“Unless I destroyed them first!” said West bitterly.
“Of course. That is what you would try to do, my lad, if you had time. But as you would naturally defer that till the last extremity, the probabilities are that this necessary task would be left undone. Rifle-bullets fly very swiftly, and the Boers’ traps are cleverly set, as our people are finding to their cost.”
“But the despatches must be delivered, sir,” said West excitedly, “and it is my duty to go on at any risk!”
“And mine to do two things, young gentleman,” said the General, speaking very sternly. “One is, to assist you in the task you have in hand; the other, as I find that Kimberley is being hard pressed, to try and cut my way through to the help of the brave people who are holding it against great odds. Now, as the two objects work together, your way must be with us. I may not be able to force my way through, but I can certainly see you well on your way.”
“Then we are to stop with your cavalry brigade, sir?” said West, in disappointed tones.
“Certainly, as long as I am making a forward movement, which will commence at once. If I find it necessary to diverge from the course laid down, on account of the extent of the convoy I have captured and the number of prisoners, I shall give you fair warning, so that you may make a dash for yourselves. There, gentlemen, I am busy. You will attach yourselves to my staff, and help keep a watch over the loot in diamonds.”
Taking this to be a dismissal, the two young men retired to talk the matter over in their own quarters.
“I don’t like it!” said West excitedly. “We have our orders as to what we are to do about the despatch! Ought we to let a cavalry general override those instructions?”
“I suppose so,” replied Ingleborough. “Perhaps, after all, he is right.”
“Right?”