he last camp. But he is very sick. We did what we could for
him."

_B._ "Evidently! Are you sure that he was leading you wrongly?"

_M._ "Yes, sir. He was taking us back along the road by which we had
come from Richmond Road. We stumbled upon one of my own men's
water-bottles which he had dropped earlier in the day. As soon as the
guide saw what it was, he tried to do a bolt."

_B._ "Circumstantial evidence, I think; verdict and sentence in one.
Well, you at least have the satisfaction of knowing that you have
brought your man down. But next time don't hit a refractory guide so
hard. I have an idea that if you shot less straight you might have
been able to carry out your orders even with a refractory guide. Where
are the telegrams? Hand them over to your colonel, and tell him to
send another officer on with them at once. No; give them to me. Here,
Mr Intelligence, off you go. Just get into Britstown as quickly as you
can. As we haven't seen any smoke curling up over the landscape, I
take it that Brand and Co. have postponed their good offices. But if
anything is wrong, mind you manage to get one of your party back to me
with the information."

* * * * *

The Intelligence officer and the Tiger had not left the column a mile
behind them when they met a Cape cart coming along the dusty road from
Britstown. It was driven by a youth of some eighteen summers, who
stopped his pair of mules with the greatest unconcern to the signal
from the Tiger.

_Tiger._ "Good morning. What is your name?"

_Driver._ "Good morning. Naude."

_T._ "Where have you come from?"

_D._ "Britstown!"

_T._ (_who was now close up to the cart and busy in examination of
it_) "What have you been doing in Britstown, and how long have you
been there?"

_D._ "I have been there about ten days: my wife has been confined
there!"

_T._ "So you have taken her out for a drive to-day?"

_D._ "No. How could I?"

_T._ "Then you have been driving another lady?"

_D._ "No."

_T._ "What have you got those two cushions on the seat for? What's the
good of lying? Where are you going now?"

_D._ "Back to my home!"

_T._ "Where is that?"

_D._ "Drieputs, two hours[20] on."

_T._ (_decidedly_) "Now, look here; it is no use lying any more. I
will tell you what you have been doing and who you are. You are the
son of old Pretorius of Richmond Road. Yesterday you were on commando
with Lotter; your brother was shot and ta