r in her hands and a gleam
of mischief in her eyes, she was repeating with evident enjoyment a
few catching lines.

"Oh, Carlo, this is lovely! I must learn these verses and recite them
to the girls when they come this afternoon! Listen, Carlo."

FROM KITCHENER TO SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR

_Sunday_

I am taking measures once for all to clear my reputation;
I swear to give de Wet a fall that means annihilation.

_Monday_

A brilliant action by Brabant, the enemy has fled,
Their loss was something dreadful; ours--one single Kaffir dead.

_Tuesday_

De Wet is short of food-stuffs, his ammunition's done,
His horses are all dying, and he's only got one gun.

_Wednesday_

The cordon draws in round de Wet; he now has little room,
He only can escape one way--by road to Potchefstroom.

_Thursday_

De Wet is now caged like a rat, he's fairly in a box,
Around him grouped are Clements, Clery, Methuen, French, and Knox.

_Friday_

An unfortunate event occurred--I report it with regret,
A convoy with five hundred men was captured by de Wet.

_Saturday_

A Kaffir runner says he saw de Wet's men trekking west,
With ammunition for two years, and food supply the best.

_Saturday (later)_

A loyal farmer told our Scouts de Wet was riding east,
Each man, beside the horse he rode, was leading a spare beast.

Carlo wagged his tail sympathetically.

* * * * *

Overhead the sky was of the deepest, richest sapphire blue, paling
away to the horizon to the most delicate tints, against which the
distant hills showed up in bold relief.

"Gentleman Jim," one of the native servants, was evidently enjoying
his Sunday too, for he loitered in the garden, plucking up a weed here
and there and watching the bees at work, the busy bees who know of no
day of rest.

"Bring me some grapes, please, Jim," Hansie called out to him.

"Yes, little missie," with alacrity. "What you like? Them black ones
or them white ones?"

"Some of both."

He walked briskly to the house to fetch a basket and disappeared into
the vineyard, returning shortly with a plentiful supply of luscious
grapes.

"Thank you, Jim. Enough for a week!" Hansie laughed, and he looked
pleased as he went off in the direction of the river.

A few moments later, half concealed by the shrubs and rank grass with
which the lower part of Harmony was overrun, Hansie noti