and I will buy it of you at a good price."

The Boer brightened up at this.

"In money?" he said. "Not in paper orders?"

"In hard cash, my suspicious friend," said the colonel, with a look of
contempt; "but it's time you had learnt that our government paper is as
good as Transvaal gold."

"We will be paid in gold," said the Boer, with a peculiar smile.

"That will do, then," said the colonel. "Now you can go, and the sooner
you set to work to teach your fellow-countrymen to respect the British
Government the better for you all. Now, off at once."

The Boer rejoined his companions, talked with them for a few minutes,
and returned.

"Back again?" said the colonel. "Well, what is it?"

"We are waiting to go," said the Boer coolly.

"Very well; the way is open," said the colonel. "Off with you, and
think you are lucky that we do not keep you as prisoners."

As he spoke he pointed out towards the open veldt; but the Boer shook
his head.

"Not that way," he said. "We want to cross the spruit to join our
friends."

The colonel hesitated.

"Well," he said, turning to the major, "perhaps it is not fair to send
them out on the karoo."

"But if you let them join their friends they will be fighting against us
again to-morrow."

"So they will be," said the colonel grimly, "if we send them in the
other direction. You don't suppose I have any faith in their parole, do
you?"

"I did not know," said the major.

"There, I will send a picket with you to see you safely to the ford,"
said the colonel. "Now, off at once, and bring the forage as soon as
you can."

"To-morrow or next night," said the Boer, with a nod.

"Here, Roby, send a sergeant's guard to see these people past the
outposts.--Now, my good fellow, time is valuable here. Follow that
gentleman, and he will see that you are safely passed through our lines.
Well, what now?"

"You haven't given him orders to return us our horses and our rifles."

"What!" cried the colonel.

"We can't get about without them," said the Boer coolly.

The colonel laughed.

"Well, of all the cool impudence!" he cried. "Why, you insolent dog!"
he roared, "do you expect we are such children that we are going to give
you the means of attacking us again directly you are safe?--Here, Roby,
see these fellows out of the lines."

The colonel turned away and walked back to his quarters, followed by a
torrent of abuse, which was promptly checked by Captain Roby, who g