Part 63 (2/2)
Punctually to the minute the General was ready, and he walked down through the temporary camp to where the wagon stood among scores of others, while the sergeant and four men stood by with Anson, who looked s.h.i.+fty and uncomfortable, wincing suddenly as he caught sight of West and Ingleborough, and then gazing sharply about at the mounted Lancers on duty as patrols, for the prisoners were many, and there had been several attempts at escape.
The General looked at him sharply, and then at the wagon.
”Is that your wagon, prisoner?”
”It was till you took it!” replied the young man surlily.
”What do you say, sergeant?”
”Yes, sir,” answered the sergeant, with military brevity. ”I marked it with my knife the day that it was taken.”
As he spoke he laid a finger upon a couple of notches he had made in the wood-work.
”Now then,” said the General, ”before I have the wagon examined--”
Anson's eyes twitched.
”Repeat the charge you made against this man!” continued the General.
Ingleborough now firmly repeated almost word for word what he had before said, and charged Anson with being an illicit-diamond-dealer.
”And upon what do you base this charge?” said the General sternly.
”The personal knowledge of myself and friend here,” replied Ingleborough.
”All lies, General,” cried Anson excitedly. ”Those two are charging me with what they did themselves. They were illicit-diamond-dealers, and when they were found out they tried to plant the crime on me. All lies!”
”Crime? Yes,” said the General thoughtfully. ”Yes; I suppose it is one of the greatest crimes that a man can commit in Kimberley. All lies, eh! Well, sir, not all, for it is evident from your speech that you are an Englishman and not a Boer. I judge too that you were in the company's office at Kimberley.”
”Oh yes, General,” said Anson; ”that is true, and through the plotting of these two men I was turned out of my situation.”
”And then deserted to the Boers?”
”No, General. I was obliged to do something for a living, so I bought a wagon to go in for trade; but I was captured by the Boers and they have kept me a prisoner ever since. Then you fought the Boers and beat them, and took me prisoner again. That's why I'm here.”
”An Englishman--prisoner to your own countrymen? Why did you not declare what you were? What did he say his name was, sergeant?”
”Said he was a Boer and his name was Piet Retif, sir,” said the sergeant, with a look of disgust at Anson's fat face.
”Yes; that looks black against him!” said the General. ”He is taken with the Boers, while those who charge him are men of trust, being chosen to bear despatches.”
”Because they were not found out, sir!” cried Anson. ”There never was a worse pair of cheats and tricksters.”
”Perhaps not!” said the General. ”So you were a prisoner with the Boers, my man?”
”Yes, General, and very glad to see the British troops come up and gain such a success.”
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