nk. We're going to hold your place up for arms and
ammunition first thing. Then they're going to make me State Secretary
of the new Cape Colony Republic on condition I do the shooting of you
with my own hand. So now you're warned."

The point of these amenities lay in the fact that Colvin Kershaw was not
without pronounced Dutch sympathies at a time of strong political
tension. Whereas Frank Wenlock, though on good enough terms with his
Dutch neighbours individually, was one of those not uncommon types who
labour under a firm conviction that the Powers above built this planet
Earth primarily for the benefit of--and eventually to be solely and
absolutely ruled from north to south, and from east to west by--England,
and England only.

Personally considered Frank Wenlock was a presentable young fellow
enough. Externally of medium height, strong and energetic, his face,
lighted up by a pair of blue eyes not unlike those of his sister, though
not handsome, was open and pleasing. In character, though somewhat
quick-tempered, he was the soul of good-nature, but withal no part of a
fool. He and Colvin Kershaw had been fellow-pioneers together in
Rhodesia, and had fought side by side throughout the grim struggle of
the Matabele rebellion.

"Now, Mr Kershaw, can't you and Frank get together for a moment without
fighting about the Boers?" interrupted a brisk, not unpleasing, and yet
not altogether refined voice. "But where did you pick up May?"

Colvin turned to greet its owner; a well-preserved, middle-aged woman,
not so many years his senior, good-looking too, after a fine, fresh,
healthy type.

"Oh, we haven't begun upon them yet, Mrs Wenlock," he replied, ignoring
the last query. "We'll worry that out after dinner."

"You're not going on to-night?"

"Yes, I must I want to get to Stephanus De la Rey's. There's a joker
there I want to meet."

"Is that the Transvaal emissary?" said Frank, looking up quickly from
his plate, for they had sat down to dinner.

"I suppose that's what you'd call him. But, do you know, all this
rather interests me. I like to hear all there is to be said on both
sides."

"Why they'll hold a meeting and simply spout treason all night,"
rejoined Frank vehemently. "Good Lord, if I were Milner, I'd have that
fellow arrested and shot as a spy."

"My dear chap, you can't shoot `spies' when we are not at war with
anybody, and Botma, I suppose, has about as much right to hold a meeting