“To get away from the Boers.”
“Why did you want to get away from them?” cried the officer, gazing at me searchingly.
I was so hot and indignant that I would not speak for some little time.
“I thought so. Making up a good story—eh? You’ve caught the first spy, Lieutenant.”
“No, sir, I think not,” said the young officer.
“I think you have.—Now, sir,” he continued, “if you wish to save your skin, speak out. Why did you want to get away from the Boers?”
“Because I was commandoed,” I said rather sulkily.
“Oh, then you were afraid to fight—eh?”
“No; but I was not going to fight my own countrymen.”
“Oh!” said the officer, staring. “Here, tell me, how were you summoned?”