and's case
at once, as he seemed inclined to let the matter drift. Mr. Farrar
and I also drew his attention to the condition of the Jameson Cottage.
The walls were covered with mildew from the recent rains and the floor
damp with seepage water. Mr. Phillips was suffering from lumbago, and
Mr. Fitzpatrick with acute neuralgia.

Next day we were pleasantly surprised by a call at the cottage from
Messrs. Phillips, Farrar, and Colonel Rhodes, liberated under the same
conditions as was my husband--a bail of 50,000 dollars and a heavy
guard. They were then on their way to a cottage at Sunnyside. Mrs.
Farrar and I hugged each other with joy, and were quite ready to do
the same to the lawyers who had been so successful in attaining this
end. When I learned a little later that consent had been given for Mr.
Hammond to be taken to Johannesburg my measure of happiness seemed
indeed complete.

With all speed Parker and I tied up our belongings. Lieutenant de
Korte, with nine guards, was to attend us as far as Johannesburg. A
bed was made for the sick man on one of the seats, and frequent
stimulants helped him bear the journey. The thought of going home did
as much as the cordials to stay his strength, I shall always believe.
A number of gentlemen of my husband's staff were at the station to
meet us. Mr. Catlin's kind face I could see above all the others, and
dear Pope Yeatman's. Before we could exchange greetings we were
whisked off into our carriage by the officer whose duty it was to take
us in charge. A soldier hopped up on the box, and another planted
himself on the seat opposite to us--to my inconvenience, and Parker's
intense indignation. Our home was alight. There was a good dinner on
the table, and my husband, with his natural hospitality, invited the
officer to share it with us. I think I should have shot him if he had
accepted--but he did not accept.

There had been a fearful dynamite explosion at Fordsburg, a suburb of
Johannesburg, late in the afternoon, and he was busied with bringing
in the wounded. Very politely he asked me to take him through the
house. This I did, grimly remarking, as I pointed to the window in my
dressing-room, 'That is the one he will escape by when we have made up
our minds to run.' This cheap wit cost me weeks of inconvenience, for
the literal Hollander took me at my word, and posted a guard directly
opposite this window. Being a Vrywilliger[7] and a gentleman, this
poor man suffered as sh