The Kopje Garrison Part 73

"Well!" exclaimed Roby at last; and then in a tone which expressed his utter astonishment: "Well."

"Sit down, Captain Roby," continued the colonel, raising his eyebrows as he saw that his subordinate was still standing.

"I beg your pardon, sir," said Roby stiffly, after looking round in vain for something in the way of moral support from his brother officers, who all sat frowning at their portions.

"Yes?" said the colonel calmly.

"I have no wish to be insubordinate, but, speaking on behalf of all present here, I desire to say that we feel it impossible to remain at the table in company with one who-"

"That will do," said the colonel, fixing d.i.c.kenson with his eyes, for that individual had suddenly given vent to a sound that was neither sigh, grunt, e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.i.o.n, nor snort, but something that might have been the result of all these combined.

"I beg your pardon, sir?" said Roby hotly.

"I said that would do, Captain Roby," replied the colonel. "I did not gather that you had been elected to speak for your brother officers upon a subject about which I consider myself to be the proper arbiter. Moreover, if any officer feels himself aggrieved respecting any one whom I elect to join us at the mess-table, I am always open to hear his complaint."

"But really, sir," began Roby indignantly, "this is an a.s.sembly of honourable gentlemen."

"With an exception," growled d.i.c.kenson.

"Yes," cried Roby pa.s.sionately, "with an exception-I may add, two exceptions."

"Look here, Captain Roby," cried d.i.c.kenson, springing up, "do you mean this as an insult to me?"

"Silence!" cried the colonel, rising in turn. "Mr d.i.c.kenson, resume your seat."

d.i.c.kenson dropped down so heavily that the empty cartridge-box that formed his seat cracked as if about to collapse.

"Captain Roby," said the colonel, "I beg that you will say no more now upon this painful subject. Resume your seat, sir."

"Sir," said Roby, "I must ask your permission to leave the mess-table. Whatever my brother officers may choose to do, I absolutely refuse to sit at the same table with a-"

"Stop!" roared d.i.c.kenson, springing up again in a furious pa.s.sion. "If you dare to call my friend Lennox a coward again, court-martial or no court-martial, I'll knock you down."

Every man now sprang to his feet as if startled by the sudden verbal sh.e.l.l which had fallen amongst them. Then there was a dead silence, till Lennox said huskily, "Will you give me your permission to return to my quarters, sir?"

"No, Mr Lennox," said the colonel quietly. "Take your places again, gentlemen.-Captain Roby-Mr Lennox-if we are alive and uninjured in the morning I will see you both at my quarters with respect to this painful business. To-night we have other matters to arrange. I have just received trustworthy information that another reinforcement has reached the enemy. I have doubled the number of scouts sent out, and as soon as we have dined we have all our work to do in completing our arrangements to meet what the Boers intend for their final attack. Gentlemen, sit down. Our duty to our country first; minor matters of discipline after."

There was a low buzz of excitement as every man resumed his seat, Roby alone hesitating, but dropping sharply back into his place in unwilling obedience to a sharp tug given at his tunic by the officers on either side.

"What about your promise?" said Lennox in a whisper to d.i.c.kenson.

"Hang my promise!" growled his comrade. "Do you take me for a stump?"

Chapter Thirty Six.

"What a Brick!"

Every one burst into the hurried flow of conversation that now followed the colonel's announcement, the excitement growing at the thought of the dreary siege at last coming to an end, while, to judge from the remarks, the feeling at the table was one of relief at the prospect of at last trying final conclusions with the Boers.

"Yes," said Captain Edwards to those near him, "I am heartily glad. Let them come on and give us a chance of some real fighting. All this miserable sniping and lurking behind stones has been barbarous. People say that the Boers are patriotic and brave: let them act like soldiers and give us a chance."

The conversation grew more and more exciting, till the meagre repast was at an end, when the colonel rose and walked round to the back of d.i.c.kenson's seat.

"Come to my quarters," he said quietly, and he walked out, followed by the young subaltern.

The stars were out, s.h.i.+ning brightly, and all looked peaceful and grand as the colonel led on to his hut, with d.i.c.kenson stringing himself up for the encounter he was about to have with his chief, and growing more and more determined and stubborn as the moment approached.

"I don't care," he said to himself. "I'll tell him I'll challenge Roby, whether it's allowed or not;" and then he felt as if some one had thrown cold water in his face, for the colonel said quietly:

"What a grand night, d.i.c.kenson! I wonder what our friends are doing at home, and whether they are thinking about us."

d.i.c.kenson stared at him, but it was too dark for him to distinguish the play of his officer's countenance.

"No light," said the colonel as he turned into his quarters. "Have you a match?"

"Yes, sir," said the young officer rather gruffly, and the little silver box he took from his pocket tinkled softly as he searched for a match and struck it, the flash showing the colonel turning up the lamp wick.

"That's right," he said; "light it."

A minute later the mean-looking hut, with its camp table, lamp, and stools, was lit up, and the colonel seated himself.

"I've very few words to say, d.i.c.kenson," he said kindly, "but those are about your conduct to-night. You are young, hot-headed, and unwise."

"Can't help it, sir. My nature," said the young man shortly.

"I suppose so. But of course you are aware that you have been guilty of a great breach of etiquette, and that your conduct cannot be pa.s.sed over very lightly."

"I suppose not, sir. I'm ready to take my punishment."

"Yes," said the colonel; and then, after a pause, "You seem to attach yourself more than ever to Mr Lennox since this affair."

"Yes, sir; we are very old friends. I should not be his friend if I did not stick to him now he is under a cloud."

"Rather unwise, is it not? You see, you cut yourself apart from your brother officers, who are bound to stand aloof till Mr Lennox has cleared himself."

"I'm sorry not to be friendly with them, sir," said d.i.c.kenson st.u.r.dily; "and if there is any cutting apart, it is their doing, not mine. I am ready to do my duty in every way, sir; but I must stand by my friend."

"Then you have perfect faith in his innocence?"

"Perfect, sir; and so would you have if you knew him as well as I do."

"I do know him pretty well, d.i.c.kenson," said the colonel quietly. "Well, I suppose you know that I ought to be very severe with you?"

"Yes, sir, of course."

"And that I was bound to summon you to come to my quarters?"