"Then we have got you into a bad fix, I fear," said Ned, regretfully. "Oh, don't concern yourselves about us; we are ready with our alibis," answered the leader, with a merry laugh. "These gentlemen have been on the sick list in Bulawayo hospital for the past three weeks, while I have been looking after the health of my friend and chief, Cecil Rhodes." "I say, Jim," said one of the others, "do you consider it safe for us to take the up train to Bulawayo?" "Perfectly safe. There will be a special waiting for us at Palla, and we will hang on till after sundown before we board her. A wire up to headquarters will prepare them for our arrival, then you boys can sneak back to your nurses, while we make our way to Salisbury. We shall have to disguise you for that journey, but my friends will be done with their beards by that time, so one of these each will do for you." At last our heroes understood what had been puzzling them as peculiar about their rescuers. They had disguised themselves for this expedition. Who could the leader be, who was at that time supposed to be looking after the health of the great empire-maker? They looked at him again more closely, and then light broke upon them. Dr Jameson, of course! The hero next to Rhodes most worth following and worshipping in Africa. He saw from their expressions that they had recognised him. "Yes, boys; I am Dr Jim. But no one outside this company must know it. Your friend Philip Martin wrote to me the fix you were in, so we thought we might as well have a little outing and help you away. Now we must finish our task and make you disappear altogether from the ken of man. That, however, we can discuss with our chief when we see him." Words failed our heroes; they could only gaze at this dauntless paladin with speechless admiration. After a time Clarence ventured to ask about his father. "Oh, he is all right! He was advised to clear out as soon as you were sentenced, as he could be of more use to you outside the Transvaal than in it. He has sold his property and transferred his shares in the mine, and moved his banking account to Cape Town. He is there also, and stands the expenses of this so far successful private raid. By the way, he writes to tell us you wish to do a little exploring." "Yes," replied Ned; "that was our intention when we left England, but I don't know how we can do it now." "It will be the very best thing you can possibly do, while the hue-and-cry is out for you. I think we shall be able to fix that for you at Salisbury. Meantime, as we are within three miles from Palla station, and it will not be dark for a couple more hours yet, we had better take a stretch here and breathe our horses."