g in the quiet and natural way in which he
made these remarks, and they were remembered with a strong conviction
that he would keep his word. But still it was realised that his
greatest difficulty would not be so much his entrance into the town as
his perplexity when once he found himself there.

He would not know where to go. His friends had been banished, their
houses were occupied by the enemy, and as yet he did not know of the
existence of the new Committee. Sending out word to him was
impossible.

No man could risk the unknown dangers of leaving the town under the
present conditions to warn him; no one would know where to find the
Secret Service Corps in the field. His friends decided to possess
their souls in patience, trusting in the capabilities of the wily
Captain and knowing full well that if any one could find a way out, or
in, he would.

He did not disappoint them, and they might have known that on this
occasion everything he did would be exactly opposed to his former
methods.

It was to be a time of surprises for every one.

Hansie and her mother were just talking about the Captain and
regretting the appearance of the young moon--which meant under
ordinary circumstances, _no_ spies in town--and wondering how much
longer they would be able to endure their suspense--wondering, too,
how they would communicate with the Commander in future and longing
for reliable news from the field--when the unexpected happened.

At break of day December 17th three travellers entered the town,
travel-stained, torn, and weary. They walked boldly through the
streets of Pretoria in the dim light of a summer's dawn, and what
their destination was we shall see presently.

The van Warmelos were having supper that night at 8 o'clock when the
door opened unceremoniously and Flippie's shock head was thrust in.

"There are two ladies looking for Harmony," he said. "They are at the
front gate and want to see you."

Hansie immediately went out and met two girls, strangers to her,
coming up the garden-path.

"Good evening," she said. "Do you wish to see my mother?"

"Who are you?" was the somewhat unexpected but perfectly natural
question.

"I am Miss van Warmelo. Do you want any one here?"

"Yes," one of them replied in a hurried and mysterious way. "There are
two men at your garden gate and they want to see Mrs. van Warmelo."

"Won't you ask them to come up to the house?" Hansie asked. "You can't
very well expect my mo