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Oh, never mind my name," replied Rob, and pushing the gentleman

aside he entered the audience chamber of the great king.

King Edward was engaged in earnest consultation with one of his

ministers, and after a look of surprise in Rob's direction and a grave bow

he bestowed no further attention upon the intruder.

But Rob was not to be baffled now.

Your Majesty," he interrupted, "I've important news for you. A big fight

is taking place in South Africa and your soldiers will probably be cut into

mince meat."

The minister strode towards the boy angrily.

Explain this intrusion!" he cried.

I have explained. The Boers are having a regular killing-bee. Here! take

a look at it yourselves."

He drew the Record from his pocket, and at the movement the minister

shrank back as if he suspected it was an infernal machine and might

blow his head off; but the king stepped quietly to the boy's side and

looked into the box when Rob threw open the lid.

As he comprehended the full wonder of the phenomenon he was

observing Edward uttered a low cry of amazement, but thereafter he

silently gazed upon the fierce battle that still raged far away upon the

African VELD. Before long his keen eye recognized the troops engaged

and realized their imminent danger.

They'll be utterly annihilated!" he gasped. "What shall we do?"

Oh, we can't do anything just now," answered Rob. "But it's curious to

watch how bravely the poor fellows fight for their lives."

The minister, who by this time was also peering into the box, groaned

aloud, and then all three forgot their surroundings in the tragedy they

were beholding.

Hemmed in by vastly superior numbers, the English were calmly and

stubbornly resisting every inch of advance and selling their lives as

dearly as possible. Their leader fell pierced by a hundred bullets, and

the king, who had known him from boyhood, passed his hand across his

The Master Key