got into a panic and made a bolt of
it. Say the Sergeant and myself remained. We broke into the house and
did for the old Boer, who, however, unfortunately did for the Sergeant.
Then I alone went out in search of my men and following their track
found they had gone in a wrong direction, and eventually scented
danger, which was confirmed by my meeting you, with your bloody tunic
and your bloody tale."

"But good God! sir," cried the man, "You'd be having me shot for
running away. I could tell a damned different story, Captain Boyce."

"Who would believe you?"

The Cockney intelligence immediately appreciated the situation. It also
was ready for the alternative it guessed at the back of Boyce's mind.

"I know it's a mess, sir," he replied, with a straight look at Boyce.
"A mess for both of us, and, as I have said, I'll leave it to you, sir."

"Very well," said Boyce. "It's the simplest thing in the world. There
were four killed at once, including Sergeant Oldham. You remained
faithful when the others bolted. You and I tackled the old Boer and you
got wounded. You and I went on trek for the rest of the troop. We got
within breathing distance of the Commando--how many strong?"

"About a couple of hundred, sir."

"And of course we bolted back without knowing anything about the troop,
except that we are sure that, dead or alive, the Boers have accounted
for them. If you'll agree to this report, we can ride back to
Headquarters and I think I can promise you sergeant's stripes in a very
short time!"

"I agree to the report, sir," said Somers, "because I don't see that I
can do anything else. But to hell with the stripes under false
pretences and don't you try playing that sort of thing off on me."

"As you like," replied Boyce, unruffled. "Provided we understand each
other on the main point."

So they left the farm and rode to Headquarters and Boyce made his
report, and as all save one of his troop were dead, there were none,
save that one, to gainsay him. On his story no doubt was cast; but an
officer who loses his whole troop in the military operation of storming
a farm-house garrisoned by one old man does not find peculiar favour in
the eyes of his Colonel. Boyce took a speedy opportunity of
transference, and got into the thick of some fighting. Then he served
with distinction and actually got mentioned in dispatches for pluckily
rescuing a wounded man under fire.

For a long time Somers kept his mouth shut; bu