ery possible way. They would never suffer us to build a church, in
which to carry on our worship; and it was not until the English took
possession of the Cape that we were able to do so."

"You were not interfered with during the time of the English occupation,
I believe," said Lavie.

"No, if anything, helped and encouraged. When the colony was restored
to the Dutch three years ago, another attempt was made to turn us out of
the colony. But English rule had produced its effect on public opinion,
and nothing open was attempted. The system pursued by the Dutch farmers
was, nevertheless, so obstructive, that I thought it better to give up
my mission to the Hottentots, and betake myself to a different part of
the colony, where I have been living for the last two years."

"And where are you going now?" asked Warley.

"Back to the Hottentots. The English Government will protect me,
doubtless, as it did before, and I shall have every reasonable hope of
succeeding."

"The English Government!" repeated Nick, hastily. "Have the English
retaken the colony!"

De Walden looked at him with surprise. "Do you not know," he said,
"that on the 10th of January last, Cape Town was surrendered to the
English? By this time, I should imagine, the whole of the Dutch troops
have left the colony."

"No," said Lavie, "we did not know it, though we are not much surprised
to hear it. When we left England, there was some talk of sending out an
expedition to recover the Cape. But the Government kept their
intentions very secret. The Hottentots, among whom we have been living
for several weeks, had heard of the approach of a British fleet, but
knew nothing as to the issue of the expedition. So the Dutch have lost
the colony again, have they?"

"Yes," said the missionary; "and they will never regain it. The trust
has been reposed in their hands for many generations, and they have
betrayed it, and the colony is handed over to another people. For their
own sakes, may they fulfil it better!"

"You are right," said Lavie; "as the New World was given to Spain, and
when Spain abused the gift, it was taken from her; so have the Dutch
received, and so have they forfeited, their South African dominions."

"You speak well," said De Walden. "The parallel you suggest is very
much to the purpose. One's blood boils when one reads of the
barbarities practised on the defenceless Indians by Cortez and his
fellows; on the monstrous violation