. Watching the operation was another man, an Englishman, the
dispossessed manager of a local store, who had sought a temporary
lodging at the hotel, and was a big, strong individual, over 6 feet in
height. I inquired in amazement, of this strangely assorted pair, what
they were trying to do. "We are going to hide, Lady Sarah," chirped the
former. "The Boers are on the premises." So saying, he was about to
descend into the cavity, and evidently expected the companionship of his
tall friend. When I pointed out to them that they would probably
suffocate in this modern Black Hole of Calcutta, the little man
proceeded to dance round the room, still shouldering his axe, jibbering
the while: "I will not go to fight; I am an American. I will not be put
in the front rank to be shot by the English, or made to dig trenches."
The whole scene was so comic that I sat down and laughed, and the climax
was reached when the cock-sparrow, who had always talked so big of what
he was going to do and to say to the Boers, crawled under the old grand
piano in the farther corner of the big room. I was forced to tell him
that no American or Englishman could be found in such an ignominious
position, should the house be searched, and I even assured the little
gentleman that I did not think it was the least likely his services
would be wanted. The other man, whose position was more risky, I advised
to lie down on the sofa and feign illness; and I really believe anxiety
and worry had so preyed on him that he was as ill as he looked. When
calm had been restored, I sat down to lunch, Mrs. Fraser coming in at
intervals to report what our visitors were doing at the store. They had
demanded coffee and many tins of salmon and sardines. Of these
delicacies they seemed particularly fond, eating the latter with their
fingers, after which they drank the oil, mixed for choice with golden
syrup. After their repast they fitted themselves out in clothes and
luxuries, such as silver watches and chains, white silk
pocket-handkerchiefs, cigarettes, saddles, and even harness, taking
altogether goods to the amount of about L50. This amusement finished,
they proceeded to practise shooting, setting up bottles at a distance of
about 50 yards. We followed all their doings from behind the green
Venetian blinds, kept down on account of the heat. Up to this time none
of them had come up to the house, for which we had reason to be
grateful, as the "dop" they had found, and quic