ter
all, it isn't his fault they tried to make an Englishman of him."

Boer brandy, when pure and well matured, is about the best liquor in the
world, and this was the best of its kind; wherefore under its influence,
aided by the smiles of the ministering Hendrina, the youth's ruffled
feathers were soon smoothed down, and three or four of his sympathisers
claiming to join in the privilege, good-humour was restored and plenty
of mirth and good-fellowship prevailed before they separated for their
long ride home over the moonlit veldt; for Boers are by nature sociable
folk among themselves, and the younger ones, at any rate, addicted to
chaff and practical joking.

In the other room, where refreshment had been taken in for their
physical weal, sat the more serious-minded.

"Jan," said Andries Botma, turning to his host, "where is Stephanus De
la Rey? Is he sick?"

"No!"

"Why is he not here to-night?"

Swaart Jan shrugged his shoulders and grinned, his two tusks protruding
more than ever.

"How do I know, brother? Only we must not forget that his wife is half
an Englishwoman."

"Ah!" said the delegate, who appeared to be struck with the idea.

"Oom Stephanus would not come," put in a young man reverentially. "That
is all I know about it."

The speaker had been one of the most fervid listeners to the "Patriot's"
discourse, and with much trepidation had lingered behind among his
elders, preferring their conversation to the boisterous merriment in the
other room.

"It is Stephanus' nephew, Adrian De la Rey," said Jan Grobbelaar.

"Ah! a good name. A good name," declared the delegate. "Bear it
worthily, nephew, when the time comes." Then, turning to the
_predikant_, "We must win over Stephanus De la Rey, Mynheer. We must
win him over."

"He is the only `good' man here whom we have not won," was the reply,
given dubiously.

"_Ja, ja_!" assented Swaart Jan, shaking his head softly. "_Ja, ja_! we
must win over Stephanus De la Rey."

CHAPTER TWO.

SIDELIGHTS.

Down by the river bed a girl was standing. The river bed was dry. So,
too, was the wide, flat expanse of veldt stretching before and around
her, and the slopes of two low cliff-crowned mountains which at some
distance off relieved the dead level of the arid plain were brown where
they should have been green. The only green spot visible upon the whole
landscape was formed by an extensive cultivated patch lying around a
farmhouse half a