"I congratulate you upon your safe return, Mr. Harberton," he said. "It has been a most hazardous service, but the news you have obtained has been invaluable. We dared not question Kimberley about their store of provisions, for if their answers were understood by the Boers they would see that their chance of reducing the place by hunger was so slight that they might decide to abandon the siege and to march away into the Colony, which is the thing of all others we wish to prevent." "Colonel Kekewich saw that, sir," Yorke said; "and that is why he would not give me any written details." Lord Methuen asked many particulars as to the defences of Kimberley, the effect of the Boer bombardment, and the temper of the population. "Did you see Mr. Rhodes?" "Yes, sir." "How does he get on with the commandant?" "I think, sir, from what I heard, that there is some friction between him and the military authorities, but nothing serious at all. All the resources of the mines have been placed by him in the hands of the authorities. He is employing a large number of Kaffirs in making roads, and these he pays and feeds, which is a great relief to the authorities; for they have twice tried to send the Kaffirs out of the town, but both times the Boers have compelled them to return, no doubt because they think that the more mouths there are to feed, the sooner the provisions will be exhausted." "And now, Mr. Harberton, tell us how you managed to get into the town and to return here." Yorke related his adventures. "You have been fortunate indeed," the general said, "and have had three very narrow escapes--in the first place, at that hut which you defended so stoutly; in the next place, when you were first taken prisoner; and lastly, in getting through the Boer lines this side of Jacobsdal, to say nothing of your escape at Boshof. Your Kaffir must be a stout fellow." "He is, sir. Without his assistance I should by this time be a long way on my road to Pretoria." "Well, your services have been most valuable, and I shall have great pleasure in recommending you for a commission if you would like to take one." "I thank you very much, sir. I should feel it a great honour. And even if I resigned at the end of the war it would be all my life a gratification to have received the Queen's commission." "I suppose you would prefer the cavalry?" "Yes sir." "Well, then, I will recommend that you be gazetted to the 9th Lancers. The colonel will be glad to have you; what with casualties and illness he is short of subalterns. You have been very favourably reported before for your expedition from De Aar across the Orange River, and there can be no doubt that my recommendation will be acceded to at once." "May I ask what I am to do with the twenty Kaffir scouts who have been working under me?" "You had better hand them over to Major Rimington. He will know how to employ them."