Lennox. How came you to be there
instead of visiting your posts?"

Lennox briefly explained, and the colonel stood frowning.

"I don't see all this very clearly," said the colonel. "Somebody
stealing the corn, and you were tracing the thieves and came upon a
train laid up to my quarters. There was a sentry there; what was he
about?"

"No, sir: no sentry there," said Lennox.

"Nonsense! I gave orders for a man to be posted there, and it was
done."

"I beg pardon, sir," said Lennox. "No one was there to challenge us."

"Indeed!" said the colonel.--"Who's that? Oh, Mr Dickenson, examine
the place as soon as it is light. There was a man there, for I saw him
myself. But now then, I cannot understand how the enemy can have stolen
through the lines and carried the powder where it was found. What do
you say, Lennox?"

"Nothing, sir. My head is so confused that I can hardly recall how it
all happened."

"Of course. Well, you, sergeant. You said that you scattered the
powder-bags."

"Yes, sir. Threw 'em about as far as we could."

"We?"

"Yes, sir. Mr Lennox and me."

"After the train was fired?"

"Oh yes, sir; it was coming on at a great rate."

"Humph! Then you did a very brave action."

"Oh no, sir," said the sergeant. "We were obliged to. Why, we should,
as Dr Emden says, sir, have been blown all to bits if we hadn't. We
were obliged to do something sharp."

"Yes," said the colonel dryly. "It was sharp work, sergeant, and you
saved my life and the major's."

"Did we, sir? Very glad of it, sir."

"But about how the powder was conveyed there. I can see nothing for it
but treachery within the camp.--Of course!--Those Boers!"

"But they had gone, sir," said Lennox.

"Yes, and left us a memento of their visit."

"Beg pardon, sir," said Dickenson.

"Yes? Go on, Mr Dickenson."

"I think I can see through the mystery."

"Then you have better eyes than I have," said the colonel. "Proceed."

"It was one of their tricks, sir," said Dickenson. "They came into camp
with their wagons and waited their chance."

"But the powder, man, the powder?" said the colonel impatiently.

"So many bags of it, sir, each inside one of the sacks of maize; and the
night they were to go away they slit their sacks open, took out the
powder, and planted it at the back of your quarters, sir."

"That will do, Mr Dickenson," said the colonel dryly.

"Beg pardon, sir. I thought it a very likely expla