man having run to his horse and
galloped off, panic-stricken at the sudden attack. The oxen were at
once inspanned, two being taken from each team and presented to the
chief, together with a large bale of cotton in return for his
assistance. The caravan then started, and after a march of sixteen
hours arrived at Leydenberg.

"It is an awful nuisance," Dick said to Tom on the march, "our being
obliged to come round here. If everything had gone straight, I
calculated that we might be at home by Christmas-eve. Now, goodness
only knows when we shall arrive; for, as likely as not, we may be kept
here for days over this row with the Boers."

The moment they arrived at Leydenberg Mr Harvey, accompanied by the two
lads and the three native hunters, went to the house of the magistrate.
That gentleman had just finished his dinner; but on being told that his
visitors' business was urgent he asked them to be shown in. The hunters
remained outside, and the lads followed Mr Harvey into the house.

"I have come to make a complaint against some Boers," the trader said.

"Then I can tell you beforehand," the magistrate put in, "that your
mission is a vain one. Outside this town I have not at present the
slightest authority. Complaints reach me on all sides of outrages
perpetrated by the Boers upon English settlers and traders. Strong
armed parties are moving about the country; and although I will of
course hear anything that you have got to say, with a view of obtaining
redress when things settle down again, I cannot hold out any hope of
being able to take action at present."

"I have scarcely come to you, sir, with the idea of obtaining redress,
but rather of stating my case, in case the Boers should bring a
complaint against me."

The trader then proceeded to relate the circumstances which had
occurred: the wanton attack upon them in the first place, the murder of
one of their servants, the killing of one and the wounding of the other
of the aggressors, the subsequent attack upon their camp, and their
relief by Mangrope.

"I think you have got remarkably well out of the affair, and although
the attack of the Boers has cost you the life of one of your followers
and twelve oxen, as you have killed eight or ten of them you have made
matters more than even, and have, moreover, given them a lesson which
may be useful. I will take down your depositions, as it is as well that
your friends here, and the hunters you speak of,