Part 12 (2/2)
”And you think your young friend would be a good man to carry the despatch?”
”I would trust him if I were in power, sir.”
”Then I will,” said the Commandant, after a long and searching look at West. ”Be at my quarters in fifteen minutes' time, both of you, and we will have further talk on the matter.”
The young men exchanged looks as they resumed their places in the ranks, West's countenance betokening the wild excitement he felt, while Ingleborough, who looked perfectly calm and contented, just gave him a smile and a nod.
A few minutes later they were dismissed, and the two young men had hard work to get free from their brother volunteers, who surrounded and cheered them loudly, one of the officers proposing that they should be chaired back through the town. But they escaped this on the ground of their orders to go to the Commandant's quarters, and were at last set free, to hurry away. The next minute they encountered Anson, who had heard and seen all, and pa.s.sed them without a word, but wearing a peculiarly supercilious and meaning smile which broadened into a grin of contempt that made West writhe.
”Bless him!” said Ingleborough. ”Do you know what the pleasant look means?”
”That he will not be happy till I've thrashed him.”
”No,” said Ingleborough; ”he has evidently heard all, and has made up his mind that he is going to have a pleasant revenge.”
”How? In what way?” cried West.
”He thinks the Boers will shoot us: that's all.”
”Ah!” cried West.
”But we will not let them, my dear boy,” said Ingleborough coolly.
”They're slim, as they call it; but two can play at that game.”
”Yes, but look: here's Mr Allan coming to say that we can't go,” said West excitedly, for the chief director was approaching and raised his hand to stop them, signing to them directly after to come to his side.
”Looks as if he is going to put a stopper on our patriotism,” growled Ingleborough. ”We've been reckoning without our host.”
CHAPTER NINE.
FOUR-LEGGED HELP.
”Here, you two boys,” cried the director; ”I've just heard of this wild project. Are you mad, West?”
”I hope not, sir.”
”But, my good lad, I really--I--that is--bless my soul! It's very brave of you; but I don't think I ought to let you go.”
”I heard you say, sir, that everyone ought to be ready to devote his life to the defence of the country.”
”Eh?” cried the director. ”To be sure, yes, I did--in that speech I made to the volunteers; but then you're not everybody, and--er--er--you see, what I said was in a speech, and sometimes one says more then than one quite means.”
”There'll be no work doing in the office, sir,” said Ingleborough; ”and I hope you will not place any obstacles in the way of our going.”
”Oh no, my dear boys! I feel that I must not; but I don't like you to run such a terrible risk.”
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