to
all intents prisoners till they had served the time for which they had
engaged.

"Haven't kept you two waiting, have I?" said Anson, with a pleasant
smile directed at both.

"No, no, all right," replied West, and directly after they were admitted
to the compound, just in time to find that half-a-dozen of the stalwart
Kaffir workers were standing perfectly nude awaiting the examination
about to be made by some of the officers--an examination which they
seemed to look upon as a joke, for they laughed and chatted together.

"Looking as innocent as old Anson, only not so white," whispered
Ingleborough. "But we shall see."

CHAPTER TWO.

BLACK INNOCENTS.

The examination of the men was not a pleasant duty, but it was carried
out in the most matter-of-fact way by a couple of experienced white men,
who began at once.

"Now, you," cried the one who seemed to be the head; "this way."

The big black spoken to stepped forward at once, smiling
good-temperedly, and stopped by a heavy wooden stool, upon which he
planted a foot, and in obedience to orders separated his toes in turn to
show that he had no diamonds hidden between them. Then he was seized by
the searchers, the first holding the black's head on one side while his
companion took hold of the lobe of the right ear and twisted it about,
ending by thrusting in a small wooden scoop and afterwards turning it to
act as a sound.

"Don't seem to have a diamond in there," said Anson, smiling and looking
very innocent, but deeply interested. "Turn him over."

But the searchers had not waited for Anson's words, and were already
turning the black's head over, the man yielding himself to every push
and thrust, smiling good-humouredly the while, though the treatment was
decidedly rough.

"Nothing in the other ear," said Anson, smiling at West. "Shouldn't
wonder if he's got ever so many tucked in his cheeks, like a monkey
pouches nuts."

This time it seemed as if the same idea had struck the searchers, for
the black was ordered to open his mouth, and a big coarse finger was
thrust in, and the interior of the mouth was carefully explored, without
result.

"Here, I know," whispered Anson, rubbing his hands together. "Oh, the
artfulness of the beggar!"

"Where are they, then, old Double-cunning?" cried Ingleborough
contemptuously.

"Stuck with gum in amongst his woolly hair--I say, isn't it fun?"

"Rather disgusting," replied West. "I shouldn't like the jo