ut as you have, I begin to put that and that together and I feel
that the Boers have been playing dark."

"They have been playing dark," said Ingleborough warmly, "and I should
not be surprised to hear any day that they had declared war and found us
anything but prepared."

"They only want to be free," said a voice.

"Free?" cried Ingleborough. "Yes, free to do exactly what they please:
to tax every stranger, or outlander, as they call us, for their own
benefit: to rob and enslave the unfortunate natives, and even murder
them if it suits their hand. Free? Yes, look at their history from the
first. Why, their whole history has been a course of taking land from
the original owners by force."

That very night rumours reached Kimberley which sent a tingle into the
cheeks of every man who had joined in the demonstration against
Ingleborough: though the greatest news of all had not yet arrived, that
the Transvaal Government had thrown down the glove and made the advance.

CHAPTER FIVE.

AN UGLY CHARGE.

As everyone knows, the declaration of war was not long in coming, and
the news came like a thunderclap to all in Kimberley, where those who
had been in doubt as to the wisdom of the preparations previously made
were the loudest in finding fault because more had not been done.

"But do you think it's true, Ingle?" said West.

"Think what is true?"

"That the Boers have invaded Natal."

"I'm sure it is," was the reply; "and before very long we shall have
them here."

"Why should they come here?" said West.

"Because they have plenty of gold at Johannesburg, and they want to
utilise it for settings to our diamonds, my lad. They're a nice,
modest, amiable people, these Boers, with very shrewd eyes for the main
chance. They'll soon be down here to take possession, so if you feel at
all uncomfortable you had better be off south."

"Is that what you are going to do?" asked West quietly.

"I? Of course not! I shall keep with the volunteers."

"Of course," said West; "and I shall too."

Ingleborough smiled grimly and went on with his work, West following
suit, and they were busy enough till "tiffin-time" that morning.

Their "tiffin" went on as usual; but out in the town there was a buzz of
excitement which resembled that heard in a beehive when some mischievous
boy has thrust in a switch and given it a good twist round before
running for his life.

So eager and excited did everyone seem that West co