outside world, and the burghers of the Republics had successfully
carried their arms well into the Cape Colony. He could not sit still,
through it all. He must, at any rate, see something of what was going
on, and to that end had obtained special permission to join Cronje's
force as a non-combatant spectator.

Not easily had this been obtained though. It had taken all Piet
Plessis' influence, backed up by that of Andries Botma, with whom Colvin
had renewed acquaintance during his stay in the Transvaal. Further, he
had to give the most solemn undertaking not to use his position in any
way whatever for the benefit of his own countrymen.

"Don't you remember that first evening we met, Aletta?" he was saying.
"You promised yourself to make a convert of me? Well, now I am
interested in your side, I want to see how it fights."

"No, no, dearest I can't spare you," she replied, stroking the brown
hand which lay in one of her long white ones, with the other. "Oh,
and--what if I were to lose you?"

"Leave me alone to take care of that. Life is too well worth having
just now," he rejoined. "And, as a non-combatant, the risk will be
infinitesimal."

They were alone together. Piet and his wife were both out, and even if
anybody called, here in this bosky garden retreat they would remain
undisturbed.

Would they, though? Even then both started, and looked up, as the tread
of heavy footsteps coming down the garden path arrested their attention.

"Oh, there you are, Aletta," said a man's voice. "The boy said he
thought you were out here. How are you, Colvin?"

"Why, it is Adrian!" she cried, colouring somewhat as she remembered
under what circumstances he had last seen her alone. She was surprised
and delighted, too, to notice that he spoke with all his old cordiality
of tone, and was shaking hands with Colvin quite as he used to do at
Ratels Hoek. He had got over it, then? That was sensible and manly of
him, and, the interruption notwithstanding, she showed herself quite
pleased at his visit.

He sat down and chatted away freely enough, telling them about himself
and his moves, also the latest news from the Wildschutsberg and Ratels
Hoek; how all the Boers in that neighbourhood had risen, and under the
leadership of Swaart Jan Grobbelaar had marched into Schalkburg and
having made a prisoner of Mr Jelf had seized the Court-house over which
now waved the Free State flag, and had set up a Free State man as
L