erness,
and massive Dutchmen from the karroo, splendid horsemen and deadly
shots.

While the bustle was at its height a party of horsemen galloped up to
the gate, headed by a giant. It turned out to be a contingent from Glen
Lynden, under Groot Willem of Baviaans River, with Andrew Rivers, Jerry
Goldboy, and several of the Dutch farmers of the Tarka in his train.

"Ho! here you are," cried Groot Willem in his hearty bass roar, as he
leaped to the ground and seized Hans Marais by the hand. "All well at
Eden--eh?"

"Burnt out," said Hans quietly.

The giant looked aghast for a moment. Then his friend ran hurriedly
over the main points of his story. But there was no time for talk.
While salutations were being exchanged by the members of the various
parties thus assembled, Sir Benjamin appeared, mounted his horse, gave
orders to several of his officers, and spoke a few words to Groot Willem
and Hans. In a few minutes the troops were marched out of the fort, and
next day reached the right bank of the Kei River.

This was the western boundary of Hintza's particular territory. On
arriving, the Governor issued general orders to the effect that Hintza
was not "to be treated as an enemy." No kraals were to be burnt, no
gardens or fields pillaged, and no natives meddled with, unless
hostilities were first begun by them, and that no act of violence should
be committed until due notice of the commencement of hostilities had
been given. "You see," said Sir Benjamin in a private conversation with
one of his staff, "I am resolved to take every possible precaution to
avoid giving cause of complaint to the great chief, and to endeavour by
mild forbearance to maintain peace. At the same time, it is essential
that I should act with vigour because undue forbearance is always
misinterpreted by savages to mean cowardice, and only precipitates the
evils we seek to avoid."

On arriving at a spot where a trader named Purcell had been plundered
and murdered, the troops were met by several "councillors" from Hintza
and from the chief Booko, who were still a day's journey distant. To
these the Governor said:--

"Go, tell the Great Chief that I request an interview with himself,
because I desire that peace should be between us, and that justice
should be done. I will not cease to advance until such interview is
obtained, and it will depend on his own conduct whether Hintza is
treated by the British Government as a friend or a foe