"Only a few hours ago, and we three were calmly working together," said West sadly; "and I looked upon Anson as an unsatisfactory fellow whom I never could like, but whose worst faults were being a cringing kind of bore and a perfect nuisance with his flute."

"And I as a smooth hypocrite whom one ought not to trust," said Ingleborough.

"And now he's gone, and we're to have the Boers at us and most likely have to soldier in real earnest. Hallo! Here's Norton back again."

For there was a quick step outside, and the door was thrown open. But it was not the superintendent's face that met their eyes, for their late fellow-clerk stepped boldly in.

"How are you, gentlemen?" he said, with a strong emphasis upon the last word. "So I've got the sack; but I'm not going to leave my property behind."

He stepped to his desk and took out his flute-case, tucked it under his arm, and then drew the sword-cane and umbrella from the stand, giving the pair a maliciously triumphant look.

"Can't afford to leave the sword-stick as a memento for you, Ingle, nor the flute for sneaky West. Goodbye, both of you. Look out for our next merry meeting. Ta, ta!"

Neither of the young men replied, but sat gazing fixedly at the speaker till he pa.s.sed out, banging the door.

But only to open it again to look in and utter the one word: "Cads!"

Then the door was banged, and West leaped from his stool and made a dash.

"Stop, stupid!" thundered out Ingleborough, supplementing his words by a bound and flinging his arm round his companion's chest. "Let the brute go. You don't want to kick him?"

"But I do," shouted West, struggling. "Let go."

"Keep still," growled Ingleborough, and then, "Why, Noll," he cried, "I do believe--"

"What?" said West, cooling down and looking wonderingly in his companion's excited eyes, for Ingleborough had stopped short.

"That flute--that sword-cane--"

"Well, he has got them. Bah! I'm glad you stopped me from punching his head. Let him have them; they're his."

"Yes," said Ingleborough; "but the handle of the cane and the top joint of the flute. There was room for a dozen big diamonds in each."

"What! Then let's go and stop him!"

"Yes; we could but be wrong. Come on."

"Hah! Listen," cried West, and a sound arose which turned their thoughts in a different channel, for it was like the first note of the coming war.

The trumpet rang out the "a.s.semblee" and thrilled both through and through, sending them to the arm-press for rifle and bandolier.

Clerking was over for many months to come. The pen was to give way to the modern subst.i.tute for the sword.

CHAPTER EIGHT.

VOLUNTEERS VOLUNTEER.

Rumours that proved to be false and rumours that proved to be true were plentiful enough during the following fortnight; and in that time Kimberley was transformed from a busy mining camp in which the black and white inhabitants were constantly going and coming like ants in a hill to a town whose siege was imminent, and whose people thought of nothing but preparing for the enemy, and whose talk was of rifle, cartridge, and trench.

But there was something done beside talk, the people loyally joining with the small military garrison in preparing for the defence of the place; and, while one portion worked to strengthen every spot that would form a redoubt, the other strove as long as was possible to get in stores to enable the defenders to hold out if they were besieged. For the determination was strong to save the enormous wealth of the place from the enemy whose borders were so short a distance from their lines.

Drilling and instruction in the use of arms were carried on almost night and day, and in a very short time the military element seemed to have pretty well swallowed up the civil, while each hour found the people more ready to meet the first rush of the dogs of war.

It was a most unsuitable place for defence, being a mere mining camp pitched in a wide bare plain, the only part suitable for turning into a keep being the huge mound cast up by the excavations in the search for diamonds; and this was fortified to the best of the defenders' ability almost from the first. But the situation had its advantages as well as failings, for the flat, open, desert-like land stretched right away on all sides, giving an enemy no undue advantages in the shape of kopje or ravine to turn into a natural fortress from which the town could be attacked.

The place, then, was a fair example of weakness and strength, the latter, however, daily growing, in the shape of a stern determination to give the Boers a very warm reception when they did attack.

So the days glided rapidly by, with authentic news at first fairly abundant, but invariably of a very serious nature, and whenever they were off the new duties they had to fulfil, the said news was amply discussed by the two young men, who from their prior preparation had stood forward at once as prominent members of the semi-military force.

"Be patient," said Ingleborough laughingly, one evening; "there'll be plenty of fighting by-and-by. I'd no idea you were going to develop into such a fire-eater."

"Fire-eater? Absurd! I only feel deeply interested in all we are doing."

"That's right, Noll! So do we all; but let's have no rashness.

Remember all the drill and discipline. That's where we shall be able to tell against the enemy. They can use their rifles well enough; but they are an undisciplined mob at the best. By the way, have you run against the flute-player lately?"

"No, but I met the people with whom he lodges yesterday. They knew me again, and came up as if wanting to speak."

"What about?"

"Oh, they began by talking about the war and asking me whether I thought it would last long."

"To which you said _No_, eh?"

"I only said that I hoped not, and then they volunteered the information that they believed Anson was going to leave the town for the south."

"Indeed?" said Ingleborough sharply. "What made them think that?"

"Because their lodger had packed up all his little belongings and had bought a wagon and a span of oxen, which he kept just outside."

"Well, he'll lose them if he doesn't look out. He'll find himself between two fires. Either the oxen will be seized for stores, or the Boers will cut them off. The fellow must be either desperate or mad."

"In a fright, I should say," said West. "I don't think he would stomach the fighting."

"Oh, it's all nonsense! The report this evening was that the Boers are closing round us fast. He'll be stopped by one side or the other.

Norton ought to know of this, though."

"I daresay he does know already," said West; "for he told me the other day that he was keeping his eye on our friend."

"So he did," said Ingleborough thoughtfully. "He has some idea of catching him trying to communicate with the enemy. If he does, Master Simon will not get off so easily as he did over the diamond business.

Well, I'm tired, and I shall go to bed. Let's sleep while we can.

There's no knowing what a day will bring forth!"

"You are right," said West. "You think we shall really come to close quarters?"

"Yes, and very close quarters too. I've expected it before now."