"What of that? It's only what he ought to be. I want to know what's to be done with him." "The Colonel won't send him to the Boer lines when he's well enough to move, I hope." "Not he. I expect he'll be kept till he can be handed over to the General. Here, I'll come with you." I was quite willing, and we descended to the hospital, as the shut-off part of one of the passages was called; and there sat the only patient and prisoner, with an armed sentry close at hand to prevent any attempt at escape. The Captain turned his head sharply on hearing our footsteps, and gave us both a haughty stare, which amused Denham, making him look to me and smile. "Oh, you've come at last," said the patient. "I've been wanting you." "What is it?" I said. "Water?" "Bah!" he replied, his upper lip curling. "I want you to bring your chief officer here." "I dare say you do, my fine fellow," cried Denham. "Pretty good for a prisoner! You don't suppose he'll come--do you? Here, what do you want? Tell me, and I'll carry your message to the chief." Moriarty gave the young officer a contemptuous glance, and then turned to me. "Go and tell the Colonel, or whatever he is, that I am greatly surprised at his inattention to my former message." "Did you send a message?" I asked, surprised by his words. "Of course I did, two days ago, by the surgeon. It's not gentlemanly of your Colonel. Go and tell him that I feel well enough to move now, and that I desire him to send me with a proper escort, and under a white flag, to make an exchange of prisoners." "Well, I'll take your message," I said; "but--" "Yes, go at once," said Moriarty, "and bring me back an answer, for I'm sick of this place." He turned away, and, without so much as a glance at Denham, lay back, staring up at the sky. "Well," said Denham when we were out of hearing, "of all the arrogance and cheek I ever witnessed, that fellow possesses the most. Here, what are you going to do?" "Take the message to the Colonel," I replied. "Going to do what?" cried Denham. "Nothing of the kind." "But I promised him." "I know you did; but you must have a fit of delirium coming on. It's being too much up in the sun." "Nonsense," I said. "I've no time for joking." "Joking, my dear boy? Nothing of the kind. I'm going to take you to the doctor; he'll nip your complaint in the bud." "Absurd," I cried. "Come with me to the Colonel." "What! To deliver the message?" "Of course." "No, Val, my boy. I like you too well to let you go to the old man. Do you know what he'd do?" "Send me back to our friend there with a message as sharp as a sword. Of course I know he will not send him across to the Boers."