pon the speaker sharply. "Do you call it manly to
fire at close quarters upon a party of two?"

"No!" said the man shortly, as he turned round and said a few angry
words in the Boer jargon--words which were received by some with angry
growls, while the major portion remained silent and sullen.

"You're not our cornet! Mind your own business, before you're hurt!"
cried the man who had fired, taking a few steps towards the spot where
West stood, and, seizing him savagely by the throat, he tried to force
him to his knees.

But he tried only with one hand--his left--his right being engaged by
his rifle, and to his utter astonishment the prisoner retorted by
kicking his legs from under him and flinging him upon his back.

A yell of anger arose from some, and of delight from others, all looking
on while the discomfited Boer sprang up with a cry of rage, cocked his
rifle, and, taking quick aim, would have fired point-blank at the
prisoner had not his act been anticipated by the Boer who had before
spoken. Quick as thought he sprang upon his companion, striking the
presented rifle upwards with a blow from his own, and then grasping the
infuriated man by the collar.

"None of that!" he cried fiercely in Dutch. "Cornet or no cornet, I'm
not going to stand by and see a cowardly murder done! We've got to
fight, brother burghers, but we'll fight like soldiers and men. Our
name's been stained enough by what has been done already."

"Here, you'd better go and fight for the rooineks," cried the
discomfited Boer fiercely.

"I'm going to fight for my home and country, brothers," cried West's
defender, "the same as you are: not help to murder a helpless boy who
has behaved like a brave man."

The portion of the force who had seemed disposed to side against the
speaker were disarmed by his words, and there was a general cheer at
this, while the cause of the trouble growled out: "You're a traitor to
your country, and the commandant shall hear of this."

"No, no, no, no!" came in chorus. "Serves you right."

West made no resistance now, as his defender signed to him to give up
his rifle, which, plus the bandolier, was handed over with a sigh,
Ingleborough's having already been taken away.

The next thing done was to search the prisoners' pockets--watch, purse,
and pocket-book being taken away, but the inner belts containing the
greater part of their money were entirely overlooked, while West stood
breathing hard, his face