ween him and the deadly,
levelled weapons--screening him from them--stood a tall female figure,
whose graceful lines were shrouded by a long cloak. Just a fraction of
a second more, and the murderous bullets would have transpierced two
bodies instead of one.

Among the onlookers the thrill of horror and amazement deepened as the
hood was thrown back, revealing the head and features of the wearer, who
was known to many of them. The countenance of the doomed man lighted up
with a glow of such unutterable affection as to leave room for no other
emotion.

"Aletta! So you have come to take leave of me!" he said. "My darling
one, and yet the sight of you once more adds a hundredfold to the
bitterness of death."

"Of death? No, no, you shall not die, unless we both do. Not a bullet
shall reach you that does not go through me first."

She clung to him in such wise as to render the truth of her words
obvious. The appointed executioners had lowered their weapons and stood
irresolute, as though looking for orders.

"Remove her!" cried Commandant Schoeman.

But nobody seemed over eager to obey. Then, after a hurried
consultation with three or four of his subordinate commanders, he went
on:

"You will have a respite of exactly five minutes, Kershaw. Not one
second longer."

"We have but a short time, Aletta," resumed Colvin, in English and a low
tone. "Tell me quickly--why did you write that strange
message--`Remember--_I saw_'? What did it mean? What did you see?"

"Ah, let us forget that. Love--love! That is as nothing now. You
shall not die."

"Tell me--tell me! Time is flying," he urged.

Quickly she told him--how Adrian had warned her that she was being
deceived; had proved it to her through the agency of her own eyesight,
that day at Johannesburg.

"Adrian was lying. Yet there must be somebody bearing a wonderful
likeness to me. Look me in the eyes, Aletta. Here at the grave's edge
I tell you, this story is absolutely untrue. I went straight to
Cronje's column, and did not even leave the train at Johannesburg.
Afterwards you will learn this for yourself. Sweetheart, I have never
deceived you in word or deed. Do you believe me now?"

"Implicitly! Oh love, love! I am not fit to live after you, and I will
not. Say you forgive me!"

Though they could neither hear nor understand what was said, there was
such a wail of despair and loss in her tone as to reach the hearts of
the bystanders.