"Well, I confess that it is hard upon you," said the colonel; "but, as I have told you, I am not going to take the responsibility of feeding more mouths." "But we've just brought you plenty." "Which will soon be gone," cried the colonel. "Oh, that's nothing," said the Boer, with a grin full of cunning; "we know where to get plenty more." The colonel turned and looked at the major, who returned the look with interest, for these last words opened up plenty of possibilities for disposing of a terrible difficulty in the matter of supplies. "I don't much like the idea, major," he said in a low tone. "No; couldn't trust the fellow," was the reply. "May be a ruse." "At the same time it may be simple fact," continued the colonel. "Of course he would be well aware of the whereabouts of stores, for the enemy always seem to have abundance. But no; it would be too great a risk." "All the same, though," said the major, who afterwards confessed to visions of steaks and roast mutton floating before his mind, "the fellow would be forced to be honest with us, for he would be holding his life by a very thin thread." "Exactly," said the colonel eagerly. "We could let him know that at the slightest suggestion of treachery we should shoot him and his companions without mercy." "Make him understand that," said the major; and while the Boer party stood waiting and watching by the two wagons, which had been drawn into the square, a little council of war was held by the senior officers, in which the pros and cons were discussed. "It's a dangerous proceeding," said the colonel, in conclusion; "but one thing is certain--we cannot hold this place long without food, and it is all-important that it should be held, so we must risk it. Perhaps the fellows are honest after all. If they are not--" "Yes," said the major, giving his chief a meaning look; "if they are not--" And the unfinished sentence was mentally taken up by the other officers, both Lennox and Dickenson looking it at one another, so to speak. Then the colonel turned to the Boer cornet. "Look here, sir," he said; "I am a man of few words, but please understand that I mean exactly what I say. You and your companions can stay here upon the condition that you are under military rule. Your duty will be to forage for provisions when required. You will be well treated, and have the same rations as the men; but you will only leave the place when my permission is given, and I warn you that if any of you are guilty of an act that suggests you are playing the spy, it will mean a spy's fate. You know what I mean?" "Oh, of course I do," growled the Boer. "Just as if it was likely! You don't seem to have a very good opinion of us burghers." "You have not given us cause to think well of you," said the colonel sternly. "Now we understand each other. But of course you will have to work with the men, and now you had better help to unload the wagons."