If you succeed I promise you that--" "Please don't promise me anything, sir," I said quickly.

"Let me go and try my best.

If I fail--" "And the Boers take you prisoner," said the Colonel quickly, "I shall, like every one in the corps, thank you all the same for a very dashing and plucky venture .-- As for you, Denham; yes, certainly.

Take fifty men, and go out to meet him and bring him in.

You need not, of course, start till well on towards morning; and when you are gone I shall order out nearly all the rest of the force to your support, so as to bring you all in, if you are pressed." "Thank you, sir," I said eagerly; but Denham replied in rather a grumpy tone, for he was all on fire to begin doing something almost at once.
"Then I may start when I like, sir ?" "Certainly, my lad.