emarkable for making themselves popular. Well, the trade
went on increasing, until it roused the jealousy of the Dutch. They
didn't fancy not being able to buy hides and tusks at the old prices,
and besides, were jealous of the English attempting to settle in the
country."

"Ay, to be sure," said Warley, "the time you speak of must have been a
year or two before the conquest of the colony by our troops."

"Just so, Ernest, and for some years previously to that there had been a
feeling of uneasiness in the colony, that the English were meditating
some attempt upon them. That is one of the things that induces me to
believe the Hottentot's story. Well, the Dutch in the fourth year after
the appearance of the strangers, got together what they call a commando
in these parts--"

"I know what that is," interposed Wilmore. "I heard my uncle talking
about it with some of the passengers. They get all the Dutchmen in the
neighbourhood together, as well as some troops from the government, and
make a raid on some unlucky Hottentot village--kill all the men, make
slaves of the women and children, seize the cattle and goods of the
natives, and burn the houses."

"That's what you call a clean sweep," observed Nick.

"Yes, no doubt. But it's shockingly cruel and wicked," exclaimed
Warley. "I should think you must be overstating the matter, Frank."

"I am afraid he is not," said Lavie. "That is very much what they were
wont to do at commandos, as I had good grounds for knowing while I was
living at Cape Town. They had a great deal of provocation, no doubt.
The boors' cattle was continually being stolen, and could very seldom be
recovered. And it was next to impossible to prove the theft against any
tribe in particular--"

"But that would not justify them in burning and shooting right and left,
without any inquiry," rejoined Warley. "I could not have believed that
any Christian people--"

"Well, Ernest, I am inclined to go a long way with you on this subject,
though I differ somewhat," said the doctor, "but we have no time to
discuss it now. Well, the Dutch commando attacked Omatoko's village by
night and burnt it, as Frank says, to the ground. Probably all the
other results of which he spoke would have ensued, if the English had
not heard the firing, and come up to the rescue."

"I hope they peppered the Dutchmen properly," cried Nick.

"Well, they seem to have made a good fight of it; but the Dutchmen were
ten