As he spoke he pointed out towards the open veldt; but the Boer shook his head.
“Not that way,” he said. “We want to cross the spruit to join our friends.”
The colonel hesitated.
“Well,” he said, turning to the major, “perhaps it is not fair to send them out on the karoo.”
“But if you let them join their friends they will be fighting against us again to-morrow.”
“So they will be,” said the colonel grimly, “if we send them in the other direction. You don’t suppose I have any faith in their parole, do you?”
“I did not know,” said the major.
“There, I will send a picket with you to see you safely to the ford,” said the colonel. “Now, off at once, and bring the forage as soon as you can.”
“To-morrow or next night,” said the Boer, with a nod.
“Here, Roby, send a sergeant’s guard to see these people past the outposts.—Now, my good fellow, time is valuable here. Follow that gentleman, and he will see that you are safely passed through our lines. Well, what now?”