Here several men volunteered, including Percival West. These were curtly dismissed.
“I don’t want you, Percy,” said Blachland. “In fact I wouldn’t have you at any price—excuse my saying so.” And there was a laugh, in the midst of which the young fellow gave way to the inevitable.
But there was another man who proved less amenable, and that was Justin Spence.
“Do let me go, sir,” he said, stepping forward. “Skelsey and I prospected together once.”
There was a momentary awkwardness, for all knew that since they had been in the field together the missing man had refused to exchange a word with his former chum and partner, whom he declared, had behaved like an utter cad. In short Skelsey had proved more implacable than the man presumably most injured.
“No. Return to your duty at once.”
“I’ll blow my brains out then, and you’ll lose one more man at any rate.”
“Place Corporal Spence under arrest immediately,” said the Major sternly.
“Don’t be a fool, Spence,” said Blachland kindly. “You’d be more hindrance than help to me really—and so would any one except Sybrandt, but we can’t take two scouts away at once.”
The commanding officer thought so too, and was in a correspondingly bad humour. But Blachland was far too valuable a man to gainsay in a matter of this kind, besides, he had a knack of getting his way. Now having got it, he lost no time in preparations or farewells. He simply started.