ted view. Inherently the Boer is a great respecter
of the law and of the person of its representative or representatives,
and most of these were sufficiently unsophisticated to look upon their
undoubtedly treasonable proceeding as a hanging matter if brought to the
notice of the authorities. Hence none felt any qualm as to the strong
measures to be adopted towards the hostile sharer of the secret.

_In vino Veritas_! When we say that none felt a qualm we should have
exempted Hans Vermaak--in his cups. The misgiving expressed by Gideon
Roux as to the potential liberality of his spouse in the matter of the
grog was not unfounded. There was enough in the bottle to make three
Dutchmen--two would not partake--very lively, and the liveliest of all
was Hans Vermaak. He became, moreover, enormously fraternal towards
Colvin, who was deftly drawing him out, and finally did exactly as
Gideon Roux had predicted, insisted upon his remaining the night, for
he, Hans, was Gideon's brother-in-law, and therefore one of the family.
He forgot the patriot cause, and only remembered it to declare that this
was too good an Englishman to be shot, and so forth, which declaration
under ordinary circumstances might mean nothing, but read by the light
of subsequent events and the speaker's manner, Colvin took to mean
rather a great deal.

The latter made several futile attempts at getting away, and at length
succeeded. He himself, although he had borne his share, was in no wise
affected by the liquor he had been taking--for the matter of that he
could have drunk the lot of them under the table over and over again--
and throughout the talk, which became more and more boisterous and
unguarded, had kept an ear open and an eye keenly alive to every sign.
But by the time he did break loose, and Gert was standing before the
door with the horses saddled up, he realised that the more prudential
side of his resolution had failed and that an infinitesimal portion of
his homeward journey would be accomplished by daylight.

He had bidden good-bye all-round--not failing to observe during the
process the awful look of scare upon the face of his hostess as she just
touched his hand with a limp, moist paw. He had paced his horse about a
hundred yards from the door, not sorry to see the last of the frowsy,
dirty place, when he heard his name called. Turning in the saddle, he
beheld the genial Hans hurrying towards him.

"Which way do you go home by?" s