whether we should follow
Mother down to Durban. But to take that step would mean absolute ruin,
for all our property would be confiscated by the Transvaal Government;
so, after a long discussion, Father and I decided to stay, on the
distinct understanding that we were not to bear arms against the
British. For a week after the ultimatum we were employed as town guards
in Johnny's Burg. Then we were commandeered for service, for every
available man was wanted to make good the losses the Boers had suffered.
For another week we were kept in laager near Pretoria, and then we were
separated, Father being dragged down south, while I was compelled to
accompany this commando. We were in desperate straits, but we swore we
would never fire a shot against the English.

"What has happened to Father I do not know. For myself I should have
escaped long ago, but each one of these Boers has instructions to shoot
me on suspicion of such an attempt, and they watch me constantly. It is
awful, Somerton! If we meet the British troops these fiends will stand
behind me and shoot me if I refuse to fight."

"Good heavens, you don't say so!" Jack exclaimed indignantly. "To
force a man to fight against his own flesh and blood is simply
monstrous!"

"It's true all the same," replied Guy Richardson dejectedly. "There are
hosts more like myself. Good Englishmen, who know that this war has
been wilfully forced on the empire by the Boers, and who are determined
to escape from their adopted Republic and fight for the queen. But we
are all carefully watched, and I fear that more than one of the poor
fellows have lost their lives. Only a few days ago I heard that they
have been forced to fight in the most exposed positions, and these men
here have threatened that I shall have such a post. If a bullet finds
me out when I am fighting for England I shall not grumble, but if I am
to be struck down by my own people, would rather shoot myself. It is
awful, but I have sworn never to fire a gun for these brutes, and I will
stick to that determination."

"Tell me where you have been," said Jack. "From the fact of this being
such a small commando, I imagine there are none of our troops near at
hand. I was riding up to meet Plumer's force."

"We have been on a visit to the natives, Somerton," Guy Richardson
replied, "and although I have not been told the motive, it is easy to
guess that the Boers wish to stir them up so as to increase our
diff