They had captured our pigeon, with its tell-tale note.

This confiding bird had flown straight to the laager, had perched on the General's house, where it had been shot by this same Dietrich, and we owed the present visit to the information supplied therein by Mr.P., Dietrich informing us he attributed this occurrence to the Almighty working for the Boers.
They stated they were now awaiting the arrival of the _Veldtcornet_ and of Mr.Lamb, a neighbouring farmer, whom they had sent for, and they proceeded to make their preparations to spend the night.

After supper we were relieved to hear Mr.Lamb's cheerful voice, as he rode up in the dark with the jovial Dietrich, who had ridden out to meet him, and who, it appeared, was an old friend of his.

I must say the pleasure of meeting was more on the Dutchman's side than on the Englishman's.

By this time the former was quite intoxicated, and Mr.Lamb cleverly managed to get him to his room, and after having, as he thought, disposed of him, he came and joined us on the stoep.