sum of money before approaching her with their evil tidings, and this
they had to do by stealth, in order not to bring suspicion on
themselves.

They were successful in obtaining over L34 for the bereaved wife in a
very short time, from friends and sympathisers as poor as they
themselves, and later, from the same source, in the same
unostentatious way, a far larger amount was collected in order to send
the widow to her relatives in Germany.

These details, mundane though they may appear after the stirring acts
of heroism described above, are significant of greater
things--self-sacrificing generosity, unswerving loyalty, and a
compassionate desire to atone, in some practical and helpful way, for
their share in the disaster brought on innocent and helpless
womanhood.

CHAPTER XXV

THE SHOEMAKER AT WORK

That the inborn sense of humour of the Dutch South African race should
have been stunted in its growth, if not completely crushed, by the
horrors of the war, would be small cause for surprise to most people
who have given the matter a thought. But to those of us acquainted
with the facts, an entirely different and wholly comprehensible aspect
of the case has been made manifest.

The blessed gift of humour is only sharpened by the hard realities of
life, can never be appreciated to the full in the calm and shallow
waters of prosperity.

Of this we had innumerable proofs during those tempestuous days, and
certain it is that the memory of a harmless joke, enjoyed under
circumstances of unusual stress and trouble, grows sweeter and is
strengthened as the years go by.

For dry humour and keen enjoyment of the ludicrous, our friend Mr. W.
Botha could not easily be surpassed; and I advise you, good reader, if
you have the chance, to induce him to tell you the following story in
his own words, and to watch the flicker of amusement in his eye.

* * * * *

Four of Captain Naude's spies are in town again, resting, shopping,
and exchanging items of war experiences with their friends and
relatives.

Countless parcels have arrived from various stores of note in town,
and four big bags, full to bursting, are arrayed against the wall for
transportation "to the front" at 7 o'clock that night.

But what is this? Another bag? Impossible! There are but four men
going out and each one has his load, quite as much as he can carry
already.

What does it contain? A beautiful brand-new sadd