s too, squatting on the ground, smoking pipes, and very
frequently spitting: on their good word depended to a very great extent
his own life.

"Do you confess to having assisted the prisoner to escape?" asked the
Commandant. "It will save trouble and lighten the guilt upon your soul
if you do."

"Certainly I do not, Mynheer," returned Colvin. "How can I have
assisted any prisoner to escape when I was a prisoner myself?"

"_Maagtig_! Said I not that all Englishmen were liars?" grunted the old
burgher, for the benefit of those within the tent.

Morkel, too, Colvin had not failed to observe occupying the same seat as
yesterday. But Morkel had turned on a wooden expression of countenance,
and avoided catching his eye. Clearly Morkel believed in the maxim
anent self-preservation. He had a wholesome fear of drawing suspicion
upon himself.

"We will first hear the testimony of Adrian De la Rey," said the
Commandant.

Colvin managed to repress the astonishment he felt as Adrian came
forward. The latter differed in outward trappings from the other
burghers only in the fact that his get-up was smarter. He, too, avoided
Colvin's glance.

"Tell your story," said the Commandant shortly. But before the other
had said half a dozen words, Colvin interposed:

"Excuse me, Mynheer Commandant. But in taking evidence it is usual and
indispensable to take it on oath--to swear the witness to tell the
truth. Now this has not yet been done."

It was just possible some advantage might be gained by this formula
being observed, but Colvin did not reckon it would amount to much.
Morkel, however, put in a word in favour of the suggestion, and
accordingly Adrian was sworn after the usual Dutch method, with his
right hand held up. Then he proceeded to tell his story.

As one of the field-captains of the burgher force it had been his duty
to go the round of the sentries. Two mounted guard over the place
wherein Frank Wenlock was confined, namely, the stable at the back of
Gideon Roux' house. The door was locked with a strong padlock, and
there was one window, which was iron barred, and fairly strong. One
sentry was stationed beneath this, and the other before the door. When
he arrived at the stable he was surprised that the sentries gave him no
recognition, but, on examining further into the matter, he found they
were both asleep. Moreover, he could hardly wake them, and when he did,
they excused themselves by saying that