," said the colonel,
smiling, after he had been made aware or the success attending the party
that had hurried up at the alarm, and after he had examined the
prisoners; "but you have done a splendid night's work--cleared away an
impending danger, and secured a storehouse of com sufficient for a whole
month."

"A month or more," said Captain Roby.

"Ha! Then we can hold out and wait. But about these prisoners. Here,
major, what do you say?"

"Humph!" ejaculated the major. "Two of the treacherous hounds who
deceived us, and whom we let go to fetch us supplies."

"And came back to blow us up," said the colonel.

"Failed in that," said Captain Roby, "and then started another
cold-blooded, treacherous plan."

"Yes," said the colonel, "based upon the knowledge they must have wrung
from one of the native tribes they have oppressed. Well, gentlemen, we
have two of the miscreant spies. What next?"

"The fate of spies," said Captain Roby. "I think it is due to our men
that they should be shot."

"Kept prisoners till we can hand them over to the general, and let him
decide," said the major. "What do you say, Edwards?"

"They are prisoners, and beaten," said the captain. "Yes, I side with
you."

"Two against you, Roby," said the colonel.--"Well, Lennox--and you,
Dickenson--you may as well give your opinion. What do you say,
Dickenson?"

"I should like to see that black-haired brute tied up and flogged, sir."

"Should you?" said the colonel, smiling. "Well, I dare say he deserves
it; but it is not the punishment we can give a prisoner, so your opinion
will stand alone.--Well, Lennox?"

"Oh, it's all war, sir; and the fellows are half-savage peasants who
hate us like poison. You can't shoot them, sir, for fighting their
best--their way."

"No, Mr Lennox, I can't shoot them; but it will be a horrible nuisance
to have to keep them as prisoners. I wish they had died fighting like
brave men. As it is they will have to live prisoners till the war is at
an end. Now then, about where to place them."

"Here, I know, sir," said Dickenson, laughing. "Shut them up in the
kopje. They'll be quite at home there."

"No," said Lennox, joining in his comrade's merriment; "don't trust them
there, sir. They're malicious enough to spend their time destroying all
the corn."

"Well done, Lennox!" said the colonel emphatically. "I'm glad you
spoke, for before anything was said I had determined to make their
hiding