“I had not even begun to expect you back, Sankey.
How have you done? I see that you have got on
another hat and a coat.”
“That is only a part of it. I have got
three loaves and two bottles of dop, and a coat and
a hat for you, and a rifle and ammunition, as well
as clothes for myself and the gun that you see over
my shoulder.”
“But how on earth did you do it, Sankey?”
“Honestly, my dear Chris, perfectly honestly.
The rifles and clothes were fairly spoils of war,
the loaves and spirits were stolen from a thief, which
I consider to be a good action; but let us go on, I
will tell you about it as we walk. Here is your
bandolier, slip that on first; there is your coat
and hat. Now I will put the sling of the rifle
over your shoulder. There you are, complete, a
Boer of the first water! I will carry the bottles
and the bread. Now, let’s be going on.”
Then he told Chris how he had obtained his spoil,
and they both had a hearty laugh over the thought
of the enraged Dutchman rushing down the street shouting
for the eatables of which he had been bereaved.
“It was splendidly managed, Sankey. I shall
have to appoint you as caterer instead of Willesden.
He pays honestly for all he wants for the mess, but
I see that if we entrust the charge to you, we shall
not have to draw for a farthing upon our treasure
chest. And how is your arm feeling?”
“I have almost forgotten that I have an arm,”
Sankey said. “I suppose the excitement
of the thing drove out the rheumatics.”
“We might have some supper,” Chris suggested.
“No, no, we must wait till we can get water.
I can’t take dop neat.”
“But how are you going to mix it when you do
get water?” “I had not thought of that,
Chris,” Sankey said in a tone of disgust.
“Well, I suppose we shall be reduced to taking
a mouthful of this poison, and then a long drink of
water to dilute it. We shall not have very far
to go, because, if you remember, we crossed a little
stream three or four miles after we rode out from
Dundee. I am as hungry as a hunter, but it would
destroy all the pleasure of the banquet if we had to
munch dry bread with nothing to wash it down.”
After walking two miles farther they came upon the
stream and going fifty yards up it, so as to run no
risk of being disturbed, they sat down and enjoyed
a hearty meal.
SPION KOP
“It is almost a pity that you did not commandeer
two ponies and saddles while you were about it,”
Chris laughed, as they set off again feeling all the
better for their meal. “We only want that
to complete our outfit.”
“You should have mentioned it before I started,
Chris. There is no saying what I might not have done;
and really, without joking, a pony is one of the easiest
things going to steal when there are Boers about.
They always leave them standing just where they dismount,
and will be in a store or a drinking-place for an
hour at a time without attending to them.”
