Part 64 (1/2)
”You said that you was a dealer in mealies and corn,” growled the sergeant.
”Well, a man must do something for his living.”
”Of course,” said the General. ”Well, you look simple and innocent enough.”
”I am, sir, really!” cried Anson.
”And never engaged in illicit-diamond-dealing?”
”Me, sir? Never,” cried Anson virtuously. ”I was only charged by those two to save themselves! Then they got on, and I was trampled down.”
”And joined the Boers out of revenge, eh?”
”No, sir: it was all fate and accident.”
”Well, fate is very unkind to us sometimes, my man,” said the General.
”That is your wagon and span of oxen, you say?”
”Yes, sir.”
”Well, you have prospered by your change. What did you say you traded in?”
”Provender, sir--mealies and corn.”
”And you?” cried the General, turning sharply to West. ”What do you think he deals in?”
”I believe he deals in diamonds, sir,” replied West.
”Why?” said the General.
”For one reason, sir, because my friend, in whom I have perfect faith, caught him in the act.”
”Yes: anything more?”
”I know him to be a cowardly liar, sir, and--”
”Oh!” groaned Anson. ”I never heard anything like it.”
”Go on,” said the General.
”Lastly, sir, because he set it about that I had volunteered to carry a despatch to Mafeking so as to get away with the diamonds I had smuggled.”
”And did you?” said the General.
”I got away to Mafeking with the despatch!” said West, smiling.
”And where are the diamonds in question?”
”My friend and I believe that they are in James Anson's wagon,” said West bitterly, for he felt bitter then against the traitor, whose proceedings he recalled when they were prisoners. Later on he felt a little sorry for his words.