figure pointed to a door and disappeared, and at the same time
another figure rose from Hansie knew not where, and stood sentinel
over the gate leading into the street.

She ran up the steps and rapped smartly at the door, turning the
handle after a moment and walking in, to the evident consternation of
the three young men inside. There was a general scuffle, followed by a
laugh of relief, when her figure became visible through the heavy
clouds of smoke which filled the room.

Mr. Greyling came forward to meet her and introduced the other men,
who shook her hand until it ached.

It was quite evident that the sight of a young lady was a wonderful
and most welcome thing to them.

Hansie took Mr. Greyling aside and handed him the packet with strict
injunctions not to mention her name on commando, for it was a
well-known fact that there were traitors in the field, who lost no
opportunity of conveying information to the British. She did not tell
him how the book had come into her possession, although his surprise
and curiosity were plainly visible, and the worst that could have
happened, had he fallen into the hands of the enemy and turned King's
evidence, would have been the betrayal of her name.

The other men were clamouring for a hearing, so she turned to them
and inspected the huge brown-paper parcels containing clothing, etc.,
to which they drew her attention and which they were about to convey
to the commandos.

One of them, with a look of comical despair, was shaking his head,
while he counted the parcels on his fingers. The other showed Hansie
how impossible it was for him to fasten his coat and waistcoat, for he
had on three woollen shirts and three pairs of trousers, of different
sizes. So had the other two, and Hansie could not refrain from
expressing her amazement at their being so heavily laden on an
expedition so perilous.

But, in high spirits, they laughed at her fears.

They had done the same thing before. One said it was his seventh
visit, another said it was his third, and they so evidently enjoyed
their adventures that one felt they were to be envied rather than
pitied.

They parted in fun and high good-humour, but Hansie's heart was wrung
with many a pang, and many a deep and earnest prayer for their
protection was sent up by her that night.

"I wish you could have seen that room, mother," Hansie exclaimed as
they sat in their cosy dining-room, discussing the events of the day.
"It was fi