message from the scouts, and in reply told them to come and
see him. He had meanwhile, for safety's sake, sent two horses to be
concealed away from his stable, and kept one, a stallion, at the
homestead.

The next day, Friday, Boers appeared early in the afternoon. They took the
stallion, and the following day they returned and asked where the other
horses were. Mr. Schoeman declined to give any information, but they
discovered and seized them. Immediately after the Boers had left, Mr.
Schoeman dispatched one of his farm boys named Barry to De Jaeger, the
nearest military post, to report the occurrence. The scouts had, however,
disappeared, and he learned from De Jaeger that before leaving they had
received a report of the presence of the Boers. On the return of Barry,
Mr. Schoeman endeavoured to obtain another messenger. Owing to the state
of the country, which was infested with the enemy, his efforts proved
unavailing.

During the next week Mr. Schoeman, with a considerable number of his
neighbours, was ordered to Oudtshoorn. On his arrival he was arrested,
without any charge or warrant, and confined for some three months, bail
being refused. No preliminary examination was held as provided in the
instructions on martial law issued May 1st, 1901. On Sunday, December 1st,
it was notified to Mr. Schoeman that he would be tried on the following
day, and the charges were for the first time communicated to him. On
December 2nd the court assembled and Mr. Schoeman was charged with three
offences:

1. For not having handed his horses over to the proper military
authorities, whereby they fell into the hands of the enemy.

2. For having been on friendly terms with the enemy.

3. For having failed to report the presence of the enemy.

He was found guilty on the first and last charges and not guilty on the
second count, being sentenced to six months' hard labour and to pay a fine
of L500, or to suffer a further term of twelve months' hard labour in lieu
of the fine. The sentence was confirmed, the fine was paid by Mr.
Schoeman, and he underwent the imprisonment for one month with hard labour
and for five months without hard labour, which was remitted upon order
from Lord Kitchener, who, without even being fully instructed as to the
circumstances of the case, of his own accord lightened the terrible
sentence passed upon Mr. Schoeman.

Later on Mr. Schoeman was cleared of the calumnies that had been the cause
of his suffer