nd G. Els, he laid his plans for a speedy escape,
and for the purpose of spying more effectually he used the tower of
the sacred edifice for which he was responsible, as a point of vantage
not only suitable but safe. With a strong telescope he took his
observations, unobserved himself, from the highest point of the tower,
with the result that a certain route was chosen as offering the best
facilities for a safe exit from the town.

Mr. Botha should have accompanied him on this, his first enterprise;
but because of Mr. Botha's physical weakness, he having been struck by
lightning at Pieter's Heights while on commando, and being subject to
severe headaches and unable to walk far at times, it was decided that
he should wait in town until Mr. Naude could come back from commando,
bringing with him a horse for the use of his friend. It was as well
that Mr. Botha did not expose himself to the hardships and perils of
that first flight from the capital, for though Mr. Naude, wearing an
English officer's uniform and carrying his private clothes in a
knapsack, escaped with the greatest ease and safety, he and his
companion roamed about the veld for three days and nights without
finding a trace of the Boer commandos which they were so eager to
join.

[Illustration: CAPTAIN NAUDE.]

They therefore ventured a return to their homes in Pretoria and
accomplished this successfully at dead of night, except for a small
adventure through having been delayed too long on their homeward
journey, on account of which they reached the first outpost just as
day was breaking.

Naude's companion, in great anxiety, suggested making a _detour_, but
Mr. Naude, with the presence of mind which characterised his every
action, answered firmly:

"No; we must go straight ahead. Perhaps the watch has already caught a
glimpse of us, and any indecision on our part would be fatal."

Seeing some clothing hanging on a line to dry near a Kaffir or coolie
hut, Mr. Naude annexed one or two garments, and, quickly changing his
uniform for the civilian clothes he had with him, he made a bundle of
his knapsack, uniform, and helmet, tying them up in the stolen
articles. With this bundle under his arm and a handkerchief tied over
his head, he and his companion lurched uncertainly over the veld
towards the watch, after first having taken a draught from their
spirit-flask.

"Halt! who goes there?"

They halted, smiling at him in an imbecile manner.

"Show me