"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
Dickenson's seat.
"Come to my quarters," he said quietly, and he walked out, followed by
the young subaltern.
The stars were out, shining brightly, and all looked peaceful and grand
as the colonel led on to his hut, with Dickenson 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, Dickenson! I wonder what our friends are doing at
home, and whether they are thinking about us."
Dickenson 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, Dickenson," 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 passed 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 Dickenson sturdily;
"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, Dickenson," 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?"
"Or put me under arrest, sir."
"I cannot spare any of my officers to-night, Dickenson, so I suppose it
must be deferred till after the attack."
"Thank you, sir. I don't want to be out of the fight."
"I suppose not. By the way, have you seen much of Roby since he has
been about again?"
"Oh yes; a great deal, sir, on purpose. I've been trying to get him
into a better frame of mind."
"Well, I must say that you have not succeeded very well."
"Horribly, sir. I thought he'd think differently as his wound healed
up; but he is worse than ever."
"Now then," said the colonel, "tell me frankly what you think of Captain
Roby's state."
"I think he puzzles me, sir. One hour I think he is as mad as a
hatter--"
"Say as mad."
"Yes, sir; one hour he's as mad as mad, and the next he's perfectly
sane."
"Perfectly sane, I should say, Dickenson," said the colonel.
"Yes, sir, in all things but one, and over that he's just like that
fellow in the story."
"What fellow in what story?" said the colonel coldly.
"That Mr Dick, sir, who couldn't write anything without getting King
Charles's head into it."
"I see; and you think Captain Roby cannot help getting what he considers
to be Lennox's cowardice into _his_ head?"
"Exactly, sir."
"Humph! Well, there may be something in that. There, I have no more to
say to you now. No rashness to-night, but do your best with your men.
I'd rather hear that you saved one of our lads than killed half-a-dozen
Boers."
"I understand, sir."
"Understand this too. If you have any conversation with your brother
officers, say I have had you here to give you a severe reproof for the
present, and that probably something more will follow when we have
crushed the Boers. If they crush us you will get off. That will do,
Dickenson. I expect our friends will visit us to-night, though more
probably it will be just before daylight. Ask the major to step here as
you go. By the way, you and Lennox were at school together?"
"Yes, sir; and at Sandhurst too."
"Well, I hope he has as good an opinion of you as you have of him.
Good-night for the present."
"Good-night, sir," said the young man as he went out into the starlight
to deliver his message.--"Well, I hope we shall win to-night, for the
chief's sake! Hang it all," he muttered, "what a brick he is!"