face this Mr West and his companion if we capture them and bring
them back."

"But what's that to me?"

"Only this: you are the informer, and will have to give evidence against
them when they are examined. Now, please, no more words, Mr Anson; you
are my prisoner. Quick, boys! Get the team in-spanned and the wagon
turned the other way."

"But breakfast," said Anson, with a groan. "I must have something to
eat."

"The billy is boiling," said the sergeant to his chief, in a
confidential tone, "and the bullocks would be all the better for an
hour's feed, sir."

The superintendent looked sharply towards the fire and the prisoner's
provisions, and shaded his eyes and gazed for some minutes south.

"You're right," he said. "Send two men off a good mile forward as
outposts, and let the oxen feed.--Now, Mr Anson, I'll take breakfast
with you if you'll have me for a guest."

"Yes; I can't help myself," said the prisoner bitterly; "and suppose I
shan't have a chance given me to make your tea agreeable with something
I have in the wagon."

"No; I don't think you will, sir, thanks."

"But I can sit and wish you luck, my friend, and my wish is this--that a
commando may swoop down upon you and your gang."

"Thanks once more," said the superintendent grimly. "There, sit down,
sir, and I'll preside and send you your breakfast."

This was done, the repast made, and, as soon as two of the constables
had finished, they were sent off to relieve their rear-guard, sending
them on to have their meal, and with orders to fall back towards the
wagon a quarter of an hour after the relief had been made.

All this was duly carried out, the oxen in-spanned, and the wagon began
its lumbering course back towards Kimberley, the black driver and
voorlooper taking their places in the most unconcerned way, as if it
were all in the day's work, while Anson, after eating voraciously, had a
fit of the sulks, watching narrowly the movements of the police. After
a moment's indecision he climbed upon the box in the front of the wagon
and in doing so glanced at his rifle, which hung in its slings close to
his head.

"Six of them," he said to himself, as he smiled pleasantly. "I could
bring down the chief and one more easily; but that wouldn't scare the
rest away. Odds are too heavy, and one don't want to be taken and
hanged. They are so particular about a policeman being hurt! Never
mind; I daresay my luck will turn--fool as I was to