ing party
could be made out. Signals followed, and but a short time elapsed
before the Boers were driven off and the rescued party were reviving
under the influence of the water proffered from the relief party's
bottles.

The return to Groenfontein commenced at once, with Lennox carried by
four men by means of scarfs; but he was not the only man who needed this
aid, four more being hit during the return, the driven-off Boers hanging
at a safe distance on flank and rear, sniping at every chance with the
longest of shots, till the outposts were reached, and a cheer welcomed
the rescued men as they marched in.

The motion through the air had gradually revived Lennox, so much so that
when the party was met by the colonel and officers the young lieutenant
was able to reply to a question or two before the doctor intervened.

"Leave him to me for a bit," he said, and had Lennox borne toward the
hut where Roby and the corporal were lying, Dickenson following close
behind.

"The colonel did not shake hands with him," said the young officer to
himself, "and the major never spoke. Surely they don't think--"

He got no farther, for they had reached the hut, when, to the surprise
of all, Roby wrenched himself round to glare at Lennox being carried in,
and then in a harsh, excited voice he cried:

"Lennox here? Coward! Cur!--coward! How dare you show your face
again?"

And at these words Corporal May wagged his head slowly from side to side
and uttered a weary groan.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

AN UNPLEASANT BUSINESS.

"Why, Roby!" cried Lennox, after standing for some moments gazing wildly
at his brother officer, and then going close up to his rough
resting-place. "For goodness' sake, don't talk in that way!"

"Coward! Cur! To run away and leave me like that!" cried Roby.

Lennox stared at him with his eyes dilating, and then he turned sharply
and looked from Dickenson to the doctor and back again, ending by
clapping his hands to his forehead and holding his breath before gazing
wildly at Roby once more as if doubting that the torrent of reproaches
he listened to were real.

"Am I off my head a little, doctor?--the sun, and that dreadful thirst.
Am I mad?"

"Mad? No, my lad; but you're in a parlous state.--Here, orderly, I must
have Mr Lennox in the next hut. He is exciting Captain Roby horribly."

"Yes; horribly," said Lennox. "Poor fellow! Is he so bad as that?"

"Oh yes, he's bad enough," said the d