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"We still have him in close confinement up in the Karewenda Geberge," replied the hauptmann carelessly. "A personal matter?" enquired Oberst von Lindenfelt. "The accursed Englishman struck me a blow because I thought fit to chastise a thieving native woman," replied von Argerlich.
Von Lindenfelt pondered a few moments, then he turned abruptly to Ulrich von Gobendorff. "I believe you understand aeroplanes, Ulrich," he said. "Did you not fly at the great Johannesthal meeting a few years ago? I thought you told me so. Ah! yes. You will accompany Hauptmann von Argerlich and a half company of Askaris. If the machine is easily repairable, fly it back here, otherwise destroy it.
Until the mystery is cleared up, we are at a loss to understand whether MacGregor is a true man or a traitor." Hauptmann Max von Argerlich, senior surviving officer of the 99th Regiment of Askaris, was in a furious temper with himself and every one with whom he came in contact.
The first to appear was the junior lieutenant, looking very scared. Finding that nothing occurred to cause him physical hurt he held his arms high above his head, at the same time saying something to his unseen companions. Then came Hauptmann von Argerlich, pale-faced under his sun-burnt complexion.
With the latter was Oberst von Lindenfelt, the senior officer of the column, and another individual dressed in nondescript garments whose face seemed familiar to von Argerlich. "Greetings, Max!" exclaimed von Lindenfelt. "Let us hope you have plenty of food. We are almost starving." "Not much in that line, Herr Oberst," replied von Argerlich. "How have you fared?"
Clicking his heels and stiffly saluting the veteran awaited his officer's permission to speak. "Well, dolt?" enquired von Argerlich thickly. "A scout has just reported that the Gwelba column has been sighted, Herr Hauptmann," announced the warrant officer. "The advance guard ought to be here within half an hour." "It is well," replied the hauptmann, rising unsteadily.
Von Argerlich had good cause to remember the scrap before the retreat. A bullet fired from behind had nicked his ear, and he knew that it was one of his Askaris who had fired. As a warning he had ordered half a dozen of the luckless natives to be executed, but even then he was far from certain that the culprit was included in the number.
A junior officer stood in the doorway, his flaccid features working with excitement. "Pardon, Herr Oberst," he exclaimed, as he saluted. "An English aeroplane " "Donnerwetter!" interrupted the German excitedly. "Is that so? Von Argerlich, I trust that there is a positively bomb-proof shelter available? How far away is the accursed machine, Herr Schmidt? Is it flying in the direction of M'ganga?"
Oberst von Lindenfelt having dismissed the troops the three Germans adjourned to the hauptmann's quarters, where over the remains of the bottle of spirits conversation was resumed. "Tell me how you gave the Englishman the slip, Ulrich," asked von Argerlich. "It was quite a simple matter," replied the spy.
With a bottle of spirits by his side von Argerlich sprawled upon a camp bed, while in the absence of mosquito curtain two lean Askaris, terrified by the Hun's drunken outburst, were diligently fanning him with broad leaves of a palm, knowing that if their efforts relaxed or developed into greater zeal than the hauptmann desired, the schambok awaited them.
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