One of the men pounced upon the lantern at once, to find that, though the glass was much cracked, it was perfectly ready for use; and there was a short delay while it was relit without application to the one the sergeant had just detached, one of the men having now recalled that he had a tin box of matches nearly full. The moment this was done Captain Roby gave the order to advance. He sent the lantern-bearers forward with orders to keep to right and left; and at the end of about a hundred feet, where the cavern chamber was beginning to contract, he called aloud for them to halt. "Now, Mr Lennox," he cried, "advance with six men abreast in a line with the lights, and make ready to fire if the man in front does not surrender. Attention!" His orders echoed along the roof of what seemed to be quite a narrow passage in front, and the men listened till the last echoes died out, when Captain Roby spoke again. "Hoi, there, you Boer in hiding!" he cried. "Your comrade's a prisoner, and if you wish to save your life, surrender too." The captain waited, but there was no reply, and the word was given to advance again, when suddenly from out of the darkness beyond the range of the lights there came the sharp, clear _click! click_! of a piece being cocked. "There's the answer, Mr Lennox," said the captain. "Give your orders, and clear the place." "No, stop; I surrender," came from a hoarse voice speaking in broken English. "Tell your men not to shoot." "Come forward," cried Lennox, "and give up your piece." He stepped towards the spot from whence the voice had come, to see the crossing lights of the two lanterns centre upon the broad, familiar face of one of the Boers who had been captured, and who had returned with the loaded wagons and the powder-bags, of which the last portion had been secured a short time before. The man halted, and stood with his rifle presented at the young officer's breast. "One man can't fight against a hundred," he growled. "Only with treachery and deceit," said Lennox sternly. "Give up your rifle, you cowardly dog." "Not till you give your English word that I shall not be shot," replied the Boer. "I'll give the order for you to be shot down if you don't give up your piece," cried Lennox angrily. "You give the word that I shall only be a prisoner, or I'll shoot you through the heart," cried the Boer harshly. "I give no word. Surrender unconditionally," cried Lennox, whose blood was up. "Give your word, you miserable rooinek!" growled the Boer, whose teeth shone in the light, giving him the aspect of some fierce beast at bay. "Give your word. You're covered--your word of honour, or I'll fire."