The Sergeant chuckled.
“Colonel’s too smart for them,” he said. “The bullocks are sent out in the day with a strong guard on foot to keep behind the oxen, but the horses go out as soon as it’s dark, every one with his man to lead him, and all ready for an attack. Ah! but it’s miserable work, and I shall be very glad when you two gentlemen are ready to mount again, so that we can go.”
“You’ll have to go without us, Briggs,” said Denham sadly. “I don’t suppose the Boers will shoot us if we’re taken prisoners.”
“That’s just what the Colonel’s likely to do, sir. It’s his regular way with his men. I must be off now, though. Time’s up. You’ll like to see this, though, Mr Denham?”
The Sergeant began to fumble in his pouch, bringing out several cartridges before he found what he wanted—a dirty-looking piece of milky quartz.
“What have you got there?” we asked in a breath.
“Stuff the men are finding in a hole at the back of the cook’s fireplace.”
“Why, it’s gold ore,” I said eagerly.
“Nonsense! What do you know about it?” said Denham, turning the lump over in his hand.
“I know because pieces like that are in the kopje near my home. Joeboy could find plenty like that. He took some to my father once, and father said it was gold.”