Three only, replied the captain, and they dont look much the worse for it. Their flesh seems to close up again like india-rubber. The vet says they will all heal up.
Good, said the colonel. Take it all together, I shall have a pleasant despatch to send to the general. The capture of the big gun; not a man killed, and only three wounded. How are they getting on, doctor?
Capitally. Nothing serious. But, by the way The doctor stopped and began to clean out his pipe.
Yes, by the way? said the colonel. Nothing unpleasant to report, I hope?
Um no, drawled the doctor. A fresh patient with a touch of fever; but it wasnt that. I meant that is, I wondered how you meant to send the despatch?
Ha! Yes, said the colonel thoughtfully; how? I dont feel disposed to risk any more men, and I hear that the Kaffirs do not seem to be tempted by the pay offered them, although I have offered double what I gave before.
Thats bad, said the doctor. Well, I suppose you can hold this place?
Tight! said the colonel laconically.
So long as provisions and ammunition hold out? said Captain Roby tentatively.
Yes, assented the colonel.
And when they are ended, cried Dickenson, who had sat listening in silence, we can try a bit
of sport. There are herds of antelopes and flocks of guinea-fowl about, sir.
I doubt it, Dickenson, said the colonel, smiling; and I fancy that the most profitable form of sport for us will be that followed out by our mounted men.
Whats that, sir? asked Dickenson.
Stalking the enemys convoys. These fellows have to be fed, hardy and self-supporting as they are. But there, we are pretty well supplied as yet, and the great thing is that our water-supply is never likely to fail.
The next morning the Boers made a fresh attack for the purpose of recapturing the gun or seizing the kopje where it was mounted. But this advance, like several more which followed, only resulted in a severe repulse, and at last their attacks formed part of a long blockade in which they hoped to succeed by starving the little British force into subjection.
Chapter Five. The Boer Prisoners
Only one, sir. Dickenson had his ear nicked by a bullet.
Humph! Might have been worse, my lad, said the colonel. Show it to the doctor. Where are your fish, Lennox?
In the river, sir, said the young officer, with a shrug of the shoulders. How was that?
The young man briefly explained, and the colonel nodded his head.
Look here, he said, we want some change from our monotonous fare; but if you two had come back loaded with salmon I should have forbidden any further fishing so of course I do now. I cant afford to have my officers setting themselves up as butts for the Boers to practise at.
We have taken fifteen prisoners and their horses, sir, interposed Captain Roby, making an effort to turn aside the wrath of their chief.
Yes, Mr Roby, I saw that you had some prisoners, replied the colonel meaningly; but, excuse me, I had not finished addressing these two gentlemen.
I beg pardon, sir.
That will do, said the colonel. There, I need say no more. Lets see the prisoners.
I dont think I like fishing as a sport, Drew, old man, said Dickenson, rubbing his ear, and then wincing with pain. Come on, and lets see the inspection of the enemy. But the boss neednt have been so gruff. We acted as bait, and he has caught fifteen Boers and their horses.
And how are we to feed them all now we have got them? said Lennox, with a quaint smile.
Oh, thats what made the old man so waxy! cried the other. I see now. Well, let him set them up and have them shot.
Of course; according to our merciless custom, said Lennox sarcastically; and directly after the two friends closed up to where the prisoners were being paraded, their horses, clever, wiry-looking little cobs, being led up behind them by some of the men.
It was almost the first time that the young men had been in such close contact with the sturdy, obstinate enemy they had so long kept at bay, and they stared eagerly at the rough, unshorn, ill-clad, farmer-like fellows, for the most part big-bearded, sun-tanned, and full of vigour, who met their gaze defiantly, but kept on directing uneasy glances at the other officers, more than once looking eagerly at their led horses as if mentally weighing whether by a bold rush they could reach their steeds, spring upon them, and gallop away.
But a glance round showed them the impossibility of such a proceeding, for they were unarmed and surrounded by men with fixed bayonets, while, in addition, every pony had an armed man holding its bridle; and as their shifty eyes were turned from one to another in a questioning way, the prevailing thought seemed to be that any such proceeding would be mad in the extreme, and could only result in their being shot down.
The inspection did not take long, and the colonel turned away to confer with the group of officers who followed him.
The sooner we get rid of these fellows the better, he said, for we cant keep them here. What shall I do? he continued, in response to a question from the major of the regiment. Make them take the oaths to be on parole not to bear arms against us again?