ave
his orders sharply, and the prisoners were marched off in front of the
sergeant's guard with fixed bayonets.

But the incident was not quite at an end, for before a quarter of an
hour had elapsed the crackling of rifle-fire was heard in the direction
of the ford, towards which men were sent at once. The alarm soon died
out on the cause being known, the sergeant reporting that he had
approached the ford with the prisoners and displayed a flag of truce,
which brought out a party of five or six dozen Boers upon the farther
side of the river, into whose charge the prisoners were given. But no
sooner were all across and seen to be talking to their friends than
there was a rush for cover, and before the sergeant and the outposts
stationed there could grasp what the movement meant the enemy's fire was
opened upon them.

"Any one hurt, sergeant?" said Captain Roby.

"No, sir, wonderful to relate. Our lads were too sharp for them, and
dropped at once. My heart rose to my mouth, sir, for I thought three of
ours were hit; but it was only their sharpness, for they were returning
the fire the next moment, and we kept it up as hot as the enemy did till
they fell back."

"Quite time the Boers were taught the meaning of civilised war, Bob,"
said Lennox as they returned to their quarters.

"Quite; but I'm out of heart with them," replied Dickenson. "They're
bad pupils--such a one-sided lot."

"What about the corn and sheep and beef those fellows are to bring
to-morrow or next night?" said Lennox grimly.

"Well, what about it? I'm afraid they'll be too much offended with the
colonel's treatment to come."

"Yes," said Lennox; "so am I."

CHAPTER SIX.

PLEASANT SUPPLIES.

Matters looked anything but hopeful at Groenfontein, though the men were
full of spirits and eager to respond to any of the attacks made by the
Boers, who, with three commandos, thoroughly shut them in, joining hands
and completely cutting off all communication.

Time was gliding on without any sign of help from outside, and the
beleaguered party would have concluded that they were quite forgotten by
their friends if they had not felt certain that the different generals
were fully engaged elsewhere.

"Let's see," said Lennox one evening; "we've been attacked every day
since our fishing-trip."

"That's right; and the Boers have been beaten every day for a week."

"And yet they are as impudent as over. They think that we shall
surrender a