"Here, arrest this man .-- Now then, give an account of yourself, for you look confoundedly like a spy.

Here, some one, cut that black fellow down if he resists." "Be quiet, Joeboy," I cried; "these are friends." Joeboy dropped into a peaceable attitude and stood scowling at the horsemen who surrounded us.
"Now, sir," said the officer, "why don't you speak ?" "Because you called me a spy," I said.
"Well, that seems to be what you are, you young scoundrel.

How many of your friends are there up yonder ?" "I don't know," I said.
"Say `sir' when you speak to a gentleman," cried the officer angrily, "and no nonsense.

Speak out--the truth if you don't want to be shot." "Of course I don't want to be shot," I said scornfully; "and I'm not in the habit of telling lies." "How many Boers are there, then, up in the pass ?" "I don't know," I said.

"We crept by them in the dark." "Why?
To come and see what forces we had here ?" "No," I said.
"Then why did you come ?" "To get away from the Boers." "Why did you want to get away from them ?" cried the officer, gazing at me searchingly.
I was so hot and indignant that I would not speak for some little time.
"I thought so.