deal, sir, on purpose. I've been trying to get him
into a better frame of mind."

"Well, I must say that you have not succeeded very well."

"Horribly, sir. I thought he'd think differently as his wound healed
up; but he is worse than ever."

"Now then," said the colonel, "tell me frankly what you think of Captain
Roby's state."

"I think he puzzles me, sir. One hour I think he is as mad as a
hatter--"

"Say as mad."

"Yes, sir; one hour he's as mad as mad, and the next he's perfectly
sane."

"Perfectly sane, I should say, Dickenson," said the colonel.

"Yes, sir, in all things but one, and over that he's just like that
fellow in the story."

"What fellow in what story?" said the colonel coldly.

"That Mr Dick, sir, who couldn't write anything without getting King
Charles's head into it."

"I see; and you think Captain Roby cannot help getting what he considers
to be Lennox's cowardice into _his_ head?"

"Exactly, sir."

"Humph! Well, there may be something in that. There, I have no more to
say to you now. No rashness to-night, but do your best with your men.
I'd rather hear that you saved one of our lads than killed half-a-dozen
Boers."

"I understand, sir."

"Understand this too. If you have any conversation with your brother
officers, say I have had you here to give you a severe reproof for the
present, and that probably something more will follow when we have
crushed the Boers. If they crush us you will get off. That will do,
Dickenson. I expect our friends will visit us to-night, though more
probably it will be just before daylight. Ask the major to step here as
you go. By the way, you and Lennox were at school together?"

"Yes, sir; and at Sandhurst too."

"Well, I hope he has as good an opinion of you as you have of him.
Good-night for the present."

"Good-night, sir," said the young man as he went out into the starlight
to deliver his message.--"Well, I hope we shall win to-night, for the
chief's sake! Hang it all," he muttered, "what a brick he is!"

CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN.

TO CLEAR THE KOPJE.

As a rule, the garrison at Groenfontein after the posting of the watch
settled itself down for a quiet night's rest, for experience had taught
that there was very little to fear in the shape of a night attack. This
was foreign at first to the Boers' idea of warfare. They knew well
enough that they were strongest in defence, and acted accordingly.
Every place they held was