"Where would they carry them ?" "Oh, sir, you don't know what artful tricks are played!" said Anson eagerly.
"Oh, I've heard of a few since I came to South Africa; but I don't think it likely that a couple of despatch-riders would carry many illicit-diamonds with them!" "Have the butts of their revolvers examined, sir, and the stuffing of their saddles," cried Anson.

"I have heard of the butts of rifles being bored to hold a lot." "So have I!" said the General; "but I fancy a wagon would be more likely to supply hiding-places!" "Oh yes, sir, but the police inspector searched my wagon, and did not find any." "You would have no objection, of course, being perfectly innocent," said the General, "to some of my men searching your wagon ?" "Of course, I shouldn't like it, sir, but--" "But?
Ah, you mean conquest gives me the right of search ?" "It's like casting a slur on a man's character, sir." "But it makes it shine out the brighter when you are proved to be innocent! Here, sergeant, this case begins to be interesting! Search our friend's wagon." Anson tried to master a wince, and merely shrugged his shoulders, standing with his hands in his pockets while the sergeant and his men commenced their task, examining every part of the wagon while the officers waited patiently, lighting up and smoking their cigars until the sergeant came back to make his report.
"Well, what have you found ?" "Nothing but these, sir," replied the sergeant stiffly.

"Tucked away behind the doubled tilt they were, sir," and the man held out a revolver, Anson's sword-stick, and his little mahogany flute-case.
"Humph! No diamonds, sergeant ?" "Not so much as a pin or ring, sir," replied the man.
"Are these yours, Mr Piet Retif ?" said the General.
"The walking-stick and the flute-case are mine," said Anson coolly.
"The pistol must be the driver's.

I had a rifle; but your men took that away." "Nothing else ?" said the General.
"Nothing else, sir.

We looked everywhere," replied the sergeant, and he offered his superior the objects he had brought; but the General shrugged his shoulders and looked at his officers, who each examined the revolver, stick, and flute-case, and passed them back to the sergeant.
"Well, gentlemen," said the General, turning to West and Ingleborough: "you hear.