"Well managed indeed!" the colonel said. "That Kaffir of yours must be a capital fellow."
"He is, sir, and I should be very sorry to part with him; I have a Dutch trooper with me as my servant, but I can take him in to look after my horse."
"I will take him, if you don't want him, and he will come," one of the captains said. "I have a boy I took on at Orange River, but he is of no use at all. Of course you can have him again if you join us."
"Thank you; but I would not part with him on any account, after what he has done for me; I shall certainly keep him with me as long as I remain out here, and shall see that he is completely settled before I go home. Besides, I should need him again if I ever am sent on another expedition."
After breakfast the Lancers went out to make a reconnaissance towards Magersfontein, and Yorke walked over to Rimington's camp. Hans ran out to meet him.
"So you have returned, Master Yorke! I have not slept for the last two nights, I have been so anxious about you."
"Yes, I got through all right, Hans. I was held prisoner for twenty-four hours, but Long Peter got me out. I will tell you all about it later."
"You are going to stay here now, I hope?"
"No. General Pole-Carew has put me on his staff. You are to come with me as an orderly."
"I am glad," Hans said. "I don't care what I do so long as I am with you."