e point of going to those spies with the parcel in her hands.

By a happy coincidence, when the callers had taken their departure,
another visitor arrived--F., the very man she wished to see.

But he, too, was full of the excitement in town and did not notice the
unusual anxiety in Hansie's manner.

"General Botha has come in 'to negotiate,'" he said. "The town is
alive with soldiers, but there must be something else brewing at the
same time, for every house is being searched, and a cordon has been
drawn round some parts of the town. It is impossible for any one to
get through from one place to another beyond Market Street."

Hansie's heart sank for a moment.

Then she said: "I have to go to town at once, F.; will you come with
me? I have a great deal to tell you and we can talk as we go along.
You remember you once said that I must come to you if ever I got into
any trouble. Well, I am in serious trouble now--not for myself--but,
tell me, have you your residential pass with you?"

He produced it.

She continued: "Then we are safe for the present. Let us sit in the
Park while I tell you in what way I want you to help me."

They found a secluded spot under one of the trees in Burgher's Park,
and there Hansie took him into her confidence, unfolding her plan to
him.

"If, as you say, F., a cordon is being drawn around the houses that
have already been searched, those three men may be cut off at any
moment. They cannot wait where they are at present, no more can they
show themselves on the streets without residential passes. If you can
help me to borrow three passes for them, I myself will walk with them
as far as the wire enclosure and bring the passes back to you."

F. whistled, called her "plucky," but thought the whole thing far too
risky.

"You would all be taken near the wire fence," he said, "and what about
the men who would be without their passes while you had them?"

"They must not show themselves," she said.

"And if they are found in their homes?"

"Oh!" she cried impatiently, "they must be willing to risk something
too."

"Have you thought of any one?" he asked.

"Yes, I have thought of D. and G., if you will bring them to me. Fetch
them, F. I'll go and tell the men to wait for the passes. You will
find me at your gate."

"But then you would have only two passes, Hansie."

She looked earnestly into his eyes, and he turned away without a word.

He went off in one direction and Hansie in a