discussed.

"It's a dangerous proceeding," said the colonel, in conclusion; "but one
thing is certain--we cannot hold this place long without food, and it is
all-important that it should be held, so we must risk it. Perhaps the
fellows are honest after all. If they are not--"

"Yes," said the major, giving his chief a meaning look; "if they are
not--"

And the unfinished sentence was mentally taken up by the other officers,
both Lennox and Dickenson looking it at one another, so to speak.

Then the colonel turned to the Boer cornet.

"Look here, sir," he said; "I am a man of few words, but please
understand that I mean exactly what I say. You and your companions can
stay here upon the condition that you are under military rule. Your
duty will be to forage for provisions when required. You will be well
treated, and have the same rations as the men; but you will only leave
the place when my permission is given, and I warn you that if any of you
are guilty of an act that suggests you are playing the spy, it will mean
a spy's fate. You know what I mean?"

"Oh, of course I do," growled the Boer. "Just as if it was likely! You
don't seem to have a very good opinion of us burghers."

"You have not given us cause to think well of you," said the colonel
sternly. "Now we understand each other. But of course you will have to
work with the men, and now you had better help to unload the wagons."

The cornet nodded, and turned to his companions, who had been watching
anxiously at a little distance; and as soon as they heard the colonel's
verdict they seemed at ease.

A few minutes later the regimental butchers had taken charge of one of
the oxen and a couple of sheep, whose fate was soon decided in the
shambles, and the men gathered round to cheer at the unwonted sight of
the carcasses hung up to cool.

Meanwhile an end of one of the warehouses had been set apart for the new
supply of grain, and the Boers worked readily enough with a batch of the
soldiers at unloading and storing, with lanterns hung from the rafters
to gleam on the bayonets of the appointed guard, the sergeant and his
men keeping a strict lookout, in which they were imitated by the younger
officers, Lennox and Dickenson waiting, as the latter laughingly said,
for the smuggled-in Boers, who of course did not appear.

Lennox made it his business to stand close to the tail-board of one of
the wagons, in which another lantern was hung, and with the