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the murmured report that De Wet had bidden his followers break through the British chain wherever its links were weakest。 Instinctively each man threw himself into fighting array； convinced that the present minute marked the climax of the past days。
And； meanwhile； the limitless darkness shut down over the determined cordon of British men facing steadily inward towards the foe which they could not see； over the scattered knots of Boer horsemen； secure in their full knowledge of every yard of the ground； riding forward to fight their way through the chain into the veldt beyond。 And； far to the northward； De Wet was lurking in shadow long enough to cut the wires and then ride away with his trio of faithful followers。
To Weldon； fresh from the darkness and silence of the open veldt； it seemed as if； of a sudden； the frosty night were tattered into shreds。 As the fight waxed hot about him； he lost all memory of the intermediate stages。 At one instant； all had been still and dim； at another； the air before him was thick with vivid rifle flashes； his ears were full of the strident din of flying bullets； of shouting men； of squealing； moaning horses。 For a time； he could see nothing of the enemy but the flashing dots of fire。 Then the dots drew nearer； closed up； and the din was increased by the rattle of fixing bayonets； by the dull； sucking sound of steel prodded into soft masses； and by the thud of falling bodies。 And always from the outer circle the pitiless rain of bullets came splashing down upon them； striking impartially on friend and on foe。
Side by side in the foremost rank； Weldon and Carew were fighting like tigers。 Carew's cheek was gashed by a passing bullet； and Weldon's coat showed dark and wet over his left shoulder； but neither man was conscious of pain； or of fear； or of anything else than a surly determination to check the maddening rush before them。 Carew was slashing about him with all the strength of arm and bayonet； but Weldon； disdaining his bayonet； was firing with a steady aim which sent one man and then another to join the heap on the ground at his feet。
A second bullet grazed his wrist； and a horseman swept down upon him。 For an instant； he wavered。 Then he straightened his shoulders and took careful aim。 From ten feet away； he had heard a ringing order； and the order had been given； not in the voice of his own captain； but in that of Captain Frazer who； as ranking officer； had taken command of the fight into which chance had led him。 Weldon's every nerve answered to the tonic of that voice。 Not since Vlaakfontein had he been under its command。 Nevertheless； the old spell was upon him； and he responded to its call。 An instant before； the rush towards him had seemed indomitable。 Those furious； fighting horsemen could not be stayed in their course。 Now he braced himself for the shock of their coming； while tired hand and blurring eye roused themselves to do the bidding of his brain。 He was dimly aware that Paddy had struggled forward to his other side and； shoulder to shoulder with him； was helping to beat back the iron…like force pressing down upon them。 Then； with the keen grasp of trifling detail which often marks the supreme moment of mental exhaustion； he became conscious that the hairy tail which brushed across his face was unduly coarse and tangled； while a sudden cheer from around him told that the Boers were turning in flight。
Dazed； he drew his hand across his face； and stared wonderingly at the scarlet drops on his fingers。 Then he turned and looked down at Paddy with a whimsical； questioning smile。 Paddy repeated his query。
〃Are you hurt； little one？〃 he demanded； for the second time； as he shook Weldon's arm。
Weldon steadied at the touch。
〃No； only scratched a bit。 It is nothing to last at all。 Are you all right？〃
Paddy shut his hand over a shattered finger。
〃Glory be！ And the snakes of Boers is wriggling off to their holes。 And now； where's the Captain？〃
They found him a little apart from the line； slightly to the front and close beside a scattered heap of bearded men。 His face was white and the lines of his face were rigid and drawn； but he hailed them just as he always had been used to do。
〃My luck has changed；〃 he added quietly。 〃They have taken my leg； this time。 Still； it's not so very painful。 I'll fill my pipe first； and then will you two fellows help me back； till we can find an ambulance？〃
CHAPTER NINETEEN
In a quiet corner of the crowded hospital at Johannesburg； one narrow bed was screened away from its neighbors。 Beside the bed sat Ethel Dent； and Weldon leaned against the wall beyond。 Both of them were smiling bravely down into the dark…fringed blue eyes which met their eyes with a steady wishfulness。 With the end so plain in sight； why keep up the pretence of being blind to its approach？
An operation had been the final chance； and the chance had failed。 Out from the stupor of ether； out from the hours of bewildering pain； Captain Frazer had come back to an interval of full consciousness； of fuller knowledge that； for him； this painless interval was but the prelude to the final painless sleep。 Nevertheless； the man who had helped other men to die unflinchingly was facing death with a grave； unflinching smile； albeit life to him was good and full of promise。 The interval was short。 He would pass through it in manlike fashion； and； meanwhile； give thanks that beside his bed sat the one woman in whom his whole future so long had centered。
The slow moments passed by； unheeded。 It was an hour since the surgeons had gone away； it was nearly an hour since Alice Mellen had followed the surgeons。 Instinctively she realized that her place was otherwhere。 There was no need now for skilled nurses。 Ethel could do all the little which would be required； and it was Ethel's right to stay。
Since Alice had left them； no word had been spoken。 The Captain had little strength for words as yet。 It was taking all his energy and courage to face the truth and to accept it。 Only an hour before； his crippled career had seemed to him unbearable。 Now； as he lay with his eyes fixed on the girl beside him； he realized how much of potential sweetness that dreary alternative had held。 And yet； Fate had drawn him into the battle； and it was something that he had met Fate bravely and in the foremost rank。 So far； he had never funked a fight； if it took his last bit of strength； he would go pluckily through this last； worse fight which he was destined to face。 He stirred slightly； and shut his teeth on his lower lip； but his eyes never dropped from Ethel's face。 From the farther side of the bed； Weldon； too； was watching Ethel。 If he lived to full fivescore years； he could never forget her face as he had met her at the hospital door； that morning。 Exhausted with the excitement of the battle； stiff with his half…dressed wounds； soiled and untidy and haggard； he had paused beside the ambulance while the attendants had lifted the stretcher and borne the Captain up the low flight of steps。 Then； like a man in a dream； he had followed along behind them until； on the very threshold； he had raised his heavy eyes to see Ethel standing before him； a broad shaft of sunsh