and lots of the
houses are rather outlying. What I would suggest is to formulate some
scheme by which you could run together some sort of laager at very short
notice. Get all the waggons you can, and sand-bags and store-bags and
so on, and warn quietly all the most level-headed of the community, and
fix up that they shall get inside it if necessary. Only, do the thing
quietly, so you will escape the obloquy of posing as scare-mongers and
yet not give it away to the natives that you're funking them. Isard,
with his knowledge of strategy, ought to be able to arrange all that to
a hair."

This was rather a nasty one to Isard, whom the speaker happened to know
had been one of those who was too ready to take in the insinuations of
cowardice that had been made against himself, and had been a bit short
and supercilious in consequence.

"That's all very fine and large," retorted the police captain. "But
what we should like to know is, how the devil we're going to get that
very short notice."

"You have native detectives attached to your force," answered Lamont,
"who may or may not be reliable--probably not. But failing them, or in
any case, if I'm above ground I'll contrive to give it you."

"You? Why, how?"

"I told you I was going to start out for my farm to-night. After that
I'm going to pay another visit to Zwabeka's kraal."

"The devil you are!" And Orwell and the police captain looked at each
other. The same thought was in both their minds. This Lamont had
acquired a reputation for being careful of his skin. Why, even the new
arrival, Ancram, who had known him at home, had added to such reputation
by the tale he had put about as to the reason why Lamont had found his
own county too hot to hold him. Yet here he was proposing to go and put
his head into the lion's mouth. The subject of their thoughts, reading
them, smiled to himself.

"Certainly I am," he said. "You see, now, I was right in keeping faith
with old Qubani. I'll be able to find out something, and when I do I'll
let you know by hook or by crook. Meanwhile get everything prepared--
quietly if you can, but--prepared. Now I don't think we've any more to
talk about, so I shall get back to Foster's. Coming, Driffield?"

"Yes," answered the Native Commissioner.

The two officials left together looked at each other for a moment in
silence.

"Can't make that fellow out," said Orwell, breaking it. "I like Lamont
well enough, but there's