He signed to one of his fellows to set down the sack he was about to shoulder, and opening it, he went through the same performance again, shovelling up the yellow grain with his hands. "Not quite so good as the other sort," he said; "it's smaller, but it yields better in the fields." "Humph! I don't see much difference in it," said Lennox, taking up a few grains and following his friend's example. "No?" said the Boer, chuckling as he scooped up a double handful and tossed it up, to shine like gold in the light. "You are not a farmer, and have not grown thousands of sacks of it. I have." He drew the mouth of the sack together again and tied it with its white string, when it too was borne off through the open doorway to follow its predecessors. "That roof sound?" said the Boer, pointing up at the corrugated iron sheeting. "Oh yes, that's all right," said the sergeant. "Good," said the Boer. "Pity to let rain come through on grain like that. Make it swell and shoot." The first wagon was emptied and the second begun, the Boers working splendidly till it was nearly emptied; and then the cornet turned to Captain Roby. "Don't you want some left out," he said, "to use at once?" "Yes," said the captain; "leave out six, and we'll hand them over to the bakers and cooks." Three of the white-tied and three of the black-tied sacks were selected by the field-cornet, who told his men to shoulder them, and they were borne off at once to the iron-roofed hut which was used as a store. Then the wagons being emptied, they were drawn on one side, and the captain turned to consult Lennox about what hut was to be apportioned to the Boers for quarters. "Why not make them take to the wagons?" said Dickenson. "Not a bad notion," replied Captain Roby; and just at that moment, well buttoned up in their greatcoats--for the night was cold--the colonel and major came round. "Where are you going to quarter these men, Roby?" said the former. "Mr Dickenson here, sir, has just suggested that they shall keep to their wagons." "Of course," said the colonel; "couldn't be better. They'll be well under observation, major--eh?" "Yes," said that officer shortly; and it was announced to the field-cornet that his party were to make these their quarters. This was received with a smile of satisfaction, the Boers dividing into two parties, each going to a wagon quite as a matter of course, and taking a bag from where it hung. Ten minutes later they had dipped as much fresh water as they required from the barrels that swung beneath, and were seated, knife in hand, eating the provisions they had brought with them, while when the colonel and major came round again it was to find the lanterns out, the Dutchmen in their movable quarters, some smoking, others giving loud announcement that they were asleep, and close at hand and with all well under observation a couple of sentries marching up and down.