A Dash from Diamond City Part 63

"Yes, sir."

"Quite?"

"Well, not quite, sir, because I was with him."

"Hah!" sighed Ingleborough, in a tone full of relief.

"I've stuck to him, by the General's orders, ever since. Like a leech, sir," said the sergeant, in conclusion--"like a leech."

The cavalry General welcomed the young men warmly, and, as it happened, the same four officers were with him, ready to join in the greeting.

"I never expected to see you two fellows again," said one of them, laughing. "I was out with my men when you were cut off. Why, you must have had a very narrow escape!"

"Of course," said the General, laughing; "but that has been the fas.h.i.+on: we have all had narrow escapes. Well, you got safely in with your despatch?"

"We got in with our despatch, sir!" said West rather grimly, "but not safely;" and he briefly told their adventures.

"Bravo! Well done!" was chorussed.

"Why, you two will have to join the regulars!" said the General. "We can't have men like you for volunteers! Think it over, and, if you decide to join, come to me, and I'll see what I can do! Now then, don't want to be rude; but I have no time for ordinary visitors. You sent word in that you wanted to see me on important business. What is it?"

"You speak," said Ingleborough, and West began.

"We want to know about the prisoner taken that day, sir--the man who said he was a Boer."

"I remember," cried the General. "I have him safe."

"When is he to be tried, sir?"

"Can't say; he will be handed over to the authorities who see to such things now. You said he was a renegade who had joined the Boers."

"Yes, sir, after being charged with illicit-diamond-dealing with the Kaffirs working at the great Kimberley mines; and we want you to give orders for the wagon he had with him to be searched."

"His wagon searched?" cried the General. "How am I to know which wagon he had?"

"The sergeant knows where it is, sir," replied West; "and we could recognise it directly."

"But why do you want it searched--what for?"

"For diamonds, sir, that he brought away from Kimberley, and which you have brought back."

"H'm! Diamonds, eh? This sounds interesting!" said the General. "You think he has some there?"

"We both believe he has, sir, and of great value."

"What do you say, gentlemen?"

"Oh, let's have the search made by all means!" cried one of the officers, laughing. "It may mean salvage and loot, and all sorts of good things!"

"Very well! Take the matter up, and I'll see the search made! Let the prisoner be present, of course. I'll be ready in half-an-hour."

Punctually to the minute the General was ready, and he walked down through the temporary camp to where the wagon stood among scores of others, while the sergeant and four men stood by with Anson, who looked s.h.i.+fty and uncomfortable, wincing suddenly as he caught sight of West and Ingleborough, and then gazing sharply about at the mounted Lancers on duty as patrols, for the prisoners were many, and there had been several attempts at escape.

The General looked at him sharply, and then at the wagon.

"Is that your wagon, prisoner?"

"It was till you took it!" replied the young man surlily.

"What do you say, sergeant?"

"Yes, sir," answered the sergeant, with military brevity. "I marked it with my knife the day that it was taken."

As he spoke he laid a finger upon a couple of notches he had made in the wood-work.

"Now then," said the General, "before I have the wagon examined--"

Anson's eyes twitched.

"Repeat the charge you made against this man!" continued the General.

Ingleborough now firmly repeated almost word for word what he had before said, and charged Anson with being an illicit-diamond-dealer.

"And upon what do you base this charge?" said the General sternly.

"The personal knowledge of myself and friend here," replied Ingleborough.

"All lies, General," cried Anson excitedly. "Those two are charging me with what they did themselves. They were illicit-diamond-dealers, and when they were found out they tried to plant the crime on me. All lies!"

"Crime? Yes," said the General thoughtfully. "Yes; I suppose it is one of the greatest crimes that a man can commit in Kimberley. All lies, eh! Well, sir, not all, for it is evident from your speech that you are an Englishman and not a Boer. I judge too that you were in the company's office at Kimberley."

"Oh yes, General," said Anson; "that is true, and through the plotting of these two men I was turned out of my situation."

"And then deserted to the Boers?"

"No, General. I was obliged to do something for a living, so I bought a wagon to go in for trade; but I was captured by the Boers and they have kept me a prisoner ever since. Then you fought the Boers and beat them, and took me prisoner again. That's why I'm here."

"An Englishman--prisoner to your own countrymen? Why did you not declare what you were? What did he say his name was, sergeant?"

"Said he was a Boer and his name was Piet Retif, sir," said the sergeant, with a look of disgust at Anson's fat face.

"Yes; that looks black against him!" said the General. "He is taken with the Boers, while those who charge him are men of trust, being chosen to bear despatches."

"Because they were not found out, sir!" cried Anson. "There never was a worse pair of cheats and tricksters."

"Perhaps not!" said the General. "So you were a prisoner with the Boers, my man?"

"Yes, General, and very glad to see the British troops come up and gain such a success."