"It's a bad business, Mr Lennox," said the colonel sternly, some weeks
later, when matters looked very dreary again in the camp, for the
supplies of provisions had once more begun to grow very short, and the
constant strain of petty attacks had affected officers and men to a
degree that made them morose and bitter in the extreme.
"But surely, sir, you don't believe this of me?" said Lennox, flushing.
"As a man, no, Mr Lennox; but as your commanding officer I am placed in
a very awkward position. The captain of your company makes the most
terrible charge against you that could be made against a young officer."
"But under what circumstances? He was suffering from a serious injury
to the head; he was delirious at the time."
"But he is not delirious now, Mr Lennox, and that which he accused you
of in a state of wild frenzy he maintains, now that he is recovering
fast, in cold blood."
"Yes, sir; it seems cold-blooded enough after what I did for him."
"Unfortunately he maintains that this is all an invention on your part."
"And my being dragged away for some distance by one of the Boers, sir?"
"Yes; he declares that he was not insensible for some time after his
hurt, and that had what you say occurred he must have seen it."
"Then it is his word against mine, sir?" said Lennox.
"Unfortunately it is not, Lennox," said the colonel gravely. "If it
were only that I should feel very differently situated. Your conduct
during the war has been so gallant that, without the slightest
hesitation, I should side with you and set down all that Captain Roby
has said to a hallucination caused by the injury to his head. But, you
see, there is the testimony of Corporal May, who declares that he
witnessed your conduct--conduct which I feel bound to say seems, when
weighed by your previous actions, perfectly inexplicable."
"Then I am to consider, sir, on the testimony of this man, that I am
unworthy of holding a commission in Her Majesty's service?" said Lennox
bitterly.
"Stop," said the colonel. "Don't be rash, and say things of which you
may repent, Lennox."
"An innocent man defending himself against such a charge, sir, cannot
always weigh his words. Look at my position, sir. I am fit now to
return to my duty, and I find a marked coldness on the part of my
brother officers and a peculiarity in the looks of the men which shows
me plainly enough that they believe it true."
"I have noticed it myself," said the colonel, "save in two instances.
Mr Dickenson is downright in his defence of you; and I freely tell you
for your comfort that the bravest non-commissioned officer in the
regiment, when I was speaking to him on the subject, laughed the charge
to scorn, and--confound him!--he had the insolence to tell me he'd as
soon believe that I would run away as believe it of you."
"Ha!" ejaculated Lennox, with his eyes brightening. "Sergeant James?"
"Yes; Sergeant James. A fine, staunch fellow, Lennox. He'll have his
commission by-and-by if I can help it on."
"Well, sir," said Lennox slowly, "I suppose it is of no use to fight
against fate. Am I to consider myself under arrest?"
"Certainly not," said the colonel firmly. "This is no time for dealing
with such a matter. I have enough on my hands to keep the enemy at a
distance, and I want every one's help. But as soon as we are relieved--
if we ever are--I am bound, unless Captain Roby and the corporal retract
all they have said and attribute it to delirium--I am bound, I say, to
call the attention of my superiors to the matter. I shall do so
unwillingly, but I must. Out of respect to your brother officers, and
for your sake as well, I cannot let this matter slide. It would be
blasting your career as a soldier--for you could not retain your
commission in this regiment."
"No, sir," said Lennox slowly, "nor exchange into another. But it seems
hard, sir."
"Yes, Lennox, speaking to you not as your colonel but as a friend,
terribly hard."
"Then the sooner I am arrested and tried by court-martial, sir, the
better. I was ready to return to my duty, but to go on with every one
in the regiment looking upon me as a coward is more than I could bear."
The colonel was silent. "Have I your leave, sir, to go back to my
quarters?" said Lennox at last.
"Not yet," said the colonel. "Look here, Lennox; this wretched charge
has been made, and I cannot tell my officers and men what they shall and
what they shall not believe. An inquiry must take place--by-and-by.
Till it is held, the task rests with you to prove to your brother
officers and the men that they have misjudged you."
"And to you, sir," said Lennox coldly.
"I do not judge you yet, Lennox," said the colonel gravely. "I am
waiting."
"And how am I to prove, sir, that I am not what they think me?"
The colonel shrugged his shoulders and smiled sadly.
"You need not go and publish what I say, Lennox," he replied; "but I
have very good reason to believe that the Boers are heartily sick of
waiting for us to surrender, and that they have received orders to make
an end of our resistance."
"Indeed, sir?"
"They have been receiving reinforcements, and the blacks bring word in
that they have now two more guns. There will be plenty of chances for
you to show that you are no coward, and that before many hours are
past."
"Do you mean, sir, that I can take my place in the company?"
"I do."
"Thank you, sir. Something within me seems to urge me to hold aloof,
for the coldness I have experienced since the doctor said I was fit for
service is unbearable."
"Would not standing upon your dignity, Lennox, and letting your comrades
face the enemy, look worse than manfully taking your place side by side
with the men who are going forward to risk wounds or death?"
"Yes, sir; much," said Lennox, flushing. "I will live it down."
"Shake hands, Lennox," said the colonel, holding out his own. "Now I
feel that you have been misjudged. Those were the words of a brave man.
Mind this: the matter must be properly heard by-and-by, but let it
remain in abeyance. Go and live it down."
The young officer had something more to say, but the words would not
come; and the colonel, after a glance at him, turned to a despatch he
had been writing, and began to read it over as if in ignorance of his
visitor's emotion.
"Oh, by the way, Lennox, one word before you go. About this man May.
Have you ever given him any cause to dislike you?"
"No, sir, I think not. I must own to always having felt a dislike to
him."
"Indeed," said the colonel sharply. "Why?"
"I would rather you did not ask me, sir."
"Speak out, man!" said the colonel sternly.
"Well, sir, I have never liked him since he obtained his promotion."
"Why?"
"I did not think he deserved it so well as some of the other men of his
standing."
"Humph! Let me see; he was promoted on Captain Roby's recommendation."
"Yes, sir; he was always a favourite with his captain."
"Have you been a bit tyrannical--overbearing?"
"I have only done my duty by him, sir. Certainly I have been rather
sharp with him when I have noticed a disposition on his part to hang
back."
"Perhaps he has never forgiven you for saving his life," said the
colonel, smiling.
"Oh, surely not, sir."
"I don't know," said the colonel. "But think a minute."
"I was certainly very sharp with him that time when we explored the
cavern, for that was one of the occasions when he hung back as if
scared. But no, no, sir; I will not suspect the man of accusing me as
he has through spite. He believes he saw me run, no doubt. But I did
not."
"There, Lennox, you've had a long interview, and I have my despatch to
write up. I have plenty to worry my head without your miserable
business. Now, no rashness, mind; but I shall expect to hear of you
leading your men in the very front."
"If they will follow me, sir, I shall be there," said Lennox quietly.
"If they will not, I shall go alone."