s; but your news gives us hope of a speedy release, for the
General is not one to let the grass grow under his feet."

"He is not, sir!" said West. "Then you shall bring me and the man who
accused me face to face."

"The sooner the better, my lad!" said the Commandant warmly. "How soon
will he be up, doctor?"

"Within a fortnight, I hope, sir!" was the reply.

"Then goodbye for the present, my lad!" said the Commandant. "Your
long-delayed despatch will send a thrill of hope through all here in
Kimberley, for it breathes nothing but determination to hold the Boers
at bay."

"May I say one word more, sir?" said West excitedly.

"What do you think, doctor?"

"He has said enough, sir, and if he talks much more we shall have the
fever back. Well, perhaps he'll fret if he does not get something off
his mind."

"What is it, then?" said the Commandant.

"I had a brave comrade to ride with the despatch, sir."

"To be sure, yes, I remember. What about him? Not killed, I hope?"

"No, sir, but badly wounded, and lying somewhere here."

"Poor fellow! I must see him. There must be promotion for you both."

"If you would see him, sir, and speak to him as you have spoken to me,"
said West, with the weak tears rising to his eyes.

"Of course, yes! There, shake hands, my lad: you have done splendidly!
Don't worry about the diamond charge! I can feel that it was a
contemptible lie! Now, doctor, take me to your other patient."

"Ha!" sighed West, nestling back on his pillow with a calm look of
content in his eyes, which closed directly after for a sleep that lasted
ten hours at the least.

CHAPTER THIRTY NINE.

ANSON IN A HOLE--AND SOMETHING ELSE.

"Don't worry about the diamond charge!" said the Commandant; but Oliver
West did, day after day, though he got better fast and was soon able to
go and sit with Ingleborough, who slowly recovered, as a man does who
has had nearly all the life-blood drained from his body. West worried,
and Ingle borough did too; for those were anxious days, those in
Kimberley, which brought strong men low, even near to despair, while the
wounded, weak, and sick were often ready to think that relief would
never come.

West and Ingleborough recovered from their wounds only gradually, to
suffer with the rest, returning to duty when really unfit, while the
deadly work went on, the men braving the shell and shot with more spirit
when they knew that the women and children were saf