Jack's appetite for the moment had left him, and he turned away from the roughly cooked beef which was offered him. The odour was nauseating to Jack's hypersensitive olfactory nerves.
He did not, however, refuse the coffee, which imparted a welcome warmth to his chilled frame.
The veldt-cornet was wide enough awake now, and after the hastily prepared meal had been discussed, he turned to Jack, whom he cross-examined very closely.
"You come from this neighbourhood?" queried the veldt-cornet.
Jack shook his head; and the Boer officer went on—
"Have you been serving against us in the field?"
"I am not a soldier," answered Jack. "I am a settler's son. All that we desire is peace; we want nothing more."
The veldt-cornet laughed as he said, "There will soon be peace, boy, when all the rooineks have been kicked into the sea. You are wounded, I see. Where did you receive your wound? In a fight?"
"It is nothing—a mere scratch I managed to get in an accident," replied Jack, assuming a cheerful air.
"Then you will join us, youngster?" queried the Boer leader.