Having no ambition toward enacting the _rôle_ of heroine of an Adelphi melodrama, Brenda was beginning to weary of this game of hide-and-seek. However, she was safe for the time being, as even the redoubtable Van Zwieten could hardly be expected to take her from the midst of the British army. Harold reported the mishap which had led to the loss of his men, and afterward rejoined his company. He wished his wife to go back to Spearman's Camp; but she begged so hard to remain that at last he consented. Permission was obtained from the authorities, and Brenda betook herself to her old task of nursing the wounded. She related to her friend the doctor as much of her adventures as she could without trenching too closely on her private affairs; and great surprise was expressed at her perils and her lucky escape. But to Wilfred, who came to see her and his brother as soon as he heard of their rescue, she related everything in detail. "By Jove! what a scoundrel that fellow is!" said that young man. "I wonder when he intends to leave you alone." "Never, I fear," replied Brenda. "Unless he is killed I shall never be safe from him." "I'll shoot him myself if I get a chance. He is a danger to society--it must be some one's business to put him out of the way. You have had a bad time, Brenda; but I don't think you need fear the man any more." "What makes you say that?" "I have an idea that he has come to the end of his tether." "So have I," she said. "And I told him so. But, Wilfred, tell me about my father?" "He has gone back to Durban, as you know, to see the authorities about your disappearance. He thinks you have been taken prisoner by the Boers, and that you are at Pretoria by now. He is going to try and get you exchanged." "There is no need for that, thank God!" said Brenda, cheerfully. "I must let him know at once." "That will be difficult unless you send a message from Ladysmith." "When do you think we shall be there?" "If the luck holds good, in a couple of days. We have taken most of the Boer positions; now Warren intends to try for Spion Kop to-night. If he captures it, we shall hold the key to the Boer position." "Ah, you see Wilfred, your forebodings are all wrong." "We are yet in the wood, not out of it," replied he, significantly. "However, I will give Buller and Warren all praise. They have done well. All the same, I still condemn this plan of campaign. Only a miracle can render it successful." "Well, we shall see what happens when Spion Kop is taken. Do try and look on the bright side of things, Wilfred."