e safety of her
guests, the following was decided upon as being the most ingenious:

A large bath was brought into her bedroom and half-filled with soapy
water, bath-towels, sponges, and other toilet requisites being placed
near by in readiness for use. In the event of a raid, Mrs. van Warmelo
(if she had time to do so) would rush into the room, locking the door
on the inside, while her daughter (if she had the presence of mind and
kept cool enough) informed the police that her mother was having a
bath. Thus time would be gained to enable the men to creep into their
hiding-place.

The bath of soapy water, standing in readiness night and day, was a
constant source of amusement during that time of suspense.

The men begged to be allowed to smoke, but Mrs. van Warmelo protested
strongly. In case of an unexpected search, how was she going to
account for the smell of smoke in her bedroom?

Seeing, however, that this restriction was becoming a source of great
discomfort to them in the monotony of their imprisonment, she gave
them permission to smoke in the dining-room while she and Hansie kept
watch outside.

Even with these precautions Mrs. van Warmelo seemed to feel very
uneasy, and Hansie coming into the kitchen unexpectedly one afternoon,
found the Captain standing beside the stove and blowing vigorous puffs
of smoke up the chimney!

Volcanoes and earthquakes would have been a welcome change to every
one after those never-to-be-forgotten days of strain and tension; and
much as Hansie had longed to see some one from commando again, her
longing to see these men depart became a hundred times more intense.
There was no pleasure for any one during that visit of two days, for
the very air was charged with treachery, and not even the servants
could be trusted with the dread secret.

The men were waited on stealthily, food was brought in unobserved and
the plates and dishes washed surreptitiously by the two watchful
women, who took turns in guarding the place and enjoyed what
conversation they could get in fragments from their guests.

That night was spent in anxiety and unrest, and again the glorious day
was hailed with joy and relief.

Van der Westhuizen was an early visitor that morning, and the report
of his investigations of the past night must have been highly
satisfactory to the men, to judge by their faces. The women were not
taken into their confidence, but Hansie watched and wondered, and
dared not even ask