revious day, it runs as follows:

"HEAD LAAGER,
"TWEIPANS,
"_January --th_.

"_To the Colonel Commanding the British Forces in
Gueldersdorp._

"SIR,--In reply to your communication I am instructed by
General Brounckers to inform you that our prisoner, the
Englishwoman who came here in the character of a German
drummer's refugee-widow to act as your spy, will be
exchanged for a free Boer of the Transvaal Republic, by
name, Myjnheer W. Slabberts, who is at present confined
under the Yellow Flag in Gueldersdorp gaol. The exchange
will be effected by parties under the White Flag at a given
point North-East between the lines of investment and defence
one hour before Kerk-time to-morrow, being the Sabbath.

"I have the honour to be yours truly,

"P. BLINDERS,
"_Acting-Secretary to General_
"_Brounckers._"

"P.S.--_The young lady of German extraction who accompanied
the Englishwoman has entered into an engagement to remain
here._

"_P. B._"

"P.SS.--_The engagement is with yours truly, the young lady
having conformed to the faith of the Gerevormed Kerk. We are
to be married next Sunday. Would you like us to send you
some wedding-cake?_

"_P. B._"

Blinders has certainly had the last dig, but his principal victim fails
this time to wince or bellow under the point of his humour. With his big
face changing from red to white, and from white to crimson half a dozen
times in as many seconds, Captain Bingo says, refolding the paper and
returning it with a shaky hand:

"Then she--she----"

A lump in his throat slides down and sticks.

"Gerevormed Kerk-time is eleven o'clock." The Colonel looks at his shabby
Waterbury, as the brisk clatter of cantering horse-hoofs breaks up the
Sabbath stillness of the Market Square, and an orderly, leading an
officer's charger, halts before Nixey's door. "The B.S.A. escort, with
their man, are due to leave the gaol in ten minutes' time. Here's your
orderly with your mount, and you've eight minutes to change in."

"One minute, sir," Captain Bingo utters with an effort. "This man--this
Slabberts--is a well-known spy--a trump card in Brounckers' hand, or he
wouldn't be so anxious to get hold of him. And therefore--by this
exchange--and a woman's dashed ambitious folly--you may lose heavily in
the end...."

"I don't deny it." The haggard shadow is again upon the Colonel's face, or
is i