With Buller in Natal, Or, a Born LeaderHenty, G. A. (George Alfred)
General
With Buller in Natal, Or, a Born Leader
Henty, G. A. (George Alfred)
South African War, 1899-1902 -- Fiction
"Well then, the fair way will be, to make one-and-twenty tickets with
as many numbers and fasten one to the mane of each horse, then we will
put another twenty-one numbers into a hat and draw them; in that way
everyone will be satisfied. Those of you who have not got their money
from their people had better ask them for it this evening, so that we
can settle up to-morrow for the horses and rifles and ammunition. The
hundred pounds we have each been promised will well cover all our
expenses up to the moment we start, and I should think leave us with
something like twenty pounds apiece in pocket, but all we have and the
other hundred for future expenses we had better put into the bank here
to-morrow. We must arrange for four of us to sign cheques, each cheque
to be signed by two, but we had better give them all our signatures so
that in case what we can call the finance committee of four are all
killed or taken prisoners there will be no bother about having fresh
signatures to arrange about."
"Well," Sankey said, "we might as well settle that at once. I propose
that Field, Carmichael, Capper, and, of course, you form the
committee." As no amendment was offered, this was at once agreed to.
"What time did you say that we would come over to fetch the horses?"
"About ten o'clock."
"Well, will you all be at my hotel to-morrow at half-past eight with
your money? Then we will all sign our names on paper the committee
first; afterwards they shall go with me to the bank and pay all the
money in, give them the list of signatures, and tell them that until
further notice two of the four first names will sign the cheques, but
that should circumstances prevent any two of them being able to do so,
others will sign instead. The account had better stand as the
Johannesburg Scouts. When we have arranged that we will hire a couple
of light waggons and start. Have you all got your saddlery?"
"Yes."
"Well, we will take it with us, and then we can ride the horses back. I
will get the tickets made out."
As soon as the bank opened in the morning, Chris and his three
companions presented themselves, and had an interview with the manager,
who was somewhat surprised when twenty-one cheques and cash to the
amount of three thousand five hundred pounds were handed in, each
member having deducted the amount paid for saddlery and clothes. "We
wish the account to stand in the name of the Johannesburg Scouts, and
cheques will be signed by two of the four names standing first on this
list; but as casualties may occur, you will please accept any of these
signatures. Our little corps will form part of the Maritzburg Scouts,
but in money matters we keep to ourselves, being all volunteers serving
without pay."
The manager ran his eye over the cheques. All the names were well known
to him as those of prominent men at Johannesburg, and the great
majority had already accounts at his bank, as all had some time
previously made arrangements for drawing money in case of necessity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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