A month after he reached Pretoria, Jack's wound was almost healed, and
he really had no need to keep his arm in a sling. But, for the first
time in his life, he made a pretence of feeling weak, and still walked
slowly, as if he were feeble after his adventurous encounter with the
lion.
Guy Richardson, too, was now quite strong again. His broken arm had
united firmly; but still he persisted in wearing it slung in a scarf,
and thus escaped being sent to the front.
They were both inmates of the hospital, which was once a school
building, but had now, like hosts of others, been turned into shelters
for the wounded. Of these, despite the small numbers acknowledged by
the Boers, there were now hundreds--so many indeed that the staff of
doctors and attendants was taxed severely.
The building in which Jack and Guy had been placed had large windows,
and as they were the only Englishmen there, no sentries were placed over
them. There were about twenty other patients in the hospital, who were
constantly changing, those who were sufficiently well being sent
elsewhere to make room for more severe cases. Consequently there was
little to fear from their companions, and the two young fellows, feeling
now sufficiently strong to stand the fatigues of a long journey, decided
to make their long-talked-of attempt at escape.
"Now, the first thing to be settled is which frontier we shall make
for," said Jack, when they were discussing the matter. "The best and
easiest way is to the east, through Komati Poort, into Portuguese
territory, and on to Lorenzo Marques. We could get a steamer there,
sailing from Delagoa Bay to Durban, and so should be able to join the
British troops. The difficulty about the matter is that all trains to
the coast will be closely watched, for there are many Englishmen, like
yourself, endeavouring to slip away."
"Yes, Lorenzo Marques appears to be the best place to aim for," Guy
answered thoughtfully; "but the whole of the frontier is certain to be
strongly patrolled. Supposing it were out of the question for us to
attempt to get through on the east, what direction do you think we ought
to take?"
"I should say that Natal, by way of Harrismith, would be the best, Guy.
I have made the journey once before, and it will have two advantages.
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 pass 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 pecker! 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
passed 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 assistance, 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 gratitude 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 noble 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?"
A second later he dismissed the thought as ungrateful, for a glance at
the Boer's face told him that here at least was one man with honest
intentions. Then he wrung his hand, blurted out his thanks, and a
minute later was climbing through the window.
Creeping close to the wall once he had dropped outside, Jack paused for
a few moments and listened. There was a light in a room at the side,
and from the open window sounds of voices proceeded. Stealing along to
it Jack lifted his head cautiously and peeped in, to find that the
field-cornet and his five men were seated on some benches in a cloud of
tobacco smoke.
It was clear that they had no fear that the Englishman in their care
would escape, and, thankful for the fact, for the longer his absence
remained undiscovered the better, Jack hurried away in the darkness, and
a quarter of an hour later entered the streets of Pretoria.
When he reached the neighbourhood of the hospital in which Guy was
living, he slipped off his boots, and, carrying them, walked along till
he was close to the guard-house opposite the government buildings.
"It will be much better for me to get those rifles now," he thought.
"Perhaps someone might give the alarm as Guy is leaving the hospital,
and then we could never hope to get possession of any weapons, and to
pass as Englishmen on the Boer side we must have them. I'll wait here
till the sentries are changed. The hour for that is ten o'clock, and it
is not far from that now."
Seating himself in the darkest corner, but well in sight of the
guard-house, Jack waited patiently, and soon had the satisfaction of
seeing two men emerge from it and relieve their comrades. It was quite
an informal matter, and performed in a very different manner from that
practised by English troops. Smoking their pipes, the two men stepped
out of the hut and called to the others to come to them. Then each took
a bandolier and a rifle from one of the sentries, and, still smoking,
strolled across to their posts and stopped in front of the big building
to continue a conversation which they had broken off in the hut.
Now was Jack's chance, and he seized it. Slipping along close to the
wall, he crossed the road noiselessly, peeped into the guard-house to
see that all was quiet, and then, with his eyes upon the careless
sentries, slipped two of the bandoliers across his shoulder, and
carefully lifted two rifles from the rack. A moment later he was gone,
and, hurrying back to his former hiding-place, deposited his possessions
on the ground. A few minutes passed, and as all was still quiet, he
slipped up to the window of the hospital close to which Guy's bed was
placed, and gently tapped on the window-frame. It was an intensely hot
night, and fortunately the window stood wide open. A second later Guy
was leaning through it.
"Is that you, Jack, old boy?" he whispered.
"Yes. Come along, Guy," Jack answered. "Slip out at once. There is no
one about."
"I'm ready," Guy whispered back, and, dropping from the window, was
standing close at Jack's side in a twinkling.
Taking him by the sleeve Jack led him along close to the wall till he
reached his former post, when he placed a bandolier and a rifle in his
hands.
"Slip the belt on, Guy," he said shortly; "we have no time to lose."
"What! Where did you get these, Jack?" Guy asked hoarsely.
"Stole them, old chap!" Jack chuckled. "I stole them from the
guard-house a few minutes ago. Steady, man! What are you doing?"
The last hurried exclamation followed the accidental dropping of Guy's
rifle, which clattered loudly on the pavement.
Instantly the two sentries became alert, and one of them called out
harshly: "Wie gaat daar?"
"Come along! Quick!" Jack whispered, "Follow me! We must get out of
this at once."
Darting down the street they came to a turning, and waited there to see
what would happen. As they did so, the sentry who had challenged walked
quickly towards the hospital, evidently determined to solve the cause of
the mysterious sound. Finding nothing, he looked up at the windows, and
then looked in at the open one and asked if anyone inside had heard
anything. The reply was unsatisfactory, for he at once shouted that
something was wrong, and called to the hospital attendant to bring a
light. At the same moment the men off guard emerged hurriedly from the
hut, and by simple force of habit went to the rack for their rifles.
"Someone has taken two of our guns and bandoliers," one of them shouted
in the Boer tongue. "What is wrong, Paul? Are there thieves about, or
is it that weak-hearted Englishman, Guy Richardson, who is trying to
escape?"
What the answer was Jack and Guy did not stay to hear. Guy hastily
interpreted what had been said, and realising that their flight had
already been discovered, the two darted off down the street in the
direction of the station. They could still hear excited shouts behind
them, but these soon died away.
"Let us stop here for a minute," said Jack breathlessly, when they were
close to the station. "Now, what is to be done? We must get out of
Pretoria as soon as possible."
"Listen! what is that?" Guy exclaimed eagerly. "It is an engine in the
station with steam up. What luck if a train is about to leave! Let us
make a rush for it."
"Yes, and be collared at once," muttered Jack. "No, Guy, we must be
cool about it. That is a train on the point of leaving. Let us brazen
the matter out. Pretend that we are burghers, and join the train as
though we had a right to. Come along! There goes the whistle! It will
be off in a minute!"
Swinging their Mausers behind their backs, Jack and Guy coolly walked
through the gates of the station, and mounted the platform, against
which a locomotive and carriages were standing on the point of moving
off. Swaggering along as though there were plenty of time to take their
places, and as if there could be no question as to their right to be
there, they had passed a good half-way up the platform when the whistle
sounded again and the wheels began to revolve. Glancing hastily into
the carriages, Jack selected one which had only two occupants, and
sprang into it, followed by Guy. Then they sat down in the two corners
facing one another, and commenced to smoke their pipes.
The two men in the carriage, who were dressed in the usual Boer costume,
scarcely noticed their entrance, for they were engaged in an animated
conversation which seemed to occupy all their thoughts. But they were
conscious of the fact that strangers had joined them, for they
immediately sank their voices to a whisper.
Jack and Guy listened to them, and soon became aware that the language
used was English. At the same moment the stoutness of one figure, and
an obtrusive German accent, roused Jack's suspicions, and another glance
convinced him that by some evil fate he and his comrade had entered a
carriage in which were Piet Maartens and Hans Schloss, the two men who
above all others in this land of Boers bore him an ill will.
His discovery by the wounded Boer when in the act of escaping from the
farm to which he had been sent in the morning was nothing to the shock
which this recognition brought him. Here he was, with only one friend,
attempting to get back to British territory, and their flight had
already been discovered; and now, to make matters ten times worse, they
were in the presence of two men who would certainly arrest them as soon
as they learnt who they were. It was a terrible predicament, and might
very well have awed the boldest, for to be captured now meant almost
certain death for Guy, while for Jack a punishment of little less
severity might be expected.
Sitting in his corner Jack puffed briskly at his pipe and thought
deeply. Then he pulled his slouch hat well over his eyes, and, casually
stretching out his legs, touched Guy and attracted his attention. A
serious of short winks and nods followed, and if they did not exactly
explain the situation to Guy Richardson, they at least showed him that
danger was to be expected.
Suddenly Jack became aware that Hans Schloss and his companion had
stopped their talking and were staring hard at him. But he took no
notice, and, still lying back in his corner, puffed heavily at his pipe.
"Who are you?" Piet Maartens suddenly asked, leaning across and jerking
him by the sleeve. Then as Jack looked up he recognised him, and
shouted: "The spy again! Help me, Hans, these two are Englishmen!"
Next second Jack had thrown himself upon him, and Guy rushed at the fat
little German, and, grasping him by the collar, threatened to blow out
his brains if he made so much as a sound.
But though Hans Schloss was no great fighter, and had given in at once
with a terrified whine, the Boer was made of sterner stuff, and
endeavoured to draw his pistol. Jack was too quick for him, and now,
locked in each other's arms, they swayed backwards and forwards, and
finally fell to the floor with a crash, striking one of the doors
heavily as they did so, and bursting it open.
"Out with him, Jack! Pitch him out! It is our only chance," Guy cried
excitedly.
Jack heard and understood his words, and, summoning all his strength,
folded Piet Maartens in his arms, and, staggering to his feet, hurled
him from the carriage. A moment after Guy had served the shrieking
German in the same manner, and they were left alone in the carriage.
Meanwhile the train had got up speed on its long run to the Portuguese
frontier, and was now well out of Pretoria and rushing across the lonely
veldt.
"By Jove!" exclaimed Jack breathlessly, lifting his hat from his head
and wiping the perspiration from his forehead, "that was a close shave,
and if those fellows are not killed, we shall have them setting the
whole country after us!"
"Then that settles it, Jack," Guy answered with conviction. "If one or
both survived the fall they will make for the nearest office and
telegraph down the line to stop us. We must get out of this and make
for the south."
"Yes, you're right, Guy. Lorenzo Marques and Delagoa Bay are out of the
question, and we had better leave this as soon as possible. The train
is running too fast now, but as soon as it slackens pace a little we
will jump off and strike south for the other railway. We said we would
go through the Orange Free State to Harrismith, and so into Natal; but I
begin to think that our best route will be by way of Johnny's Burg and
on through Laing's Nek. But there is no saying. We must do whatever
seems best, but get out of this we must at all costs."
About half an hour later the speed of the train slackened, and, climbing
out on to the footboard, Jack and Guy jumped off in turn, alighting on
the soft grassy veldt without hurting themselves. Then they turned to
the right and tramped on steadily all night.
When morning dawned they were well on the way to Johannesburg, and by
the following night had struck the railway some miles below that town.
That same night they boarded a goods train bound for Natal, and hid
themselves beneath a sheet of coarse canvas which was thrown over an
immense Creuzot gun being taken south to add its fire to the bombardment
of Ladysmith.
It was a long and tedious run, but no one disturbed them, and two days
later they ran through the tunnel at Laing's Nek, and on through
Newcastle without stopping.
When nearing Ladysmith Jack and Guy left the truck which had proved such
a friendly shelter to them, and striking away from the line hid
themselves close to the summit of a solitary hill. And here, behind a
breastwork of boulders, they threw themselves on the ground and slept
till the sun came up.