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touched his temper in the least。
〃What's the use of thrashing a beast that's mad with terror？〃 he answered one critical amateur who had watched the game from a safe distance。 〃The creature is in a funk； as it is； there's no use in adding to it。 All I'm after is to teach 'em that saddles and bridles don't bite。 Treat 'em decently and sit tight； and they'll come right and learn to trust you in the end。〃
And； as mount after mount was delivered over to the waiting authorities； it came to be a matter of general belief that the regimental rough…rider knew his business； albeit he accomplished it more by dint of urging than by many blows。 Six weeks of this work had told upon him； told in the right direction。 Under the brown skin； the muscles stood out like knotted cords； his nerves were steady； he ate like a wolf and slept the dreamless sleep of a healthy child。 To the outward eye； his face changed but little。 Its outlines were more rugged； the curves of his lips a bit more resolute； but that was all。
Now and then； amid the merry group at the camp fire； he sat silent； while he let his mind range away to the southward。 Somewhere there； in the green…ringed town in the mountain's shelter； was a tall girl with yellow hair and eyes which matched the zenith when it darkens after the dropping of the sun。 His fancy painted her in every conceivable situation： walking； riding； resting at noonday in the shaded western end of the veranda； or pouring tea for relays of thirsty guests。 As a rule； the Captain's figure was in the background of these pictures； and Weldon was content to have it so。 In all South Africa； these were his two best friends； it was good that they could be together。 And the Captain was an older man； much older。 When one lives in the open air during twenty…four hours of every day； jealousy has scant place in his mind。 The smaller vices are for the cramped town； not for the limitless； unbroken veldt。
And now and then a day brought with it a letter； frank； friendly and full of news。 Those days Weldon marked with a white stone； but his sleep； on those nights； was as quiet and dreamless as ever。 Facts were facts。 Theories and hopes were for the future； and no man looks much to the future in a time of war。
Besides the letters； there were minor events； too； events which went to fill up the letters of reply。 Now it was a hospital train which halted at the camp on the way southward； and each red…taped nurse had reminded him of Alice Mellen； and of those last days in Johannesburg。 Now it was a two…day trek； as escort for a convoy train whose long lines of bullock…drawn wagons marked the brown veldt with a wavering stripe of duller brown。 Again a wounded picket came straying back to camp； bleeding and dazed； to report the inevitable sniping which furnished the running accompaniment to most other events； or an angry squad came riding in； to tell of the shots which had followed close upon the raising of the white flag； or of the score of armed men who had suddenly leaped out from the safe shelter of a Red…Cross ambulance。 And； on one occasion； he had been in the thick of a similar fray。 Hand to hand； he had fought on the doorsteps of a farmhouse to which he and his five comrades had been bidden by a sprightly Boer in gown and sunbonnet。 At the door； the bonnet had been cast from the cropped head； and the gown had been pushed back to give access to the bandolier beneath； while a dozen shots from an upper window had driven them from the dooryard into the comparative shelter of the lower rooms。 The skirmish had ended with a charge up the stairway。 Weldon； that same night； had written to Ethel a wholly humorous account of the whole affair； and it was not until long afterwards that she had learned from Carew； who had been of the party； which was the trooper who had mounted guard over the room where the aged grandmother had tucked herself away under her bed。 The old Dutch vrouw had bidden him to share her shelter； but he had taken note of her dimensions； and had declined her hospitality。 Later on； when the fight was over and she had painfully wriggled her way out from her trap； he had also declined certain of her manifestations of gratitude。 Even chivalry to the aged possesses its humorous side。
Then； one November night； Weldon came into his tent with alert step and glowing eyes。 He found Carew going through his camp outfit in detail； and； squatting on the floor in the corner； Kruger Bobs was cleaning accoutrements as if his life depended on it。
〃You look as if events were about to happen；〃 he observed； from the dispassionate distance of the doorway。
〃They are。〃
〃Ask them to include me； then。〃
〃What do you need of events； you regimental broncho…buster？〃
〃One gets sick of even the best horseflesh in time；〃 he answered nonchalantly。
〃Sorry； for you are doomed to more of it。〃
〃Another herd of bronchos？〃 Weldon's voice showed that the idea displeased him。
〃No； but a two…hundred…mile trek across country。〃
〃Good。 I am tired of being cooped up； and a spin of that kind will be a boon。〃
Carew settled back on his heels and looked up at him。
〃Spin is it！ Your only spin will be on your own axis。 We are to act as escort for a convoy train of fifty wagons and ten times fifty mules。 We shall make six miles a day； and our tongues will be wholly corrupted by the language of the mule…drivers。 And； in the end； we shall get to〃
〃A glorious fight； I trust；〃 Weldon supplemented。
Gloomily Carew shook his head。 〃No； merely to Winburg。 We are going to provision Weppener and Ladybrand； and then make for the railroad again。 We'll strike it at Winburg most likely。 It is an unholy sort of hole； and I hear that the hotel serves watered ink and currant jelly under the name of claret。 We shall sit there and sip it； until the train arrives； and then we shall entrain and come back again。 And this；〃 he emphasized his words by plumping forward on his knees once more； 〃and this is war！〃
〃Yes； but it lets us out on a longer leash than I have had for some time；〃 Weldon said serenely。 〃Anyway； it is well for you that it is not likely to be a bloody campaign； for you'll be headed straight away from Johannesburg； and I misdoubt me if Winburg holds a hospital。〃
〃Judging from my past records； it will have to found one； then；〃 Carew answered composedly。 〃If I have to go through two hundred miles of the enemy's country； they might as well open up； in readiness for my coming。 But what is the letter； old man？〃
〃News。 Yours had knocked it out of my mind； though。 Mine comes off later。 Captain Frazer has been transferred to the South African Light Horse； and will come up here as adjutant； on the first。〃
Carew's face brightened。
〃That's good hearing。 He will be higher still； before De Wet is taken。〃 〃I hope so。 Anyway； he is coming to us。 Think of having him about again！〃
〃Much good will it do us！ An adjutant doesn't mess with the trooper。〃
〃Frazer will stick to his friends。〃
〃Mayhap。 Still； better men than he have gone dizzy； as they went up the ladder； and dizziness makes people look at what's above them； rather than at what is below；〃 Carew answered oracularly。 〃Frazer's influence will be sound； and we shall feel it fr