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In the forefront of the remainder of his squadron； Weldon found himself borne onward in the rush； straight from the camp to the right flank of the guns。 The broncho's swinging trot had long since changed to a gallop； and her eyes were flashing with the wicked light of her old； unbroken days； as she went tearing across the sun… baked veldt； up and down over the rises and through the rare bits of thicket at a pace which Weldon would have been powerless to check。 He had no mind to check it。 The crisp air； full of ozone and warmed by the sun； set his cheeks to tingling with its impact。 A true rider； he let his mood follow the temper of his horse and； like a pair of wild things； they went bolting away far towards the head of the squadrons。
And always the firing of the guns grew nearer and faster and more murderous。
He took no note of passing moments； none of the miles he had ridden during the past days。 These counted for naught； while； with photographic distinctness； the picture before him fixed itself sharply in his mind： the dust…colored troops on the dusty veldt； the brown…painted guns； the distant line of the enemy's fire and； far to the eastward； the wall of smoke which was fast sweeping towards them from the acres of burning veldt。
〃Captain Frazer； the General orders you to take up your position in the kraal on the extreme right； and to hold it at any cost。〃
From his place at the Captain's side； Weldon glanced at the orderly； then； turning； looked across the veldt to the four gray walls surrounding the clump of trees a mile away。 His hand tightened on the curb； and he straightened in the saddle； as the Captain led the way into the purgatory beyond； an orderly purgatory； but crossed with leaden lines of shot and shell。
At such moments； the brain ceases to act coherently。 When Weldon came to himself； he was kneeling behind the old gray wall； revolver in hand； firing full in the faces of the Boer horsemen； scarce fifteen feet away。 Carew； his right foot dangling； had been hustled to the rear of the kraal where the gray broncho and her mates were in comparative shelter。
〃Weldon？〃
He looked up in a half…dazed fashion。 The wall of smoke was already shutting down about the retreating Boers。 Beside him stood the Captain； his yellow hair clinging to his dripping face； his blue eyes； under their fringe of black lashes； glittering like polished gems。 Coated as he was with dust and sweat； his clothing torn and spotted with the fray； he looked ten times more the gallant gentleman； even； than when he had met Weldon in the heart…shaped bit of lawn encircled by the Dents' driveway。 Now he held out his hand。
〃Splendidly done； old man！ One doesn't forget such things。〃
CHAPTER NINE
Captain Frazer had scarcely finished speaking； when the voice of the General sounded in their ears。
〃A plucky attack and a plucky defeat； Captain Frazer。 Kemp is a man worth fighting。 You are not wounded？〃
〃Thanks to Trooper Weldon；〃 the Captain told him； with a smile。
The General's keen glance included them both。
〃Good！ And now can you spare me a trusty man？ One who can ride？ I must have some despatches at Krugersdorp before midnight。 I should like some one from your squadron。〃
The eyes of Captain Frazer and Weldon met。 Again the General's keen glance was on them both； then it concentrated itself upon the younger man。
〃I am ready；〃 he answered to its unspoken question。
〃You are sure you are fit？ It is forty miles； and the rain will be on us inside of an hour。〃
〃It makes no difference。〃
As he spoke； Weldon felt himself surveyed from hat to shoelace。
〃Very well。 Get yourself fed； and come to my tent in an hour。 It will be better to wait until dusk before starting； for these hills are infested with Boers。 Do you know the country？〃
〃Partly。 I can learn the rest。〃
〃You need a remount。〃
Weldon stroked the little gray broncho。
〃If I had my own horse。 Otherwise； I prefer this。 I can trust her； even if she is tired。〃
Again the glance swept him over； beginning at the boyish face； resolute and eager beneath its streaks of red…brown dust。 Then； as Weldon saluted； the General turned and rode away； with the Captain at his side。
〃You've the making of a man there； Captain Frazer；〃 was his sole comment。
Weldon； meanwhile； was allowing the little gray broncho to pick her own dainty way out of the shambles about her feet。 Then； once free from the litter of men and horses； he turned her head to the spot where； he had been told； his squadron were gathering together their diminished forces。 As he rode slowly onward； he was surprised to see how low the sun had dropped。 The fighting must have lasted longer than he had thought。 It had been hot and heavy； but at least he had not funked it。 For so much he could be thankful。 In so far as he could recall any of his emotions as he had dashed into range of the pitiless firing； they had been summed up in a dull rage against the enemy； mingled with a vague hope that no harm should come to the plucky little mount。 Just one instant's pause he could remember。 That was when he had put forth all his strength to check her pace until he could readjust a strap that was plainly galling her。 And afterwards？ Not even the thoroughbred Nig could have played her part in the fight with more steady gallantry。 Stooping； he eased the bit and patted the firm gray neck where the mane swept upward for its arching fall。
〃Boss？〃
He straightened in his saddle。
〃Kruger Bobs！ By all special providences； where did you come from？〃
〃Naauwpoort。 Kruger Bobs come bring Nig to Boss。〃
〃Kruger Bobs； you're a genius。〃
Kruger Bobs vanished behind his smile。
〃Ya； Boss；〃 he replied then。 〃Boss all right？〃
〃Yes； all right。〃
〃Dutchmans no killed Boss？〃
〃No。〃
Doubtfully Kruger Bobs shook his sable bristles。 He had heard the firing； such firing as he had never dreamed of until then； and it seemed to him impossible that any man could come unscathed out of the heart of it。 Of Weldon's being in the very heart of it； no doubt had once stained the loyal whiteness of his soul。 To assure himself of Weldon's safety； he ambled around the gray broncho in a clumsy circle。 The gray broncho showed her appreciation of the attention by nipping viciously at the flank of his horse。 By Weldon's left side； Kruger Bobs halted and pointed an accusing forefinger at his knee。
〃Dutchmans hurt Boss；〃 he said anxiously。
〃Where？〃
〃Dere。〃 In spite of his effort for sternness； the voice of Kruger Bobs quavered with anxiety。
Bending over； Weldon glanced down at the dark red stain on the coil of khaki serge。 Then； all at once； he remembered the sudden stinging of his leg； just before he had started the gray broncho on her last mad rush across the lead…swept plain。 In the excitement that followed； the matter had entirely passed out of his mind。 Even now that his attention was called to it； he was conscious of no physical discomfort。
〃Kruger Bobs go for doctor？〃 the boy was urging。
Weldon laughed reassuringly。
〃It's nothing； Kruger Bobs。 I've no time to fool with doctors now。〃
〃What Boss do？〃
〃Feed Piggie； eat something； look up Mr。 Carew and then get to the General's tent； inside an hour。〃
〃What for de big boss soldier？〃
〃He wants me。〃
〃Ya？〃 Kruger Bobs demanded uneasily。
〃To ride a despatch。〃
〃Despatch！〃 Kruger Bobs exploded in hot wrath。 〃Kruger Bobs go despatch； Boss go bed。〃 〃Can't do it； Kruger Bobs。 This is war； and I've given my word to the General。 It was an order； and I had to do it。〃 Backing his horse off for a step or two； Kruger Bobs sat looking at his master and shaking his head mournfully。 Then he straightened in the saddle。
〃Boss go； Kruger Bobs go； too；〃 he said； with steady decision。
Less than an hour later； outside the General's tent Kruger Bobs sat astride The Nig； with the rein of the gray broncho in his hand。 The clouds； since noon banked low in the eastern horizon； had swept up across the sky； and already the rain was pattering drearily over the hunched…up shoulders of Kruger Bobs。 Inside the tent； the colloquy was brief。 Twice Weldon repeated over the substance of his despatches and his instructions regarding their destination。 The despa