ested. "I
have not seen or spoken to Kershaw since I begged you to grant him an
interview last night."

"Just so, Mynheer Morkel. But we want to know what passed between you
and the accused man _before_ that. Stand up. The exigencies of the
Republics imperatively require it."

This was a command there was no disobeying, so Morkel stood up, and was
duly sworn. He would willingly have perjured himself up to the scalp in
such a cause, but he knew it would be useless. There might have been
spies overhearing all that had passed between him and Kershaw relative
to Frank's condemnation, or even if not there would be no difficulty in
putting forward sufficient witnesses to swear that they had overheard
it, giving of course their own version.

Bidden by the Commandant to state exactly what passed between himself
and the accused with regard to Frank Wenlock, Morkel said that he
himself had brought Kershaw the news that the other was condemned to
death. How had the accused received it? He had been very much shocked
and distressed naturally, the other having been a great friend of his--
Morkel left out "fellow-countryman" just in time. But even with all his
Court experience he made the mistake of expatiating on what had led to
that friendship, realising with dire dismay, when too late, that he had
furnished an additional motive for Colvin to act as was alleged.

"Did he not ask what could be done for the condemned man?" inquired
Schoeman.

"He did, Mynheer Commandant. But--"

"He asked that question more than once?" interrupted the remorseless
voice.

"Naturally, Mynheer. That was why he so urgently wished for an
interview with yourself--to plead the cause of his friend."

"And when he found that he could not obtain that interview, what then?"

"He was disappointed, naturally. But he said it would all come right.
He could not believe that brave men--burghers fighting for their
liberties and independence, civilised Christian men, could take the life
of a man, especially a young man, by nature hot-headed and foolish,
simply because he had made some rude and insulting remarks," added
Morkel, somewhat mendaciously, and indeed he seemed to have scored a
strong point, for a murmur, not unsympathetic, went up from the
audience. "The behaviour of Frank Wenlock was insulting and offensive,
the accused had said, but surely not a crime worthy of death," went on
Morkel, waxing eloquent.

"That will do, Mynheer Morkel.