. There were countless
commissions to fulfil and information to be obtained on every
imaginable question.

The need of a body of organised men in town began to be felt more
strongly in the field, and it was Captain Naude who introduced the
system of employing a set of reliable burghers as spies in the heart
of the enemy.

For this purpose he once again went to Pretoria with the list of names
of the men he wished to interview.

Mr. Botha was the first he approached, and the former was only half
pleased when he heard that, instead of the escape from British martial
law, for which he had been keeping himself in readiness so long, he
was commanded to remain in Pretoria as the head of a body of Secret
Service men.

He protested vehemently, but his objections were overruled by the
argument brought forward by Naude, a consideration for the state of
his health. This was certainly a point which carried weight. He
consented, and the names of the other men to be appointed as his
co-operators were submitted to him for approval:

C.P. Hattingh, G. Els, W. Bosch, and J. Gillyland, a body of five men,
which we shall know in future by the name of "the Secret Committee."

The Secret Service of the Boers was now well established, and could
not have been entrusted into hands more capable, more undaunted, or
more faithful.

Captain Naude had in the meantime earned distinction for himself as
the bravest and most enterprising emissary employed in the field. He
was placed by General Botha at the head of a corps of scouts,
including the men who had captured the British remounts, and it is on
the foundation of his adventures as captain of this body of men that
this story is built.

* * * * *

We now turn to Mr. Botha and his first visit to Harmony.

It seems that Mrs. van Warmelo was one morning, during her daughter's
absence at Irene, surprised by the appearance of a stranger at her
house.

He introduced himself as Mr. Willem Botha and handed a card to Mrs.
van Warmelo, the card of her friend Mrs. Pieter Maritz Botha, on which
were written the following words, "You may trust the bearer as you
would myself."

No other introduction was necessary.

Mrs. P.M. Botha, sister of Sir David Graaf, whose striking personality
and unique experiences throughout the war would alone fill a big book,
was one of Mrs. van Warmelo's dearest friends.

Any one coming from her to Harmony could depend upon a hearty