But the wounds were serious enough to incapacitate them from further fighting that campaign. The young men were therefore taken down to Cape Town, leaving Fred Weldon to represent them on the triumphant march to Pretoria. It was a sorrowful parting between the three heroes, but neither anticipated it would be long before they were together again. "We can only pray that you may be in at the wind-up of our old enemy, Oom Paul, Fred," they said on parting. "Also that you may escape any of these Mauser button-holes in your carcase, that we have to carry with us." "Cheer up, boys," cried Fred. "I guess you'll both be up again at the front before we reach Pretoria. I want you to help me to capture Paulus--that is our ambition, you know." Bloemfontein had been taken two days before they were permitted to leave with the other wounded, and the doctor assured the two invalids that, if they took care, they would be ready for the saddle again in a week or two. Ned had a puncture through his sword-arm, and Clarence was wounded in the thigh, but the wounds were clean, and already showed signs of mending. Among the wounded who were brought in before they left were several Boers, who had been abandoned by their countrymen. In one of these Fred recognised Stephanus Groblaar. He had died a couple of hours after his admittance to the hospital. When this news was communicated to Ned, he murmured-- "I am glad he did not owe his death to me. It is better to miss than to accomplish a private revenge. `Bobs' has set us all a splendid example in forbearance." "Yes; that noble action of Lord Roberts represents the feelings of the British army from commander to private. To think only of one's duty to the Empire, to fight only for right, to subdue all private feelings and sink animosity,--this is the code of honour of all true empire makers." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Necessarily our story cannot end at present, since our three heroes have been so busy seeking after adventure that they have not yet had time to fall in love, and no story can be quite complete without a wedding. Therefore, while two of our heroes are recovering from their wounds, and the other is riding under the orders of the gallant General French, we may safely prognosticate the future of the rotten Transvaal Republic with that of its foolish victim, the Orange Free States. Universal law and order for South Africa, with equal rights for Boer and Briton under the Flag that means equality and freedom for every human being, white-skinned or black. Blue for truth, red for love, and white for purity,--these are the signs of the Union Jack, and the combination means freedom, equality, and fraternity, while Justice holds it in her grasp. Where it waves, oppression and slavery cease to exist.