loaded; but they waited in vain for the coming of
the other pursuers; these on seeing the horses galloping towards them
after the shots had been fired had at once turned and rode off. After
waiting for a little time to be sure that they were not going to be
attacked, the friends mounted and rode on. They did not retrace their
steps to see what had become of the other pursuers, as it was possible
that these had imitated their own tactics, and were lying down by their
horses, waiting to get a shot at them, should they ride back. They now
continued their journey at an easy canter, and late in the evening
entered the little town of Standerton.

Standerton presented a scene of unusual excitement; teams of waggons
filled its streets, armed men moved about and talked excitedly, numbers
of cattle and horses under the charge of Kaffirs occupied every spare
place near the town--it was an exodus. The loyal Boers, who were at
that time in an absolute majority throughout the colony, were many of
them moving across the frontier, to escape the conflict which they saw
approaching.

The more enlightened among these people had been fully conscious of the
short-comings of their own government, prior to the annexation to
England.

Short as had been the period that had elapsed since that event, the
benefits which had accrued to the country had been immense. The value
of land had risen fourfold; English traders had opened establishments in
every village, and the Dutch obtained far higher prices than before for
their produce, with a corresponding reduction in that of the articles
which they had to purchase. Peaceable men were no longer harassed by
being summoned to take part in commandos or levies for expeditions
against the natives. The feeling of insecurity from the threatening
attitude of the Zulus and other warlike neighbours was at an end, as was
the danger of a general rising among the natives in the colony, who
outnumbered the Boers by ten to one.

Thus the wiser heads among the Boers bitterly regretted the movement
which had commenced for the renewed independence of the country. They
did not believe that it would be successful, because they could not
suppose that England, having, by the repeated assertions of its
representatives that the annexation was final and absolute, induced
thousands of Englishmen to purchase land, erect trading establishments,
and embark their capital in the country, could ever desert and ruin
them