"How am I to know which wagon he had ?" "The sergeant knows where it is, sir," replied West; "and we could recognise it directly." "But why do you want it searched--what for ?" "For diamonds, sir, that he brought away from Kimberley, and which you have brought back." "H'm! Diamonds, eh?
This sounds interesting!" said the General.

"You think he has some there ?" "We both believe he has, sir, and of great value." "What do you say, gentlemen ?" "Oh, let's have the search made by all means!" cried one of the officers, laughing.

"It may mean salvage and loot, and all sorts of good things!" "Very well! Take the matter up, and I'll see the search made! Let the prisoner be present, of course.

I'll be ready in half-an-hour." Punctually to the minute the General was ready, and he walked down through the temporary camp to where the wagon stood among scores of others, while the sergeant and four men stood by with Anson, who looked shifty and uncomfortable, wincing suddenly as he caught sight of West and Ingleborough, and then gazing sharply about at the mounted Lancers on duty as patrols, for the prisoners were many, and there had been several attempts at escape.
The General looked at him sharply, and then at the wagon.
"Is that your wagon, prisoner ?" "It was till you took it!" replied the young man surlily.
"What do you say, sergeant ?" "Yes, sir," answered the sergeant, with military brevity.

"I marked it with my knife the day that it was taken." As he spoke he laid a finger upon a couple of notches he had made in the wood-work.
"Now then," said the General, "before I have the wagon examined--" Anson's eyes twitched.
"Repeat the charge you made against this man!" continued the General.
Ingleborough now firmly repeated almost word for word what he had before said, and charged Anson with being an illicit-diamond-dealer.
"And upon what do you base this charge ?" said the General sternly.
"The personal knowledge of myself and friend here," replied Ingleborough.
"All lies, General," cried Anson excitedly.