t. This was too much.
Mr Harvey and the lads wheeled their horses, unslung their rifles, and
fired at the Boers, who were galloping away. One of them at once
dropped from his saddle, shot through the head; the other reeled, but,
retaining his seat, galloped off at full speed.

"This is a bad business, boys," Mr Harvey said; "we could not help it,
but it will bring trouble upon us. Now let us branch off from the road
we are following, and make for Leydenberg; we are within three days'
march of that place. There is an English garrison there, and justice
will be done. If we push on straight for Standerton, we shall be
overtaken and probably killed before we get there."

The bullocks' heads were turned towards the southeast, and at the best
pace the teams were driven across the country. Several large native
kraals were passed in the course of the day, and after a march of nearly
double the ordinary length the caravan halted for the night on the banks
of a stream. A sharp watch was kept all night, but nothing particular
happened.

Just as they were about to inspan the oxen in the morning some fifteen
or twenty men were seen approaching at a gallop. The oxen were at once
driven again to the laager, and every man seized his arms. The Dutchmen
halted at a distance of a hundred yards, and then three of them rode up
to the caravan.

"What do you want?" Mr Harvey said, advancing on foot in front of the
waggons, while the lads and the three hunters stood, rifles in hand,
behind them.

"We summon you to surrender," the Boers said; "you have murdered Mr Van
Burer and wounded Mr Schlessihoff."

"We have done nothing of the sort," Mr Harvey answered. "We were going
quietly along the road when those men insulted us; we passed on without
answering. After we had gone a hundred yards they fired at us, narrowly
missed me, and killed one of my men. We fired back, and with the result
you have named. We are quite ready to answer for our conduct, and when
we get to Leydenberg we shall at once deliver ourselves up to the
magistrate, and report what has occurred, and you can then bring any
charge you want to make against us."

"You will never get to Leydenberg," the Boers said scoffingly; "we are
your magistrates and judges; _we_ want no English law here. Once for
all, will you surrender?"

"We certainly will not," Mr Harvey replied, "and if you molest us it
will be at your peril."

Without another word the Boers turned