they do not. They know not that we are ten times stronger than they
think. They boast that by the end of the year the English flag will
wave over Pretoria. Will it? We shall see.

"They think that they have only to threaten us and we shall collapse.
They have forgotten the lessons of 1881. A God-protected people
fighting for its liberties is a terrible thing, Stephanus, and that is
what we were then and what we are now. We have for years been
collecting arms and ammunition which will render us strong enough for
the whole British Army. And then when the whole British Army is hurled
against us there are European nations who will hurl themselves upon
England. They will not lose their opportunity. They hate England too
much for that. Then is our time. Now, Stephanus, will you be the only
man who refuses to join his own nationality? I go from here to-morrow,
for my mission is at an end, and it has been fruitful beyond my hopes.
When I return it will be with our conquering forces to help plant the
`Vierkleur' over our new Republic, which shall extend from the Zambesi
to the Cape. My dear brother, think. We want you; we want such men as
you among our leaders. Throw selfish considerations away, and link
yourself with the holy army of patriots."

The speaker ceased. Carried away by his own fervour, he could hardly
any longer bring out his words with sufficient coherence. And that very
fervour had carried his listener with him. Stephanus De la Rey was, to
tell the truth, deeply impressed. True, he himself had no reason to be
otherwise than perfectly contented; but had he any right to consider his
own prosperity, his own well-being, when the cause of his countrymen was
at stake? Transvaal, Free State, or Cape Colony, were they not all of
one blood--all Dutch? Many a man would have considered what advantages
might accrue to himself by joining the movement, what risk, even danger,
was incurred by abstaining; but this one was honest to the core. The
patriotic side was what appealed to him, that and that only. And
looking at him as though reading his thoughts, Andries Botma, the
Transvaal delegate, was filled with a whole-souled elation. He knew he
had won, and that however much time and thought he might give to the
situation between this and then, the moment the forces of the allied
Republics crossed the border Stephanus De la Rey would be upon their
side.

But this Stephanus De la Rey did not know himself