boer, who a moment before was in the act of calling for a.s.sistance, shut his lips and stared at Jack as though he were too much surprised to speak. Then he burst into silent laughter and dragged Jack to the bed.

To resist was useless, and like a wise man Jack at once resigned himself to his fate.

"So, Englishman," the big Boer at length exclaimed, when both were seated, "you were about to bid us goodbye! Surely we have not treated you so badly."

"I have had the kindest attention," answered Jack, "but, remember, liberty is dear to every man."

"It is so. Liberty is our birthright, and that is why we fight," the Boer answered solemnly. Then he remained silent for several minutes and looked earnestly at Jack. "Why did you not throw me off and make good your escape?" he asked, with the suspicion of a smile upon his face. "I am weak still from the wound you gave me, and for that reason am in hospital here. You could have beaten out my brains with that stool."

"Yes; I might have done that," Jack answered thoughtfully, "but it would not have helped me. The guard outside would have been roused, and I should have been taken. Well, it is rough luck, and to-morrow I suppose I shall be sent off to the race-course."

"Perhaps, Englishman, perhaps!" the Boer answered slowly, and then lapsed into silence again, and became buried in deep thought.

Suddenly he roused himself and said in a low whisper: "Englishman, I do not love your countrymen, but I cannot forget that once you helped me when wounded. You ran the risk of imprisonment so that I might not die like a poor deserted dog in the bush. It is hard that I should repay you in this way. It would have been better had I entered this room an hour later. But I will show my grat.i.tude at all costs. Escape now, before I change my mind, for in doing this I too shall risk my life.

Escape! Leave me! I will lie upon the floor, and so disarrange the room that, when my comrades find me there in the morning, they will think that you have attacked me. Go, Englishman; you deserve a reward for your n.o.ble act!"

Jack was simply astounded, and could scarcely believe his ears. "Was it true that he was free to escape after all?" he wondered vaguely, "or was this merely some sly ruse?"