have a look at
something."

"Something wrong?" cried the young officer, taking his sword and belt,
which were handed to him by the non-com, and rapidly buckling up.

"Well, sir, I don't know about wrong; but it don't look right."

"What is it?"

"Stealing corn, I call it, sir; and it's being done in a horrid messy
way, too."

"What! from the stores?"

"Yes, sir," said the man; "but come and look."

"Ready," said Lennox, taking out and examining his revolver, and then
thrusting it back into its holster.

The next minute, after a glance at Dickenson, who was sleeping
peacefully enough, Lennox was following the sergeant, whose dim lantern
shed a curious-looking halo in the black darkness. Then as they passed
a sentry another idea flashed across the young officer's confused brain,
brought forth by the sight of the guard, for on looking beyond the man
there was no sign of the Boers' lantern hanging from the front bow of
their wagon-tilts.

"What about the Boers?" he said sharply.

"Been gone about an hour, sir. I suppose it was all right? Captain
Roby saw them start."

"Oh yes, it is quite right," said Lennox. "Now then, what about this
corn? Some of the Kaffirs been at it?"

"What do you think, sir?" said the man, holding down the lantern to shed
its light upon the ground, as they reached the open door of the store
and showed a good sprinkling of the bright yellow grains scattered about
to glisten in the pale light.

"Think? Well, it's plain enough," said Lennox. "Thieves have been
here."

"Yes, sir. The open door took my notice at once. That chap ought to
have seen it; but he didn't, or he'd have given the alarm."

"Go on," said Lennox, and he followed the man right into the barn-like
building, to stop short in front of the first of the half-dozen or so of
sacks at the end, this having been thrown down and cut right open, so
that a quantity of the maize had gushed out and was running like fine
shingle on to the floor.

"Kaffirs' work," said Lennox sharply.

"Well, sir, if I may give you my opinion I should say it was those
Boers," said the sergeant gruffly.

"What!"

"Man must eat, sir, and it strikes me that they, in their easy-going
way, thought it was as much theirs as ours, and helped theirselves to
enough to last them till they could get more."

"Well, whoever has done it,"--began Lennox.

Then he stopped short, and took a step forward. "Here, sergeant," he
cried, "hold the ligh