CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.
BAD SHILLINGS ALWAYS COME BACK.
West stepped to his companion's side, looked out between the roughcurtains of the wagon, and saw a group of mounted Boers surrounding afreshly-arrived wagon with its long team of bullocks, the blackvoorlooper at the head and the driver with his enormous whip on the box.
"Well," said West, after a sharp glance, "there's a fresh load ofprovisions, I suppose! What of it?"
"Rub your eyes, lad, and look again."
"They don't want rubbing."
"Well, of all the fellows! Look there, beyond those mounted men whoescorted the wagon in--there where the commandant and the dismountedparty are talking together."
"Yes, I see where you mean; but what has it to do with us? I don't--yes, I do. Why, it's Anson!" cried West excitedly.
"Anson it is! I began to think you were going blind!"
"But how strange! They have taken him prisoner then. Look here; we'renot going to have him with us."
"It doesn't look as if he is a prisoner," said Ingleborough; "they allseem too friendly. I believe the scoundrel has deserted from the townand come to join the Boers. What has old Norton been about?"
"Is it possible?"
"Oh, it's possible enough, if old Norton has been to sleep. Rats desertsinking ships!"
"Kimberley isn't a sinking ship!" said West indignantly.
"I don't know so much about that, lad! There is a very small forceready to defend it; it's a long way from help; and, as we see here, theenemy is swarming down upon it from all directions. You see, it's sofar from our forces and so near to the Free State border."
"Ah, there he is plainly enough, laughing with the commandant! Look, heclapped him on the shoulder!"
"Yes, I give him credit for anything!" said Ingleborough. "I shouldn'twonder if he was in full correspondence with the Boers and is ready tosell us as well as buy diamonds. As likely as not, he has slipped awaywith his swag so as to escape before the fighting begins. But howNorton can have let him get away is more than I can understand!"
"Well, it's plain enough that he's here!" said West; "and I can't helpfeeling glad that he is not a prisoner, for if he had been put with usit must have come to a quarrel. Look here, seeing what the treacherousthief is, we ought to denounce him to the commandant."
"Don't do anything of the kind! What good would it do?"
"But he is such a despicable wretch!"
"What's that to you?"
"Ingleborough!"
"Oh yes, I know what you're ready to say; but you've got something elseto do besides playing the virtuous part of denouncing Master Anson as adiamond-dealer. Besides, I don't believe the Boers would think any theless of him if they believed you."
"They couldn't help believing our evidence!" said West.
"Nonsense! It isn't your business!"
"It's every honest man's business!" cried West hotly.
"Not if he is on Government service with a despatch to deliver inMafeking," said Ingleborough, with a peculiar look at his companion.
"Hah!" cried West; "you are right again! But--oh!"
"Oh, what?"
"Why, he was present when we volunteered to carry the despatch!"
"To be sure, so he was!" cried Ingleborough excitedly.
"Then as soon as he knows we have been captured he'll denounce me to thecommandant as the bearer of the message, and oh, Ingle, we shall besearched again!"
"Yes," was the thoughtful reply; "and you've got it on you. We mightchange jackets, but that would be no good. Could you rip it out ofyours?"
"Yes, of course, in a few moments."
"Then you'd better."
"Not now; it's too late. We must wait for a better opportunity."
"But--"
"No, no, I tell you," cried West excitedly; "look, he's not a prisoner.The scoundrel has recognised us and is coming here. Why, Ingleborough,he's a traitor--a rebel. No wonder he got through the Boer lines.Look! there can be no doubt about it; he has joined their side. Thosemen, the Boer leaders, the commandants and field-cornets, cannot knowthat he is a thief."
"But they soon shall!" answered Ingleborough hoarsely.
"No, no, keep quiet," whispered West; "he's laughing with them andcoming here. Don't say a word; wait! It's my advice now."
"If I can!" muttered Ingleborough. "The skunk! He's sending the blooddancing through my veins! He must be denounced, and if he begins to saya word about your volunteering to bear the despatch I'll let him have ithot and strong."
"Why, you seem to have completely turned your coat!" said West bitterly.
"I have! What we have just been saying has stirred up all my bile. ButI wish I could turn your coat too--out of the wagon."
"Why not?" said West, as a thought occurred to him, and running to theother end of the vehicle, stripping off his jacket as he did so, hethrust out his head and called to the sentry whose duty it was to guardagainst any attempt to escape.
"What is it?" said the man quietly.
"Take my coat and hang it on the rocks yonder," he said. "I've beensleeping in it night after night, and it's all fusty and damp. Outyonder, right in the sun."
The request was so simple and reasonable that the man nodded, took thejacket, and was turning to go away.
"Don't let anyone meddle with it," said West; "it's my only one, and Idon't want a Kaffir to carry it off."
"He'd better not try!" said the Boer, with a meaning laugh, and he borethe jacket right away to where the sun was beating hotly upon the rock,where the next minute the garment was spread out.
"Talk about me having a ready wit in an emergency!" said Ingleboroughmerrily; "why, I'm a baby to you, West, my son! There: I'm proud ofyou."
"Oh, but the risk!" whispered the young man. "That precious garmentlying carelessly yonder!"
"Carelessly? That's just the way to keep it safe. Who'd ever think ofexamining the coat lying out there?"
"The first man who goes near it!"
"The first rogue, and he'd only feel in the pockets. But there's nofear: that sentry would fire at any thief who tried to steal! That'ssafe enough!"
"I wish I could think so!" replied West. "The first thing when theycome will be to ask me what I have done with my jacket."
"Pooh! In that loose, dark flannel shirt they'll never think of it. Ithought they'd have been here, though, before now."
They had to wait for some little time still, for the Boers had gatheredabout the new-comer, forming a half-circle, evidently to listen whileAnson talked to them earnestly, his gesticulations suggesting to Ingleborough, rightly or wrongly, that he was describing the arrangements fordefence made by the British garrison at Kimberley, which he had solately left; and as he spoke every now and then the listeners nodded,slapped the stocks of their rifles, turned to make remarks to oneanother, and gave the speaker a hearty cheer.
"Oh, you beauty!" growled Ingleborough. "I can't hear a word you say;but I'm as certain as if I were close up that you're telling thosechuckle-headed Dutch that all they've got to do is to march straight inand take Kimberley, for they'll find it as easy as kissing their hands."
"If he is telling them the weak points it's downright treason," saidWest bitterly, after a glance out of the wagon in the direction of therocks on which lay his jacket.
"It's stand him up with a firing party, and a sergeant with a revolverto finish the work if it isn't quite done," said Ingleborough. "Thecowardly scoundrel: he'll be getting his deserts at last! I say,though, isn't it sickening? A blackguard like that, who doesn't stop atanything to gain his ends!"
For Anson had finished speaking and the Boers had closed round him,patting him on the back and pressing forward one after the other toshake his hand, while he smiled at them in his mildest, blandest way.
After a few more friendly words the ex-clerk began slouching slowly up,followed by half-a-dozen of the principal men, till he was close to thetail of the prison wagon where West and In
gleborough were seated tryingto look perfectly indifferent, but the former with his heart beatingheavily and a flush coming hotly into his cheeks, when the Boers stoppedshort, leaving Anson to speak, listening the while as if theyanticipated a little amusement from their new friend the informerhailing the prisoners in the wain.
"Hullo!" cried Anson, with one of his most irritating smiles--one fullof the triumph over them he enjoyed and the contempt he felt, "hullo!Who'd have thought that the virtuous West and the enthusiastic shamdetective Ingleborough would have come out here to join the Boers? Butdon't tell me. I know: I can see how it is. You've both been bled, andthat's let some of the bounce out of you."
He stopped for a moment for those he insulted to reply, but as they bothsat looking at him in cool contempt he went on jeeringly: "The Boersknow what they're about, I see. When a horse has the megrims they bleedhim in the ear, and judging that the same plan would do for a donkeythey've bled cocky West there, and bull-headed Ingleborough on theskull."
West's face grew of a deeper red, and he drew in a long deep breath, forthose of the Boers who understood English burst into a hearty laugh atthis sally of the renegade's.
"Well, I'm glad of it!" continued Anson, taking the Boers' laughter asso much approval. "It was all you wanted, Bully West, and I daresay,now that you've come to your senses, you'll make a decent Boer. There,I'll give you a recommendation for a clerkship, for you do really writea decent hand."
"Say thanks," growled Ingleborough, with a sneer which told of hiscontempt; "he will no doubt have plenty of interest. He has come up tolead the Boer army's band and give lessons on the flute."
Anson started as if he had been stung.
"Quiet, man, quiet!" whispered West to Ingleborough; but it was in vain.