fall into the enemy's hands."

"Unless I destroyed them first!" said West bitterly.

"Of course. That is what you would try to do, my lad, if you had time.
But as you would naturally defer that till the last extremity, the
probabilities are that this necessary task would be left undone.
Rifle-bullets fly very swiftly, and the Boers' traps are cleverly set,
as our people are finding to their cost."

"But the despatches must be delivered, sir," said West excitedly, "and
it is my duty to go on at any risk!"

"And mine to do two things, young gentleman," said the General, speaking
very sternly. "One is, to assist you in the task you have in hand; the
other, as I find that Kimberley is being hard pressed, to try and cut my
way through to the help of the brave people who are holding it against
great odds. Now, as the two objects work together, your way must be
with us. I may not be able to force my way through, but I can certainly
see you well on your way."

"Then we are to stop with your cavalry brigade, sir?" said West, in
disappointed tones.

"Certainly, as long as I am making a forward movement, which will
commence at once. If I find it necessary to diverge from the course
laid down, on account of the extent of the convoy I have captured and
the number of prisoners, I shall give you fair warning, so that you may
make a dash for yourselves. There, gentlemen, I am busy. You will
attach yourselves to my staff, and help keep a watch over the loot in
diamonds."

Taking this to be a dismissal, the two young men retired to talk the
matter over in their own quarters.

"I don't like it!" said West excitedly. "We have our orders as to what
we are to do about the despatch! Ought we to let a cavalry general
override those instructions?"

"I suppose so," replied Ingleborough. "Perhaps, after all, he is
right."

"Right?"

"Well, he knows from good information the state of the country, and we
do not. It would be better for your despatch never to be delivered than
for it to fall into the enemy's hands."

"Of course!"

"Then why not take matters as you find them? Are we not going to take
news for our General over yonder, and reinforcements as well?"

"Yes, I hope so," replied West; "but one does not like when one's plans
are made to have them interfered with."

"Of course not," said Ingleborough, laughing; "but we started with fixed
plans from Kimberley, and we've been interfered with and baffled ever
sin