roceedings before taking up a pen
and writing a few lines upon an official sheet of paper.

"That will clear you both going and returning," said he, folding and
handing the permit. "Now then, when do you start?"

"Directly, sir," said Ingleborough, who was the one addressed.

"No," said the Commandant. "You must wait a few hours. Of course it is
important that the despatch be delivered as soon as possible; but you
must lose time sooner than run risks. If you go now, you will be seen
by the enemy and be having your horses shot down--perhaps share their
fate. So be cautious, and now once more goodbye, my lads. I shall look
forward to seeing you back with an answering despatch."

This was their dismissal, and they hurried away to have another look to
their horses, and to see that they were well-fed, before obtaining a
meal for themselves and a supply of food to store in their haversacks.

"There's nothing like a bit of foresight," said Ingleborough. "We must
eat, and going in search of food may mean capture and the failure of our
mission."

The time was gliding rapidly on, the more quickly to West from the state
of excitement he was in; but the only important thing he could
afterwards remember was that twice over they ran against Anson, who
seemed to be watching their actions, and the second time West drew his
companion's attention to the fact.

"Wants to see us off," said Ingleborough. "I shouldn't be surprised
when we come back to find that he has eluded Norton and gone."

"Where?" said West.

"Oh, he'll feel that his chance here is completely gone, and he'll make
for the Cape and take passage for England."

"If the Boers do not stop him."

"Of course," replied Ingleborough. "It's my impression that he has
smuggled a lot of diamonds, though we couldn't bring it home to him."

"I suppose it's possible," said West thoughtfully. "But isn't it likely
that he may make his way over to the enemy?"

Ingleborough looked at the speaker sharply.

"That's not a bad idea of yours," he said slowly; "but, if he does and
he is afterwards caught, things might go very awkwardly for his
lordship, and that flute of his will be for sale."

"Flute for sale? What do you mean? From poverty?--no one would employ
him. Oh! I understand now. Horrible! You don't think our people
would shoot him?"

"Perhaps not," said Ingleborough coldly; "but they'd treat him as a
rebel and a spy. But there, it's pretty well time