says," declared Danvers, as the four
platoon-commanders of "A" Company gathered together in a native hut
temporarily converted into the mess. "It's a step nearer the Karewenda
Hills, and there, according to accounts, Fritz will make a last stand."

"Unless he prefers Cape Town," added Spofforth, and the five officers
laughed at the jest. "As things are going it reminds me of that kid's
game 'Ring-a-ring-o'-Roses'--simply barging round and round and getting
no forrarder."

"Dashed smart chap that servant of yours, Wilmshurst," remarked
Laxdale, after the subaltern had related the story of Bela Moshi's
devotion. "And how is he progressing?"

"Splendidly, according to Dr. Barkley's latest report," replied Dudley.
"If any fellow deserves the D.C.M. it's he."

"And a little bird whispered to me," continued Laxdale, "that a certain
member of the antient and accepted order of the Lone Star Crush did a
jolly risky thing--fetching water under enemy fire."

Wilmshurst coloured hotly.

"Rot!" he ejaculated. "Fritz couldn't see me. They were putting up a
lot of small arms ammunition, of course. No, that's nothing; almost
forgot about it, in fact."

But if Wilmshurst had dismissed the incident from his mind the water
had not forgotten him. The poisonous germs in the non-filtered liquid
were doing their lethal work, and that evening the subaltern was down
with a severe bout of malaria.

In a covered dhoolie Wilmshurst was sent down to a hospital base-camp.
With him went Rupert, who, on the setting in of the reaction following
his release, was on the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Within a couple of months Dudley was back with his battalion. Many
times he bitterly reproached himself for being out of action for that
period simply because he did not exercise sufficient restraint when he
drank the tainted water. He realised that he alone was to blame, while
most of the trouble fell upon the shoulders of his brother
platoon-commanders, who already had their full share of work and
responsibility.

He found the battalion at a place twenty miles further away from the
Karewenda Hills than the kraal where he had played so conspicuous a
part in its defence.

"You needn't have been so rattled about it, old boy," declared
Spofforth. "You've missed none of the fun, for the simple reason that
there hasn't been any. A fortnight ago we were within sight of Twashi.
There was a Belgian column operating on the north-west side.