A Dash from Diamond City Part 64

"You said that you was a dealer in mealies and corn," growled the sergeant.

"Well, a man must do something for his living."

"Of course," said the General. "Well, you look simple and innocent enough."

"I am, sir, really!" cried Anson.

"And never engaged in illicit-diamond-dealing?"

"Me, sir? Never," cried Anson virtuously. "I was only charged by those two to save themselves! Then they got on, and I was trampled down."

"And joined the Boers out of revenge, eh?"

"No, sir: it was all fate and accident."

"Well, fate is very unkind to us sometimes, my man," said the General.

"That is your wagon and span of oxen, you say?"

"Yes, sir."

"Well, you have prospered by your change. What did you say you traded in?"

"Provender, sir--mealies and corn."

"And you?" cried the General, turning sharply to West. "What do you think he deals in?"

"I believe he deals in diamonds, sir," replied West.

"Why?" said the General.

"For one reason, sir, because my friend, in whom I have perfect faith, caught him in the act."

"Yes: anything more?"

"I know him to be a cowardly liar, sir, and--"

"Oh!" groaned Anson. "I never heard anything like it."

"Go on," said the General.

"Lastly, sir, because he set it about that I had volunteered to carry a despatch to Mafeking so as to get away with the diamonds I had smuggled."

"And did you?" said the General.

"I got away to Mafeking with the despatch!" said West, smiling.

"And where are the diamonds in question?"

"My friend and I believe that they are in James Anson's wagon," said West bitterly, for he felt bitter then against the traitor, whose proceedings he recalled when they were prisoners. Later on he felt a little sorry for his words.

"Oh!" cried Anson, throwing up his hands and looking appealingly at the General, who fixed him with his eyes.

"Well," he said; "what have you to say to this?"

"It's abominable, sir--it's atrocious--it's cruel!"

"Then you have no smuggled diamonds with you?"

"No, sir," cried Anson excitedly. "They charged me once before, and had my wagon searched by the police."

"And did the police find any?"

"No, sir, not one! It was a blind, sir, so that they might carry off theirs by throwing the police off the scent. I'll be bound to say they have a lot with them now!"

"Well, I doubt that!" said the General, smiling. "Where would they carry them?"

"Oh, sir, you don't know what artful tricks are played!" said Anson eagerly.

"Oh, I've heard of a few since I came to South Africa; but I don't think it likely that a couple of despatch-riders would carry many illicit-diamonds with them!"

"Have the b.u.t.ts of their revolvers examined, sir, and the stuffing of their saddles," cried Anson. "I have heard of the b.u.t.ts of rifles being bored to hold a lot."

"So have I!" said the General; "but I fancy a wagon would be more likely to supply hiding-places!"

"Oh yes, sir, but the police inspector searched my wagon, and did not find any."

"You would have no objection, of course, being perfectly innocent," said the General, "to some of my men searching your wagon?"

"Of course, I shouldn't like it, sir, but--"

"But? Ah, you mean conquest gives me the right of search?"

"It's like casting a slur on a man's character, sir."

"But it makes it s.h.i.+ne out the brighter when you are proved to be innocent! Here, sergeant, this case begins to be interesting! Search our friend's wagon."

Anson tried to master a wince, and merely shrugged his shoulders, standing with his hands in his pockets while the sergeant and his men commenced their task, examining every part of the wagon while the officers waited patiently, lighting up and smoking their cigars until the sergeant came back to make his report.

"Well, what have you found?"

"Nothing but these, sir," replied the sergeant stiffly. "Tucked away behind the doubled tilt they were, sir," and the man held out a revolver, Anson's sword-stick, and his little mahogany flute-case.

"Humph! No diamonds, sergeant?"

"Not so much as a pin or ring, sir," replied the man.

"Are these yours, Mr Piet Retif?" said the General.