with a hundred of your men to back us up," said
West laughingly.

"You ought to have a couple of thousand to do any good!" said the
superintendent: "but even they would not ensure your delivering your
despatch. By rights there ought to be only one of you. That would
increase your chance. But it would be lonely work. What can I do for
you before you go?"

"Only come and see us off this evening."

"I will," was the reply, "and wish you safe back."

"And, I say," said Ingleborough: "keep your eye on that scoundrel."

"Anson? Oh yes: trust me! I haven't done with that gentleman yet."

Directly after they were on their way to the director's room, and as
they neared the door they could hear him pacing impatiently up and down
as if suffering from extreme anxiety.

The step ceased as they reached and gave a tap at the door, and Mr
Allan opened to them himself.

"Well," he said, "has the Commandant decided to send you?"

"Yes, sir," replied West.

"I'm very sorry, and I'm very glad; for it must be done, and I know no
one more likely to get through the Boer lines than you two. Look here,
you'll want money. Take these. No questions, no hesitation, my lads;
buckle on the belts beneath your waistcoats. Money is the sinews of
war, and you are going where you will want sinews and bones, bones and
sinews too."

In his eagerness the director helped the young men to buckle on the two
cash-belts he had given them.

"There," he said; "that is all I can do for you but wish you good luck.
By the time you come back we shall have sent the Boers to the
right-about, unless they have captured Kimberley and seized the
diamond-mines. Then, of course, my occupation will be gone. Goodbye.
Not hard-hearted, my boys; but rather disposed to be soft. There,
goodbye."

"Now then," said West, "we've no time to spare. What are we going to do
about horses?"

"We've the money at our back," replied Ingleborough, "and that will do
anything. We are on Government service too, so that if we cannot pay we
can pick out what we like and then report to headquarters, when they
will be requisitioned."

But the task proved easy enough, for they had not gone far in the
direction of the mines when they met another of the directors, who
greeted them both warmly.

"I've heard all about it, my lads," he said, "and it's very brave of you
both."

"Please don't say that any more, sir," cried West appealingly, "for all
we have done yet is ta